Critical Intelligence Read online

  Chapter Four

  Missy sat tapping her foot nervously on the floor as she waited for Roi to get back with their drinks. Or rather, her Vodka and cranberry juice and his water. It was odd that the man came to a bar and drank water, but it wasn’t her place to comment.

  Craning her neck to see what was taking Roi so long, Missy’s jaw dropped when she saw him standing on the other side of the dance floor with his lips firmly locked on some redhead. The woman moved her head back and forth and tongue was clearly visible as she pulled back from him slightly.

  It was just as she suspected. Roi was a womanizer and that wasn’t what she wanted or needed in her life. Why she’d even bothered to open up to him one ounce was beyond her. It’s not like she’d didn’t call it right.

  Roi twisted his body, holding their drinks in the air and began walking backwards. The busty redhead followed him, reaching for him as he went. It was clear to see that he was laughing and even grinding a bit against her as she continued to yank on his shirt, pulling him back to her. Missy saw red and had to sit and remind herself that she had no right to be jealous.

  You have lost your mind! You’re friggin’ pissed over Playboy Roi.

  Pour Some Sugar on Me came on next and Missy turned, knowing that Eadan, Melanie’s brother and her ex-fiancé, would be coming for her. It was their special thing. He liked to pretend to be DJ and play songs that they’d laughed or danced to while growing up together. This song in particular held special meaning for them.

  Eadan broke through the growing crowd and smiled brightly at her. He ran a hand through his long silky blond hair and spun in a small circle with his arms out, showing off his faded jeans and white T-shirt. She rolled her eyes, laughing slightly.

  “Nice outfit. Glad to see that you’re going out of your way to impress the ladies.”

  Eadan laughed. “Hey, I don’t need to impress anybody. I’m sexy enough as it is.”

  The man had a point. At six foot three, he looked like a runway model, not a guy who hung out at his parents’ bar. He’d always seemed to ooze sex, a lot like Melanie did.

  Must be in the genes.

  He thrust his hand out to her. “Wanna dance?”

  “Only if you promise to beat the sleazebags away with a stick. Mr. Gold Chains kept trying to get me out there earlier and you were nowhere to be found. No, instead you kept feeding into his hand by turning into the disco king. Thanks a lot for the music choices there.”

  Eadan took hold of her hand and pulled her to him. “You know you wanted him. He may be the complete opposite of what you find sexy but some piece of you had to respect the courage it took him to wear that outfit in public.”

  Missy laughed as they made their way through the crowd and stopped once they’d reached the center of the dance floor. Eadan immediately assumed his position behind her and tugged her hips back towards him. Missy tossed her hand up and over her shoulder, placing it on his neck, while he slid his hands around her waist. They moved together, dipping down, grinding against one another.

  “Mmm, I can’t listen to this and not think about when…”

  Missy smiled as she moved against him. “When you took my virginity?”

  Eadan pressed his body to hers and chuckled. “Yep. That’d be what comes to mind. I never planned on it happening. I was so mad at you for disobeying a direct order and…”

  “I ignored you, went to my hotel room and slammed the door in your face. I thought I could keep you and your lecture away by playing eighties music. You accepted the challenge, used your ‘gifts’ and barged in on me while I was undressing. The look on your face was priceless.”

  Eadan groaned. “You would have to bring that up. Want to make fun of me for starting before the fun began?”

  “I think you mean finishing, sweetie.” Missy bit back a laugh.

  “I think you’re right.”

  Their simulated sexual dance had them lost in a world all their own. A man approached. Eadan pulled her closer to him, pressing his erection against her lower back. It didn’t shock her, but for once, it didn’t end with her twisting in his arms before agreeing to “handle” his problem. No, this time, her attention went to the other side of the bar, where she’d last seen Roi and his redhead. She spotted the redhead, but couldn’t find Roi.

  Good, maybe the asshole left.

  “Mmm, Mis, you need to stop with the hip thing or … just stop please,” Eadan said, sounding as though he were in pain.

  She pushed her hips back at him more, twisting ever so slightly, rubbing him just right. He moaned and ran his hands up her stomach tickling her as he went.

