Page 63 of Infernal Hearts

I felt like shit all last night—physically and mentally. Rubbing my shoulders where my muscles expanded when I transformed should help, but I can’t work out the knots on my own. Even my forehead aches from where my horns sprouted. Morphing has never been my favorite thing to do. The pain that comes after is almost never worth it.

Well, most times. It was worth saving Jay.

My muscles aren’t just aching from the transformation, though. Jason gave me a hell of a workout, and I’m craving more.

I’m lost in thought, sitting on the couch with Jason. I hope he won’t notice how distracted I am.

He lays back and looks at the ceiling. “That house call was a lot.”

“Sounds like it. But it all worked out in the end, right?”

He turns his head toward me and lets out a sigh of relief. “Couldn’t have been better.”

I nudge him with my shoulder. “I’m glad. But back to the search—have the police called you with any information?”

Jay’s mouth forms a plastic smile. “No, because it’s a closed investigation and Detective Rhodes is a dickwad who’s probably too busy watching NASCAR rallies and eating Twinkies.”

“Ah. I see.”

He holds his head up with his fist and fidgets. “I gave up hope on them days ago.”

I can sympathize with his frustration—I wish I were closer to finding Dane, too. “Maybe they aren’t as behind as they say they are. I have an idea.”

“Which would be?”

I lean toward him. “How would you feel about a field trip to the police station?”

“Very funny. They’re not going to give us anything.”

“I have my methods of persuasion.” My eyes flash with magic for a split second.

His mouth tightens into a firm line. “I wouldn’t normally be okay with this, but they kind of brought it on themselves.”

“Excellent! Let’s go.”

We get into the truck and head to town. I quickly get lost in thought as we turn onto the main road.

“You’re not usually this quiet.” He flips his turn signal and pulls on the wheel. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Lie. “Nothing at all.” Total lie.

He shrugs halfheartedly and smiles politely. “If you say so. But I have a feeling this has something to do with last night.”

Do I just take the chance and tell him? What’s the worst that could happen? “Just thinking. I had an amazing time. And I want to do it again.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” I may have said that a little too quickly. “And I’m not just being polite. That was some of the best sex I’ve ever had.”

A redness crosses his face along with a cute little smirk. “Honestly, keep talking like this and I’ll start to think you have a thing for me.”

“I—” My words fail me, taking a second to collect my thoughts. “Would it be so bad if I do?”

He chews the inside of his cheek for a moment. “Whatever you want to call it. But I foresee this getting messy.”

This is going better than I expected. “With those beautiful brown eyes? Let’s let the psychic do the foreseeing.”

The time limit on the deal is halfway through, and I don’t think that I’m any closer to finding my brother. I’m not even sure he can actually keep helping.

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