“Yes,” she whispered.
I stood and stepped away, my fingers coasting over her jaw as I did. Giving her one last, lingering glance, I moved toward the door.
“Wait,” she called. She too stood, the chair skidding behind her.
I didn’t turn fully, but glanced over my shoulder. “Yes?”
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Eden Black.” I paused. “Alien assassin. Don’t worry. Iwill take care of EenLi.”
Her “thank you” echoed in my ears as the door closed behind me.
Chapter 6
Blanketing my features to reveal nothing, I sauntered into the observation room. Lucius sat alone. Ren had probably bailed the moment I’d stepped out of Interrogation. Either that or Lucius had kicked him out, not wanting an audience for what was about to happen.
I remained in the open doorway, taking in the scene and allowing my anticipation to unfurl. Lucius occupied the only chair, his gaze locked with mine, his legs splayed out in front of him, his arms locked behind his neck. Never had a man appeared more relaxed and at ease. He pushed a button on a remote he held, and the holoscreen went blank, blocking out Sahara’s image.
“Close the door,” he said in that rough, gravelly voice of his. I caught a hint of fury in the undertone.
Not so relaxed, after all.
A shiver trekked down my spine as I continued to stare over at the man, at my unwanted partner. I wanted to hear him say “Please,” but knew there was a better chance of EenLi’s head falling from the sky like manna.
I stepped inside, causing the double doors to slide closed automatically. Lucius tossed the remote on the floor. With every second that passed, something…murderous grew in his eyes, a gleam that belied his casual pose yet fit perfectly with his tone.
Feigning my own sense of nonchalance, I leaned one shoulder against the wall. “We’re alone now, Sparkie. Was there something you wanted to say to me? Something you needed to do?”
His gaze slitted, blocking every hint of color from those ice-blue lasers. He remained very still.
“Tsk, tsk. You know that’s not the required position.” I showed no mercy.
Still he remained standing.
“You lost.”
“I know.”
“Drop to your knees.”
“Why don’t you make this interesting,” he gritted out, “and take off your pants?”
His words supplied an image of him kneeling between my naked legs. I stopped a shiver before it could form. My brows winged up. “You reneging?”
Very slowly, he eased to his feet, inching his big body higher and higher. I gave my cuticles my attention. I heard his teeth grind together, even thought I heard his jawbone crack. I flicked him an insouciant glance and patted my mouth to smother a fake yawn. That murderous gleam had branched from his eyes and now consumed his expression.
His black clothes rustled as he moved to his knees.
I studied my cuticles again, waiting, my breath suspended, the casual pretense the only thing keeping me from gaping.
“You did a…good job,” he ground out. When the last word left his mouth, he sprang up. He wiped the dust from his knees, keeping his gaze locked with mine.
I hadn’t thought he’d do it. What a puzzle he was. I could have nodded, said nothing, and saved him at least a hint of his stubborn pride. I could have…but I didn’t. “Don’t ever underestimate me again. You’ll end up on your knees every time.”
He ran his tongue over his teeth, but didn’t reply.
“Next time, research your suspect before you interrogate her. That’s where you went wrong.”
His entire face bloomed red—in embarrassment, in renewed fury. Renewed? No. I doubted he’d ever lost the first batch of fury. He didn’t like losing, but more importantly, he didn’t like losing to me. A spoiled princess. Well, too damn bad. He’d gotten the best of me from the moment we’d met, so I intended to savor this victory.
“You were doomed to fail before you even stepped foot into Interrogation. I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen. You refused to consider the possibility that I might know something you didn’t. Well, guess what? I’d followed her for days. I knew her, knew everything about her. Your silly pride cost you this war.”
“War?” He chuckled, the sound devoid of humor. “That was only a minor skirmish, cookie.”
I rolled my eyes. “Big talk for a loser.”
Lucius stalked a menacing step toward me. “You did good, all right. There. That’s twice I’ve told you. I meant it then, I mean it now. But one day we’ll have a reckoning, you and I.”
I moved toward him, closing even more of the gap, a rush of adrenaline quickening the blood flow through my veins. “I do believe we will—if one of us doesn’t kill the other first.”
“I’m going to f**k you, Eden.” He stepped closer. “Killing is optional. After.”
My nostrils flared as I closed the remaining distance. I was excited, I admit it. Our noses touched, and my beaded ni**les pushed into his chest. His breath fanned my lips, brushing every crevice. The scent of cinnamon and honey instantly enveloped us. Our heated exchange was playing havoc with my hormones. “You’ll never have me.”
Lucius never turned his attention from me. “Get a new goddamn perfume!” he shouted.
I blinked, felt a glimmer of satisfaction. “Why? Does this one bother you?”
He ran his tongue over teeth and flatly refused to answer. “Do you even give a shit about this case? Do you want to know what we have on Jonathan Parker or not?”
I stalked away from Lucius and to the door, opened it wide, and called for Ren. When he appeared, I said, “Make Sahara Rose comfortable. And be nice to her.”
Ren flicked Lucius a nervous glance, then rushed off to do as he was told. I didn’t turn around but remained braced at the entrance. “What do you know about Parker?” Feigning nonchalance, I rebound my hair.
“I’ll tell you about him over lunch,” he said, relish in his tone. He liked knowing something I didn’t. He liked choosing when and where he’d tell me.
Since he’d gotten on his knees for me, I gave him this victory. Just barely. “I was just about to suggest that,” I said with a faux casual shrug.
At my easy compliance, his lips dipped in a frown. He’d expected a fight, I know. “Let’s get out of here. Too many ears.”
“We’ll need the keys to the Hummer.”