She glanced over at him, aware that he was watching her closely, his gaze hooded, his body tense. Was he aroused as well? Was he tormented by the same desire she was? One as confusing as it was strong?
She gave herself a mental shake before confronting both men.
"Now what?" She leaned against the counter and sipped at her coffee as they stared back at her.
Lance got to his feet with a sigh. "I have to get back to the office. " The coward. He wasn't even going to hang around for whatever fireworks he expected to result from their discussion. "You're off today. I'll see both of you in the office in the morning_"
"No. She's off indefinitely. " Braden spoke as though his word were law. Her eyes narrowed at the tone, her lips flattening in irritation as she glared back at him.
"That is my job," she snapped. "I can't just lie around_"
"Your job is to stay alive. " He walked over to the coffeepot to refill his cup. Megan made certain she moved far enough away to keep from so much as brushing against him. "We'll get organized and see if we can figure out what the hell is going on. You're the link_" The look he gave her when he turned back was hard, cold. "That means you have the answers. "
Which made sense. But that didn't mean she had to like it.
She glanced at Lance then, noting the tension in his muscular body, the merciless anger that glittered in his blue eyes. Damn, she was glad she wasn't feeling that. She couldn't have handled it. It destroyed her, the fear and worry that filled her family because of the job she had fought for so desperately and the weakness the empathy caused within her.
"Well. " She breathed out roughly, containing the shiver that worked up her spine. "So much for our complaints that Broken Butte is too quiet. "
Lance snorted at that.
"Those are your complaints, Meg. Not mine. I had enough excitement when I worked in Chicago," he snapped.
He was angry. Really angry this time. She stared at his closed expression, the haunted pain in his eyes, and felt her chest tighten.
"I'm sorry. " She stared back at him directly, hating the fact that he was worried enough about her to be so furious.
"Darnmit, Meg, I don't blame you. " He reached out, his arm looping around her shoulders as he pulled her close for a brief, hard embrace.
"Check in on schedule," he told her roughly then. "And watch your butt. "
She hugged him back. Hard. Then watched as he left the house. For some unexplained and upsetting reason, his touch rattled her. As though her body was faintly protesting, uncomfortable with the once comforting embrace of the cousin who was more like a big brother.
She listened until the sound of his Raider faded into the distance, leaving a deafening, tension-filled silence between her and the Feline watching her closely. She turned to look at him, seeing the curious gleam in his eyes, the quizzical look on his face.
"What?' she asked with mock impatience, controlling her breathing, mainly to control the abrasion of her sensitive nipples against her lace bra. What the hell was wrong with her? She had never been aroused by so little in her life.
He inhaled slowly. What the hell was he sniffing for?
"Nothing. " He finally shook his head slowly. "Get ready. I want to make a trip back out to the gully to look around and I want you to stick close. From now on, baby, just call me your shadow. "
"Puss in Boots. " She glanced at the boots. The man had some fine legs in between, too.
Tension filled the air. It wasn't angry tension; it was hot, blistering in intensity. He set his coffee cup on the counter, moving closer, his shoulder brushing against hers as he passed her, moved behind her.
Megan stood completely still, feeling the displacement of the air around her, the way he moved, turning until his chest nearly touched her back, his breath wafting over her sensitive earlobe.
"You know, Meg," he breathed out softly, his voice rough, growling,
"you'll call me that one time too many, and then I'll have to show you which of us belongs on top. And it isn't you, sweetheart. I'd be careful pushing me, if I were you. The scent of that sweet, hot little pussy has my mouth watering and my cock pounding. I might show you not just who belongs on top, but exactly how a Breed teaches dominance to his woman. "
She felt herself pale then flush, her eyes widening at the realization that he could actually smell her arousal. That he knew she was wet, hot. Ready to take him. That he fascinated her more than any man ever had. It was a fascination that scared her to death.
"Get your vaccinations first,'' she snapped, moving away from him, covering her embarrassment with snide anger rather than dissolving in his arms the way she wanted to. She would be damned if she would. Just what the hell she needed—the hots for a Breed, and he hadn't even kissed her yet. Could life get more complicated, please?
"Megan, the snide Breed remarks don't become you," he finally chastised her as she moved to place more distance between them. He only followed her. Stalking her. "If you want to insult me baby, then keep it personal. ''
He was right, her insults weren't fair. Megan turned her back on him, forcing herself to breathe, to find just a moment of stability amid the conflicting needs surging through her. She wanted him so badly the ache was a pit of fiery longing in her womb. She had forced herself to keep