“Even if she despises you, you’re a lucky man. No woman has ever consumed me like this one does you.”
“Not even your wife?”
“Which one?” Parker snorted. “Never mind. Which one doesn’t matter. They were all bitches.”
Lucius’s eyebrows descended low over his eyes. “Were? Isn’t Cybil still alive?”
“Barely. If I’m lucky, she’ll soon drug herself to death.”
My focus whipped to Parker, darkening. If I’d had a weapon, I might have used it. Such casual disregard for his wife deserved a bit of punishment.
“Being consumed by a woman isn’t a pleasant experience,” Lucius grumbled. “I almost wish I’d never met her.”
There was a ring of truth to his voice that insulted me. Turning to face him, my eyes slitted; I reached out and jerked his hair. Childish of me, I know, the actions of a spoiled princess. Just like before, he stiffened. I frowned. How was he doing that? Did the connection between us allow him to sense me?
My blood chilled with the thought. I didn’t want to be connected to him like that. I gulped and backed away until I stood in the corner, out of reach. Out of temptation’s way.
“Speaking of Eden,” Lucius said, resuming the conversation as if it had never stopped, “I need you to host a party for me.”
Parker grinned slyly. “One to welcome her to town, perhaps?”
“No.” Lucius shook his head. “I don’t want her to know she’s the guest of honor. A political gala will do. A gala that I, of course, will attend.”
“What about the restraining order?”
“The law can kiss my ass. She’s an alien, so she doesn’t really have rights, does she?”
Parker’s grin widened, and he sipped his brandy. “Who’s your Eden working for?”
“Ambassador Claudia Chow.”
A heavy pause slithered around the room while Parker mulled over his next words. “I don’t like Claudia Chow,” he said. “And I’ll be honest. I don’t really have the time to host a party.”
It was a lie. I knew it, and Lucius knew it. Parker was simply hedging for some type of favor.
“I’ll owe you,” Lucius said.
Head tilting to the side, Parker studied him. “The woman really means that much to you?”
“I told you. I’m obsessed with her.” He sighed.
“I know she’s a Raka, but goddamn. She’s still pussy, and you can get that anywhere. Tell me again what’s so special about this one.”
A wicked gleam lit Lucius’s eyes. “She’s got a mouth that could suck a man dry.”
Yes, a weapon would have been nice. I’d carve my name in his balls, then drain every drop of his blood so there would be nothing left to suck.
“Then, of course,” Jonathan said, “I’ll take you up on that favor and happily arrange a party where the two of you can renew your acquaintance.”
The two men continued to chat for a while, before finally saying their good-byes. Parker walked Lucius to the door and with a slap on the shoulder, sent him on his way. Lucius was doing his job—quite nicely, too, I grudgingly admitted—so it was best I get some rest so I’d be in top shape when I joined him.
Though I wanted to follow him, I closed my eyes and pictured my bedroom. That ghostly wind soon returned, and I felt a strong tug. Felt the foundation shift, saw twinkling white lights. Within minutes, my spirit glided back into my body, and I opened my eyes.
Moonlight pushed through the familiar velvet curtains of my bedroom. The feather-soft mattress I’d grown accustomed to cushioned my back. Unlit, vanilla-scented candles fragranced the air, blending with a hint of Michael’s cigar.
I rolled to my side, forcing Lucius from my mind. I’d never sleep otherwise. Odd, though, that I felt more bereft and alone than I had in a long time.
Damn that man.
Chapter 9
The next day, I lugged my newly waxed body through a grueling three-hour workout, followed by two additional hours of assault and defense training using a diverse range of weapons. A girl never knew when a specific skill would come in handy. Knives, pyre-gun, hand-to-hand combat in the virtual reality chamber, they all took their toll. I opted out of the final wardrobe fitting. The seamstress had my measurements. What more did she need from me?
My failure with EenLi was becoming a heavy mantle of guilt on my shoulders. More so than before. Perhaps that was why I had pushed myself so hard today. Or perhaps watching Lucius so easily insert himself into Jonathan Parker’s life had made me jealous. He was a much better agent than I’d given him credit for at our first meeting. Now I had to prove my worth to him.
Only when completely exhausted did I retire to my room. I didn’t nap, however. There was much yet to be done. I showered, changed clothes, then jogged downstairs for a quick meal to boost my energy. Chocolate truffles, strawberries dipped in cream, peaches, all sprinkled with sugar. My favorites. I ate them quickly. As I downed two glasses of sugar water, I heard Michael’s voice over the speaker system.
“Eden, sweetie. I need to see you in my office.”
Curious, I abandoned the kitchen and my delicious treats and strode into his office. He looked exactly as I’d left him yesterday—dressed in a suit, hair slightly rumpled, cigar at his side. He sat at his desk and glanced up from a thick stack of papers. He grinned at me welcomingly.
“That was fast. Finish your fitting already?”
“No, I decided not to go.” Before he could respond, I sank into the chair in front of him and said, “What did you need to see me about?”
He leaned back in his seat and watched me silently for a long while. “I know you’ve been anxious. I also know there’s nothing to be done on EenLi’s case right now.”
“Yes,” I said, confused. What was he getting at?
He folded his hands over his stomach. “I have another case for you.”
Excitement bubbled inside me. God, I loved this man. “Go on.”
“There’s a Morevv in New Florida raping human women. Local A.I.R. have been unable to act because of political bull-shit. The Morevv is the mayor’s lover. Mayor Jeffries, to be exact, a woman known for her political iron fist. The man’s death needs to look like an accident.”
“Does he have guards?”
Michael shrugged. “Two burly humans, but they always make a hasty exit when the mayor visits him.”
Which meant I needed to catch him with his pants down. Literally. “Does A.I.R want to interrogate him first?”
“No. They just want him dead. He’s due to meet the mayor tomorrow.”
I could get in and out in no time. It was exactly the challenge I needed to combat my restlessness. Michael knew me so well. “I’ll do it,” I said. “Thank you.” Perhaps, with this success, I could begin to wipe away my last failure.
He uttered a sigh. “Please, please, please be careful. After all the resources you’ve put into EenLi, I don’t want you knocked out of commission on a routine takeout.”
“I’m always careful.” I blew him a kiss. “I’ll leave within the hour and hopefully return by tomorrow night. If you’ll reschedule my fitting, I’d be grateful.” I winked and shoved to my feet, then sprinted from the office.
My target’s name was Romeo Montaga.
Yes, that’s what the Morevv called himself. Romeo.
Morevvs were known for their beauty, so I suppose the name fit. Especially since this alien’s beauty surpassed any I’d ever seen. He possessed sun-kissed hair that flowed past his shoulders and an innocently divine face only an angel should have. Only his forked tongue gave away his alien status. He dressed his tall, lean frame in black leather pants and an open white shirt. I think he fancied himself a Casanova pirate.