  * * * *

  Roi stared at the empty booth and felt his heart sinking. Missy had left him and gone up to Melanie’s place. Setting the drinks down on the table, he glanced up to see the crazy redhead from the bar staring at him. He’d just spent the last five minutes fighting her off him. The Roi of two weeks ago would have used her for release and left her. No, now he’d suddenly grown a conscience, and its name was Melissa. She had also clearly given up on him. In her eyes, he was a lost cause--Playboy Roi.

  The worst part of it all was how very accurate she was and how proud of that he’d been. He loved women and they loved him. It wasn’t like he could help it. The ultimate irony was having the one woman he wanted snub him over and over again. Now he had to track Missy down and abduct her again. That was sure to help their non-existent relationship.

  Roi’s lycan senses kicked in and he caught her scent. Hope surged through him. Maybe she hadn’t left him after all. He heard it then, over the sound of the music--Missy’s low sultry laugh. It made his cock, which seemed to be suffering from redheaded crazy woman slumber, wake up fast. The Melissa homing device that had once been his dick knew which way to look for her.

  What he saw next made the beast within him try to surge to the surface. His nostrils flared and his body burned for the change. The need to shift and let the wolf within out was so bad that he had to bite down hard in an attempt to draw attention off it. Narrowing his gaze on Missy, he watched as she rubbed her tiny body against some tall guy that at first glance could be mistaken for a girl. His long, straight white-blond hair and baby face was about as polar opposite to him that Missy could pick.

  If that’s the type of man she wants then I’m out of the running. Not that I even got a number to participate in the race. But still...

  The man ran his hands up Missy’s stomach and came to a stop under her breasts. She didn’t seem to notice or mind, as she moved her hand over his and held it, rocking with him. They moved like they knew each other’s bodies well. Too well. Another stab of jealousy went through him.

  She’s fucked him. More than once.

  The very idea of Missy being intimate with anyone other than him set Roi into a rage. Blinded by his fury, he stormed across the dance floor. The closer he got to them, the stronger the scent of Missy’s arousal became. He had yet to have Missy respond to him like that. She never seemed to take to him sexually.

  I’ll rip his fucking head off! No one touches her! She’s mine!

  Surprised by his claim on her again, he slowed slightly. The song changed, to something with a slower rhythm. Blondie ran his hands up and over Missy’s breasts. The beast within Roi clashed with the man. Each was as enraged as the other. Neither could figure out who would win the honor of killing the prick. Somehow, Roi managed to remain in control. He tapped the blond, pretty boy’s shoulder and was surprised at how muscular the guy was, not that it mattered. He’d still tear him limb from limb.

  “May I cut in?” Roi asked, his voice raspy, his words short. The wolf was too near the surface to do much else.

  “Sorry, buddy, she’s not interested.”

  Missy glanced up and smiled. “Hey, Roi.”

  “What? You know this one? Hmm, I just assumed he was another one of the endless stream that seems to think they’re your dream guy.”

  Roi really wanted to cut the man’s head off his shoulder
s and kick it across the bar. He held back, for the moment. Though pretty boy bowling was sounding better and better as the seconds ticked on.

  Missy shrugged and kept pushing her tight little body against the pretty boy. “Sort of.”

  Sort of? She sort of knows me? What the…?

  He gave the man an icy cold stare. The man just smiled, locking his grey eyes on Roi. There was something different about him. He didn’t smell like a shifter or a vamp, yet he didn’t smell human either.

  “Come on, Missy.” Roi reached for her, but the pretty boy grabbed his arm. He sneered as he glanced down at the man’s hand. “I strongly suggest that you remove your hand from me, unless you’re willing to lose it.”

  “Roi!” Missy gasped, putting her hand over the pretty boy’s. “Eadan, its okay. I’m fine. I swear. Go ahead. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  This is the famous Eadan?

  “I’m not leaving you with him.” Eadan narrowed his grey eyes on Roi and squeezed his arm with the strength of a supernatural. That amount of force would have sent a human screaming and to the emergency room. It didn’t faze Roi.

