Part 3 (1/2)
Caden was curious why Bram stayed on the Council, likely enduring one frustration after another. But it was none of Caden's affair. He didn't want to become more entangled in the magical world. Already, he was in too deep.
”You'll come to a.s.sist with the diary once you've helped the victims of the latest attack?”
”As soon as I can,” Bram said. ”Keep working on Sydney Blair.” Caden could think of any number of ways in which he'd like to work on Sydney. Completely naked with her on her back, came immediately to mind. But that couldn't happen. Now he needed to focus on his brother. ”I will.”
CHAPTER TWO.
CADEN RANG OFF WITH Bram just before Sydney's door burst open. In walked the source of his frustrations and fantasies, carrying the little red book.
A fresh wave of l.u.s.t blazed across his senses. An electric pulse revved down his spine, shuddered across his skin. He burned with need. What the devil was wrong with him? Lately, he'd felt . . . off. Tired one minute, wired the next. His senses quickened, his fingertips tingled. The odd sweating out of nowhere . . .
b.l.o.o.d.y awful, but it fit with his libido being ever ready.
What ailed him? A frustrating mission? The redheaded dynamo who drove him beyond sanity? Yes to both. The stress wasn't helping. And he missed his job and his adopted home in Dallas, away from all this hocus-pocus. But he feared the problem's true cause was magic. The urge to flee before it ripped away another loved one loomed large.
”What is it, MacTavish?” She thrust one hand on her hip. The other held the Doomsday Diary casually.
G.o.d, if she had any idea what that book could do . . . he had to wrest it from her as quickly as possible.
Surrept.i.tiously, he withdrew his mobile phone from his belt, pretending to sort through the menus.
Quickly, he snapped a picture.
”Hey!” she protested.
”Sorry. New phone. Was trying to silence it. Still learning.” She paused. ”What do you want? If you've no need to talk, I have a pub stool and a pint waiting for me.”
She was in a snit. Caden hoped she wasn't angry that he'd dismissed Jamie. The thought that she might have any interest in that knuckle-dragger made him grind his teeth.
”Right, then. I have some questions.”
”Shocking.” She crossed the room, slim hips swaying.
A caustic Sydney was a dazzling sight. He shouldn't stare, but she'd snared him from the first, dug under his skin. Pink tinged her fair face, and her auburn hair tumbled across her shoulders. Those flas.h.i.+ng brown eyes were a sucker punch to his gut.
Don't think about her. Think smart. Think mission.
He'd rather think about having her naked underneath him.
”I'll get to the point.”
”Lovely.”
Sydney stood her ground and stared back with admirable moxie for someone who didn't reach his chin.
She defended her stories with considerable pa.s.sion and wit, fighting back when things got rough. The fact she was also smart and s.e.xy made her d.a.m.n near impossible to resist.
”But let me first say,” she went on. ”If you're going to warn me about the evils of Jamie, I'm a big girl.” He hadn't planned on it, but since she'd brought it up. . . .”Are you actually interested in him?” She shrugged defensively. ”Why do you care?”
The possibility drove him mad. He'd never been jealous of such a w.a.n.ker. He'd never been jealous, period. Splendid, a new low for him. And if the truth slipped out, she would know he wanted her in his bed, her nails in his back, screaming his name. She'd given off clues that she felt similarly, so revealing his desire would be a match on kindling. Still, he must have latent m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic tendencies because the urge to tell Sydney in excruciating detail exactly how he wanted her bombarded him. But if he let himself be distracted, he might never find Anka. And his brother could pa.s.s to his nextlife.
”It's none of my business, I grant you. We've been working together just a few days, and I don't know you well. But I think you can do better.”
Sydney c.o.c.ked her head. ”Are you offering?”
Caden's heart skipped a beat before blasting into a furious rhythm. Though every muscle in his body tensed at her suggestion, he doubted Sydney knew how close she was to feeling her desk against her back.
”I'm merely saying that you're a beautiful, talented woman. You deserve more.” Sydney looked at him from beneath the veil of her ginger-shaded lashes. Cunning shone in those brown eyes. And desire. The seductive sight was a blow to his gut. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, that was the kind of look that made him ache to give her everything she desired.
”Why do you care?”
The truth would land them both in trouble. ”If Jamie turns out to be an ax murderer, I'm out of a job.” Sydney rolled her eyes. ”Prat. I'm leaving. On Monday, we'll continue with the magical battle story. I might have the needed facts by then.”
He tensed, but did his best to act casually. ”You'll be talking to your source over the weekend?”
”Perhaps. It depends on how willing she is to talk.” Not only did Caden need to find out if Anka was her source, he feared that Syndey's stories made her a target for Mathias. Now that she had the Doomsday Diary, he worried even more.
”I have a great deal of experience at extracting information from interview subjects. If you brought me along-”
”Nice try, but no. Besides, I'm not certain she'll emerge from hiding.”
”I'll protect her, if that's her concern.” And you.
She waved his suggestion away. ”You can't, not against magic. But this conversation leads me to wonder . . . if you have so much experience back in the States working for a 'reputable' paper, why have you chosen to work for Out of This Realm ?”
Clever. Caden wasn't surprised she was questioning his cover. Maddened . . . but not surprised.
”As I mentioned when I started Monday, my brother is ill and requires my care. I don't know how long he'll need me, and a man has to make a living.”
”Indeed. What ails him again?”
Explaining mate mourning to a human? A definite no-no. ”His physicians aren't certain, so I may be here for some time. While here, I could be very beneficial to you.” Beneficial, indeed. Sydney could picture it. Craved it, in fact. But if he was interested in anything beyond a platonic working relations.h.i.+p, he was doing a b.l.o.o.d.y good job of hiding it.
”I'll keep that in mind,” she said finally. ”I'm off for the weekend. Ta ta.” She turned to go, but he grabbed her arm. His hand felt warm, large. Real honest-to-goodness tingles shot through her body as he swung her around.
”Wait! The continuation of the battle in the tunnel, will you run that story next week?” She drew in a shaky breath. ”If my source talks more over the weekend, I might have enough information. If not, I have a list of related stories I may be able to flesh out. Holly says circulation is up, and readers are eager for more about magickind.”
”Let me help you. Please.”
”Because . . . ?”
”Your work is fascinating.”
Really? He usually seemed annoyed. ”Why aren't you interested in my other stories?”
”Cheeseburger-addicted alien attacks London McDonald's? Stonehenge vandalized by ghosts? A vicar's conversation with Kurt Cobain?”