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Chapter 31

Because I was pathetic and needy I missed love I needed sex

Pathetic See?

My cell phone rang - the sound shrill in the sudden silence Both of us juot up to answer

Damien was so close, I shoved him back as I went by, and he let me

If he was a big, bad ouldn't he have killed me by now? Why wait? Avoid the rush

I was grasping at straws and I knew it

"Hello?"

"Liebchen"

I gripped the phone htly, calmed by Edward's voice My eyes met Damien's and I hesitated I knehat Edould want me to do, and I couldn't Not yet

"I received your e," he continued "Any more information for me?"

"Wasn't that enough?" I asked

"I would say no The native woman - "

Edward, ever politically incorrect - what can you expect frohty-year-old-and-then-some former spy?

"Her infor, but we still do not knohat the power eater plans for the night of the hunter's moon You do not knohere their lair is"

"Any clues on that?"

"Search for a gathering place Isolated Protected"

"Been there, done that Found nothing"

"I cannot help you, Leigh I am here; you are there Do the job"

"Why don't you come and help me?" I blurted, then wished I hadn't

Edward randdad, but he wasn't He'd blow Daht Step on the rerind them into dust, and never flinch Once I'd been that way, too Suddenly I wasn't, and it leftand alone

"I can't," he answered

I frowned Edward had been saying that since I'd gotten to Crow Valley It wasn't like him to avoid the action "Why?"

"You've been trained for this job You do not need me"

His voice was clipped, angry Soh to knoasn't going to tell me what it was

"Have you done any further investigation of the odd dwelling with the hu like it"

Which couldn't be good

"I haven't been back What should I look for?"

"I have no idea"

This fro

I continued to study Daainst the wall and stared right back His odd, changeable, unblinking eyes should have made me leery Instead they ht I was

Why hadn't I recognized Dalance at Hector in wolf form and known him for what he was Damien not so much

His eyes were strange - changing hue depending on the light and what he earing Still, I should have known Unless, maybe, I hadn't wanted to see

Edwardon the other end of the line

"What was that?"

"I have to go, Leigh"

And he did Just like that

"Nohat?" Damien asked

Exactly Nohat?

Was there a way to check his story? Maybe

"Do you have a Social Security number?"

"I did" At my frown he continued, "I died in Germany, remember?"

"So you say"

Da off every Jager-Sucher in the country that I was investigating someone as already dead? I had no idea

The question disturbed uard drop The next instant Daht next to me

I tried to bring up the rifle, but he snatched it away and tossed it on the bed

The heel of my hand shot toward his nose Old habits are hard to break

He blocked the bloith a lightning-fast movement that nevertheless appeared lazy How did they do that?

He yanked o My heart thundered insound that at first I thought was hihtened, and so turned onaround on top of my bones

Was he going to kill me? Or worse?

I struggled, but that only seeainst , as if it had a life of its own

He pressed his face toainstto stop him, and in truth, I didn't want to

His tongue blazed a hot, wet trail fro vein at the curve I shuddered as he nibbled and laved

My hands were free Instead of socking hi in the dark, curling strands of his hair

When had s wrapped around his waist? When had his palms cupped my ass?

He nuzzled the tops of my breasts I yanked ue pressing htenedto coh"

My body went ice-cold I didn't have to struggle; this tio My breasts were still exposed, wet fro with arousal and frustration I covered e to take a shower

Hurt flickered in his eyes; his face hardened "It's OK to have sex with you but not to love you?"

I lifted ht I seeet"

"I've been taking ive so to"

"I'"

"I' I love you"

"Stop saying that!" I shouted

Jiotten him killed

Damien could take care of himself, like Hector Who had also loved me Sick son of a bitch

Whichmore than for me to be happy?