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And if she was smug over the pleasure to be found, the wicked naughtiness it filled her with, then Mercury was downright cocky about it as he sat in the chair across from her hours later.
Pretending to read that damned magazine. He would watch her over the top of it, his lashes lowered over his eyes, his expression sensual.
Ria controlled her need to experience the sensations again, though. She copied the work she needed, removed the ghost drive, and as he watched, she tucked it carefully in her bra, beneath her breast.
His tongue touched his lower lip and her nipple hardened.
“Stop that.” She tried not to laugh. “The first chance I get, I’m informing Jonas how little he knows his Breeds. You’re the quiet, calm Breed. Remember?”
His brows lifted. “Sorry, sweetheart, his chest doesn’t hold the appeal your breasts do.”
She rolled her eyes as she stood to go.
She pulled over her arms the leather coat he had managed to have waiting on her this morning, and shrugged into it before wrapping it around her and picking up her purse.
She looked up at the camera above them as Mercury snagged his own jacket from it. He grinned at her as he did so, then looked back at the camera and snarled.
She could just imagine Austin Crowl jerking back in alarm.
“I thought Breeds were all tough and hard and merciless,” she commented as he pulled the lighter jacket on.
“The scientists experimented with advanced intelligence in Breeds like Austin.” He shook his head. “They didn’t program in the genetics for strength and predatory awareness because they felt it would give those particular Breeds the power to overthrow them.”
She arched her brow. “You could do his job with your hands tied behind your back. I’ve seen your file.”
“But I wouldn’t have the patience.” He shrugged. “Austin is good at what he does, or at least he used to be. He’s always been a little superior, a little bullish, but he was damned stupid the other day.”
“No, he was certain of himself,” she stated. “He thought he had power backing him.”
Mercury nodded as they left the office and started down the deserted hallway toward the main section of the house.
“He thought he had Callan’s backing.” His voice was lower. “We’re going to let him believe that for the time being.”
Mercury wanted to believe Austin was somehow involved in what was going on, but Ria had her doubts. Austin Crowl was an irritant, but neither his files nor the information she had pulled in so far indicated he was a traitor to his people.
As they turned the corner, they both came to a slow stop. Ely stepped from another office. She stood poised at the side of the hall, her expression somber, her gaze concerned.
Mercury moved to Ria’s side, placing himself between her and the doctor before urging Ria forward.
“Mercury.” Ely stepped forward slowly, looking between them. “Please. Talk to me for a moment.”
Her voice trembled, causing Ria to watch her cautiously as Mercury drew to a halt once again.
Elyiana Morrey had been specifically created against emotion. She had been trained in the hellish conditions of the Breed labs and had experimented on her own people.
“Ely, I don’t have time for games,” Mercury told her tiredly. “There’s a lot to do today.”
Ely glanced at Ria again, inhaling slowly.
“Your scents are changing,” she said, her voice low. “I need to test—”
“No tests, Ely.” His voice was firm. It wasn’t unkind; he wasn’t angry, but his tone brooked no refusal.
Ely’s hands were shoved in the pockets of her white lab coat, and they were clenched, tight.
Ria paid attention to the doctor’s demeanor, and it wasn’t nearly as calm as she was attempting to appear.
“Mercury, are you willing to risk all your friends this way?” the doctor asked him then. “Don’t you remember how horrible it was to lose control and to kill without thought?”
