Bad Mouth

chapter Four


When the liaison whirled to face Kade, a jolt powered through the center of him. She wasn’t what he’d expected. Someone mousy maybe or someone butch, some kind of tree-hugging, nature-loving, hairy-legged creature. Instead, she looked pale and fragile, like he could blow on her and knock her down.

She was a tiny little thing, slender with generous, well-placed curves that teased through the thin fabric of her suit. Her cleavage didn’t show, but her blouse gently cupped the sides of her breasts. He doubted she had any idea how provocative that was. Kade wanted to bare his teeth at the pounding of blood to his southern region. And damn, it had been a long while since that area had raised its lazy head. Most days his heart rarely beat at all, a side effect of age.

His knee-jerk reaction to her was about as welcome as a beheading.

She cleared her throat, drawing his focus to the graceful column of it and the swift pulse fluttering under her delicate skin. For once, the thought of his mouth settling over that tempting spot didn’t inspire disgust, only an aching hunger. “Now that you’ve deigned to grace us with your presence, Mr. Rollins, we should get to our business here.”

Although her insolence made no impression on him, his name formed by those plump, bow-shaped lips raked down his spine in a pleasurable shiver as surely as if it had been her fingernails. Since when did a name warrant a raging hard-on? The fact that he could smell her anxiety and arousal incited his erection further until it damn near sprang from his jeans. His eyes should have been glued to her body, but instead they returned to meet her dazed but direct stare. Those irises of hers were electric and so brilliantly green they seemed unnatural. The heavens had to have colored them.

He nodded, not bothering to hide his amusement from her. “I’m quite ready for you, Valerie.”

She trembled when he spoke her name, and he felt an urge to hold that tremble against his lips. A moment later, she snapped to, like a soldier coming to attention. Her body went rigid, her chin lifted, and she stared him down gunslinger-style. God. Damn. If he throbbed any harder, his male equipment could have been the useless muscle driving the blood in his veins.

He couldn’t keep the grin off his face. Who was this creamy-skinned little vixen challenging him in his own home? She’d contained most of her fear, only a trace remaining under the scent of lilacs and caramel latte.

A throat cleared loudly behind him, but he ignored the intrusion of the woman’s associate. Her attention went to the man, however. A hot flash of irritation darkened into a scowl, effectively wiping Kade’s grin away. The pretty-faced man took up space at Valerie’s side, too close for a casual acquaintance, subtly staking a claim. Kade wasn’t sure she noticed the man’s posturing, but he noticed.

“Mr. Rollins, this is my partner, Graham Fischer.” Her emerald-sea eyes on Kade and her slightly breathy introduction calmed his unrest, though he couldn’t say why. The breathiness amplified as she continued. “Apparently, you already know my name.”

“I’ve been informed.”

“So you know why we’re here and what we need from you.”

“Why don’t you tell me what you need from me?”

Her eyes darkened, and she shivered again. So slight, he doubted a human would catch it. Her hands came up halfway as if she might rub her arms, before she forced them down to her sides. His stomach tightened. As hard as she tried to hide it, she was attracted to him.

Dammit all to hell, he wanted to f*ck her. He wanted her under him with her long legs over his arms or her on top riding him like a rodeo star. He wanted to pound her against the glass window with his cock. The dilation of her pupils told him she saw similar images behind those eyes, images of his body naked, their limbs entwined and their sweat mingling. And she hated it. That almost made him smile again. This disastrous collaboration might end up being more fun than he’d anticipated.

“Mr. Rollins—”

“Kade.”

She paused and her lips parted, her tongue darting out to moisten them. He couldn’t resist looking at them, his mouth watering for a taste. Her lips were full and rosy. She’d taste like the raspberries he scented in her lip gloss.

“Kade,” she said.

That husky rasp of his name made his balls ache. Kade’s jaw clenched tight, a molten anger clawing his chest. The physical desire she incited could go to hell.

She blew out a breath. “We have to find the deranged vampires and the adjuvants responsible for them. The Immortalis won’t speak to us. I need you to make sure they do.”

His brows rose at her look of steely resolve. “You sound damned determined to get these rogues.”

“They’re not rogues,” she insisted. “And of course I’m determined.” Her head tilted like a curious cat, and he almost hesitated to crush her stubborn illusions of justice.

“And if the victims were vampires? How would you feel then?” he asked.

“Vampires?” She laughed until she saw he wasn’t joking. “They aren’t victims, Mr. Roll—Kade. They’re performing derangements that lead to the murders of humans by the newly transformed. There’s no question that vampires are behind this.”

