She checked the clock. “It’s almost breakfast time.”
“Yeah.” He walked to the bathroom and disposed of the condom and returned. “I should probably let you get some rest. But I don’t want to.”
The beginnings of a pink sunrise illuminated the bathroom window, providing a soft backdrop to Connor’s imposing form. Backlit, his every muscle and plane highlighted, he made her mouth water.
Elaine held out her hand and smiled.
Rest was overrated.
* * * *
Connor had never had such a strange morning. He’d been vacillating between the best afterglow of his life and a severe need to kill. His mountain lion didn’t know if it was coming or going, and the man who housed it wasn’t faring much better. His ability to focus was sharp at times, and at other times, his mind wandered into blissful oblivion.
He and Elaine. For hours.
Incredible.
“Connor, are you still with us?”
Ryland’s voice felt like a slap to the face. This must be one of those blissful oblivion moments. “Yeah, sorry. Didn’t get much sleep.”
Two cups of black coffee and a hearty breakfast hadn’t helped, especially because he’d consumed them while sitting across from Elaine. The two of them had picked up the kids for breakfast and had spent that time asking Layla and Andy about their sleepover, but their gazes had met over the kids’ heads time and again.
God, she was sexy in the morning.
She’d nibbled on her toast, her cheeks pink and her smile bashful. Connor had wanted to reach over the table and nibble her. He felt as if he was floating in a sea of Elaine’s hair, buoyed by her plump thighs, completely unable to concentrate on anything other than how good she felt. He could have bobbed happily among his memories for hours, days.
He’d slept with Elaine, and neither of them had imploded. Amazing.
Would it happen again? It had to or he’d die. It was that simple.
Ryland’s voice distracted him again. It was time to dwell on less pleasant topics.
The police hadn’t located John Page yet. For some reason, the man hadn’t gone home the past couple of nights. His landlady had told the police he sometimes stayed at the casino all night long. She knew because he’d defaulted on his rent a few times, asking her for leniency because of his addiction.
The more Connor wondered about Page, the more of a threat he became.
“Page is due to work at the pub today.” Ryland consulted his laptop. “His shift starts at three.”
Ryland and Connor had called a council of war, so to speak, summoning their friends to keep them abreast of the situation. Several of their friends had gathered in Ry’s office, anyone who wasn’t working that morning. They would fill in any details for the others.
If Page really was the shooter and part of this illegal hunting ring, they needed to take care of him.
For good, Connor’s mountain lion added.We can’t let him hurt our woman.
Settle down. Let us handle this.
Elaine had wanted to join in, but Connor still wasn’t one hundred percent confidant her heart was in optimum shape. Knowing she wanted to catch up with her kids, he suggested she and Fleur bring Andy and Layla to the resort’s new indoor playground. Connor had to admit he was pleased Elaine had Fleur on her side. He wanted his lady surrounded by people who cared. As a wolf woman, Fleur had excellent instincts, she knew how to fight, and she would do anything for Elaine.
As Connor glanced around the room, he noticed several jaws ticking and he smelled their need for revenge. After Lloyd and their other friends had died at the hands of the Alpha Brethren, the folks at the Ursa had lost all patience with troublemakers. They might be a peaceful lot in general, but they were all in favor of eradicating anyone who posed a threat.
One could only poke a predator so many times. Eventually, it would bite.
“I say we grab Page before his shift, bring him into the woods,” said Jani, “anddiscussthe matter with him.”
“Discuss.” Killian’s chuckle was low and ominous. “That’s almost funny.”
“Guys, let’s not get carried away.” Killian’s mate, Nina, dared to be the voice of reason in a room full of testosterone. “We don’t know for sure that John is the shooter.”
