Page 17 of Red Fury

Jake chuckles quietly. “See what I mean? Ice queen. Probably hasn’t been laid in years.”

I know the feeling. It’s probably why I’m so tied up in knots.

I need to shift, and I need release. That’s the problem. It’s been too long since I’ve been with a female, and being around Shadow is messing with my head. What I need is a meaningless hookup in New York, someone to work out all this pent-up sexual frustration on, and I’ll be able to think clearly again. We work shifts. I’ll have a few hours to burn somewhere on this trip. I’ll find some place to shift. Then I’ll find a warm body to slake my need. I’ll be upfront. I’ll make sure she has a good time too. No harm done.

But even as I’m planning to find some random female to fuck, my mind keeps drifting back to green eyes and that smart mouth. To the way she felt straddling me last night. My cock liked being flush against her wet-as-fuck pussy. It took every ounce of willpower not to cup her sex, rub on her clit. Not to…

Not happening.

Nope.

I glance toward her seat again and catch her looking at me. This time, she doesn’t look away immediately. We stare at each other across the cabin for a long moment, and I see heat flare in her eyes before she finally breaks the connection and focuses on her screen.

Yeah. I definitely need to get laid, and sooner rather than later.

6

Shadow

I stare at my reflection in the ladies’ room mirror as I wash my hands. Then I turn and yawn into my hand. I look like shit, which is no surprise because it’s been a long day. The dinner meeting finally ended twenty minutes ago, and Secretary Harrison dismissed me for the evening.

Even though it would have been better for me to hang around, because everyone knows that plenty of business takesplace after hours over whiskey and cigars, I’m still grateful for the reprieve.

If I had to sit through one more minute of strategic discussions about “enhanced security protocols,” I might have lost my mind completely. Or worse, I might have shifted right there at the table and torched the entire restaurant.

The truce I’ve struck up with the Red isn’t supported by the Council.Big surprise! Not.I tried to convince them that he could help me, but it didn’t work. I finally told them that I couldn’t very well kill him, it might come back to me and blow my cover. My instructions were to orchestrate an “accident” and sooner rather than later. I reluctantly agreed. What choice did I have?

The pressure is mounting.

It doesn’t help that my dragon has been clawing at the inside of my skin all day, restless and agitated in a way that’s becoming harder to ignore. It’s been weeks since my last shift, and I have another full week before I’m scheduled to return to Draig Island. I’m not sure I can make it that long.

I need a drink. Several drinks. Hopefully, that will take the edge off. I’ll worry about the Red and my mission some more tomorrow. Right now, I’m in need of some downtime.

I touch up my lipstick and smooth down my dress. The hotel bar would be convenient, but the last thing I need is to run into one of the many team members who are staying there, including the likes of Jake Reynolds. I’m in no mood.

There’s an upmarket place just a few blocks up from our hotel that I spotted earlier when we arrived. I walk there. It doesn’t take me long.

The bar is exactly what I hoped for; it’s dimly lit, sophisticated, and busy enough so that I can blend into the crowd. I claim a small table in the corner, far from the main entrance, and order a dirty martini.

“Make it a double,” I tell the bartender.

My dragon settles slightly as the first sip of gin hits my system, but she’s still there, pacing like a caged animal. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to center myself the way I was taught at the Academy.

“Excuse me, beautiful.”

My eyes snap open to find a man in an expensive suit standing beside my table. He’s probably in his thirties, conventionally attractive with perfectly styled blond hair and a smile that he clearly thinks is charming.

Great.

I take a big gulp of my drink, and it burns down my throat just enough to keep me from tearing his head off with my bare hands.

No shift required.

“I couldn’t help but notice you sitting here all alone,” he continues, not waiting for an invitation to speak. “I’m Brad. I would love to buy you a drink.”

“That’s very kind, but I already have one.” I hold up my glass before taking another sip.

“You’ve already finished half. I like a girl who can handle her alcohol. Let me buy you another.” He smiles. “Come on, gorgeous. You can tell me all about yourself.”