to question him about, and if he was our flesh shifter, it would warn him we were onto him.
And yet, better he be warned than me having sex with him. That was my only other option right now.
I exchanged my drink for my purse and pulled out the picture Kye had given me. "I don't suppose you know this man, then?"
He reached for the printout, his fingers briefly caressing my wrist before sliding down to grasp the piece of paper. A tremor ran through me and I took a large slug of champagne. If Kade didn't hurry his ass, I was never going to get through this.
Either I was getting depressingly staid in my old age, or he just felt too dangerous for my wolf to handle.
Or maybe I'd just finally realized that the real joy in sex was not just the motion and the pleasure, but the emotions that clicked in when you became involved with that one special person.
Of course, I had two special people to contend with, but that was just fate being a bitch.
"I think I have seen him around a couple of times," Starke mused, looking at the printout.
"And can you tell me anything about him?"
"Perhaps." Amusement twitched his lips. "But I can't possibly say anything without getting something in return."
"I am not going to get naked and sweaty with you." I took another drink, and realized I'd somehow finished the glass. "I already have a plan to do that with someone else."
A full blown grin erupted. It was stunning. "All I ask is for you to undo two buttons."
"Two buttons?"
"Yes." He picked up the champagne and refilled my glass, his knees pressing briefly and sensually against mine. "Just two little buttons."
I pretended to consider the request, then swiftly undid the buttons. The flimsy shirt fell further open, revealing the dark pink edges of areola.
"Lovely," he all but purred. "Simply lovely."
"The information, Starke," I said dryly.
"Of course." He filled his own glass then added, "He's not a regular here, but I have seen him on a few occasions."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why would you notice him when you didn't notice someone like Murphy?"
"Because this man didn't come here to feed or be fed on. He had several drinks at the bar and walked out again. That we notice."
"When was the last time he was here?" I took another sip of Bollinger and a nice little buzz began to fill my head. Champagne - and most other alcohol - didn't really affect wolves to the extent that it did humans, thanks to our higher metabolic rate, but it did provide a happy little high before said metabolism kicked in.
Starke said, "I believe it was last night. He stayed an hour, then left again."
I studied him, unable to tell whether he was speaking the truth or playing a dangerous game. Either one was a possibility, given the amusement in his eyes.
"Riley," Jack said into my ear, his voice fading in and out, as if there was some sort of interference. "We need you back at the office immediate - ."
The rest of his sentence was cut off, but it didn't matter because I got the gist of it. Relief slithered through me. Never before had I been so happy about being called back to the Directorate.
I finished my drink in several unladylike gulps, then grabbed my bag and rose. "I'm afraid I've just been called back to the office, so the rest of my questions will have to wait."
"What, so no hot date either?" He pushed gracefully to his feet, moving altogether too close. "It seems a shame to waste such a hot outfit."
"I've learned to live with disappointment." I gave him an insolent grin. "You should, too."
"Oh, I try not to." He caught my hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it gently. "And I don't believe you should, either."
And with that, he hit me.
Not physically, not mentally, but with the full force of his aura or mojo or whatever the hell it was.
My reaction was instinctual. I threw up my own aura, trying to use it as a shield as I had in the past. But I might as well have been using a tissue to block out the force of a gale.
And that gale was instant, burning need.
It was deep and violent and it ached. Literally ached.
He smiled and his grip on his hand tightened, forcing me backwards. Not to the chaise lounge but to the desk. I fought it, I really did,