Page 9 of Countdown to Murder
I can’t remember the last time I was speechless, but I couldn’t respond. Couldn’t shake my head. Couldn’t pull air into my lungs. My dick wanted to sink into her in the worst sort of way, and I knew she was off limits for this op, but I’d expected to make a play for her when it was over. It meant we likely wouldn’t be sent out togetheragain, but I was okay with that if it meant she was going to be in my bed.
My head shook before I could stop it. “How did the vampires come to this conclusion?”
“Vampire venom, or whatever they use to arouse, and even to give an orgasm, did nothing for me. They could dull the pain of the bite, but they couldn’t bring up any sexual arousal. Also, apparently they can make it hurt worse, usually, and that didn’t work for me either, but they said that’s also tied into sex, somehow.”
“Have you experimented in other ways?”
“No.”
So, maybe she was just immune to their venom, though if that’s normal for king cobra shifters, you’d think Kendra and Abbott would be old enough to have encountered this problem before.
“Perhaps you should consider doing so at some point. When our op is over, I’ll even volunteer to help you out, if you’re comfortable enough with me by then.”
Technically, I’d just violated company policy even by saying that much, but I didn’t give a fuck.
Chapter Four
Mira
I called Fawn on my way home and got her assistant. I let him know I needed a few minutes of Fawn’s time before I got on a plane, and he promised to let her know.
By the time I walked into my bedroom, I had a mental list of the outfits I needed to pack and the weapons I wanted to bring. My Sig was in the belly band around my waist, and since we’d be flying on a Drake company plane, it would stay there. I put my smallest Ruger into an ankle holster, and then pulled my shirt off, put my shoulder rig on, and slid my seven-inch knife and extra ammo into it. The knife is a double-edged blade and is usually a last-resort weapon. If I run out of ammo, I have a small sword at my back, basically. The blade is seven and a quarter inches, and with the handle, it’s fourteen inches long, but it’s narrow and it goes down my spine and I’m used to it.
I added a holster to the front of the shoulder rig and slid my forty-five into it under my left arm. It was autumn and a little chilly, so the weapon would be under a shirt and a jacket. It’s huge on me, but I’d wear it on the outside of my thigh once we arrived and I was on duty. The extra firepower would be worth dealing with the weight and mass. Also, it’s easier to deal with weapons when worn open. Concealed carry can be a bitch when you weigh eighty-five pounds and have twenty pounds of weapons on you.
Finally, a folding knife and a tiny flashlight went into the right pocket of my black dress pants. I slid my arms into a black silk dress shirt and buttoned it over the shoulder rig, and a black suit jacket went over everything. The silk shirt gathered around the pants but didn’t tuck, so I could easily get to the weapon and extra magazines in my belly band. I tossed my external holster rig into my suitcase, and then did a practice run, quick-drawing every weapon on me and then putting it back.
And then I got serious about packing. More black pants, black dress shirts, and two more black jackets were put into a garment bag. Fashionable jeans and shirts went into the suitcase, along with a white miniskirt and a half-dozen pairs of shoes and boots. I felt Fawn coming, and I opened the door for her.
What was this?I asked, and thought back to the way my genitals had felt.
My dear, you were horny.She paused a few seconds.A lion? Interesting.
But I’m asexual. I can’t have been horny!
She gave me an affectionate smile.It would appear you just needed the right stimulus.
I’mworkingwith him. I have to be professional. How do I keep this from happening again?
She chuckled. “If you were anyone else, I’d say you can’t, but with your willpower, you might manage it. Try focusing on something logical — complex math might work for you. Honestly, though, I’d love for you to experience sex. If you get a chance, you should go for it. I’ll let Marcus know what’s up, so if you need to call him, he’ll be up to speed.”
Marcus is my therapist, and I came to a full stop and stared at her. “Why will I need to call him?”
“Sex might bring emotions forward that you haven’t experienced before. Or it might not. There’s no way to know beforehand.”
“I don’t want to addmoreemotions. What I’ve experienced is plenty.”
“Do you remember when you didn’t want to care about me, and how hard it was to let me in?”
I nodded.
“Since then, you’ve let others in and allowed them to be your friends, too.”
“And then my friends were slaughtered in the battle and it hurt like fuck. I’m not making new friends.”
“Yes, you will. You already have. I’ve seen you with some of the new members of the flock. You don’t live with them anymore, and yet you still spend time with them and make sure they’re okay. And you know I’m aware you risked your own life to save the few humans in the flock who survived.”
I stared at her, and she shrugged. “It’s harder to let someone in when you love them, rather than merely like them. Romantic love is scary. Don’t be a coward and push it away because you’re afraid. Face it head-on.” She blew out a breath. “And warn the lion that if he isn’t gentle with you for your first time, I’ll rip him to pieces.”
