When Will I See You Again (19 page)

Alexx nodded, patting his pocket.

“I’ll leave the number with Paolo, if you don’t mind. That way he can reach me if I’m not here.”

“Where would you be?”

“I have an idea. Come on, let’s go.” Raoul came around the desk, reaching for Alexx’s hand, helping him to his feet.
“Where are we going?”

“To the woods. As you said, it’s the scene of the crime.”

If they were going to head to the woods, they were going about it in entirely the wrong way, as Raoul leaned in for a kiss, is if drawn to Alexx by forces he could not resist. Another quick kiss— or two or three—later, Alexx felt himself melt into Raoul, despite the fact that they had things to do, places to go. He couldn’t seem to bring himself to move away from the other man, his brain and his heart alike telling him this was so right, so good. Had it not been for the sound of Alexx’s phone jarring them apart, they could have happily gone on like this for quite a while, content to be in one another’s arms. Alexx glanced at the caller ID, then handed the phone to Raoul.

“Sorry,” Raoul whispered, before taking the call. “Yes?” He listened intently, his brows furrowing. “Did he leave? Good. If he
comes back, give him the same answer. We’re on our way down.”

He closed the phone and handed it to Alexx.

“Did something happen?”

“Just a nosy reporter trying to get into the club. Wanted to ask me questions about the murder.”

“Which paper?” Alexx asked. Not that it was exactly a secret that Raoul had been brought in for questioning, but as he’d been neither charged nor booked, it wasn’t a matter of public record either. So who’d alerted the fourth estate? Raoul didn’t reply right away, apparently lost in thought.

He followed Raoul from his office, waited as he locked it behind them before they got onto the elevator, heading down.

Alexx’s mind was racing a mile a minute. How had this story managed to gain the attention of someone outside the Crescent Bay area? And why? Something felt off to him. Murders happened all over the country, why investigate this one? Or was this one drawing unwanted attention because someone was choosing to play up the paranormal angle, maybe give it a completely sinister spin? Make the werewolves look bad—or maybe the supernaturals in general? His next thought was there had to be a leak at the police station—how else would the information have gotten out so quickly? Was it possible somebody there had contact with one of the national papers? Or was this going to hit closer to home? He shivered uneasily, goose bumps sprouting on his arms, chilling him.

Raoul gave him a guarded look before finally replying, “Apparently it was someone from the
Chronicle
.”

“What the hell?” Alexx swore. “Sorry, it’s just that… I mean…”

“Don’t apologize, I know what you mean. And I’m just as
pissed as you, believe me.”

Paolo met them outside the elevator.

“What did this reporter look like?” Raoul brusquely asked.

“Tall, thin guy. Blond, blue-eyed. Too much hair gel, swimming in cologne.” Paolo waved a hand before his face, wrinkled his nose. “The kind of guy who won’t take no for an answer and thinks he has the right to everything just because he thinks he’s somebody.”

“Dammit, that sounds like Price,” Alexx muttered.

Raoul turned to him, his gray eyes narrowed. “Why would that asshole be here? It’s your story, not his, your editor said so.”

“Yeah, I know. Good question.”

Raoul took his hand, brought it up to his lips, and laid a reassuring kiss upon it. “Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of things.” Raoul turned to Paolo. “If he comes back, call me on Alexx’s phone. We’re going out to the woods.”

“Got it, boss.” Paolo’s eyes flickered back and forth between the two men, but his face remained impassive. The bouncer trailed them through the club to the door. “Anything else you want me to do?”

“No, not for now. Lock the door behind us.”

Leaving the club behind, they quickly strode together across the almost empty parking lot. Alexx could feel the tension that transmitted itself through Raoul’s grasp. His companion was every bit on edge as much as Alexx was. The thought that this beautiful man championed his cause warmed Alexx’s heart.

“Dammit,” Alexx swore. Abruptly he stopped moving, inadvertently pulling back on Raoul’s hand. Raoul instantly tensed, taking up a defensive stance, shielding Alexx with his body.

