Bite the Bullet (Bitten Book 5) (5 page)

He must have noticed my eyes wandering to it because he said, “It’s for show.”

I shrugged. “I understand. It has to look good, doesn’t it?”

I walked further into the room and looked around. There were two doors, one ajar to reveal a bathroom. I opened the other to find a closet. To my surprise, there were clothes hanging inside.

“Are these clothes for me?” I asked, glancing over at Asher.

“Yeah. Donna told Conner your size and I had these delivered.”

There were two pairs of shoes lined up beneath the clothes as well. “Uh, thanks.” I didn’t want to thank him after the way he’d behaved, but good manners had been drilled into me by my parents my entire childhood.

“You’re welcome. If you don’t need anything else, it’s after two. You should probably get some sleep.”

Aloof Asher had returned. I wasn’t sure what to make of him. One minute, the heat in his eyes was practically melting my underwear and the next he acted like a polite stranger.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I also had some other clothes and things delivered. They’re in the dresser,” he murmured, stepping out of the room and shutting the door behind him.

I walked over to the dresser and opened the top drawer, unsure of what to expect. Inside, I found bras and panties in an assortment of colors. At first glance, they looked utilitarian and plain. I picked up a pair of navy underwear and marveled at the cool satin. They must have been insanely expensive. I ran my hand over another pair of panties and lifted them up. They were made of black cotton so soft that it almost felt like silk and edged in black lace.

These were the sorts of undergarments I would buy for myself. I loved the feel of high quality fabrics against my skin and the subtle sexiness of simple satin or a little lace.

Once again, Asher had done something to confuse me.

I opened the drawer beneath them and found camisoles and matching shorts. Donna must have given Asher suggestions on what to purchase for me because they were similar what I wore at home in my own bed. As I picked up the first top on the stack and saw the sheerness of the fabric, I realized they weren’t
exactly
what I bought for myself. They were much sexier and more revealing.

I searched through the drawer until I found a black top and shorts that weren’t see-through. I tossed them on the bed and headed into the bathroom. After washing my face and brushing my teeth with the toiletries that Asher had thoughtfully provided. It didn’t surprise me to find a plush bathrobe on the back of the bathroom door. Considering how well-prepared Asher was for my arrival, I was close to forgiving him for scaring the shit out of me earlier. Close, but not quite.

His thoughtfulness surprised me and I didn’t want to appreciate it, but I did in spite of myself. He had gone out of his way to make sure I would be comfortable when I got here, even going as far to find out what sorts of toiletries I liked and my exact clothing sizes from Donna.

The small digital clock on the nightstand revealed that it was nearly three in the morning when I returned to the bedroom to change. I quickly realized that the pajamas I thought the most demure were actually very sexy. The vee neckline revealed a great deal of my cleavage and the shorts were cut high on the sides of my thighs, slits on each hip from just below the waistband to the hem.

I went back into the bathroom and took the robe off the hook because I felt nearly naked.

Draping the robe over the end of the bed, I climbed in and stifled a groan at the feel of what had to be one million thread count sheets and a soft microfleece blanket. I immediately decided that I didn’t mind being nearly naked because it meant I could enjoy the sensation of the cotton against my skin.

Switching off the lamp, I settled beneath the covers and closed my eyes. Before I could fall asleep, I heard Asher’s voice.

“I need to speak to Cornelius.” There was a pause. “Because I have something he will want. Someone, to be more specific.”

Though I knew he would have to make this call, hearing it made my body grow rigid as adrenaline flooded my system. It had been a long time since I’d been on a mission for my former employer, that I’d forgotten this feeling. The rush of anticipation, the preparation, the tedium of waiting; I loved it all.

“Fine. Tell him I have one of the Five. He should call me soon if he’s interested.”

He must have hung up because he didn’t speak again.

I don’t know how I managed it after hearing that conversation, but I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

*     *     *

The next morning,
I luxuriated in the nest of blankets and sheets until ten. I forced myself to get up because I refused to become a lazy bum, even for amazing bed linens.

After a quick set of crunches and push-ups, I took a shower and dressed. I found myself standing in front of the mirror, contemplating the make-up on the bathroom counter. Perversely, I decided to skip the cosmetics.

All my feminine instincts screamed at me to primp a little because they liked Asher, but the logical portion of my brain, the part that was on hiatus last night, insisted that I shouldn’t try to make him see me as an attractive woman.

Okay, so maybe it was my pride. I didn’t want him to think that I wanted his attention, especially after his hot and cold attitude last night.

I made a face at myself in the mirror and left the bathroom before I drove myself nuts. When I tried to open the bedroom door, it wouldn’t move. I twisted the knob the other way, but still nothing.

Then it dawned on me. That fucking lock. Just for show, my ass. As soon as I was feeling more charitable toward Asher, he did something to piss me off.

Angry, I smacked my hand against the door. “Asher! Dammit, open this fucking door!” I kicked the heavy wood for good measure.

A few moments later, I heard the padlock click and the door swung open. “Just for show, huh?” I asked Asher hotly. “You fucking liar.”

I brushed past him and headed toward the kitchen. I needed coffee and a knife. Well, the knife first, then coffee, because I was going to kill him so I could enjoy my caffeine in peace.

As if he read my mind, Asher followed me into the kitchen and positioned himself in front of the block that held the knives. I glared at him and walked over to the coffee pot.

After pouring my coffee, I briefly fantasized about tossing it into his face, but added milk and sugar and took a sip instead.

“I apologize for not warning you, but I received a call from Cornelius and he implied he would be coming by.”

The muscles in my neck tightened. “When?”

