Embraced By Darkness

they brushed my mouth, saw the flare of desire deep in his bright eyes.

'I figured you might have to leave early, so I arranged for a cab to come back at six.'

I glanced at my watch. It was almost that now. I rolled free from his touch and sat up. 'I need to go for a quick swim to freshen up.'

He caught my hand, stopping me from moving. 'I need you to think about something while you're gone.'

I raised my eyebrows at the sudden seriousness in his tone. 'Sure. What?'

'I want to go solo with you.'

I blinked. 'What? Now? It's too soon.' The reply was almost automatic. As much as I cared for Kellen, as much as I was beginning to think he could be the one, I wasn't ready to go solo with him. Not after the events of the last few months. Not after Quinn. This time, I wasn't rushing into anything, free will or not.

'It's not too soon when it feels so right,' he said, and paused, studying me for a moment. 'Or are you still playing games with me? Still waiting, just in case something better comes along?'

I sucked in a breath and stared at him. 'You really think I'm not serious about us?'

'Honestly? Sometimes I just don't know.'

He couldn't have hurt me any more if he'd hit me. How could he honestly think I was playing games? I wasn't Rhoan—I had no hunger to fight the restrictions of a relationship and play the field. I wanted a home and a family and one man to call my own—and Kellen knew that. 'That's a horrible thing to say.'

'Perhaps, but it's also the truth. For most of our relationship, I've felt like a third wheel. There was always Quinn, or work, ahead of whatever you and I were doing. I'm not built to stand around and wait, Riley. I never will be.'

'But Quinn's gone—'

'Work isn't.'

'Dammit, you know I can't abandon work. Not when there's so few people in the day division.' Hell, we'd discussed my being a guardian—and just what it entailed—up on Monitor Island. We'd even talked about the whole fertility thing, and me being a half-breed. None of it had seemed to be a problem to him.

But maybe he'd had the time to dwell on it since then. If so, I guess I had to be glad my work seemed more of a. problem for him than my mixed heritage and inability to carry a child.

He continued, 'All I'm asking for is a decision on us going solo. It's not like I'm asking for forever.'

No, but if I went solo, it would be because I was sure it would end up with forever. Right now, what I wanted most was time. Time to grow into us. Time to be really sure. I didn't want to go solo only to have it all fall apart. 'It's too early—'

'It's not' He grasped my shoulders and shook me lightly. 'You keep saying you want the white picket fence ideal, and yet you seem totally unwilling to step Into the arena and take a chance.'

'After being used and abused by a past couple of mates, a certain amount of caution is hardly surprising,' I retorted.

'Caution, yes. Feet dragging? No. I won't wait forever, Riley. Patience is not one of my virtues.'

'It's not one of mine, either. Trust me on that.' I reached for my clothes. 'I'm going for a swim then I'll head off to the assignment. And I'll come back to your place as soon as I can.'

He studied me for a moment, his green eyes still bright with a mix of annoyance and determination. He wasn't going to give up until he'd gotten what he wanted, and a small part of me couldn't help being-thrilled by that knowledge.

'And the commitment I'm asking for?'

I rose. 'I want this to work as much as you do, Kellen, but I won't be pushed into anything. Not again.'

'I'm not pushing. I'm just asking you to think about it.'

'I will.'

'Good.' He paused, then added softly, 'Just remember, I'm not Liander.'

'Well thank heavens for that. I mean, he's gay.'

His grin seemed reluctant, but he rose and drew me into a kiss that was very much a signal of intent. A statement of caring and demand.

In some ways it was scary. In others, exhilarating. I mightn't be sure that I wanted to take that extra step so soon into our relationship, but I was sure of one thing. I didn't want it to end.

Which meant I might have to take that step, go exclusive, before I was really sure about the true breadth of my feelings for him.

But I didn't say that. Didn't say anything. Just enjoyed his kiss and his closeness while I could.

I had a quick dip in the old dam we'd camped beside, then dressed and hurried over to the cab. Kellen gave me his jacket and another toe-curling kiss, then sent me on my way.

Once we were on the highway and headed for the address Jack had sent me, I retrieved Kellen's phone from my pocket and went through the files.

The information was sketchy, at best.

Apparently, a neighbor had heard strange sounds in a nearby vacant house and, on investigation, had spotted a shadowy figure inside. He'd reported it to police, who'd arrived, found the victim, and called the Directorate.

There were no details of the murder or the victim, which probably meant the cops had sealed the scene, awaiting our arrival. It also meant the Directorate's forensic team hadn't arrived yet, because otherwise there'd be at least some description of events.

I looked back down at the files. In the past, the strength of my connection with the dead seemed to depend on the freshness of the death. The newer the death, the stronger the connection—and the more likely I'd be able to successfully interpret or understand what they were trying to say. If indeed they had something to say. But part of me was hoping that the soul wasn't hanging about. Talking to dead people wasn't on my list of favorite things to do.

We were on the Calder freeway, heading toward Citylink and Melbourne, when I noticed the driver looking into the rearview mirror, his expression a little worried.

'What's wrong?' I asked, even as I looked around.

'That truck is getting a little too close for comfort.'

Which had to be the understatement of the year. All I could see was this huge silver grill—and it was getting huger by the moment.

'Maybe you need to swing into the other lane, and let him pass.'

'Tried that. He seems intent on tailgating me.'

Just what we needed—a truckie intent on playing chicken. 'Can you report his ass?'

'Can't see the license plate.'

'Maybe I can.' As I looked around, the truck seemed to leap forward, until all I could see were the little bugs caught in the deadly looking, silver-plated grill. I had a bad feeling those bugs could be us if we weren't very careful. 'You might want to step on it—'

The rest of my words got lost in the screech of metal as the truck rammed into the rear of us, the force of the blow lifting the rear of the cab up for several seconds before sending it lurching forward. The force of the hit flung me about like a rag doll—at least until the seat belt kicked in and just about choked me. How the driver kept control I have no idea.

I looked out the back window again, saw nothing but bug-splattered grill, and twisted back around to brace myself against the front seat. 'Floor it!' I yelled. 'He's coming at us again.'

'Don't you think I'm fucking trying?' the driver yelled back, his face red and his eyes wide with fear.

The cab's engine was just about screaming and, for an instant, the car leapt forward, leaving the growl of the truck momentarily behind.

But all too soon, its thick roar filled the air and I didn't need to look around to know it was closing in fast again.

And then it hit us.

This time, the blow wasn't square on, because suddenly the car was spinning around and around. Then the truck hit us a third time and the cab seemed to be flying. I was upside down, and the world was tumbling.