“I had no intentions of the sort.”
She wiggled her bottom, creating a delicious friction between them and causing Prince to throw back his head and suck in a sharp breath. Kat placed a kiss on his Adam’s apple and then beneath his chin. “Could have fooled me. Get dressed. I want to tear this town inside out until I get my sister back.”
“I’ll bring you my laptop so you can review his files.”
“Thanks,” she said, easing off his lap. “I don’t think he’ll have anything in there that’ll reveal his whereabouts, but I’m pretty sure there’s enough incriminating evidence to turn over to the higher authority.”
“He’salreadydeemed an outlaw. What purpose would that serve?” Prince rose to his feet and frowned.
Kat put her hands on her hips and stuck out her leg. “If he’s slave trading, then he’s got juicy info in those files. Not only will it lead to more arrests and putting those criminals where they belong, but it might lead to finding and freeing some of the victims. Imagine all the people out there who think the world has forgotten about them, and they’ve given up all hope. It’s good to know at the end of day that I helped someone, but I don’t always get that feeling with this job. They don’t usually offer me cases to bust up rings since I don’t have a partner. Plus, let’s face it,” she said, turning on her heel, “the higher authority is predominantly male, and most of them still believe a woman can’t do a man’s job.”
“Men have been fools since the beginning of time.”
“I want that on a T-shirt.” Kat stepped into a clean pair of underwear and jeans he’d left for her, giving him an appraising glance. “You should dress like that more often.”
He looked down at his silk pajama bottoms.
“I like the whole sexy long-hair thing you’ve got going on. And the bare-chested pajama ensemble is a good look on you. Especially barefoot.”
He glanced down at her, closing his brown eye and squinting with the other. “Are you mocking me?”
His question was answered almost immediately when she smoothed her hands across his chest and made him shiver. Her lips grazed over his nipple, tongue circling around the hardened tip.
“I’m serious. It’s casual and I like it,” she said. “I’d really like to see this behind me on a sofa while we’re watching TV, so make that happen. Eating Chinese food and cuddling can be just as sexy as exotic oils and our naked bodies pressed together. Well… not quite the same, but you’ll see what I mean.”
He arched his brow. “Perhaps you can plan our next date while I retrieve the laptop for your research.”
“Swell. I hope you have a Cracker Barrel around here, because not only do I love their chicken and dumplings, but I couldlivein their gift shop. Buy me some peanut brittle and I’ll be your girl.”
He circled his arms about her waist. “I would also like to know what you sleep in.”
“First of all, I don’t have my usual clothes with me. Secondly, I don’t go all the way on the first date.”
A smile hovered on his lips. “And what would you call last night?”
Her soft lips pressed against his, sable eyes looking up at him. “Definitely not a date.”
“Are you hungry?”
“You wouldn’t happen to have any french toast, would you?”
Prince smirked and opened the door. “I think I can make that happen. How does bacon on the side sound?”
Kat licked her lip seductively. “Yummy.”
* * *
Kat reviewedthe data on the flash drive three times, hoping some scrap of information would let her uncover where Vlad was keeping Nadia and her father. Yet the only thing she found was one disgusting transaction after another.
She’d eaten two helpings of french toast and six pieces of bacon. The man brought her maple bacon. Kat was pretty sure if she was ever on death row, her last meal would probably be ten pounds of maple bacon. She had a sneaking suspicion that Prince hadn’t cooked it, but his shortcomings were forgiven the moment he asked if it was to her satisfaction. The rich timbre of his voice made her melt like chocolate over a fire, as did the shoulder rub.
Andwhen he fed her a piece of bacon.
An hour later, Prince called Russell into the room for an update.
Russell hiccupped, finishing off a piece of bacon. “Vlad’s house was empty, the motor gone, and the stove still warm by the time we’d gotten there last night.” Russell pulled Prince toward the door behind her and attempted to lower his voice. Kat hung on his every word while she pretended to work, giving him the respect of privacy with his packmate.
“A basement?” Prince asked in disbelief. “I didn’t see a basement when I was there.”
