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“Meaning?” Zeke gritted out. Cranston was a cunning bastard, but that didn’t mean Zeke liked the games he played.
“I mean, let them think a woman has your attention. Concentrate on something pretty, pretend to be totally focused there, give your killer a chance to mess up rather than watching every move and every word because he’s on guard. ” He shrugged his shoulders as he sat back in the chair. “It couldn’t hurt. ”
“Just use some poor woman as a tool to find a killer?” Zeke snorted. “How did you make special agent, Cranston? Did you cheat on the exam?”
Cranston chuckled at that. “While you’re occupied, myself, Alex Jansen, and the Mackays can watch your back. We’ll see who’s interested, and who’s doing what. We can ask the questions needed much easier, and get more. ”
“Forget it,” Zeke gritted out as he saw the mockery in the agent’s eyes.
They both knew exactly who he was suggesting Zeke use. And Zeke sure as hell didn’t like the excuse his lust was trying to grab with both hands.
“Come on, Zeke,” Dawg chided him harshly. “Those were our friends. Let us help with this. ”
“I don’t need your help, Dawg, and I sure as hell don’t need to pretend to be focused on a woman to solve this case. But if I learn anything new, I can let you know,” Zeke told them with a complete lack of sincerity. “Unlike some agents and kamikaze rednecks, I don’t mind a bit of cooperating when the situation warrants it. ” His smile was all teeth this time. A reminder, a careful warning. He could be a friend, or he could be an enemy.
One more operation in his territory without his knowledge, and these men would find themselves on the enemy side. That wasn’t a good place to be.
“You’re worried about kamikaze rednecks when, according to every gossip source in Somerset, you’re consorting with leather-wearing maniacal pixies?” Dawg snorted.
“Hell, Zeke, even me and Natches were smart enough not to get mixed up with Rogue Walker. ”
“She turned you down,” Natches reminded him as Zeke tensed. “I was just smarter than to approach her. ”
All eyes turned to Natches.
“What the hell do you mean by that?” The words slipped past Zeke’s lips without control as a core of possessiveness seemed to slam into his chest. He’d be damned if he’d allow her to be insulted by these men.
Natches grinned. “Hell, Zeke, five years ago, you nearly lost your tongue when you met her at that town hall meeting when she arrived as a new schoolteacher. I have a rule, man. Don’t mess with a buddy’s woman. ” He rose from his chair, chuckling as Zeke narrowed his eyes on him. “ ’Bout time you made a move. Personally, I think she should tell you to go to hell for waiting so long. But that’s just me. And Cranston’s idea has merit. Grab Rogue with both hands and hold on for dear life. We’ll watch your back and do what has to be done. ”
“No one asked your opinion. ” Zeke ground the words past clenched teeth.
“Yeah, Chaya reminds me of that often. ” He laughed as he headed for the door, cousins and one special DHS agent following behind him. “Tell Rogue I said hi when you see her. ”
They left the office, and left Zeke with a raw, almost blinding sense of need where Rogue was concerned. Son of a bitch, he hadn’t had enough of her last night. He’d wanted it to be enough, convinced himself that he wouldn’t feel what he knew he was going to feel today.
Lust had slammed into him. Even now, in the cold light of day, his balls were tight, his cock hard. The memory of her lips, like hot satin, the taste of her, equal parts liquor and female, the feel of her body, heated and molding to his, haunted him.
Rubbing his hands over his face, he tried to contain it, to push it back where it belonged, where other things he knew were not in his best interests were locked. Unfortunately, Rogue refused to stay locked away.
There were times he swore he could almost feel the silken warmth of her hair between his fingers as he caressed a fiery curl. He could almost feel her lips against his. He could almost imagine her taste. Almost. It was never enough, and the need to experience it again was making him crazy.
Lucinda and Shane hadn’t helped his self-control the other night. Hell, Lucinda and Shane nothing. Damned nosy busybodies in town. Too many people had known he’d gone to her apartment the night before, in plainclothes, and stayed too long. And too many gossips had put two and two together the next morning when it came to that reddened mark beneath her jaw.
Oh hell, he remembered leaving that mark. Remembered tasting her a little too deeply, too roughly. And she had loved it. Her head tilting back, her breath passing her lips in a hard sigh. She had done the same thing last night. Melted for him. Became slick and hot and ready for hi
s touch.
Sweat collected along his spine as he shifted in his chair, trying to find a more comfortable position to accommodate the erect length of his dick. At this rate, he was going to die of a hard-on. It had to be dangerous for a man of his age to stay this hard for so long.
A sharp knock at his door had his attention turning from the need raging through him.
“Yeah,” he called out.
The door opened and Gene stepped in slowly.
Well now, wasn’t this just what he needed?
He stayed silent and waited as the deputy stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
