Where Darkness Lives (Guardians of Eternity #7.75)(8)

A glance at the flashing ID and he grimaced, knowing he couldn’t ignore the call.

Turning up the car stereo, he put the phone to his ear. There were too many demons with superior hearing to take chances.

“What’s up?” he demanded, sighing at his caller’s response. “Sí. I’m headed back to her house now.” His jaw tightened. “No, she doesn’t suspect anything. Not yet. But she’s too smart for me to fool for long.” There was another burst of sharp words. “Yeah, I got it. I’ll keep in touch.”

Tossing his phone into the passenger seat, Luc parked his car at the end of the tree-lined street. Then, briefly considering the benefits of shifting, he gave a shake of his head and jogged toward Sophia’s house.

He’d already called his wolf to search the office building. His human form couldn’t begin to match his wolf senses, but while he was stronger than most Weres, he didn’t want to waste unnecessary energy.

Not when he couldn’t be certain he wouldn’t need to protect Sophia.

Reaching the nearly half acre of parkland surrounding Sophia’s house, he did a swift search of the grounds, including the pool house, before entering her home through the patio doors.

He’d checked through her living room, a guest bedroom, and the fully equipped gym before heading to the kitchen.

Not surprisingly, he found Sophia leaning against the marble counter, her arms folded across her chest. She would have sensed him the moment he entered her yard.

Halting in the center of the ceramic-tiled floor, Luc allowed his gaze to run over her slender body barely covered by a lacy red camisole and matching silk shorts.

He bit back a growl, his gaze lifting to the beautiful face framed by the pale golden hair.

The lust he didn’t mind. What male wouldn’t be hot and bothered by the sight of a gorgeous, half-naked female?

But the sense of recognition from his wolf, as if she ... belonged to him, was unnerving.

Especially when the emerald eyes were glowing with a warning that was far from welcoming.

“Do your duties include breaking and entering?”

He deliberately glanced toward the door leading from the breakfast nook onto the patio. A dew fairy could break the flimsy-ass lock.

“No, but they include an inspection of your alarm system.”

She snorted. “I’m a pure-blooded Were. That’s all the alarm system I need.”

Scowling at her nonchalant tone, he turned back with a glare of frustration.

Dios.

Did she know how her seeming lack of concern was challenging his wolf to do whatever necessary to protect her?

“Obviously not if some lunatic has managed to wander around your place without getting caught,” he growled.

“The lunatic always trespassed when I was at the club.” She allowed her gaze to drift down to his heavy boots and back to his narrowed eyes. “At least until tonight.”

“You need an alarm system.”

She heaved a purely feminine sigh of exasperation at his stubborn expression.

“Did you find anything at the office building?”

He moved past her to open the fridge and pulled out a bottle of perfectly chilled beer. Twisting off the cap, he downed half of it in one swallow.

“I found that the secretary from the insurance claims company is staying late to burn the midnight oil with the janitor.”

“Midnight oil?”

He smiled. “And that the loan officer is sleeping on the couch in his office. No doubt his wife kicked him out.”

Her gaze lingered a tantalizing moment on his lips before she was visibly squaring her shoulders.

“Fascinating.”

“That was just the first floor.”

“Did you find any clues that might lead us to my stalker?”

“Nothing.” He polished off the beer and tossed the bottle into the recycle bin. “Which means they’re very, very good. Or very, very lucky.”

“So you basically have jack squat?”

He ignored her taunt, moving until he could grasp the counter on either side of her hips, effectively trapping her.

He was going to get answers.

One way or another.

“Actually, I have a question.”

She stiffened, her power swirling through the air. Oddly, however, she made no move to shove him away.

“Let me get this straight,” she mocked instead. “You break into my house at an ungodly hour. You help yourself to my private stash of imported beer. Now, having absolutely zero information for me, you expect me to play Twenty Questions.” She tilted her chin. “And, for the true cherry topper, I’m supposed to pay you a weekly wage for the privilege?”

His gaze swept down to the delectable glimpse of her br**sts beneath the red lace.

“Yeah, but I’ll throw in the night of mind-blowing sex for free.”

He heard her heart miss a beat, the scent of her ready response more enticing than any perfume.

Still she held herself rigid, clearly as wary as he was by the potent force of their attraction.

“What’s your question?” she asked huskily.

“Tell me what you’re hiding from me.”

Her eyes widened before she was hastily smoothing her expression.

“Hiding?” She lifted her brow, trying to brazen her way past his question. “What the hell makes you think that I’m hiding something?”