The Warrior In Me Read online

  “But you don’t even know me.”

  “Exactly, my point, I’m hoping to get to know you better.” He kissed the knuckle of her index finger and stared into her perplexed face.

  “I don’t see why unless…” Her eyes narrowed, and she tugged her hand free. “You’re curious like everyone else regarding the results of the tests we’re doing for the group in Germany.” She edged back a few extra steps and glared at him.

  Unable to contain a chuckle, he pivoted toward the door. “We both know that’s not the reason I’m glad you’re staying here.”

  By the door, he glanced over his shoulder. “As for your results, I’m already aware of the fact that Neanderthal’s DNA is in the modern human. They are my ancestors. So it’s no amazing revelation scientists have finally found the proof to substantiate our claim.”

  “Are you crazy? A genetic breakthrough like this is huge. The team extracted DNA from a forty-thousand-year-old bone.” She marched to him, waving her index finger in the old-fashion style of an irritated schoolmarm. “You don’t understand the hours of painstaking research this has taken. Human DNA corrupted the samples, and the team had to end up working in a completely sterile environment. Then once they were able to extract a viable sample, it had to be replicated.”

  The intensity of her argument kept him captivated, not because of the scientific data she divulged. No, he enjoyed watching how her eyes lit up and her whole body come alive with her enthusiasm for the subject. He envisioned all her passion centered on him, excited by his touch, flushed and animated by desire. His palms itched, and he waited until she meandered closer.

  Wrapping a hand around her waist, he pulled her against him. “Doesn’t matter how they did it. The results are the same as what I already knew.”

  She lightly slapped his chest. “You’re right. You are a complete Neanderthal. Because any man with an ounce of sense would see how this will impact the world.”

  Undeterred by her perceived insult, he slid his arms around her and guided a hand under the silky waterfall of her hair. Holding her head in place, he lowered his lips to hers.

  Seconds before his mouth covered hers, she whispered, “Sebastian, I don’t—” The rest of the sentence died under the quick spear of his tongue, seeking entrance into the hot moist haven of her mouth.

  The fight he expected didn’t fully materialize. She gasped in shock, and her body stiffened. Then she lifted her hands to his shoulders, leaving the few inches between them vacant.

  Tightening his grip, he drew the soft cushion of her breasts invitingly against his chest. All too quickly, he moved past the point of a simple kiss and fed on her unique flavor. He’d gone too long without the seductive touch of a woman. Today, she’d tempted him with the fire of her anger and the gentle concern for him at the loss of his friend. Holding himself in check, he’d resisted until she’d revealed her passion for her research. Now, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm for her any longer. He ate at her lips, nipping and sucking until they opened wider.

  Lily moaned, and he captured the sound, swallowing it as he flicked his tongue against the roof of her mouth. She welcomed him by drawing him deeper. He thrust in and out, over and over mimicking the ancient rhythm of sex.

  Determined to sample every inch of the hot, moist cavity, he drank in the rich, sweet nectar. As stimulating as wine, he became drunk on her and tangled his tongue around hers. Time lost meaning. He forgot everything except her hands in his hair, her body plastered against his, the relentless need to consume her.

  Somewhere in his subconscious, something reminded him that women didn’t progress from “Hello, it nice to meet you” to “Do you want to go to bed with me” this quickly. On the other hand, maybe, the light tingling of his scalp as she curled her fingers in his hair helped jog his memory. He had to take things a little slower if he wanted to win the girl.

  He lifted his head and noticed the light flush on her cheeks. Her mouth appeared swollen from his kisses. Eyes closed, she moaned softly before her lids fluttered open.

  “Please tell me, I’m already asleep and dreaming.” Her dazed look and wistful words nudged his memory. He recalled her saying she’d gotten very little sleep last night. With jet lag and him hitting her with Cain’s murder, she had to be beyond exhausted.

  Not exactly pleased with his options, he bent and swept her up in his arms. Her head fell on his shoulders, and she nibbled on his ear.

  “It may sound silly, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a man carry me to bed. I kinda of like it,” she purred.

  His good intentions of setting her gently on the bed and walking away took a detour, replaced with the conviction to make sure she could relax first. After laying her in the center of the mattress, he shifted a hand to the buttons of her shirt. “Is it okay for me to undress you?”

  She sighed, settled her head back on the pillow, and closed her eyes. “That would be heavenly. I feel as if I can’t move a muscle.”

