Chen sighed. “As much as I’d love to stay and watch, I really do have work to do. Logan, tell Vicki this squares my debt. And congratulations on the claiming. Finally,” he added with a sly wink and stood. “You’ve got four hours, as requested. Make the most of it.”
Then the most dangerous Voider in Cross Step bowed to Kate, nodded to Jesse and Logan, and left the room. The doorsnickedclosed behind them.
Logan wouldn’t let go of Kate, and she liked it. Jesse could feel her enthusiasm for her mate. Then she turned her attention to him and smiled. Damn, the woman was lethal, and she knew it.
Logan sighed. “Man, I needed that. Now before you two start on me about what’s been going on, let’s go into the other room and I’ll explain.”
They walked through a side door into a clean bedroom. A large bed in simple white sheets sat in the middle of a cement floor. In the corner of the room, a few chairs sat around a scarred wooden table. A television had been mounted to one wall, and a soft light lit the space with warmth. There were no windows, only the door through which they’d entered and another that led to a small lavatory.
“Chen’s home away from home,” Logan quipped. He dragged Kate with him to the bed and sat.
“Okay, we’re here. Now talk.” Jesse leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest, waiting.
“In a nutshell, I left you two after Kate pissed me off.”
“Sorry,” she said in a quiet voice.
“You should be.” Logan’s lips quirked, and Jesse knew he’d since forgiven her. “I moped for a bit, scared a few humans, and wandered down a few floors distracted by my new mate. Then I caught the overpowering stench of blood and followed the trail. Got myself whacked upside the head by none other than Will Lawless.”
“Lawless?” Jesse didn’t know how his world had gone to hell so quickly. From trying to secure their mate to dealing with not one, but two powerful adversaries in the span of a few hours. First Tommy Chen, leader of Cross Step’s underground, then Will Lawless, outcast and rogue Ravager.
Logan nodded. “Chen and I had a nice long chat while I’ve been waiting for you two. What do you think the odds are that Will Lawless is booked in Kate’s hotel, just a few floors underneath her, for the same duration Kate reserved? He used a false name, too.”
Jesse and Logan shared a glance then turned to Kate.
“Hey, I didn’t invite him, don’t look at me.”
“What’s really interesting is that Chen found the bodies of two Ravagers with their throats slit a few hours ago.” Logan stared hard at Kate, who shifted uneasily next to him. “And guess what Jesse? Those same two assaulted Kate yesterday morning.”
“Assaulted her?” Jesse’s temper surged at the thought of anyone harming his female. “Kate? Is this the ‘nothing’ you were talking about? Explain.” When she looked like she might balk, he added, “Now,” and snapped hisguertight.
Chapter Nine
Kate swallowed, nervous. “Look, none of this is my fault.” The rage on Jesse’s face was bad enough, but the simmering anger she could see on Logan’s normally even-tempered features added to her guilt and worry. “Fine. Look, I was drinking my coffee yesterday morning in a public place.” Where she should have been safe. Logan and Jesse seemed to relax a fraction, though she could still feel Jesse’s protective anger through their connection. “Two Lawless Ravagers approached me. They smelled me. Ah, my…I mean, they wanted to…”
“They scented your heat, knew you’d claimed two losers you couldn’t stand, and thought they’d scratch your itch,” Logan said sarcastically. So much for being forgiven.
“Well, yeah. I mean, no, you’re not losers. Oh hell, you know what I’m trying to say. I quickly told them to kiss off. They didn’t like that, we fought, and I kicked their asses.”
Jesse’s eyes gleamed. “That’s our girl.”
“You shouldn’t have had to kick anyone’s ass. If you’d claimed us like you should have, we’d still be at home at the compound, fucking like rabbits.” Logan shifted on the bed, and she saw the outline of his erection though his pants.
Jesse raised a brow at him. “She took care of me earlier while you were off in the hotelpiningfor her. Lost in all your negativity.”
Logan scowled. But as he concentrated on Jesse, he lost his annoyance. Wonder replaced the look on his face, and his hopeful expression tugged at Kate’s heartstrings. The Ravager really loved her. She could feel it pulsing in hisguer, reaching out to her once more. Unlike Jesse, Logan opened himself fully to her without being asked. The warmth and welcome in his soul called her home.
“We’ll get to that, soon, Kate.” Jesse’sguerstroked hers. “First, tell us about yesterday.”
“So it’s true, you can feel what she feels,” Logan murmured. “Amazing.” He gripped Kate’s hand in his own, then placed it over the bulge between his legs.
Kate’s desire flared, the flames of need licking at her and growing. She cleared her throat. “That’s all there is to it. The Salinas didn’t know what had actually happened. I pretended to be hurt so I could get away without more questions. They took me off in an ambulance, but one of the EMTs was a Vulcani, and he let me out in midtown. That’s the only reason I was in that hotel. It was close, and I needed a break. I was hot.”For you two.
Logan ran a finger down her neck to her collarbone. He traced the bone, dragged his finger down her chest and ended at her nipple, and let out what sounded like a breath of frustration. “I’m hot too.”
“Logan,” Jesse warned, but Kate wanted this. Right here, right now. She had to claim Logan as hers.
Logan didn’t look away from Kate. “I convinced Chen to give us a few uninterrupted hours. Let’s not waste it, Jesse.”
