Page 30 of Howl For A Kiss
"The main entrance faces east," he continued, desperate to redirect her attention to the mission details. "But there's a service entrance on the north side, near what would be the kitchens. My grandmother... mentioned it was where the staff entered."
Another careful half-truth. He knew about the service entrance because he'd used it himself during a few particularly sensitive Council meetings where discretion had been paramount.
"Here," Elena said, pointing to a spot on the map. Her finger brushed against his as they both leaned over the desk, and the contact sent electricity racing through him. "This looks like it could be the maintenance area you're talking about."
"That's it." His voice came out huskier than intended as her familiar warmth pressed against his side. "There's usually ablind spot in the surveillance coverage there—too mundane for most security planners to consider properly."
Elena turned to face him, and suddenly they were mere inches apart, her eyes studying his with a piercing intensity that made his wolf growl with need. But beneath the growing heat, he caught something else—wariness, confusion, the sharp intelligence that was piecing together inconsistencies in his story.
"You have an incredible memory for a place you visited once as a teenager," she said softly.
Shit.
"Photographic memory," Damon replied, which was actually true. "It's been useful in my... training."
The pause before 'training' was subtle, but he saw Elena catch it. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and Damon felt the lies he'd carefully constructed beginning to show under her scrutiny.
"Damon." Her voice held a note of command that sent heat shooting straight to his groin even as dread pooled in his stomach. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
Before he could formulate another careful half-truth, Elena's gaze dropped to his mouth, and the tactical conversation shifted into dangerous territory as her tongue darted out to wet her lips. The innocent gesture hit him with force, and his hands clenched into fists to keep from reaching for her.
"We should..." he started, his voice rough with barely contained desire.
"Should what?" Elena's eyes were dark now, her pupils dilated as they tracked the movement of his throat when he swallowed hard.
The setting sun painted the office in shades of gold and amber, and Damon realized they'd been alone together for hours without him noticing the passage of time. Elena had that effecton him—she made the rest of the world fade until only she remained, beautiful and fierce and completely captivating.
How the hell was he supposed to explain fifteen years of Beta duties when she looked at him like he hung the goddamn moon?
THIRTEEN
ELENA
Elena noticed the sun setting outside the office window and realized that she and Damon had been alone for hours in the office completely oblivious to the time. Damon seemed to have that effect on her, making the rest of the world just fade away whenever she was around him.
Get a grip, Elena. You're acting like a lovesick teenager.
But her wolf disagreed, purring with contentment at their proximity and urging her to get even closer to this magnificent male who made her feel safe and desired in equal measure.
Damon cleared his throat, stepping back with visible effort. "We should get our weapons cleaned and start gearing up for tonight."
Elena blinked, forcing herself back into mission mode despite the lingering heat in her veins. "Right. Of course."
They moved to the small storage cabinet he'd organized in her makeshift office, and Elena caught herself watching with fascination as Damon began methodically laying out his weapons. His movements were precise, almost ritualistic, and there was something oddly soothing about his careful attention to detail.
"You have pre-mission routines," she observed, pulling her own gear from the closet.
"Always." Damon began field-stripping his primary sidearm with practiced efficiency. "Weapons maintenance, equipment check, then five minutes of meditation to center myself before any operation."
Elena paused in her own weapon preparation, struck by the genuine nature of his response. It was the first truly personal thing he'd shared about his daily life, and she realized how much she'd been craving this kind of authentic connection with him.
"Meditation, huh?" she asked, settling cross-legged on the floor beside him as they worked.
"My training taught me that a calm mind is the most powerful weapon any warrior can carry." His hands never paused in their methodical work. "It helps me control my impulses and think strategically instead of emotionally."
Unlike me, apparently,Elena thought ruefully as she began cleaning her own weapons. "That's actually brilliant. I should probably try that sometime—I tend to be a little too impulsive."
The corner of Damon's mouth quirked up in the beginning of a smile. "I'd noticed."
