Malcolm stared at the paper in Holly’s file. It wasn’t what was written, but what wasn’t. Nowhere did it say that Holly should fall in love again, but that was obviously what needed to happen. He’ddismissed the whole “soulmate” idea when he’d first read it, but after recognizing the similarity in his, Joy’s and Holly’s lives when it came to love, he was positive that’s what the higher-ups were looking for.
He wasn’t as sure that was what Cameron wanted from their visit. If he had, he would have said so. Unless he wasn’t allowed to.
Malcolm dropped the file on Joy’s coffee table whereshe’d left it. It was probably safer here than at his cottage. He scanned the room. Her place was like her, neat with everything in its proper place. At least that’s how it appeared.
Walking to the double doors off the living room, he opened them. Ah, her bedroom. Here is where her secrets would be. He strode directly to her dresser. Opening the jewelry box, he sifted through the southwesternpieces, looking for a false bottom. There was nothing there. “Return the jewelry to the way it was before I opened the box.” Immediately, everything shifted back.
He opened her drawers and looked beneath camisoles and underwear, yoga pants and sports bras, even a few sweaters and a pair of jeans. Nothing hidden. Moving toward the bed, he grinned.
The padded headboard would be a plus if sexgot too rough. He very much doubted that ever happened with Joy. He could see her enjoying missionary style sex, or perhaps riding a man because that way her hair wouldn’t get too mussed in that bun of hers. Despite his harsh thoughts, his balls tightened at the image of Joy naked and rocking on her idiot boyfriend.
The headboard was more likely a fashion statement. Joy was very concerned withhow she appeared to others, not just in looks but in actions. It was less an ego thing and more a need to be liked and helpful. He’d found he was most helpful when he didn’t appear kind.
Bending, he opened the single drawer in the nightstand. Heat raced to his groin. Inside, in neat rows, was at least a dozen sex toys. From various sized vibrators, to butt plugs to a double dildo with one thickside for the vagina and a thinner side for the ass. His cock, which hadn’t had attention from the opposite sex since he’d transitioned, came to life in an instant. His balls tightened and need overtook him.
Slamming the drawer shut, he spun away, stalking to the other side of the bed. Nothing could surprise him now about his supposedly prissy partner. He stood in front of the second nightstandtaking deep breaths, allowing his cock to return to a more comfortable state.
Once he was thinking better with his larger head, he opened the draw, secretly expecting to find a gun. He stared in shock. His own face stared back at him in a small frame. He’d never seen the photo before. He was in his hooded cape but had no shirt on, and it looked as if he was in the process of pulling the hoodup. Behind him were the mountains that surrounded his cottage.
A tiny chain was hooked to the corner of the frame, but the other end was beneath the picture. He lifted it out and froze as the end of the chain settled in his palm. His whole body felt as if it would combust and his cock pushed hard against his kilt.
Joy had a piercing? It was the only explanation for the small barbell piece ofjewelry in his hand. There were only three hidden places he’d seen women wear those—the belly button, the nipple and the clit. That it dangled from a dainty chain attached to a picture of himself caused more physical and emotional reactions than he could count.
He sat on the bed, staring at the small gold jewelry. The prim and proper nurse from Scottsdale had a very kinky side and obviously indulged.His palms began to sweat as he thought of touching those long legs of hers, running his hands up her inner thighs until his fingers found her moist folds, while his mouth caught one of her nipples only to discover the barbell?
He swallowed hard at the thought of using his tongue to flick it.
What did his picture mean? Did she have it because she’d planned all along to invite him to her bedroom?Or was it her way of getting turned-on? Both ideas upended his conclusions about Joy.
Joy. Did she find joy in sex? More than even he did?
He threw the picture back in the drawer and closed it. He wasn’t here to pry into Joy’s personal sex fetishes. He was here to figure out what Cameron’s supervisors were doing. His gaze snapped back to the drawer. They could very well have planted those itemsfor him to find, throwing him off his stride.
Nothing could be trusted. No one could be trusted. Pulling his hood over his head, he phased quickly and flew into the ether. Until he could determine if Joy’s sex life had anything to do with their assignment, he would continue on his planned path. One way or another, he would discover the real reason Cameron was forced to put him on this assignment.
He landed beside Holly in the church, arriving a second before Joy did.
She gave him a kind smile. “I discovered something.”
Holly turned at Joy’s voice. “You did?”
“Yes, but now we need to leave here and check in on another friend of yours.”
Holly looked back toward the aisle. Milly had reached the end and her father handed her over to Luca. “We can’t watch the rest of the wedding?”
Joyshook her head. “I’m afraid not. You have a lot to see tonight. Besides, you don’t want to spoil it by seeing it before you attend in real time, do you?”
Holly glanced at the bridal couple one more time. “I guess not.”
Malcolm barely heard the conversation, his concentration on Joy’s breasts. Is that where the barbell was as he’d envisioned? Could he tell through the green velvet dress, or wasthe thicker material, bra and camisole beneath all part of her way of hiding it?
“Malcolm?”
He raised his gaze to her face. “Aye?”
“I asked if you wanted to lead the way.”
Fux, he’d already lost his focus. “Aye, take my hands.”