“If you think we’re invulnerable and godlike, you can kneel down to me right now. I could really get off on that.” And that was no lie. If she went on her knees right then, he’d embarrass himself in his pants.

“Not gods. Predators who thrive on draining humans dry, leaving them to rot. Fiends who don’t care about children or husbands or wives left behind to bury their loved ones.”

“Bullshit. You only see what you want to believe. The truth is some cocksuckers murdered some other poor cocksuckers and framed vampires. A human would never question the setup, which to me is a perfect crime.”

“That’s ridiculous. No one would go to that trouble, and we’ve already authenticated the bloodings.”

“Well, f*ck. You know everything, don’t you?” He felt his eyes flare a moment before she gasped. Her useless sidekick stepped halfway in front of her. As if the human could stop him. A railroad spike of fury flashed through him, but he fought for calm before he violated Olen’s orders.

Val pushed what’s-his-face out of her way and took a step closer to Kade. Brave woman or very, very stupid. He’d lay money on the former. And his hard-on just got harder when he’d been pretty sure it had maxed out.

She advanced until she stood inches from him and poked him in the chest as if she were a prudish schoolteacher with a wayward pupil. “You are the most detestable, mannerless, foulmouthed vampire I’ve ever met.”

“My apologies,” he bit out. “Care to call Olen and tell him you don’t need my help?”

“Right. Because I can see you’ll be loads of help.” She rolled her eyes, her hands moving to her hips. Kade couldn’t stop his surprised laugh. She was supposed to be afraid. Humans were always afraid of him. But she wasn’t running away and she wasn’t brandishing her anger at him. Instead, she offered sarcasm. He laughed even harder when she stared up at him in amazement.

“What’s the joke?”

He studied her a moment. She had a gentle curve to her cheeks, ripe for cupping with a palm. This was a strange feeling. Humans had never fascinated him before, but they’d never reacted to him the way she did, either. He could spend all day just looking at her and kissing her. And f*cking her. His erection wouldn’t let him forget.

“Kade?” Her voice wavered with uncertainty this time.

“I don’t think you find me detestable.” He kept his voice too soft for her human doormat to overhear. Her cheeks flushed a dainty pink as her gaze met his. “And I’m really quite helpful. I might surprise you. But if you’d rather call Olen—”

“I’d never ‘rather call Olen’ about anything.”

“I don’t even call Olen, and he’s my own flesh and blood.”

She froze. “Your flesh and blood?”

“He’s my father. Didn’t he tell you?”

“You’re a—you’re a Dominus?” she whispered. The flush left her face in a hurry.

“Some call me that. Others call me the Prince of Darkness.” He laughed. “Why does it matter? You wanted an adjuvant. You got an adjuvant.”

“And I called you a Legion desk jockey…” she murmured.

“You called me a what?”

Her fingertips darted to her lips. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I didn’t know who you were. Neither of the Ancients said a word. And I didn’t ask for an adjuvant. In fact, I specifically objected to working with an adjuvant.”

She stiffened and looked as if she’d like to suck those words back behind her lips, too. He might have been angry about her obvious distaste for adjuvants like him, but he focused instead on her body language. She appeared to care what he thought or how she made him feel rather than letting distrust of him drive her. Maybe she did have some sense of justice.

His involvement with the VLO’s investigation might not be a problem after all. It could work out to his benefit. He’d have inside information and access to the VLO’s resources. If they got too close to destroying what he’d built over the years, he could easily divert them.

“This desk jockey can be a sonuvabitch to work with,” he said. She relaxed. “And I can’t shut my bad mouth off. Trust me. I’ve tried for two hundred years. It ain’t happening. Ezra hates it.”

“Ezra?”

“Adjuvant. Another Dominus and my brother in arms. He’s nothing like me. He’s all about everything human. You’ll love him.”

She frowned then. Shit. It had been a bad choice of words. She didn’t have to say anything for him to figure out she had a thing against vampires.

“Why did you ask about vampires being victims?”

Whoa. It might be more difficult than he’d thought to keep her in the dark.

“Checking out what side you’re playing on.” He shrugged. “You shouldn’t be a liaison, Valerie.”

Her eyes widened, and then she looked down at her clasped hands. “It’s Val.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And I know that.”

He hadn’t expected her to admit her prejudice, especially to him, but she did and had the grace to feel bad about it. Strange that she would take a job where she’d be in constant contact with the object of her bigotry. Something motivated her, and he needed to dig up some answers fast before she discovered something that could trigger war between humans and vampires, a war that would only amplify the growing hostilities between Legion and Dominorum. The ruling Dominorum caste would never hold the lesser Legion vampires under its thumb in the midst of such a conflict. That would be a bloody f*cking mess he’d do anything to prevent.

