Lure of Obsession (The Muse Chronicles Book 1) (9 page)

He tasted her lips with his tongue, and she opened to him. The moan that escaped her nearly undid him. He pressed her back against the car, bringing one hand up into her hair, tangling his fingers in the silky strands.

Her hands wandered lower, gripping his ass. He rocked his hips against her, his desire overriding rational thought until she broke the kiss, breathless. “Take me to your place.”

He didn’t hesitate. He grabbed her hand and hustled her to his car. The drive was a blur, like he couldn’t breathe until he had her back in his arms. He kissed her again as soon as she got out.

“Malone!”

Cold shower. He turned around to find John jogging toward him. He stared at Mel for a second, and then narrowed his eyes at Nate. “Am I interrupting?”

His tone made it plain that he knew damned well he was fucking interrupting. Nate took a step away from Mel. “We ran into each other, and I gave her an update on the case. You remember Melanie Jacoby. Mel, this is my partner, Detective Gilman.”

John shook her hand, his tense expression unchanged. “Good to see you again. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Mel released his hand, crossing her arms. “Thank you. I’m choosing to focus on finding her killer instead of her loss.”

John raised a brow. “There’s no evidence of a killer. Didn’t you tell her, Malone? The ME ruled it an accidental death.”

Why was John being such a dick? Nate frowned. “Why are you here?”

“You weren’t answering your cell phone. We got a potential lead on the C-4 in the theater.”

Shit. He hadn’t even looked at his cell phone during dinner. “Let me grab my badge.” He turned to Mel. “Sorry about this. I’ll drop you back at your car in a minute.” He glared at John. “Don’t be an asshole.”

John smirked. “I’ll do my best.”

M
el waited on
Nate, half expecting his partner to arrest her. It wasn’t a crime to make out with a detective, but judging by his partner’s reaction, she’d definitely offended him in some way.

“Sleeping with him isn’t going to bring your friend back,” he said, keeping his attention on the gate to the condos that Nate had just gone through.

She put a hand on her hip. “Excuse me?”

He glanced her way and then back to the gate. “Nate’s a good detective. He knows better than to get involved with a witness.”

“So I must be seducing him?”

He shrugged. “You tell me.” He finally met her eyes. “What’s your endgame?”

“Is it so shocking that I think Nate is a great guy?”

A flash of concern lined his eyes before his stern law enforcement mask settled back into place. “I just don’t want to see him getting tangled up with a witness, and when things go south, I don’t want to see her reporting him to the department.”

Mel sighed. A tiny part of her had to respect that John was protecting his partner, but still… “You just assume it’ll ‘go south’ and you don’t even know me. Nice.”

“I know Nate. Women fall all over him, and they’re hurt when he walks. You were a witness he questioned. He shouldn’t risk it with you.”

Mel crossed her arms. Tightly. “You’re warning me that he gets around?”

Nate opened the gate, dressed in his standard slacks and button-down shirt. His holster was a new addition, too.

John lowered his voice. “I’m warning you that he doesn’t do relationships, so if you’re going into it with that hope, don’t be pissed later.”

“You’re still here.” Nate walked up.

“Just chatting with Ms. Jacoby.”

Nate looked at them both before raising a brow to his partner. “Were you being an asshole?”

“No more than usual.” John met her eyes, and finally he nodded. “Nice seeing you again.” He went to his car, calling over his shoulder. “I sent you a text with the address, Malone.”

“Be right behind you.”

Mel got back in Nate’s car, her mind spinning. Nate hadn’t given her the “player” vibe at all, but the first thing he’d said when she told him about Guardians was that the gods picked the wrong guy. Maybe the relationship thing his partner mentioned was hidden in Nate’s comment.

She stared out the passenger window, digesting Detective Gilman’s information. She’d had her share of heartbreaks over the years, and her most recent had come right before she’d moved to Crystal City. It had made making the no-dating pact with her sisters an easy choice at the time.

But heartbreak was part of what made relationships a thrill—taking that risk. She didn’t usually shy away. The rush of emotion—the feeling of free falling—made diving in for another chance worthwhile.

Or maybe that was her muse hungering for more tragedy.

“You’re really quiet. Did John say something to upset you?” He glanced her way, then back to the street. “He really is a good guy, but he’s protective.”

Mel reached across to rest her hand on his thigh. “He’s definitely that. He told me you’re not a relationship guy and if I get angry and report you, you could get in trouble with the department because you questioned me as a witness.”

He rested a hand over hers. “Ever since I met you, keeping it professional has been practically impossible.”

“So it’s true.”

“Which part?”

“You could get in trouble for seeing me.”

He raised her hand to his lips, brushing a kiss to her knuckles. “I can handle a little trouble. How about you?”

Scars and a thrill seeker. Gods help her…

She smiled, looking over at him. “No risk, no reward, right?”

