Page 19 of Touch of Evil

She reaches for me, her two delicate hands giving mine a squeeze, and Jesus God, it’s all I can do not to have sex with her against the building.

My neck practically creaks with how slow I swivel my head. Strands of her long, blond hair spill away from the clip to skim her shoulders and face, that same face I touched and kissed not long ago. Why did I have to kiss her? Now, I just want to kiss her more.

“You’re doing great,” she says. She smiles apologetically. “I just don’t move as fast as you. Maybe it will be better if we take an Uber?”

“Werewolves don’t Uber,” I practically snarl.

Any human would run away screaming. Emme just smiles. She knows I’d never hurt her.

“Then we’ll walk,” she says. She glances down at our hands and gives another squeeze. “I think I can keep up if you help.” She loses her smile. “Just don’t let me go, okay?”

I swallow hard. “I won’t,” I promise.

It takes some doing to slow down. Hell, it takes some doing to breathe normally with Emme this close. We reach the next block. I’m moving fast, just not so fast that she can’t keep up.

“There’s something we need to talk about,” she says.

Shit. Here we go.

Why’d you kiss me, Bren?

Why are you such a slut, Bren?

Can I straddle you in the next side street, Bren?

Oh, Bren. Oh,Bren.Oh, Bren!

I’ll admit, the last few thoughts may have been uncalled for.

“There was something with us in Ted’s apartment,” Emme says. “Something that wasn’t human.”

I stop so fast, Emme loses her footing. I steady her just before she topples over. “And you’re just telling me this now?” I ask.

Her cheeks flush pink. “I was sort of distracted back at the bar.”

Because my tongue was waving hello to your tonsils? I can respect that.

She clears her throat, but not her blush. I move us further down the street, trying to give her a minute. “Ted didn’t seem to notice. But the otherweresin his complex did. When I left Ted’s apartment, a few sensed it and went after it.”

A couple walking their dog on the opposite street looks over at us when their little pup yips and barks hello. I ignore her and press Emme for more. “Is the complex called the Garden Center?”

“Yes,” she says.

“Figures,” I say. “That’s where we’re headed. It’s where theweres, the ones I’m guessing went after that thing, are with Ted.”

“I thought you said he was ripped to pieces,” she says slowly.

“Oh, he was,” I assure her. “Thewereswere nice enough to shove him into some sandwich bags.”

My tidbit of knowledge doesn’t go over well with Emme. “Did I say sandwich bags? I meant freezer size—the ones with the zipper lock,” I add, hoping it makes her feel better. “They store body parts nicely.”

Emme tries to swallow but doesn’t quite make it. “I’ll bet,” she says.

“Tell me more,” I say. “What feel did you get from that presence?Were, witch, ghoul?”

She makes a face. “A touch of evil,” she replies.

“A touch?” I repeat.

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