She heard him barking orders, and the Shifters, knowing he was in a foul mood, simply said, “Yes, sir.” No arguing, no bantering.
Bowman ordered a contingent of Shifters, including the Guardian—Pierce Daniels, a Feline Shifter—to remain and finish the cremation, including burying the ashes. Pierce was also ordered to use his resources as a Guardian to find out everything he could about the human woman named Serena. Cade and Jamie he put on investigating the truck and driver and figuring out where the hell that monster had originated.
“Kenzie,” Bowman said, walking toward her, still in his hard-ass mode. “I want you to find out as much as you can about Gil Ramirez. Who he is, what he is, why he’s so interested in Shifters.”
Gil had already explained his interest, sort of, but Kenzie understood. Something was off about Gil. “What do you mean what he is?” she asked. “He’s human. Isn’t he?”
Bowman pinned her with a white gray stare. “I don’t like the way he smells.”
Kenzie shot him a sly smile. “You can be pretty rank yourself.”
Bowman didn’t smile back, her teasing bringing a hard glitter to his eyes. “You know what I mean. He’s more than what he’s saying. Get him to tell you.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
Ryan made a huffing noise. “He means flirt with him, Mom. Make him trust you. Giggle at him if you have to. I’ve heard you do it when you’re trying to make Dad jealous.”
Bowman put a hand on Ryan’s head. “That’s enough from you, cub. Don’t sass your mother.”
“I’m not sassing. Everyone knows you and Mom are trying to find out if the other is going to run off first chance to find a mate bond with someone else. The whole Shiftertown knows it. I don’t know why you think it’s such a secret.”
Ryan ducked out from under his father’s hand and ran off toward the arena, where Shifters were organizing the pumps on the water truck to hose down the floor.
“Shit,” Bowman said, watching him go.
“You can be kind of obvious,” Kenzie said. “Trying to see if I’ll care if you pay attention to other women. Like you did with Dr. Pat, and Serena in the roadhouse parking lot.”
Bowman jerked his head around to focus on Kenzie, his face, which had been lined with exhaustion, becoming less tired-looking. “I knew you were out there. I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t been.”
Kenzie remembered him sliding down his jeans, the parking lot lights outlining every perfect inch of him. “I know. That’s what I mean.”
Bowman somehow was standing closer. “It wasn’t for her. It was for you.”
Kenzie’s heart beat faster, her blood heating until the cold around her faded. “You mean you wanted me to walk across that parking lot and go down on you?”
Bowman’s hint of smile made her burn. “Wouldn’t have minded.”
Kenzie was aware of him with every cell in her body. She pictured herself completing what she’d wanted to do that night, sliding down him until she was on her knees in front of his thighs. She’d look him over, then lean forward and take the length of his cock into her mouth. She knew exactly what he tasted like, and never grew tired of it.
She wanted to do it right now. Here, in the freezing cold, with snow falling and Shifters striding every which way to carry out Bowman’s commands. She wanted to feel the hard ground beneath her knees, his heat warming her skin.
The intense stillness in Bowman’s eyes told her he wanted it too. Their shared look smoldered the air between them.
Each knew the other was imagining every second of Kenzie unbuckling Bowman’s jeans, Bowman’s fingers going slack as he let the waistband drop from them. He’d be backed against one of the cars, his jeans around his ankles, hand in Kenzie’s hair as she knelt.
He’d fill her mouth, the taste of him hot and smooth, the tight skin of his thighs warm under her fingers. The hair curling at his balls would beckon her touch, and Bowman would make a faint sound of pleasure as he rocked into her mouth.
Even now, as they stood face-to-face, Bowman’s hands closed into fists. His eyes softened with his fire, and his mouth lost its hard line.
“Kenz,” he said in a low voice.
Kenzie said nothing. She stood rigid, wanting him, while the snow fell around her, and Shifters swarmed about a little way from them. Her hands ached, and she realized she’d clenched them tightly.
Bowman said her name again, or she thought he did. In the next second, he closed the space between them and brought his mouth down on hers.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The kiss burned, but Kenzie didn’t pull away. Bowman’s mouth was strong, mastering. His arms went around her, hands hard on her back. Kenzie sought him, scrabbling inside his coat to find his warmth. His sweatshirt stretched over his broad chest, outlining what she wanted to see, to touch.
Her knees went slack, but Bowman’s strength poured into her and kept her on her feet. Thinking about how Serena had seen him bare in the parking lot, even if he’d only wanted to scare the woman, made Kenzie growl even as she kissed him.