He squeezed her hand and released it as he pulled into the parking lot behind Gracie’s. He parked beside her car and turned to her. “I need to chase down this witness with John. Can I call you later?”

Mel nodded. “I’d like that.”

“Good.” His smile faded. “Until I find out who was trying to blow up the theater, I’m going to assume it’s connected to your roommate’s attacker. Stay with Callie. Be safe.”

She opened the door. “I will.”

Mel got in her car and turned on the engine and the headlights. Nate waited, and then followed her out of the lot. He may not have thought he’d be a good pick for a Guardian, but he was dead wrong.

He walked down
the white runner toward their leader. His robed brothers and sisters cheered his approach, encouraging him forward. His breath echoed behind the thick mask. When he reached the platform, he removed the hood of his robe. Their leader anointed his head with oil before placing a laurel wreath over his hair.

He turned to face the Order. They were a small group, twelve souls representing the twelve original Titans. And with their help, the children of Gaia would once again be free and bring about the Golden Age of Man. No more human wars or strife. No egos, no famine, only milk and honey.

But first they needed to stop the daughters of Zeus. The muses could inspire the human race, bringing about new technologies that would eliminate the need to dig into the earth’s core, into the prison in which Kronos had been trapped by his own son.

The cheers quieted, and their leader spoke. “Children of Gaia, Mother Earth calls us to free her son.”

More cheers.

“Our brother has brought us one step closer to the goal. The Muse of Astronomy is no more.” Their leader took his wrist and raised it high like a prizefighter as he drank in the praise.

“There is more to do, but we are moving the Order of the Titans forward. The Golden Age of Man will return, and we will be heralded as heroes of mankind.”

He turned to face their leader and tipped his head down with reverence. When he straightened, he descended to join his brothers and sisters. Beside the platform was a stack of wood and twigs with twelve torches circling it. The members of the Order spaced themselves so they each stood behind one of the twelve torches.

Their leader looked up at the night sky, calling to the heavens. “We send our victory to Uranus, Father Sky. Soon his children will be free.”

He took up his torch in time with the others, lifting the flame above his head and awaiting the final signal from their leader.

“Brothers and sisters of the Order of the Titans, tonight we celebrate with sky and earth.”

All the torches touched the dry wood. Sparks flew into the night as the fire consumed it, and the black smoke rose up like a serpent. He smiled behind his mask.

With a taste of accomplishment in his mouth, he vowed to continue his work until the muses were no longer a threat to their mission. He would become a hero for all time.

Mel walked through
the door to find all her sisters gathered in the circle around Callie’s round dining room table like King Arthur’s knights. “Wow, did I miss my invitation?”

Callie rolled her eyes. “This is why we made the pact. While you were out on a
date
, the rest of us were here trying to figure out how to keep the theater safe until we can get it finished.”

Mel took a seat. “So I guess you aren’t even curious about the Guardian prophecy Clio found?”

They all turned her way, and Clio grinned. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

“Seems to be.” Mel glanced around the circle. “Nate has a birthmark on the back of his shoulder. He said it started burning when he met me, and it appears his gift is psychometry. We think it only works if the thing he touches is related to the muses—mainly, to me.”

“I
knew
it was true. It’s so romantic.” Clio placed a hand over her heart.

Callie rolled her eyes. “Some of us don’t need to be guarded, thank you very much.”

Mel chuckled. “Not to rain on your parade, Clio, but that prophecy doesn’t say anything about loving us, just protecting us. It’s not like that birthmark wakes up undying love.”

Clio sobered, her shoulders slumping a little. “So you guys aren’t dating?”

Mel mentally smacked herself. Sometimes being the Muse of Tragic Poetry made it tough to be a good friend.

“There’s definitely an attraction there, but there’s a better than average chance it’ll blaze in like an inferno and then fizzle out.” Although she always expected the worst, saying the words out loud actually sort of hurt. She didn’t want them to be true.

“The sooner it fizzles out, the sooner we’ll have your full attention again. We’ve got work to do.” Callie poked at the blueprints in the center of the table. “Distractions could cost us everything. Nia wanted this as much as any of us. We need to finish what she helped us start.”

Mel tried to focus on the discussion of hiring security guards, putting up cameras, and starting a list of potential Titan sympathizers, but her mind kept wandering to Nate. She usually jumped boldly into new relationships, recognizing they wouldn’t last, but this regret was new. Diving into this could hurt her. She really liked this guy.

For once, this might be more tragedy than I can take.

Nate sat across
from the dockworker while John stood a few feet back from the table. Nate would be the ‘good cop’ this time, and John would be the intimidator if needed.

“I told you all I know,” the guy said.

Nate skimmed his notes. “Two shipments of explosives checked in at the port, one for Ace Demolitions and the other for?”

“It’s not on the list?”

Nate lifted his gaze. “But you already knew that didn’t you?”