Page 45 of Bad Moon Rising
He pulled an iPad out of a drawer in the kitchen and opened an app. After moving the iPad over her body to scan, he announced, “You’re not transmitting.”
“What does that mean?”
“You don’t have an implanted chip on you that’s transmitting a signal.”
“Guess that’s good. Weird and unnerving that it’s possible, but okay. You’re leaving the iPad?”
He clicked open an app that had a pirate-style picture of a skull and crossbones. “I’m wiping its memory.” He glanced up to find her cringing. “It’s just a thing. It’s replaceable and not important. I’m not a fan of technology, anyway.”
He dropped her phone and stomped on it with his heel. No small feat to destroy the little unit, but he managed it.
The demolished plastic and metal pieces felt like he’d shattered her only link to her old life.
He said, “It doesn’t have answers. We can’t run risks when Antonio is involved. What if he’s the one who gave the phone to you to begin with? That twisted bastard might play a game like that.”
“I get it. But I say if you think he knows more, let’s capture him and torture the truth out of him.”
“I like the thought, but he’s too dangerous for that.”
She touched her face as if self-conscious. “Should I wear the scarf again?”
“Yes.” He grabbed his duffle bag off the floor near the sofa and met her at the door after she’d changed.
They slipped out the back of the apartment building and caught a cab.
“Where are we going?”
“North. To get answers.”
Chapter Twelve
Nova slept through the entire ninety-minute flight to Inverness and all but the last few minutes of the two-hour car ride over small country roads. Roman moved the blanket that had slipped down back over her. With each hour of sleep, her skin healed. The remarkable healing capacity of their species never ceased to astound him.
He believed her amnesia, although it made no sense she’d been sent to seek him out. Whoever sent her had to realize there was a high chance he’d be ordered to eliminate her—given her past and the fact that the royals didn’t want anyone hanging around the Crown’s wolves for too long. A good assassin would disappear and be gone forever, not return to him after committing another murder. Guess he believed her when she said she’d been abducted.
How many men had she slept with before she lost her memory? He liked the idea of her not remembering anyone but him. Okay, that was a random and dangerous line of thinking.
But she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and if he was completely honest, he wanted one night with her, kill order or not. Maybe it was the effects of the full moon, coming soon.
By the time the sun sat high in the sky, he pulled up to a gated road far south of Inverness. He fingered the address he’d jotted down on a torn piece of paper and double-checked one more time that he’d punched it into the rental car’s navigation system correctly.
The gate wasn’t much more than a rickety wooden barrier surrounded by an overgrowth of vines. No lock. Looked as if his car could drive through it.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and she gave him the most brilliant smile. It was as if seeing him lit up her world. No one had ever looked at him like that. He found his lips twitching to return the smile.
“We’re here?” She glanced out the window. Her hand ran up his arm. “Thanks for driving.”
She couldn’t touch him like this. Its effect rippled up his arm and down his abdomen, straight to his dick. He had to keep this under control. No losing focus.
She frowned and lifted her hand off him. “Am I making you nervous? I swear I promise not to tear off your clothes. I might want to. I might have imagined it.” She rolled her eyes heavenward. “I dreamed of you naked and the moon high in the sky. It was a delicious dream. The things you did on the beach… I don’t think I’ve ever had such a vivid dream. Or maybe I have. I can see you’re thinking sand would be a problem, but don’t worry there was a towel. Damn, I’m babbling. This feels more me, though.” She compressed her lips and twitched them back and forth.
Really freaking adorable.
She said, “Not good to talk about hot sex on a beach in the moonlight? Got it. I’ll try to navigate platonic waters. But…” She bit her lip and scanned down his body. “There’s this thing between us—pheromones or something. Whatever it is, I’ve experienced it since I first saw you. Maybe we’re just two people starved for sex, or maybe I’m alone in the sexual deprivation department.”
He was dying. Literally dying.
“Moon madness,” he muttered.