“What’s wrong?”
Alexx pointed over Raoul’s shoulder to a forest green Cadillac ahead of them, sitting at the edge of the lot. “I knew it was him.

That’s Price’s car.” There was no sign of the prickly blond. They stepped up to the car, cautiously peered inside. The interior was a mess. The backseat and floor were covered in crumpled fast food wrappers and empty gourmet coffee cups. Other than the remains of quickly eaten meals long gone, the vehicle was empty. From the rearview mirror dangled a small photograph in a gilt frame.

“Why am I not surprised he’s got a picture of himself?” Alexx wrinkled his nose in disgust, glancing at Raoul. “I wonder where he is? He’s gotta be on foot. We know he’s not in the club.”

“I have an idea, although I have to wonder what’s brought him there. Or who.” Raoul reached for Alexx’s hand and he gladly gave it, threading their fingers together. Confidence surged through him at Raoul’s touch, dissipating his unease. Whatever they found, he knew they’d deal with it. Together.

They crossed the grassy area that led up to the relative coolness of the woods beyond. “Are we going to your cabin?” Alexx asked.

The very thought of time spent there together brought back memories—images of a very naked Raoul.

He knew he should get his mind off those mental pictures and concentrate on the present, on the here and now, but it was so very difficult, especially when he wanted to see more of him, wanted to touch Raoul in the worst possible way. He forced himself to focus on Raoul’s words, not his body.

“Do you think you can retrace your steps from that night?”

Raoul gave him a hopeful look, but didn’t seem surprised when he shook his head.

“It was dark. I was…drunk…and I panicked. All I remember is trees and lots of them. Running like my life depended on getting
away from the creep in the parking lot. Sorry I’m not very helpful.”

Raoul stopped in his tracks, turned, and kissed him gently.

“Don’t be sorry. It was traumatic for you, I know. I’m just glad that I was able to find you.”

“Raoul…” Alexx began, hesitantly, then his courage deserted him, and he bit back his words.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just thinking aloud, that’s all.”

Raoul gently tilted Alexx’s head up until their eyes met. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he encouraged him, his voice sliding silkily into Alexx’s psyche.

“I was just… I mean, this probably sounds silly,” he half apologized, “but I feel like we’re attuned somehow, you and I.

See?” He laughed self-consciously. “I’m being weird, I know.”

“No, you’re not. I feel the same way,” Raoul asserted. “The very same way. Something drew me to you that night. Even before you ran into the woods. When I first saw you in that room.

Something very strong.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Raoul nodded. “There’s something about you.

Something that’s very familiar. I feel as if I’ve known you for a very long time, and yet I know that’s not possible, as young as you are. I’m forty and you’re twenty-one. And we just met, so that can’t be…”

Alexx had never stopped to consider Raoul’s age. At forty, he realized Raoul was considerably older than he was. But Raoul acted much younger than his years, and he looked it, as well. What was age but a number? It meant nothing to him. Maybe it was his genes, something in his blood. His father was a very handsome
man as well. All Alexx knew was that he felt something for Raoul, something that both thrilled him and scared him because these sensations were new to him and he’d never felt this way before.

“I feel like I’ve known you forever too, Raoul,” he admitted in an awestruck voice.

They stared into one another’s eyes intently.

“Alexx, I… There’s something I need to—”

The sound of a sharp crack drew both their attentions. Raoul placed himself protectively in front of Alexx, glancing about for the source of the noise.

“Would that be him?” He pointed to a figure that lurched stiffly about in the woods ahead of them, as if unsure of where he was going or why. Or what he was looking for.

Alexx squinted and nodded. “Looks like Price, yeah.”

“All right, let’s go see what he’s up to then. Besides trespassing on private property.”

They strode across the grass toward the woods. Alexx saw Price’s head suddenly pop up. He stared at them, his expression somewhere between annoyed and embarrassed. They’d almost reached his position when without warning he turned and plunged into the trees, heading in the opposite direction.