  Roi glanced down at his arm and smiled. “I’m warning you, boy. One…”

  “Who the hell are you calling boy?”

  Roi snorted. “You’re what? All of twenty? Get the hell out of here, boy! You aren’t even old enough to drink.”

  “I’m thirty, asshole.”

  That caught Roi by surprise. He didn’t look that old, then again, Roi didn’t look his real age either. “Come, Melissa.”

  “She’s not your lap dog.”

  Roi snarled, but Eadan didn’t back down. The man was either very brave or very stupid.

  Missy forced herself between them, pried them apart and pointed at Eadan. “Its fine, Eadan, sweetie … really!”

  Eadan sweetie?

  Blondie shook his head. “It’s not fine. Can I talk to you in private?”

  Much to Roi’s chagrin, Missy nodded. He didn’t move. Missy did. She pulled Blondie towards the edge of the dance floor, about six feet from him and began to whisper. His ultra sensitive hearing picked up on her voice instantly.

  “Would you like to tell me what’s going on? You never act like this,” Missy said, sounding hurt and angry.

  Blondie snorted. “Melissa, he bothers me. I don’t know. He’s different from the … the … damn it, I can’t explain it.”

  Missy snorted. “Pfft, why? What’s the matter with Roi aside from the fact he’s an ass most of the time? I’m positive that he’s harmless … er … at least harmless when in reference to me.”

  Smart girl.

  “I don’t know,” Eadan sighed. “The instant I touched him, he felt different to me. I just have this feeling in my gut that this guy won’t be like the rest. He won’t fade away easily when you try to force him out of your life.”

  Damn straight.

  “Wait, are you taking a pot-shot at me not committing to anyone?” For a moment Roi thought Missy might punch Blondie. He was disappointed when she didn’t. Instead, she glared at him. “Why do I do that, Eadan?”

  “You are not to go with him.”

  Roi made a move to go at Blondie. Melissa’s low, less-than-friendly laugh stopped him in his tracks.

  “Do you ever listen to yourself, Eadan? You are so used to barking orders at me that you can’t separate work from real-life.”

  “We don’t have real lives, Melissa, and you damn well know it. We never have. Do you honestly think that dickhead is going to be fine with what you do or who you do it with?”

  “Why do you keep bringing this conversation back to Roi? I’m just addressing the fact that you wigged out on me for no reason. I’m telling you that my gut says he’s safe, Eadan. And I’m just a systems analyst, how could anyone not be fine with that?” The tone in her voice said so much more than she was saying.

  Eadan let out a soft laugh. “You know protocol, Melissa. That’s all you’ll ever be to him. If you’re willing to live a lie then by all means go ahead and go.”

  “It’s a ride home, Eadan. Nothing more. Get a grip. I’ll see you later tonight. Try not to fall asleep in the back office again. It’ll make me worry that something happened. I’ll then have to call Peren and ask her to come down here to be sure you’re okay.”

  “You worry too much,” Blondie said, smiling slightly at Missy.

  “Oh, and you don’t worry about me?”

  “I’m worried about him, Missy. Everything in me is sure he’ll be nothing but trouble.”

  The fury that burned in Roi almost consumed him. His hands burned for the shift. He wanted to erect his claws and let the pretty boy head bowling begin. Melissa picked that moment to turn and walk fast towards him. When she reached him, she took his hand and smiled. The feel of her skin touching his left a calming warmth running throughout Roi’s body, buying Blondie some time.

  “Missy?”

  She turned and looked at Eadan. “I’ll see you later. Check on your sister and Peren.”

  “Keep your phone on and be careful.”

  Missy cast him a wary look and Roi wondered what she was hiding. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call you. I promise.”

  “Be careful, Melissa. There’s something different about him.” Eadan walked slowly away, keeping his eye on Roi the entire time.

  Roi refrained from stating the obvious, which was that there was something very different about old Eadan boy too. “I knew that we should have left the minute Lukian told me to get you back.”

  “What?”

  “Umm, nothing. Let’s go.” He reached for her elbow, and she jerked her arm away.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Her voice was cold, chipping at Roi’s heart.

