AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He saw how easily her cool, stark beauty intimidated others. The women saw the simplicity of her clothes and the regal grace that showed through, and they moved on. The men took one look at her on Mercury’s arm, and most knew fear at the thought of tempting a Breed’s anger over his woman. It wasn’t done. To become forward with a Breed mate was to take one’s life in one’s own hands.
And he felt her dissatisfaction. Her need to let all that wildfire inside her free. She only let herself go when he was taking her, loving her. But that fire burned inside her eternally.
He could see her in reds—garnets and the vivid scarlet. She would light up the night with her long hair, high heels and the dresses he knew she would love. And she would light up everyone around her.
But she was frightened. He could feel her fear, and it pricked at the animal he could feel stretching inside himself, called free by that primal response in the woman he loved.
He hadn’t felt that instinct in over eleven years. Until her fear. Until the smell of it as they entered Sanctuary drifted around him and he felt it come awake inside him, stretching past the bonds of control, easing into his mind. Watching. Waiting.
And more. He felt something more, and it made no sense.
As they mingled and talked, she sipped at her champagne and watched the CEO of Engalls Pharmaceuticals as closely as decorum allowed.
She could feel Mercury’s tension beside her, increasing as they chatted, working closer to Horace Engalls, one of the men information was flowing to, and his snobbish wife, Cara Brandenmore Engalls.
Ria ran the information she had on the woman through her head quickly. There was nothing significantly important about Cara. She was on the board of both Engalls Pharmaceuticals and Brandenmore Research, of which Engalls was a division.
She was the daughter of Phillip Brandenmore, married to the man her father had chosen for her. She was younger than Engalls by ten years and her voice had risen against Breed law when it came up for vote several years before. She was a powerful figure in her own little set, regarded with wariness and considered a formidable enemy.
Horace Engalls had begun courting Sanctuary years ago in the hopes of acquiring Breeds to strengthen his security on his labs. He’d been turned down repeatedly. But he and Brandenmore both were associates of a very powerful senator that Sanctuary liked to keep happy. Which meant the two men had the invitations the senator requested for them.
Ria knew Cara well, just as she had known Cara’s mother before Phillip Brandenmore divorced her.
“Ria, my dear, what are you doing here?” Cara’s cool, superior smile hid the heart of a viper as she glanced at where Ria’s hand rested on Mercury’s arm. “And with a . . . man.” The pause had Ria’s eyes narrowing. “I’m surprised Dane allowed it.”
Ria arched her brow. “Dane’s my employer, Cara, not my brother.”
“I always assumed much more.” Cara’s laughter was light, vicious. “Perhaps I was wrong?”
“Perhaps you were,” Ria told her. “I haven’t seen Phillip tonight, though.” She glanced around the room, looking for Cara’s father. “I’d hoped to say hello to him.”
“He had an unexpected stop to make at the airport on the way.” Cara’s lips curved in smug satisfaction. “His newest little playmate, I believe, was delayed. He should be here momentarily.”
“I hope to see him before I leave then.” Ria smiled tightly, nodding to her as well as Horace. “Perhaps we can get a chance to talk later.”
“Oh, I’m sure we will, dear.” Cara’s tinkling laughter grated on Ria’s nerves. “I’ll make certain of it.”
Ria’s gaze sharpened on the other woman before moving away. The feeling of panic sweeping through her intensified.
“How is security holding?” she asked Mercury, keeping her voice low as they moved through the ballroom and he drew her onto the dance floor.
He danced as well as he made love, she thought, restraining her sigh, waiting as he checked the security points.
“Everything’s holding,” he murmured in her ear. “What’s wrong, baby?”
The endearment weakened her knees. Which was silly. Dane called her sweetheart or baby often. He always had. Yet the effect had never been the same.
She shook her head, lowering it as she let him draw her closer.
“Ria, we need to talk soon,” he told her softly, his voice deepening, almost a growl as she flicked her earlobe with his tongue. “Very soon.”
She closed her eyes and smiled. She could feel his erection beneath his dress jacket. She could feel him, warm and aroused, holding her as close as convention allowed.
“Do we have to stay very long?”
“Longer than we’re going to stay. Damn,” he cursed, his head lifting. “Let’s go. Jonas has just ordered us to Callan’s office.”
As he released her, she glanced at the minute receiver barely visible at his ear.
