Page 38 of Red Fury

“We’ll see,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

Without another word, I push past him, walking away. Behind me, I hear him chuckle softly, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to turn around and…what? Slap him? Kiss him? I’m not sure which impulse is stronger.

This is exactly why I need to gather the intelligence I need and to get the hell off the Mainland as quickly as possible. Before I do something stupid.

Like fall into bed with the enemy.

12

Fury

The familiar commotion of the airport surrounds us as our group makes its way through the terminal. Travelers rush past with rolling suitcases, and the constant announcements over the PA system blend into white noise. After three days in New York, I’m exhausted. A security team took over from us upon landing. They are with Secretary Harrison now. I get the afternoon and evening to regroup before having to be back again tomorrow. I’mup for it. Excited, even. I hope these upcoming meetings will end up being a breakthrough for us. Maybe we—

“Did you catch the game last night?” Jake asks, falling into step beside me as we navigate through the crowd. His duffel bag is slung over one shoulder, and he’s got that easy grin I’ve come to expect from him.

“Game?” I glance at him, confused.

“Yankees versus Red Sox. Bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded.” He shakes his head with a laugh. “Man, I thought you were off shift last night. Don’t tell me you didn’t watch? It was epic.”

Shit. I should know this stuff. “I don’t really follow football,” I admit, making a mental note to start paying attention to sports if I’m going to maintain this cover long-term. Human males seem to bond over games and the statistics that come along with them in a way that doesn’t come naturally to me.

“Football?” He laughs, even hitting his thigh a few times. “I’m talking about baseball, you fool.”

“Oh…shit…okay.” I smile. “Not really my thing, either.”

Jake stares at me like I’ve just confessed to being an alien. “Dude, what do you do for fun?”

I think about shifting into my dragon form and soaring through mountain peaks, feeling the wind beneath my wings and the freedom of the sky. About hunting and the primal satisfaction of the chase. About the simple pleasure of breathing fire and watching it dance through the night air.

I can’t tell him any of that.

“I work out a lot,” I say instead. “Lift weights, run…that kind of thing.”

“Fair enough. Maybe we should hit the gym together sometime.”

“Sure thing.” I nod, though I have no intention of working out with Jake or anyone else from the team. The last thing I need is someone questioning my strength levels.

Up ahead, I catch sight of Shadow moving through the terminal with purposeful strides. She’s wearing a gray suit that hugs her toned body in all the right places, and her short hair catches the overhead lighting as she weaves between other passengers. She’s walking fast, putting distance between herself and the rest of our group.

She’s been avoiding me ever since we got back from the park two nights ago. Not that I can blame her. What happened between us was intense as hell, and probably not something either of us should repeat. But that doesn’t stop me from watching her every move or remembering exactly how she tasted when she came apart on my mouth. Her pussy squeezed the hell out of my fingers. I can well imagine what it would feel like to…

Focus, you idiot. Not happening!

I force myself to look away, concentrating on Jake’s continued chatter about some upcoming golf tournament.

Golf…also not my thing at all.

My eyes are drawn back to her like a magnet. The way her hips sway as she walks, the confident set of her shoulders, the memory of those long legs wrapped around my waist as I pressed her against that tree.

My cock twitches, and I have to adjust my position to hide my body’s reaction. She can tell me all she wants about how it was her dragon, that it wasn’t really her making those desperate little sounds as I fucked her good and proper with my tongue. But I’m not buying it for one second. I’ve seen the way her pupils dilate when she looks at me, caught the way her breath hitches when I get too close. And Christ, I can still remember her scent – candy mixed with fruit and that musky arousal that made my dragon purr with satisfaction.

“You listening, Marsh?” Jake’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“Yeah, sorry. Just thinking about tomorrow’s schedule.”

“Right. Early flight to Chicago. At least it’s just a quick trip this time.”

I make a noise of agreement.