  “But you just sent pretty … er … Eadan away. I thought you…”

  She poked him hard in the chest and his body reacted violently to the feel of her. He jerked slightly, trying to maintain control. When she put the palm of her hand on his chest, he damn near lost it. Ejaculating while being scolded by a five foot three inch female was not what he really wanted to do. Well, not unless it involved a flogger and some silk ties. Taking two steps back, he looked down at Missy with wide eyes.

  “You thought wrong, buddy! I asked Eadan to leave so I wouldn’t embarrass you in front of him. I fully plan on leaving here alone tonight.”

  “Embarrass me? How?” There was nothing this little thing could do that could possibly embarrass him.

  A slow smile moved over Missy’s rose-colored lips. The glint in her eye should have warned him. It didn’t. She covered the distance between them in one fluid motion.

  His breath caught in his throat as she grabbed hold of his cock. Her grip tightened on his clothed member, moving quickly from pleasure, straight to pain. “Ahh … Mis-sy.”

  Standing on her tiptoes, Missy used her other hand to pull on the back of his neck. For a little thing, she was strong. Since she held his life in her hands, he thought it best to follow her lead.

  He bent down slowly. “Missy, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but could you take your hand off my…?” Her grip tightened and his eyes bulged. Quickly, he wrapped his hands around her tiny wrist.

  “Geoffroi Majors, you have a lot of nerve strutting over here and acting like a possessive jackass.”

  He balked. “I do not strut.” She twisted slightly. “Ahh … okay, maybe I strut a little.” She twisted more. “Okay, okay, I strut a lot! Big strutter, yeah, HUGE strutter. Can you let go of me now?”

  Her dark eyebrows rose. “You could have tried to remove my hand anytime you wanted and you know it.” She loosened her grip on him, but didn’t pull her hand away. Instantly, his cock responded. Missy’s cheeks reddened, but still, she didn’t pull away. “My, my, my, is he thinking of his new friend?”

  “New friend?” He didn’t have a clue who or what she was talking about--if she wanted to know if his dick was thinking about her then the answer was “hell yeah!”

 
Missy nodded her head towards the bar. He followed her gaze, finding the crazy redhead from the bar standing there. At first, he didn’t understand what she was talking about, then it hit him. Missy was jealous. The news of that made his dick even harder.

  I am going to die of erection overload while she holds it in a vice grip.

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Missy. What new friend?” He grinned from ear to ear, knowing that he was playing dangerously close to castration.

  Her gaze narrowed on him. She looked pissed, yet her fingers massaged his sac gently. It was an odd combination. One that he was sure she didn’t even realize was going on. It was also one he wasn’t about to point out. Doing so would end the pleasure and he wanted it to continue forever. It wouldn’t be hard to keep her ticked off. No. He seemed to have that down to a science.

  “Come on, Roi. I get it that you’re into her. What guy wouldn’t be? She’s everything a man wants, plus some. I just think it’s a bit hypocritical of you to act that way about Eadan and I when you were getting felt up by someone else less than five minutes ago.”

  Roi’s smile couldn’t get any bigger if he tried. “Act what way around Eadan?” He had her and he knew it.

  The corner of Missy’s lip curled slightly. Suddenly, Roi wasn’t so sure he really had her at all. “I’m sorry. I guess I misjudged the situation. Tell you what, since you have no ‘issues’ with Eadan that I need to be concerned with, I’ll just wait here for him to finish up tonight. He’s headed my way so it’ll be not only more convenient, it’ll make him more comfortable. He was a bit iffy about me leaving with you tonight. I don’t really know you so it’s silly to upset Eadan over something as small as a ride home. I mean, I not only have to work with the guy, I have to hear him yap all night long about whatever I did to piss him off. Have a nice night, Roi. It was, umm, interesting to see you here tonight.”

  She began to pull her hand off his groin. He held her to him, not wanting to lose the feel of her touch. “Roi?”

  He heard her say his name, but it was faint. The sound of his own heart beating filled his head. The wolf within wanted out. It wanted to take Missy and claim her, leaving no question that she belonged to him.