Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(65)

"Desert Gall has hired people to hunt you down. I don't want to have to deal with that on top of everything else. Plus, this is her home turf, which means she already has the advantage. We don't want to hand her another one by announcing our presence."

I sighed in agreement. We were seated inside a plush Bentley - I hadn't asked where he'd gotten it, I was just glad it wasn't a sedan - and were creaking down the highway. He was treating the car like a beloved virgin, taking things slow and gentle.

My cell rested beside me. There were three messages waiting for my response: one from the pastor presiding over the ceremony-that-may-never-happen, one from Memory Man - "I had fun with you yesterday. You're prettier in person than you are in memory" - and one from Reese the vampire. "Call me. Please," he'd said, sounding oddly desperate. "I need to do another test. Just one. That's all I need." This was not the time. For any of them. Talking to the pastor would depress me, talking to Memory Man would piss me off (I hoped - every time I spoke to him, more of my anger drained, not that I had much left), and talking to Reese would irritate me. I was tired of being tested. And what did he need to test me for, anyway?

I wiggled in my seat, trying to force my dress to cover some of my thighs. "Sure you want to be seen with me?"

One corner of his lips twitched. "Sure. Nervous?"

"No."

After his shower, we'd left Lexis and Sherridan in the room, but we hadn't gone directly to the costume party or whatever. We'd had lunch and yes, I'd been stared at. By everyone. I'd wanted to talk about things, about us, but Rome had kept things all business. Afterward, we walked the busy city streets hand in hand. Not to bond, sadly, but so that Rome could show me around. Exit routes, safe zones, hot spots.

That kind of thing.

Now, the sun was setting on the horizon, low and hazy and violet. Mountains swept the landscape on every side, and they were utterly breathtaking. I'd traveled with my friends a bit as a teenager - excursions I hadn't been aware my dad was killing himself to finance - so I'd been to white-sanded beaches, as well as Aspen to snow ski. This was, by far, my favorite sight.

The air was clean, invigorating me. I breathed deeply of it, loving the feel of my cells expanding in delighted welcome. "So...tell me what we're dealing with tonight, what our purpose is."

"While we were on the plane, I did a little digging."

While I was snoozing the day away, he meant. I popped my jaw. "And?"

"Didn't take me long to find the paranormal underground. They have a...club." That hesitation scared me. "What kind of club?"

"A gentleman's club."

Dear God. Strippers, prostitutes and leering males. Wonderful. No wonder he'd dressed me as he had.

I was his own personal pleasure slave. My head tilted to the side. Hmm, pleasure slave. We'd played that game before. Only, he'd been my slave. I guess this whole role-reversal thing was only fair.

"All right. I'm down with that," I said. "But you had better not ask me to pleasure some stranger for information or there will be hell to pay."

"That will never happen. You're mine tonight," he said, his voice husky, wine-rich.

I gulped, trying to fight a heady stream of heat now flowing through my veins. That was the first advance he'd made on me today.

"But you're right. Information is what we're after. I doubt Desert Gall hangs out there - she's just too on-guard - but someone who knows her, her weaknesses and her habits might. I'll keep you safe, but you should know what you'll be dealing with. People with paranormal abilities are more susceptible to drug use, alcohol abuse and the need to consort with others like themselves. People who are different.

There will be a lot of scrims on the premises."

Peachy. But why didn't I know this already? I'd been working for PSI long enough to have this kind of data. "So we're walking into a drugged-out, drunk-ass make-out session?"

"Pretty much."

I massaged my temples. Felt how moist they were. Gross. Was I nervous and just didn't realize it, causing ice to form and melt on my skin? Or were my powers wigging out again? "People like that are leery of strangers." Grimacing, I rubbed my sweaty palms over my bare thighs. "No way we'll get in."

"Oh, we'll get in. Let's just say I have connections, so we've already been added to tonight's entrance list."

I shouldn't have been surprised, I thought, again shifting in my seat. "Ever been to one of these things before?"

He gave a clipped nod, but didn't offer any further comment. O-kay. I'd take that to mean he'd done some very naughty things. "Of your own free will or for a case?"

"Does it matter?"

His own free will, then. To keep my jealousy - and my power over the earth - under control, I changed the subject. "Don't tell me we'll be expected to use the drugs and drink the alcohol." I had enough trouble keeping myself alive without them. No telling how much danger I'd stumble into on them.

Actually, that would be a good test for John to run. That kind of information would help me out here in the field. Too, if anyone ever forced some kind of substance down my throat or into my vein, I'd be prepared, know how I'd react. Note to self: talk to John about that, then call Reese back and schedule the feeding.