The Immortal Hunter(38)

"Fitting," Justin said with amusement. "It was a fast-food restaurant after all."

Decker hardly heard him. His eyes were shifting between Dani's face and her chest. He was hesitant to touch her while she was unconscious, but it would just take a second to pop her breast back in her bra, and he feared she'd be embarrassed if she woke up and noticed it herself. Besides, maybe if he tucked it back in she'd think the whole thing had been some erotic dream... including the bite part.

Not that Decker wanted her to forget their moments of passion. It was mostly the part when he'd sunk his teeth into her neck and sucked out her lifeblood that he wouldn't mind her forgetting. He suspected she was going to be pissed at him again when she remembered that, and deservedly so, he thought soberly as he took in her pallor and unconscious state.

Decker cast a glance toward Justin to be sure he wasn't looking, then leaned forward and quickly lifted her T-shirt. He'd intended to just tuck her back into the silky cloth and then lower it again. It didn't quite work out that way. First, the sight of her naked breast was just too fascinating to cover right away. Decker found himself just sitting there staring at it for a moment, before his good sense reminded him of Justin's presence. He glanced to him to be sure Justin was still watching the road, and then reached out to perform the tucking part.

"You're awfully quiet back there. What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Decker said, jerking guiltily upright without the tucking. He met Justin's gaze in the mirror and scowled. "Watch the road."

"Yes, boss," Justin said dryly, and shook his head as he turned his attention forward again.

Decker waited to be sure he continued to watch the road and then turned back to Dani, scowling when he saw that in his panic not to be caught groping an unconscious woman, he'd left her slumped there with her T-shirt still up.

Muttering under his breath, Decker leaned forward and grasped the edge of the bra cup, only to release it and snap upright with alarm when Justin spoke again.

"What's wrong? What are you doing back there?"

"Nothing," he said innocently. "Why?"

"Because you keep muttering and bending over Dani like there's something wrong. Is she all right? You didn't kill her, did you?" Apparently unable to see her in the mirror, he twisted his head around, trying to get a look at her.

"Goddammit, Justin! Eyes on the road," Decker snarled, shifting to block his view of Dani. "I'm just... checking her pulse."

When Justin turned around again, Decker immediately turned to Dani to tuck her back in her bra before quickly dragging her T-shirt into place. He then sank back on his side of the bench seat with a sigh, relieved to have the task done with until Justin said, "I got news for you, Decker. You don't take a mortars pulse from the boob."

Decker sat up and met his gaze in the mirror with alarm.

"Oh, settle down. Your mind's an open book at the moment, remember?" Justin said, rolling his eyes when his gaze met Decker's in the rearview mirror. "I know you weren't groping her."

Decker slumped back again with relief.

"Even though you really wanted to," Justin added with amusement.

Decker scowled at the back of his head, considering what physical violence he could perform on the man without causing an accident.

"None," Justin said, obviously still reading his thoughts. "Besides, we're here."

Decker immediately peered out the front windshield at the scene ahead. They were pulling into the parking garage and he could see three SUVs parked side-by-side near the back, but not a single person around. He let his breath out on a sigh, knowing this couldn't be good.

Dani woke slowly from a rather pleasant dream in which she and Stephanie were walking down a flowered path. She was smiling at the memory of it as she stretched in bed. Then she opened her eyes, and the smile was replaced by a frown as she found herself in a barren, cream-colored room that held nothing but the bed she lay on. While it was a large, comfortable bed with fresh, fluffy pillows and sheets that were obviously new and still creased from being packaged, it also rested on the floor without a frame to support it.

Sitting up, Dani peered around with confusion and then pushed the sheets aside. She paused as she realized she wore only her panties... and didn't recall undressing. The last thing she remembered was-Dani stiffened as the last day's events washed through her mind, a kaleidoscope of bright, sparkling memories of a happy, sunny day with her family, followed by dark terror and anxiety that finished with an almost equally dark and desperate passion.

Dani pushed herself off the mattress and glanced around frantically for her clothes. Relief slid through her when she saw that they lay folded in a neat little stack on the floor. She quickly donned them, and then hesitated, her gaze moving to the windows. Not a single one had any kind of covering on it.

Hoping she might at least get some idea of where she was by looking outside, Dani walked to the closest one and found herself peering out on a balcony. This room was on the second floor, and a long terrace appeared to run the length of the building. Anyone walking along it could have watched her sleeping, but she didn't see anyone about, and Dani turned her attention to what lay beyond it. The backyard, she assumed, if it could even be called a backyard. The house was on a slight hill that ran for about a hundred feet. It was covered with grass and had several shady trees, as well as a little pagoda. Beyond those first hundred feet, however, was also what appeared to be a landing strip for airplanes that ran straight out between two lush green fields of what might have been soy. Dani took in the sight with awe and a little alarm. There must have been a hundred acres of field spread out before her on either side of the airstrip, and all of it was bordered by woods.