“Here's the bottom line. Body, blood or power. That's what I want from you. It's your choice which you feel most comfortable bargaining with.” I shook my head, unable to believe what I was hearing. He wasn't finished though. “I want to explore you in every physical and metaphysical way possible. Anything you offer, I'm going to accept. So think about it. Carefully.”
I gaped at him, utterly tongue-tied. I most definitely was not sleeping with Harley so he could forget about that whole “body” thing. The unfortunate part was that the sharing of either blood or power had physical effects too, some that were almost impossible to deny. If the entire point of this was to gain control over such things… There wasn't a single option available that wasn't intense and deeply intimate.
“You know that all three of those elements pretty much go hand in hand on some level.” I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning against the doorframe.
“They don't have to. Isn't that what you want from me? The ability to be the one in charge of that.”
“You're taking advantage of me.”
“Look who you're talking to, honey. Of course I am.”
He had me there. We stared into one another as my mind reeled. What was it going to be? Let Harley get something he wanted from me or walk away and still be stuck right where I was now.
I growled at him, baring my fangs for good measure. He merely raised a brow and smiled with phony innocence.
“Fine. Blood then. But, you don't get to sink fangs into me until I have learned something concrete from you.”
“By all means.” Harley nodded and despite the fact that he stood there casually, I could feel the hunger rolling off him.
I couldn't help the strangely unwelcome anticipation that settled within me. Part of me was looking forward to working with Harley. I told myself it was because of what I would gain from it, but I knew that wasn't the whole truth. Harley's power felt good, dangerously good.
I felt Kale's approach and relief swept through me. “I have to go. I'll be back.”
Turning toward the exit, I was glad that he couldn't see my face when he replied,
“And I'll be waiting.”
Chapter Five
Anxiety attacks really aren't my thing. Since I'd left The Wicked Kiss the previous night, I had been a jittery ball of nerves. The deal I'd made with Harley haunted my every waking thought and my every dream. Arys' memories had flashed bloody images behind my eyes until I couldn't take anymore. I'd been drinking coffee since, waiting for Shaz.
He'd had two days to think about the information Veryl had given me. He'd agreed right from the start that we had to look into it. In fact, he'd been more willing than I'd liked. It was unsettling. Even though I truly believed Shaz to be more than capable of taking care of himself, being the one to lead him into potential danger didn't appeal to me. Though I seriously doubted that I'd be able to talk him out of this, I had every intention of trying. I knew him well enough to know better. Yet, I was just as stubborn as he was.
He was taking the night off from work, and the two of us were going to follow up on the address that Veryl had given me. I was hoping it would be a total bust. I didn't care what those wolves wanted. They weren't welcome here. I just hoped we'd be back in time to catch Arys if he stopped by. It wasn't like him to stay away for long.
Arys … I felt guilty at the thought of him after my visit to the Kiss. I also still felt pissed. The two should have canceled each other out but they didn't. The thought of seeing Harley the following night had my stomach in a twist. I wasn't backing out. Arys would just have to understand why I needed to do this. I knew he never would though.
I slipped into a pair of tight black leggings and a Mopar t-shirt. It was a little chilly considering the weather, but I needed to be able to move easily. I was prepared to fight but hoping it wouldn't come to that. Maybe this was some kind of misunderstanding. No big deal. Yeah, right.
The sound of the front door was accompanied by the warm werewolf energy that I knew and loved. After running a brush through my hair, I tossed it over my shoulder and went to greet Shaz. I couldn't help but cross my fingers in the hope that he would announce his decision to stay home after all. Who was I kidding?
“Ready?” He asked when I ascended the stairs from my basement bedroom to the main floor. “I've been thinking about this all day.”
Shaz' jade colored eyes sparkled with an intensity that dashed my pitiful hope. He was revved up and ready to go alright. It should have made me proud, honored that he was both my mate and my Alpha. It just made me afraid.
“I am ready to go beat some werewolf ass,” I replied, gathering my things from the kitchen counter where I'd tossed them. “If it comes to that. Anyone asking around about Raoul can't be up to any good.”
“You never know. It may not be a bad thing. There are a million reasons why someone may be looking for him.” Shaz slipped his arms around me from behind. “Don't always jump to the worst conclusion.”