Chapter Twenty-six
From his place on the rug in front of the fireplace in his mate’s office, he watched her throw the blanket off and run to her desk. Damn, what a sight to see. She was gorgeous. He knew she would be by the way she filled out her uniform. Tight across her chest and hips, her ass a scrumptious bubble he’d love to sink his teeth (dick) into.
She paced in front of her desk, phone pressed against her ear. “Come on, pick up the damn phone.” He heard the personal message for the president answer. Irritated, she bashed her finger against the phone’s screen a couple of times then lifted it again. Deep concern floated from her.
“Dresden,” she nearly shouted, “are you with the president?”
Thanks to his superhuman hearing, he could hear both sides of the conversation. “He went to his private quarters on the second floor. Why?” he said.
“I believe the Steganovich brothers had a plot that included something at the White House,” she said.
“The one brother is dead, correct?” he asked.
“Yulian, yes. We heard part of a conversation he had on the phone about Mikhail being at a house. They are dumb enough to think they can pull off kidnapping the president.”
“Shit,” Josh heard Dresden say. “I left the president not more than ten minutes ago. He’s in the shower now for approximately fifteen more minutes.” Huh, Josh wasn’t sure he would want everyone to know his schedule that intimately. Did the president have a toilet break scheduled, also?
“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Let the gate know I’m coming.” Candy dropped the phone on her desk and went to a closet. When she opened it, he about shot his wad where he sat. The small cubbyhole was a military enthusiast’s dream. She dressed in a multi-gray camo design he’d never seen before, and without shifter eyes, he probably couldn’t see her in the shadows. Her boots appeared lightweight and flexible, not heavy like combat footwear.
She picked up a small plastic bottle and squirted dark liquid onto her fingertips. “Seriously,” he said, “you’re painting your face? Is this that dangerous? I’m thinking I don’t want you to go, love.”
Candy rubbed the lotion onto her face. “First off, love, you have no say whether I go or not. And secondly, this isn’t the old face paint.”
His feathers were a bit ruffled with her stating he had no control over her safety. Shit, he’d better get used it. That was the kind of person she was. If there was trouble on the horizon, she was there before sunup.
“If it’s not paint, what is it?” he asked as he watched her beautiful pink skin turn dirt brown and black.
“This is made of synthetic material that, among other things, will protect my face from the heat of a bomb blast.”
That got him off his ass quickly. “Fuck, no. You are not going if bombs are involved.” He was sure her brow rose even though he couldn’t see it under the coloring. He rapidly realized that was not the thing to say to her. “Stop.” He cupped his hands around her face. “Just listen to me for a minute.”
How was he to tell her how much she meant to him and he wouldn’t let her die without coming off corny as hell? Fuck, he better make it fast; a hurricane was brewing in her eyes.
“Candy. I know we just met, but I’m here to protect you whether you like it or not. I cannot allow you to go into a dangerous situation unless I’m with you. Please, baby, you have to understand it’s a shifter thing. You are so precious to me—”
She placed a finger over his lips, which he kissed. “I understand you wanting to keep me safe. It’s how I feel about the men and women under my command.” Her grin brightened her face. So beautiful even with dark smudges everywhere.
He brought his lips down to hers, giving and taking everything he possessed in his heart. He wouldn’t let her go alone. No way around it. If her had to tie her up, then so be it. That actually sounded rather tasty.
She turned back to the closet. “I don’t have clothes your size, so do your shift thing if you’re coming with me.”
He stood, taken aback.
“What?” she said. “You said you wouldn’t let me go without you, so you better get on getting on.” She glanced up and down his body. “With you naked, we’ll never make it to the White House.”
He scowled. “That’s true. Too many cops around, right now,” he agreed.
“No,” she replied. “I was thinking more along the lines of me shoving you into a back alley and taking advantage of your naked situation.”
Air coming into his lungs and words coming out choked him into a coughing fit. He couldn’t believe Candy had made a sexy joke. She had been so shy an hour ago. What had he unleashed?
Taking a backpack from a hanger, she shoved in a couple of flashlights, cigarette lighter, and a small first aid pack. From the small refrigerator by the water cooler, she scooped out a couple of bottled waters and dropped those in as well.
On the desk, she grabbed her phone and turned to him. “You still look human to me, wolf.”
With a cheeky grin, he let his animal come forward and shifted. His mate watched with awe. She wasn’t scared. In fact, she was slightly aroused if the air told the truth. Candy pivoted toward the door.
“Let’s go. We have one more stop before we’re on the move.”