To his relief, Amy and Shannon seemed to accept his “job” without question and moved on to new subjects, probably because being a “medical researcher” just wasn’t that interesting. Soon, Amy and Shannon became engaged in a lively discussion of the available man-booty in the bar, leaving Kalen free to lean over and whisper in Mackenzie’s ear.
“We need to go.”
Pulling back, she eyed him in concern. “Why?” she asked in a low voice, making sure they weren’t overheard. “Has something happened?”
He knew she was referring to an emergency at the compound, perhaps with injuries she needed to attend. “No, nothing like that. It’s just this feeling I have.” The urgency of his message gave him an excuse to touch her arm, stand so near that her light, floral scent drove him crazy. His cock threatened to roar to life, and he took a deep breath, fighting to regain control. “Something bad is hanging around. I don’t know what it is, but when I heard you’d gone out I got worried. I came to make sure you got back safely.”
She glanced at her friends, who weren’t paying attention to them, and looked to Kalen again, expression concerned. “You could’ve called me instead of risking coming out yourself.”
Her worry on his account, twice in one night, did something funny inside his chest. “I called, left you a message earlier.” He pointed to the purse hanging from its strap on the backrest of her stool. “Guess you haven’t checked your phone, so it’s a good thing I planned to show up anyway.”
Her face colored. “Sorry about that. I know I should look at it more often when I’m out.”
“Well, I’m here now and that’s what matters. Can you make your excuses? I have this feeling that we need to go now. In fact, if you can get them to go home as well, do it.”
Maybe this awful sense of impending doom would vanish after they left. After the unknown entity got bored or whatever, and went on its way.
“Hey guys,” Mackenzie said, rising from her stool and placing her purse strap over her shoulder. “Kalen and I are going to head out, call it a night.”
Amy glanced between them and instantly got the wrong idea. “Ooh, lucky girl! Wish my knight in shining leather would swoop in and whisk me away! Maybe we’ll score, though, now that there’s one less in the competition.”
Mackenzie gave her friend a pointed look. “You two have to work tomorrow, or did you forget? Six in the morning will come awfully early if you don’t get your asses home.”
Kalen noticed how she didn’t correct her friend’s impression of them. He wished he really was here to grab Mackenzie for the reason Amy thought.
Shannon sighed, standing. “Mac’s right. I can’t stay out late tonight, much as I’d love to. We have a big meeting in the morning.”
“Party poopers,” Amy said, pouting. To Kalen’s relief, she grabbed her purse, too. “Fine. We’ll save the real fun for Friday, maybe? Close the place down?”
Shannon nodded. “Sounds good.”
“I’ll have to see,” Mackenzie replied vaguely.
Kalen didn’t like the idea of her returning with those two to go on the prowl for a man, as Amy so obviously wanted. Hated it, in fact. But he had no right to voice an opinion, even if it made his stomach hurt to envision Mackenzie in another man’s arms.
Made him want to kill somebody.
Kalen escorted the doc to the exit, resting his hand at the small of her back. It felt so damned natural, touching her, keeping her close to his side. He, who normally hated being in close proximity to others. He marveled at the wonderful feeling all the way outside, to the parking lot, where Mackenzie said good-bye to her friends with hugs and light kisses on the cheek.
Watching them, a little shard pierced his heart. He envied the easy closeness, the physical touch that most people took for granted. He yearned for it.
And feared it as he did nothing else.
He and Mackenzie watched as her friends got into their cars, which were parked in the front lot. Once they were safely on their way, he looked at the doc.
“I’ll walk with you. I’m parked in the back, just a couple of spaces from you.”
She smiled. “My knight in shining leather?” she quipped, echoing her friend.
He managed a grin in return. “If that’s what floats your boat.”
Her laugh buoyed his spirits, lightened his soul in spite of the urgency pressing in on him harder than before, to get them the hell gone. Simply being near her was enough to send his senses reeling, cloud his judgment.
Mackenzie was quickly becoming his greatest weakness.
And he wasn’t certain he cared one bit.
2
Mackenzie studied Kalen as they walked in the darkness, their boots crunching on the gravel lot. The man was, hands down, the most intriguing guy she’d ever met.
Considering the guys she worked with, not to mention that at thirty-one she had a few years on Kalen, that was saying a helluva lot.
The Sorcerer/Necromancer might be only twenty-three, but the sorrow in his kohl-rimmed, jewel-green eyes was ageless. He carried his ancient power as easily as he wore his long, battered duster, silver pentagram pendant, and black-tipped fingernails—comfortably and without apology.
His beautiful face was an arresting combination of youth and maturity. His pale skin was smooth, unlined. Dark brows arched over large eyes framed with long lashes, and his nose was straight. His jaw was strong, with a faint shadow of stubble, his shoulders broad but not too much so, hips narrow. He was on the tall side, a bit over six feet, built lean, like the panther he was. Jet-black hair fell in long, messy layers to his shoulders, and she thought he’d look right at home with an electric guitar slung low at his waist.
Yep, the total package attested to the fact that this was no boy, but a man.
A man who’d captured her undivided attention from the moment she’d met him as the Pack’s newest recruit, weeks ago. He’d been homeless, adrift and starving—not only for food, but for a place to belong. For people who cared about him. She sincerely hoped he’d found what he was looking for.
Because that meant he’d stay. At least for a while.
Yes, she knew it was silly to pin too many hopes on snagging an elusive man like Kalen. She didn’t need to be told he’d had it rough, that his story, if he ever saw fit to share it, would be a heartbreaking one. Nick and the Pack knew some of Kalen’s past, but they wouldn’t gossip about something so private. Nor would she want them to, but she couldn’t help but be insanely curious about the Sorcerer.
She longed to know him—in every way.
What would he look like naked? Gorgeous, no doubt. All sleek muscles, a firm, tight ass begging for her two hands to squeeze it as he—
“Here we are,” he said, interrupting her fantasy.
Somehow they’d arrived at the back lot near the woods and were now standing behind her car, and she hadn’t even noticed. Clearing her throat, she peered at him in the darkness. “Thanks for the armed escort.”
“No problem,” he said softly. For a moment he went quiet, simply gazing at her as though he wanted to say something. Or perhaps close the foot or so between them and give her a slow, delicious kiss.
Do it, she willed him. You know you want to!
As if he’d heard her silent entreaty, he stepped a little closer. His eyes never leaving hers, he raised an arm and reached out, smoothing back a lock of curly hair and tucking it behind her ear. Then his fingers grazed her cheek, traced her lips.