of tactical clothes, but not as loaded down with gear. He was older, his salt-and-pepper hair in the same short military cut most the Guardians seemed to prefer. “I’m Master Bellamy. Commander Fitzsimmons called ahead and explained the situation. I’d like to lead Miss Savoy to the locker room where she can clean up and get into some clothes before I talk with her. Bennett, take the other two to talk. I hear Dr. Stockwell needs to catch up before we discuss current events.”
“Yes, sir.” Bennett nodded, exchanged a knowing look with Master Bellamy, and started toward the stairs.
“Wait!” Cassie exclaimed. “I’m staying with Kaitlyn.”
“It’s okay, Cassie,” Kaitlyn reassured her. “I’ll be fine and Jace will be with you.”
Cassie’s expression said Jace’s presence wasn’t reassuring to her. Jace forced himself to remain calm, Cassie was still here with him, hadn’t panicked after all she’d seen. Despite their difference in titles, hers of “doctor” and his of “ex-con,” he would win her. He had to; she belonged to him. His hand on her lower back, he gently urged her to follow Bennett.
There was little by way of decoration in the place. It didn’t need any, the skylights and large front windows lit up every corner, highlighting the natural beauty of the logs and decorative rock. Even the mortar used to place the stone was uniquely colored to blend with the elements; it was a work of art. It didn’t surprise Jace that the Guardian compound would be built from nature, into nature, by those who were intimately familiar with living off the land itself.
They followed Bennett down the wide hallway with large doors on each side. Each door had an electronic reader on the outside allowing only secure access. Jace didn’t see any on the main door they entered, but there had to be some type of security. The Guardians wouldn’t let just anyone walk in.
Bennett stopped and put his thumb on the reader by the first door on the right. It unlocked with a muffled thunk and swung open to display a modern, sterile interrogation room, much like one he’d been in before going to prison. The contemporary room was in stark contrast to the rest of the rustic manor. Jace could only guess what the rest of the lodge hid inside, given what the Guardians sometimes had to do to protect their species.
“You two head on in and have your little chat. I’ll be in to talk with Dr. Stockwell when you’re done,” Bennett said.
Cassie stalled at the doorway, reluctantly wandering inside.
Jace started in, then turned back to Bennett. “You’re going to listen to everything, aren’t you?”
Bennett flashed a wicked grin as he left.
“Asshole.” Jace growled quietly as the door shut out Bennett’s chuckle.
Cassie sat behind the table in one of the metal chairs. She folded her arms and glared at the wall. If that look she was giving the wall had been turned on him, Jace was sure he’d be reduced to a pile of dust.
He quietly pulled out the chair next to her, turned it facing her and sat down. He could hear her breathing hitch faster, his eyes wandered down to her breasts, shoved up by her arms folded under them. His desire flared as he remembered exactly what they looked like. He wondered what color bra she put on, if it cupped and held her, like he had last night. His hand itched to trace its outline under her shirt.
“Well?” she said tersely. She’d crossed her legs and the top leg bounced rhythmically. It was her only movement otherwise. “Quit looking at my chest and talk. I won’t interrupt. I’ll save my questions until you’re done, cuz I’m sure I’ll have a few.”
Now that Jace found himself exactly where he wanted to be, other than nestled between her soft thighs, he had no idea where to start. He’d rehearsed this conversation in his head countless times, like a fifteen-year-old boy planning to declare his love might practice in the mirror. At least his voice wouldn’t,
“Yes, sir.” Bennett nodded, exchanged a knowing look with Master Bellamy, and started toward the stairs.
“Wait!” Cassie exclaimed. “I’m staying with Kaitlyn.”
“It’s okay, Cassie,” Kaitlyn reassured her. “I’ll be fine and Jace will be with you.”
Cassie’s expression said Jace’s presence wasn’t reassuring to her. Jace forced himself to remain calm, Cassie was still here with him, hadn’t panicked after all she’d seen. Despite their difference in titles, hers of “doctor” and his of “ex-con,” he would win her. He had to; she belonged to him. His hand on her lower back, he gently urged her to follow Bennett.
There was little by way of decoration in the place. It didn’t need any, the skylights and large front windows lit up every corner, highlighting the natural beauty of the logs and decorative rock. Even the mortar used to place the stone was uniquely colored to blend with the elements; it was a work of art. It didn’t surprise Jace that the Guardian compound would be built from nature, into nature, by those who were intimately familiar with living off the land itself.
They followed Bennett down the wide hallway with large doors on each side. Each door had an electronic reader on the outside allowing only secure access. Jace didn’t see any on the main door they entered, but there had to be some type of security. The Guardians wouldn’t let just anyone walk in.
Bennett stopped and put his thumb on the reader by the first door on the right. It unlocked with a muffled thunk and swung open to display a modern, sterile interrogation room, much like one he’d been in before going to prison. The contemporary room was in stark contrast to the rest of the rustic manor. Jace could only guess what the rest of the lodge hid inside, given what the Guardians sometimes had to do to protect their species.
“You two head on in and have your little chat. I’ll be in to talk with Dr. Stockwell when you’re done,” Bennett said.
Cassie stalled at the doorway, reluctantly wandering inside.
Jace started in, then turned back to Bennett. “You’re going to listen to everything, aren’t you?”
Bennett flashed a wicked grin as he left.
“Asshole.” Jace growled quietly as the door shut out Bennett’s chuckle.
Cassie sat behind the table in one of the metal chairs. She folded her arms and glared at the wall. If that look she was giving the wall had been turned on him, Jace was sure he’d be reduced to a pile of dust.
He quietly pulled out the chair next to her, turned it facing her and sat down. He could hear her breathing hitch faster, his eyes wandered down to her breasts, shoved up by her arms folded under them. His desire flared as he remembered exactly what they looked like. He wondered what color bra she put on, if it cupped and held her, like he had last night. His hand itched to trace its outline under her shirt.
“Well?” she said tersely. She’d crossed her legs and the top leg bounced rhythmically. It was her only movement otherwise. “Quit looking at my chest and talk. I won’t interrupt. I’ll save my questions until you’re done, cuz I’m sure I’ll have a few.”
Now that Jace found himself exactly where he wanted to be, other than nestled between her soft thighs, he had no idea where to start. He’d rehearsed this conversation in his head countless times, like a fifteen-year-old boy planning to declare his love might practice in the mirror. At least his voice wouldn’t,
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