Page 21 of Tooth and Nail

“I understand,” the king said. “Again, I’m really sorry I behaved the way I did with you. You were only doing your job,Sapphire,” he said, looking at him with smoldering, dark eyes. A small smile turned up at the corners of his mouth showing just a hint of fang. “That’s a very pretty name to match a very pretty man.”

Eoghan smiled. “Are you flirting with me, Your Highness?”

“How did you know?” John asked.

Eoghan chuckled as he led him out of interrogation where he met Ari, who happened to be waiting for him in the hall. “This is my partner, Aristotle Brown.”

“Nice to meet you, Deputy. I’d shake your hand but I can’t at the moment,” John said, looking Ari up and down. “Well, well, I think I should have visited Los Angeles and the I.S.R. before now if all the men who work here are as beautiful as you two.”

“Aw, come on, Your Highness…you’re gonna make me blush,” Ari said, falling into step on the other side of the king as they led him back to the elevator.

“You know my mate was dark like you,” King John said. “Smooth, chocolate brown skin that tasted of springtime.”

Ari chuckled. “Oh, yeah? Well…my last boyfriend was lily white like you, Your Highness.”

John laughed softly. “How delicious you are.”

Eoghan’s ears perked up as he inwardly groaned.Fuck. His new partner was gay. They took the elevator back downstairs and left John in Charlie’s capable hands before going back to the chief’s office. As he knocked on her door, his stomach growled. He glanced at Ari when the man chuckled.

“Hopefully, this won’t take long,” he said. “Should have got a sandwich too.”

“Come in!” she called from inside.

They walked into the stark white office, settling into the chairs in front of her desk as she looked at her messages.

“Okay, how’d it go with Derwin?” she asked, glancing up.

They gave her a quick rundown of the whole incident, ending with the fact that he was getting showered and served sugared drinks down in the basement. And that they’d left the cleanup scene in the hands of McGillis’ sanitizing team.”

“Good,” the chief said. “You did a very good job with him, Sapphire, but then again, you always do.” She turned to look at Ari. “How’d you do with your first incident, Brown? Do you like the job so far?”

“Eoghan did the majority of the work with Derwin but then again, the shifter is a hell of a nice guy with a really interesting background.”

She turned to look at Eoghan. “Background?”

Eoghan couldn’t help but grin. “The whole Derwin inventing the personal computer thing is what he’s talking about, I think?” He turned to see Ari nodding with wide eyes before looking back at the chief. “Brown has good instincts.”

“That’s good to hear,” she said, looking pleased with them both. She turned back to Ari. “Good job with Derwin.”

“I was an observer with a bangstick and that’s about it, Chief. I think we kept the peace and that’s about all I can say. This whole job is a little strange to be honest. I don’t mean that in a bad way. In answer to your other question, I really like what I’m doing, although our fugitives and WITSEC protectees aren’t exactly what I’m used to. And that guy, Charlie called Carmine, down in the prison? Yeah, that’s a little harder to take.”

She laughed. “Oh, yes, well, thatguyas you call him is one of the oddest aliens I’ve ever seen. Even the ship he crashed in is shaped like an ammonite.”

“I don’t know what that is, ma’am,” Ari said.

“Have you ever seen those curled up shell fossils?” Eoghan asked.

“Oh, yeah. That’s an ammonite?”

“Yes,” the chief said.

“Okay.” Ari held out both hands, palms up. “See? That kind of shit…ah…stuff is fascinating. I really like this job so far.”

She smiled, nodding her head. “Well, that’s good, Brown.” She stood, and Eoghan and Ari also got to their feet. “Why don’t you show your new partner the rest of the facility and then…” She paused and glanced at her watch before looking back up. “It’s nearly three in the afternoon. You know what, after the tour, you can both leave. We started before dawn today and I know you haven’t taken a break for lunch.” She looked at Ari under her long lashes. “And you need to decompress, Brown. This was a long day, and you still haveTorchwoodhomework,” she said, pointing to his jacket.

“Yes, ma’am,” Ari said.

Eoghan frowned. “What about Derwin’s debrief?”

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