“Hah-hah. You mean Dragon-shit crazy.”
Her mouth tightened in response, the only one she would show.
Another man murmured, “Kade said she’s as nuts as the rest of the Fringers. I wouldn’t mind her going nuts on me.”
Several men chuckled, the thick sound of innuendo charging their laughter.
Kade lifted his hands, not looking the least bit contrite. “You did go crazy. Jumped me, tore a chunk of my hair out.”
“You were beating my brother to a pulp.”
“He deserved it. I came to arrest him. He should have gone peacefully. Instead he Catalyzed and went all scales and fangs on me.”
She swallowed back the angry things she wanted to say as the memory of that terrible day returned. She eyed the fine line that ran through Kade’s right eyebrow and across his temple. “Nice scar.”
He paused at the door that led out to the reception area, drawing his finger across it. “Yes, it is. Scars are a badge of honor in the Guard. Arlo did me a favor.” He arched that eyebrow. “And the ladies like it. Gives me a dangerous look.”
“How’d that shiner work for you? Did that make you look mad, bad, and dangerous too?”
A broad shouldered man with dark cold eyes hovered nearby, amusement on his face. “Kavanaugh, you didn’t tell us this little girl gave you that shiner.” His taunting gaze remained in place as it shifted to Kade. “You must be getting soft.”
Now it was Kade’s mouth that tightened into a line.
Why the hell she had the insane urge to defend him, to say that he’d fought … well, like a tiger, she had no idea. No, take satisfaction at humbling him in front of his colleagues. And umbrage at the Wesley guy calling her “little.” Not at five-foot-seven.
Get me out of here. She turned the door handle.
It wouldn’t move. Damn.
“Allow me.” Kade leaned close, pressing a series of buttons and pushing the door open for her.
She gave him a look that, while it may not kill, hopefully would singe him. Except, no … he gave her a bemused half smile. She stalked out. Behind her, she heard the muffled laughter of the people who had no doubt heard every word of their exchange.
3
Kade watched Violet Castanega’s sassy ass sashay through the lobby to the entrance. He could tell she wanted to look back at him; she started to but snapped her head straight, pushed the door open, and slammed it shut behind her. Wow, did she look different from the last time he’d seen her.
When he’d arrested Arlo six years ago, someone jumped on his back, wrapping her long legs around his waist and arms over his shoulders. He’d known instantly it was a woman—her breasts crushed against his back had been the first clue. Her shrill voice blasting his ear with “Let him go!” the second.
He’d reached back to dislodge her and accidentally grabbed her boob. He had not lingered; it was more of a hesitation out of shock at realizing what that luscious mound of firm flesh in his hand was. She’d nailed him in the eye with her elbow. It was only after he’d thrown her off that he realized it was Violet, the once-lanky, scrappy teenager he’d seen during an earlier investigation into Arlo’s activities.
Before she could launch another attack, he’d reminded her that assaulting an officer would result in arrest, and she backed off. She’d been wearing tattered jeans, a muddy tank top, and boots, and smelled of earth. A red scarf covered her dark brown hair, but her braid hung down her back, and tendrils of hair escaped. To his surprise, her untamed ways had tugged at his rebellious, wild side, the one he’d had to bury deep down. Apparently, he still had some burying to do.
The spark between them was bizarre. Never would he get hot for a Fringer, doubly so, since they were all Dragons. Not even one with silky hair falling over her shoulders and a long, lean body. He returned to the pit, where several pairs of eyes were on him.
“Did you spank her for giving you that shiner, Kavanaugh?” Treach called out, followed by a chorus of guffaws.
“I think you were a little too distracted and let her get the best of you,” Baker said. “You wanted to spank her.”
Kade shook his head, learning long ago that to respond was the weaker action. He headed to his office, a tantalizing image of Violet sprawled across his lap while he spanked that lush behind flashing into his mind. That was not helping his amped-up libido. And sheesh, really?
His sister, Mia, sidled up next to him. “What was that about?”
“The shiner?” He waved it off. “She was fast, nailed me while I was dealing with her brothers.” He wasn’t getting into the boob part.
“No wonder you never mentioned who’d given you that black eye. These chauvinistic bastards will never let you live that down.” She shot them a derisive glance and lowered her voice. “But that’s not what I was talking about. There was an erotic vibe in the way you dealt with her, and ooh, the way the mist in your eyes is swirling now.”
He kept all expression from his face, including annoyance at her observation. “I was making sure she didn’t cause a scene. Nothing more.”
