Page 100 of Tested

“Seriously?” Connor sits upright, feet planted on the ground. “What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

Poole gives him abless your heartsmile. “I think that only applies to ordinary people. We’re special.”

David’s sputter is cut off when he dunks himself. For my part, I can’t disagree. Humans may tolerate their supernatural neighbors, but they seem happiest when we police ourselves. Anddamn,Connor makes a helluva judge and jury.

“Anyway, they’ve wrapped things up and should be out of your hair until at least noon.”

“What happens then?” David asks.

“They still need statements.” Brodie waves a hand in my direction. “Although they know they’ll need to wait till after sunset for you.”

The pieces fall into place. The cops hadn’t been all up in our faces because Poole and Brodie ran interference. “Thank you.” Another debt of gratitude I won’t be able to repay. “I appreciate what you’ve done.”

Brodie shrugs and Poole laughs it off. “You guys get some rest,” Poole says, “and Mack, I’ll be in touch sometime this afternoon.”

Connor pushes off the chaise and shakes Poole’s hand. “Yes sir. Thank you, sir.”

Brodie extends his hand and Connor smacks it, like a misdirected high five. “And thank you too, asshole.”

Rather than cut through, the two members of the Elites circle around the outside of the house. Connor watches them go, still standing. Once I no longer hear their footsteps, I stand, too.

“Let’s go to bed,amore mio.”

David pushes himself out of the water and shakes like the puppy I accuse him of being. “Yeah, pookie,” he says. “Let’s go to bed.”

Connor meets my gaze, his expression guarded. “I can’t promise I won’t work with them again, but if and when I do, I’ll tell you, no matter what Poole makes me promise.”

“Thank you.” Connor’s motivated by loyalty and I can’t fault him for that. “I might bitch and moan, but I’d rather hear the truth.”

“Hey Santa,” David says, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his wet body to mine.

“Yes?”

“While you’re handing out treats, can we agree that restaurant management isn’t in my future?”

I twist around to scowl at him. “I never said it was.”

Connor chokes on a laugh, and David jams his knee into mine, nearly tipping us both over. Regaining my balance, I wrap my hands around his wrists. “Okay, maybe I did say that, but it’s only because I figured then we’d have something in common.”

“Oh man, Guido, way to cut a guy’s heart.” David knocks his forehead against my spine a couple times. “Okay, you wanna know what we can have in common?”

“What?”

“You can teach me to do that thing you and Sheena did, the night you needed to feed.”

“Jack guys off in public?”

He rocks his hips against me, letting me feel how his cock is swelling. “More like stride around the room like you own the damned place.”

“I do own the damned place.”

He knocks his forehead harder. “I mean you and Sheena both have so much attitude, like you could point at anyone in the room and order them to come, and they would.”

I tug him around so we’re face to face. “You want to be a baby Dom?”

He smirks. “Maybe.”

“That can be arranged.” I glance up to meet Connor’s gaze. “But for tonight, why don’t we just go to bed.”