“Bloody hell,” Raoul swore. He lengthened his stride in pursuit of the reluctant reporter, and Alexx kept pace with him as well as he could, never letting go of Raoul’s hand. “Stop now!” Raoul yelled after the retreating figure. “You’re only making this harder on yourself!”

Apparently Price Chancellor quickly came to that conclusion as well, for he gave up after a farce of a chase that lasted only a few moments. Easily catching up to him, they found him bent over, his hands on his knees, his face florid, his breathing stertorous.
As they neared, he straightened up, fixing them with a defiant gaze. “I’ve done nothing wrong. You’ve got no reason to chase me,” he insisted, his attention focused on Raoul, ignoring Alexx’s presence.

“I beg to differ with you. You’re trespassing. This area is completely private. This land is mine and you have no business being here. So you
have
done something wrong. What I want to know is what the hell are you doing here, Chancellor?”

The reporter was dressed in an ice cream vendor white suit that contrasted with the orange glow of his artificial tan. The effect of sartorial purity was spoiled by an assortment of pine needles and resin, as though he’d been on his hands and knees. He wasn’t exactly dressed for a stroll through the woods, and yet here he was.

“Since you know who I am, it must be obvious what I’m doing here.” He attempted to brush away the stains that marred his jacket sleeves, managing to spread the sticky stuff for his efforts.

“I’m afraid it’s not obvious, so why don’t you tell me?” Raoul took a menacing step toward the man. He took a matching step backward, then attempted to cover it up with more bravado.

“I’m a member of the fourth estate, engaged in the pursuit of a news story. It’s what I do, as I’m sure you know.” His glance flickered over Alexx, although he made no attempt to recognize him.

“This is my story, Price.” Alexx stood his ground, surprising even himself with his assertion. He’d never had the nerve to talk to the reporter like that before, but then he’d never really had a reason to either, until now.

“That’s what you think, little man,” Price hissed in a venomous tone. The effect became diluted, his last word coming out as a squeak—mainly because Raoul had grabbed him by the throat and
lifted him off his feet where he dangled in the air, flailing ineffectively.

“You need to rethink those words, unless you want them to be the last ones that you utter.”

Price’s reply was inaudible as he struggled simply to breathe, his face purpling with his exertion.

“Raoul, let him go. He can’t answer you if you do that.” Alexx boldly slid his arm about Raoul’s waist. Instantly he released his grip on the reporter, who crumpled to the ground onto all fours, loudly gasping for air.

“Who sent you?” Raoul demanded.

“Nobody sent me,” Price managed to choke out. He lurched unsteadily to his feet and leaned against a nearby tree for support, eying them uneasily.

Alexx focused on Raoul, not Price. He pulled on his hand, enticing him to take a step back from the situation, at least for the moment.

“I think he’s not lying. I don’t think this was his idea,” he murmured, casting a wary eye at Price. “But maybe he thinks it was.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Price always has his own agenda. All someone has to do is appeal to that and make him think this is what he’s supposed to be doing, and he’ll take all the credit for himself.”

“So what do you propose? We just let him go? Let him get away with this?” Raoul seemed incensed at the idea, barely controlled rage visible just beneath the surface.

Alexx nodded. “For now, yeah. Until we can figure out who’s really behind this. And why.”

Raoul grumbled, but he made no move to throttle the reporter
again, never stepping away from Alexx. “I don’t like that. What if he files the story before you do? Then he’ll get all the credit for it, and I won’t have that.”

“Shhh, shhh,” Alexx attempted to soothe Raoul, stroking his cheek gently. “It’s not like that, it doesn’t work that way. He can’t do anything, and I’m fairly sure he doesn’t know anything, he’s just fishing. Besides, the story isn’t my priority anymore, you are.

I’m more concerned with clearing your name than getting a damn byline. You’re more important to me.” His words produced an audible moan from Raoul. This thing between them—he could feel it growing stronger with every single minute they spent together.