Page 101 of Soul Sucker

“You are?” She sat on the arm of the couch.

He forced the words out. “I’m part shapeshifter. Those instincts make me want to protect my mate. I forget that you’ve been doing an excellent job of protecting yourself all your life. I’ll do my best to remember that.”

“That’s very generous of you when I’ve been behaving like an ungrateful shrew.”

He attempted a smile. “I hadn’t noticed.”

“Liar.” She tapped her head. “I know you. I drive you nuts.”

He had nothing to say to that and she rose from her perch on the couch.

“I’ll see you in the morning, then.”

“Good night, Ms. Walsh.”

“Night, Morosov.”

He waited until he heard her close her bedroom door and then headed for the bathroom, which was its usual mess. While he waited for the shower to heat, he straightened everything up to his, if not to Ella’s, satisfaction and stripped off his clothes. Under the punishing heat of the shower he closed his eyes and relived the moments when he’d made love to Ella and taken the burden of her psychic energy into himself. For the first time ever he’d felt as if his Otherworld powers had been used for good. He’d felt like a superhero.

He opened his eyes.

Fuck this.

He’d never stop wanting to protect her. He would lay down his life for her. All he had to do was make sure she never realized the strength of his devotion ever again.

17

“So where were you last night?”Alexei leaned back in his chair to stare at Vadim as he entered their temporary office.

“Where do you think I was?” Vadim took off his jacket and placed it carefully over the back of his chair. Despite the air-conditioning it felt warm in the enclosed space.

Alexei inhaled. “You smell of Ella’s shower gel, so my guess would be you were with her.”

“Feehan asked me to stay with her.”

“How closely?” Alexei’s silver gaze narrowed. “You’re fucking her, aren’t you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Vadim strengthened his mental barriers. If Liz had picked up on his bonding with Ella in her Fae-Web, Alexei must have too, but he wasn’t going to admit that to the devious Fae. “I stayed over at her place after we sorted out a sprite issue. I used her shower this morning.”

“Really.”

Vadim met Alexei’s skeptical gaze head on. “Yes, really. Ask her if you don’t believe me. I slept on the couch and it was damned uncomfortable.”

“You can’t afford to fuck this up, Vadim.”

“I know that.”

Alexei’s Fae-Web streamed out and encircled Vadim. “You are essential to this case.”

“I know that too.” He resisted the urge to blast the Fae-Web into pieces as it shimmered around him like a fisherman casting a lure. “Do you think I’d do anything to jeopardize my future after the last case?”

“I’m no longer sure.”

“Then go and tell tales to Madame Dubinsky. Just remember if she demands my return, this case is ruined and I’m a dead man.”

“I’ll do what I have to, Vadim.”

“Of course you will. You’re Fae. You have no conscience at all.” He rose from his seat. “Feehan called a meeting at ten. Are you coming?”

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