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reflected in his eyes. “No, I don’t.”
“No, you don’t.” He straightened and pulled her toward the exit. “I’m far older than Marius Drake. There are very few vamps who are as old as I am, so leave the heavy lifting to me.”
She tugged on his hand, digging in her heels. “Okay. Slow down. I can’t leave yet. I haven’t found Agent Leroy.”
“I saw him leaving on my way in to claim you.”
“What?” Sable’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. “Shit, we’ll never find him now.”
“Yes, we will,” Derek assured her.
“Have you got a tracking device on him or something?”
Derek snorted. “Listen. I did find a tracking device on your ship. And it’s not a Fed design. It’s Council.”
“What the fuck?” Sable stumbled to a halt, gaping at the back of his head.
“Yeah.” He tugged her along again. “My thoughts exactly. When we get through with Leroy, we’ll see if the serial number is registered somewhere.”
“Wow,” she breathed, her stomach roiling. “I don’t know what to think about that.”
“Don’t think about it now,” he soothed. “I’ll take care of you, Sable. Don’t worry about that.”
“This has been a really trying day, Derek. Look at everything that’s happened.”
“You’ve got me, so it can’t be all bad.” He tossed her a careless smile over his shoulder. “And I overheard Leroy getting directions from the front desk. I know just where he is.”
“Getting you is worth all this shit,” she said softly, profoundly affected by that smile.
He stepped out into the lobby and headed for the elevators. “We’ll go to our rooms and change out of these ridiculous clothes. Then we’ll see what he’s up to.”
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“I happen to think you look very tasty in those clothes.”
His mouth curved with sardonic amusement. “I have to wonder at your taste, Sable.
You liked me in my uniform too.”
“I like you best naked,” she purred.
The elevator doors slid shut and he engulfed her in a warm embrace. “This crap with Leroy better be over quick,” he groaned, his hands caressing the length of her spine. “Yours is the only body I’m interested in chasing right now.”
* * * * *
Derek kept his large form tucked closely against the wall of the small motel on the outskirts of town. Music wafted across the still night air as various room occupants held impromptu parties. Out here, away from the city, the night was darker and the sounds of transports less intrusive. Stars shimmered in the sky above, as did the moon, which hung low and full.
It was a night made for lovers.
Or hunters.
He glanced back at Sable. She moved on silent feet behind him, her hand twitching restlessly by the hilt of her lasersword, which was strapped to the side of her lithe thigh.
She wore tight black trousers and a tighter black tank top, her erect nipples easily delineated through the thin fabric. As a slight breeze blew Sable’s luscious scent to him, his cock swelled with an unwanted erection.
He was going to throttle Jeff.
Glancing forward again, Derek inched his way along the dimly lit outside corridor.
He’d forgotten to mention to Sable what he’d discovered about Marius Drake accessing, and possibly deleting, her records. At the time, he’d been too grateful that the other man hadn’t recognized him to remember to tell her.
In any case, that definitely hadn’t been their last meeting.
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The President was obviously not in agreement with Sable that their relationship was over. Derek intended to do something about that. Somehow, he would convince the other Master that Sable was now off-limits and by her own choice.
As they reached the motel room door that shielded Leroy from their prying eyes, he slowed and placed a finger over his lips. Sable stepped past him and took a position on the other side of the portal. She cocked her head and listened. Her nostrils flared and her eyes widened.
He’s fucking someone! she mouthed.
Derek knew his face had to be as shocked as Sable’s. Jeff was married for Christ’s sake and had always seemed devoted to his wife who even now lay dying. Raising his brows, Derek shrugged sheepishly.
Sable snorted with disgust and walked away.
He followed. “Damn, I’m going to beat Jeff within an inch of life when he gets out of there.”
“For cheating on his wife?”
“No, for doing what we would be doing, if we weren’t out here chasing him down.”
She laughed and Derek softened his posture. Only a few days ago she’d been openly hostile toward him. Now they shared a growing connection that he was beginning to value greatly. “Sable?”
“Yeah?” She turned those stunning blue eyes toward him.
“If I hadn’t trapped you on my ship a couple of days ago, would you have come after me when your mission was over?”
She scratched the back of her head. “Probably not.”
“Why not?” He was surprised that she’d answered without hesitation. “You said you were interested in me from the beginning, that you’re crazy ab
out me.”
“I was. I am.” She crossed her arms under her chest. “But you’re an arrogant 71
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bastard. I had my share of inflated egos with Marius. And your reputation precedes you. You never stick with the same woman for long. My track record with men isn’t very good, as you witnessed tonight. I doubt I would have thought you were worth the risk.”
“I’m not arrogant,” he protested.
Raising a brow, she said nothing. Which said a lot.
“And now?” he prodded. “Do you consider me a good risk now?”
She met his gaze and her ripe lips pursed in thought. Finally, she said, “The jury’s still out on that one. You’ll have to prove it to me, I guess.”
“And how do I do that?”
“Stick around, Derek,” she said quietly. “Just stick around.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she shook her head. “Do me a favor, okay? I’m beginning to suspect your friend Leroy is doing nothing more criminal than adultery.
I’m not blowing my cover for that. Will you question him when he comes out? If my suspicions are correct, it will prevent the waste of two years of work.”
“No problem,” he agreed. “I’ll come up with a good reason for being here.”
“Good, I’ve got something to take care of.” She strode down the hall.
You’re just going to leave me here? he called after her in surprise.
“Sure,” she tossed over her shoulder. “I trust you, Derek.”
* * * * *
Sable crossed the street and entered the nearby telecomm café. She’d checked in with her superior earlier that day, but already so much had happened since then. She needed to know where IAB wanted her to go from here. Slipping into a privacy booth, she closed the door and inserted her identi-card. She was pulling on the headphones and mouthpiece to further safeguard her conversation, when Captain Donnie appeared.
“Good evening, Captain.”
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The jovial Donnie smiled good-naturedly. “It’s barely morning here, Taylor. What have you got?”
“Another all-nighter? How does your wife put up with you?” She smiled at his grimace. “I’m not positive yet, but I’m fairly certain we can rule out Leroy.”