Asher shrugged. “He didn’t give me specifics. That’s why I locked the door. If he arrived before I had a chance to talk to you, I wanted everything to appear as if you were a prisoner rather than a guest.”

I set my cup on the countertop hard enough that coffee sloshed over the rim. “You could have woken me up and told me! Jesus, Asher, we’re supposed to be working together here! Yes, I’m bait, but I’m the kind of bait with teeth and claws. That’s why Conner suggested this.”

He fell silent, his blue eyes burning, but he didn’t argue. I sensed he had a lot more to say, but something held him back.

Realizing I wasn’t exactly behaving professionally, I forced myself to take a slow, deep breath and calm down. Screaming and swearing at him wasn’t going to solve our issues. In fact, it would make him feel justified in treating me as though I couldn’t handle the situation. And he would be right. We didn’t have a personal relationship. I had to approach this as I would a job for my security firm. While I tended to be a smart ass, I was well-known for keeping my cool, even when angry. It was a deserved reputation, most of the time.

“Look, I’m sorry I yelled,” I apologized. “In order for me to be effective, I need to understand what’s happening. I need you to view me as an equal rather than someone you have to take care of.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Conner insisted that I protect you,” he argued.

I sighed and nodded. “Good point. How about this? We watch each other’s backs. Like partners. That’s what partners do.”

After staring at me for several tense seconds, he finally answered, “Very well.”

Some of the tightness in my body released and I grabbed a towel and began wiping up the coffee I’d spilled. “Thank you.”

Asher was quiet as I sipped more of my coffee. Finally, he spoke.

“There’s something else we need to discuss.”

“Okay, let me have it.”

He shook his head at my words. “As we discussed with Conner, you’ll be more effective if we convince Cornelius you’re under my thrall.”

I giggled and he looked confused.

“Why are you laughing?” he asked.

“You said thrall,” I muttered. “Never mind. Just ignore me.”

Asher continued. “You said you’d be willing to do it, but I want to make sure you’re aware of what will happen.”

His words caught my attention. “I thought you and Conner explained it all very well a few nights ago. Unless there’s something you left out…” I trailed off. The two of them had outlined the process. Asher would bite me and I would pretend to be under his control. Kerry had offered to provide an amulet that would keep any vampire or warlock from reading my thoughts. I didn’t understand the process, but Conner assured me that the amulet would work on any vampire, witch, or warlock I came into contact with.

“No.”

“Then I’m willing,” I stated firmly.

Asher didn’t look convinced.

“I’m willing!” I insisted, setting my now empty coffee cup to the side.

He moved toward me. No, he prowled. “Have you ever been bitten before?” he asked.

“No.”

All too soon, he was standing in front of me, leaning over me. “I didn’t think so.” He put his hands on the counter on either side of me, boxing me in. “It’s an intimate thing, my mouth on your skin just before the sweet sting of the bite.”

I felt his warm breath on my neck and goose bumps ran over my flesh. The heat radiated from his body and I could smell his rich, earthy scent. My head tilted back in unconscious invitation as I imagined what he was describing. His nearness was overwhelming my ability to think rationally.

“The sensation is almost indescribable,” he murmured, his body so close that a scant inch would have us touching. “You’ll feel it all over your body.” His bottom lip brushed my ear as he spoke and I couldn’t control the shiver that wracked my muscles.

His icy reserve from last night was long gone. Instead, there was heat. Molten, volcanic heat that melted my knees and made me forget that I needed to be smart and keep my distance from him.

I leaned back against the counter, my hips brushing his hands, and I closed my eyes as the sensations rushed through my body.

“Are you sure you can handle it?” he whispered.

Before I could form a coherent answer, his heat and his hands disappeared. I opened my eyes to see that I stood in an empty kitchen. Asher was gone.

A
fter Asher disappeared,
I was shaken to my core. He’d all but seduced me with a few words. He hadn’t even touched me and I was ready to jump on him like a horny howler monkey.

Then he left me standing there, all but panting.

If any other man had been so erratic with me, so hot then cold, I wouldn’t have given him the time of day. I was too old to play games like that. I wanted to avoid Asher indefinitely, but we had a job to do, whether I liked it or not. I vowed he would not affect me like that again.

And for about a minute and a half, I believed it was possible.

I drank another cup of coffee and made some toast, which I ate standing up over the sink. When I finished, I rinsed the crumbs from my hands and stuck my cup in the dishwasher.

Out of ways to postpone talking to him, I left the kitchen and went in search of Asher. I found him in the small room just off the living area. He was sitting at an inexpensive computer desk, working on a laptop.

I knew he must have heard my approach, but he didn’t look up when I stopped in the doorway, leaning against the jamb and crossing my arms over my chest.

“We never finished our conversation this morning,” I stated with a calmness I didn’t feel.

Asher’s head came up and I could sense his surprise at my words. “What?”

“About pretending I’m your pet,” I elaborated. “You said I would be more effective in the plan if I’m not bound and I have to agree. But I’m not sure if you’ve considered this, if you keep me locked in a room and Cornelius decides he doesn’t need you any longer, I’ll be completely at his mercy.”

A change came over his face and I knew the thought had crossed his mind.

I came further into the room and sat down in the armchair across from his desk. “Is Cornelius still coming today?”

Asher shook his head. “He’s out of the state. He won’t be back until day after tomorrow.”

“So we have two days?”

He shook his head again. “I wouldn’t count on it. Cornelius enjoys keeping his followers off balance. It wouldn’t surprise me if he shows up in the middle of the night or first thing tomorrow morning.”