…

“Where do you suggest we begin?” Val asked.

“F*ck if I know. It’s your investigation. I’m just along for the ride.”

He turned from them and dropped into the corner of one of the sofas, his long legs sprawled out in front of him and his toned arm draped along the sofa back. Val wanted to punch a wall. He’d just proclaimed he could be helpful, but he was already acting like the roadblock she’d expected. Her exasperation grew when he said nothing more.

She raised an eyebrow, but he only grinned and patted the sofa cushion next to him. She perched instead on the sofa across the coffee table from him. Graham sat beside her, a tad too close. He looked like he’d tasted something rotten, and she tried not to let that please her.

“My office sent you the details of the case. Did you receive them?”

“I did.”

She sighed. “Well?” He smiled again, but said nothing. Her patience neared its limit. “Any impressions, thoughts, ideas?”

“Yes. Humans are brutal.”

“Kade, you know very well humans didn’t kill those people.”

“I know no such thing. Do you always jump to conclusions?”

“Dear Lord.” She rubbed her temples. “I follow the evidence. You know—proof. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”

The infuriating vampire laughed.

“Oh, stop it,” she said. “I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to spin me up. No matter what you do, I’m not calling Olen.”

Well, that worked. He made a frustrated sound low in his throat and leaned toward her. “Maybe I’m trying to shake you off that f*cking high horse, knock that pretty head clear so you’ll actually listen. I can’t help if you won’t listen.”

“I am listening.”

“No. You’re telling me how it is.”

Was he right? Possibly she may have missed something that he’d caught, but she couldn’t see how a human could cause the damage she had seen in the photos. Plus, the derangements were real and humans couldn’t create those. Still, she had to ask…

“Did you find evidence that humans did any of this?”

He took a long moment before he shook his head. “No.”

Unfortunately, Graham took this moment to chime in. “We have evidence of vampire involvement yet you continue to implicate humans. Who’s the one who needs a knock on the head?”

Val closed her eyes, wishing she could tape Graham’s mouth shut with his foot still in it. She stole a peek at Kade. He didn’t address Graham but stood, holding his gaze on her. Mortification sat hot in her cheeks.

Kade offered her his hand. She slid her hand into his as she stood. His skin felt unexpectedly warm and work-roughened. Not the cold, smooth hand she expected of a vampire prince.

“Mr. Rollins…”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Graham’s confused expression. He couldn’t help it—he was too new around the Dominorum to understand their power, and he’d probably misjudged Kade because of the plain, faded clothes the vampire wore. She’d tried to explain that he had to tread carefully in their presence—they were like grenades with the pin removed.

Of course, she’d said worse before realizing who Kade was.

“Kade,” he said. “For you, it’s Kade. Think about who among the Immortalis you’d like to interview, and come to me tomorrow evening.”

“We couldn’t get anything from them. Are you sure you can get them to talk?”

“I wouldn’t guess you’d give up so easily.” His smile softened his words. “I told you I can be quite helpful.”

“Good. I’m counting on it.” Reclaiming her composure, she backed away from him and pulled free from the compelling heat of his touch.

“Tomorrow evening, Val. Come to me.”

She nodded, shaking off yet another shiver. Come to me. The words whispered under her skin as she left the penthouse with Graham. Who was this adjuvant? Darkness lurked behind his eyes.

As she entered the elevator, she opened the pictures from Alice. They made her stomach riot. He did this to his subjugates, deformed and mutilated them, scarred them inside and out. The pictures didn’t fit with the vampire she’d just met. His language was distasteful, he had a short fuse, and he seemed more than capable of violence, but he’d done nothing to harm her or Graham despite their ignorant remarks. He’d shown nothing but restraint, and in fact, seemed willing to cooperate and contribute to her investigation.

“We should get someone else,” Graham said after they’d reached the lobby doors.

“You go ahead and call Olen, but he won’t change his mind once it’s made. He doesn’t make decisions lightly.” A parade of emotions crossed Graham’s face, but she couldn’t interpret any of them. “You know, I thought you were vampire-happy.”

“Not with him.” He scowled. “He looked at you like he could eat you whole.” His voice was as bitterly cold as the night air. They walked at a brisk pace to one of the available cabs at the curb. The fog of his breath brought to mind fire from an angry dragon, but his manner gentled when he opened the cab door and guided her in. “I don’t like it. I don’t like him.”

It didn’t matter how either of them felt. They didn’t have a choice as to who they could work with. With a sigh, she relaxed against the seat and waited for the customary adrenaline shakes. And waited.

They never came.