What the fuck?
“Then the PPA showed up and bagged him before he could tell me more,” Zack finished.
“They killed him?” A good rogue Circ was a dead rogue Circ, in Derrick’s opinion. He didn’t share Doc’s Pollyanna attitude about saving the monsters.
“No. They shot him up with the same stuff they shot me with. I only took one dart.
They plugged him with them. The damned things penetrated my beast, man. Tough stuff.”
“So the PPA showed up. You’re lucky you escaped.” Derrick used the sealing tape Doc had shoved in the kits. Not all of Zack’s stitches had popped, but the wound did seep blood.
He bandaged the main injury and patched up a few other cuts healing at a sluggish rate, no doubt because of the PPA tranquilizer running in Zack’s bloodstream.
“I know.” Zack seemed to be wrestling with some decision. “Look, D, I need you to fill Doc in on this crap tomorrow.” He glanced beyond Derrick into the dark. “Hell, make that later today. But I’d consider it a real favor if you’d just drop me off at Kelly’s and keep my situation under wraps for now.”
“Ah, okay.” Zack never asked for anything. “You sure you want to go back to Kelly’s? If it was pretty intense there, you can always crash in my room. I won’t tell anyone you’re there.”
“Thanks, D. But Kelly needs me right now, even if she doesn’t realize it.” Zack smiled, and Derrick knew what Ace and Kelly saw when they looked at him.
Zack English had a masculine beauty that went so much deeper than his looks. He attracted women with ease, yet it was that selflessness, that eager warmth to share what he had, that pulled others closer. Derrick didn’t like many people, and he rarely let others know what he felt. With Zack, he’d never felt the need to protect himself. Zack provided for and protected others all the time. It seemed to Derrick that maybe, it was time somebody returned the favor.
“Lie down back here. I’ll have you back at Kelly’s in no time.”
“Thanks again.” Zack lay down and closed his eyes.
Yeah, he’d take Zack back, no more questions asked. Zack needed his help, no doubt with that dumbass Cree. Derrick and the entire squad knew the two men were a pair. He’d never known Ace or Zack to be with other men sexually and chalked up the unusual attraction to Circ genes. Then again, who knew what the others did on their limited off time? But the way Ace acted around Zack, drawn yet uncomfortable, spoke volumes.
If Derrick were a betting man, he’d say adding Kelly to the mix was a complication that made everything difficult to deal with. Driving in comfortable silence, they made it to Kelly’s in no time.
With Derrick’s help, Zack eased himself out of the truck. He slapped Derrick on the shoulder. “Thanks. You’re a good man.”
“Good luck.”
Waiting until Zack entered the house, Derrick sighed. Instead of returning back to base, he pulled over and parked down the street. He wanted to be close enough to keep an eye on the threesome, just in case the PPA decided on a return visit. Grumbling at what promised to be a shitty day without his necessary seven hours of shut-eye, he settled in with a favorite radio program. But just to be contrary, he decided not to refill the gas tank on the way home, no matter how much shit Hale gave him for it.
“That’ll teach you to screw with my cell, Hale.” Nothing like pissing off at least one member of the team.
Chapter Six
Several hours later, Kelly debated the wisdom of contacting Doc when she laid eyes on Zack.
“Where the hell have you been?” Ace asked, then his eyes widened. “Shit, what happened to you?”
“Oh, Zack.” Kelly raced to his side and ran her hands over the faded bruises on Zack’s chest and belly as he stood in the middle of the kitchen. “You look terrible. How do you feel?”
Zack shrugged and tried to turn away. For the first time that she could remember, he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She exchanged a confused look with Ace. “Zack, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I couldn’t sleep last night and went out for a beer. Got in the middle of a fight. No biggie. I’ll heal.” He smiled, but the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Eggs and bacon,” she murmured, understanding there was more he hadn’t said. Maybe he’d speak if she left him with Ace. She knew how close they were. A blush heated her cheeks as she recalled what she now knew about the mating heat. Oh, yes, Zack and Ace were very close. “I, um, I’ll be right back.”
She left the kitchen but lingered in the hallway.
“Come on, man. What’s up?” The concern in Ace’s voice warmed her.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.” Ace’s anger was justified. Why the heck was Zack pretending his bruises weren’t a big deal?
“What do you care?”
Kelly started. Why did Zack suddenly sound angry?
“You’re hurt. Why wouldn’t I care?” Ace quieted. “Is this about Kelly? You angry I was with her without you? Hell, I’d have waited for you, but it’s just…”
Oh, God. Please don’t let them fight over me. This was part of what she’d worried about. A physical relationship with two men she could more than handle, as evidenced by how aroused she got just thinking about them. But the emotional minefield they’d need to wade through would take all of them working together.
“It’s not Kelly. She’s great.” His sure words did nothing to make her feel better, especially because she heard the echo of loneliness there, which made no sense.
“Then what is it?” Ace asked quietly.
“Look, I had a long night. I’m tired. Can we do this later?”
Kelly slipped around the corner back into the kitchen.
Zack looked drawn, nothing like the man who’d taken control last night, who’d made her come so hard, she’d fallen into instant, intractable lust. Add that to the love she’d never been able to deny for him, and she felt horribly worried. Anxiety made her heart ache for this wounded man.
Zack didn’t wait for Ace to reply. He turned his back on his friend and walked away.
When he neared her he stopped for a kiss, then moved around her down the hallway. A door closed, followed by the snick of a lock.
Kelly didn’t know what to say. It was as if Zack had just shut them out of his life. Even as she thought it, she knew she exaggerated. Hell, he probably just needed to wind down and wanted some privacy. But she wasn’t used to seeing Zack as anything but confident and flirty. Right now, he seemed so sad and tired, not at all like himself.
Ace folded her into his arms, as if sensing her need for togetherness. His embrace was her undoing.
She struggled to hold back tears. “I’m so sorry, Ace. This is my fault. I’ve come between you two.”
“Hell, no.” Ace pulled back, his face flushed. “Kelly, my relationship with Zack has nothing to do with you. I mean it does, but it’s been strained since before you were ever in the picture.” He sighed. “Can you make some coffee? I’m not at my best before I’ve had a cup.”
“Sure.” She kissed him on the mouth gently, but the heat was there. The kiss lingered longer than she’d intended, especially when she felt his hands inside her robe cupping her breasts.
“Fuck. I want you all the time,” Ace moaned against her mouth. “Knowing what it’s like is only making the need worse. Wait until we do it when changed.” He kissed her one last time. “All your sensations are magnified.” His eyes glowed. “Zack’s amazing when he’s normal, but when he’s changed, it’s like he’s living, breathing sex.”
Kelly stepped away to brew the coffee. She glanced over her shoulder, wanting to see Ace’s face. “That’s the first time you’ve ever alluded to sex with Zack. You guys never touch except to punch or push each other. At least, that’s all I’ve ever seen.”