  Sebastian stared at Lily’s face as he unbuttoned her blouse and revealed a light pink bra. Eyeing the lacy fringe, he pulled her silky shirt from her waistband and quickly unbuckled her belt. Unzipping her pants, he caught sight of her bikini underwear.

  He stroked a finger across the center of her belly. A smile fluttered across her lips briefly. Forcing his hand away from her delicate skin, he slipped off her shoes, dropping them heedlessly on the carpet. He gathered his resolve and tugged on her slacks, exposing creamy thighs and tight shapely calves. Swallowing the hunger the succulent vision evoked, he worked his hands under her shirt and over her back, lifting her to remove her blouse.

  A soft breath whispered from her lips, and her hands fell around his shoulders. Like a rag doll, her head sank back to the pillow the minute the material broke free. After unhooking her bra, he edged back and tugged the straps down her arms as he shifted away from her.

  Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his gaze off the tight red tips of her nipples or the full creamy swells. Her amazing breasts offered him a mouth-watering treat, tempting, teasing, completely robbing him of the ability to move.

  He forced his eyes lower, hoping to gain some perspective, only to encounter a juicier treasure. The small scrap of pink seduced him with what lay underneath the silky barrier. His mouth watered, greedy for a taste of her sweet cream. He drew in a breath to calm his carnivorous appetite. Still, his hands shook with the overpowering urge to strip away this obstacle.

  Shuffling back a mere inch, then two, he allowed his gaze to flow slowly back over her enticing curves and settle on her face. A serene angel, she appeared totally relaxed and well on her way to sleep.

  Fighting every instinct to crawl in bed with her, he shoved away from the bed and moved to the end. He lifted her suitcase out of the way and retrieved a blanket from the cedar chest. He unfolded the velvet-soft square and covered her tantalizing body.

  The minute, he finished the task, he bolted for the door and a quick means of escape. Silently, he walked down the stairs and commended himself for not touching her. He had to give her time to rest before he explored the attraction between them.

  Even so, his control didn’t have even a remote chance of lasting. He had to make love to Lily Sinclair. Not once or twice either, he promised himself and debated if his craving for her could be satisfied in a week.

  She somehow awoke a hunger inside him. He wanted to act like the Neanderthal warrior she accused him of being and drag her into…a cave?

  No, onto his king-size bed. Then he’d taste every luscious inch of her. Pound into her wet cunt until she screamed with her release. When they were both spent, he’d wait long enough for her to recover and do it again.

  The pressure in his groin inhibited his stride, and he paused outside his bedroom.

  Back to work or a cold shower?

  Chapter Four

  Tossing the towel he used to dry his hair over the back of his office’s guest chair, Sebastian walked around the corner of his desk and booted up his computer.
He checked his email, hoping to have a note from Rex, and discovered the information he’d been waiting for.

  Immediately, he accessed the company’s server and entered Cain’s user information. A new screen popped up.

  Access denied.

  How could that be? The only way it wouldn’t be correct was if Cain had changed his password in the last few days.

  Sebastian had discovered the helpful fact once while out in the field and had to change his access code on the fly. Not remembering the new password the next day, he’d contacted the company’s IT department for help. They were still using the old password and had to reset his account. Then after he logged in, he changed it again.

  Why did Cain make the modification? Did he suspect someone else might have access to his secure account? God, he must have been upset about something. Usually, Cain wasn’t paranoid. He’d said nothing out of the ordinary when they talked.

  Sebastian had called while waiting to board a plane in Denver on Thursday. After an early morning meeting, he’d flown back to Juneau and arrived home yesterday evening.

  Studying the blank password space, Sebastian reviewed their mundane conversation. Had Cain given him a clue?

  After expressing his appreciation for the information, Cain mentioned his kid brother. “Austin is heading into finals. Once the semester is done, he’s off to study rocks with LSMO for a few weeks before he starts his summer job.”

  Sebastian tried Austin as the password.

  Access denied.

  “Shit, that would’ve been way too easy,” he grumbled and worked to remember their short conversation.

  “Everyone else in your family doing okay?”

  “Yes. Yours?” Cain had asked with genuine concern.

  Sebastian had given his friend a brief update on his grandfather’s health. He’d been sick with the flu for a few days but was doing better.

  “Well, stud, don’t have too much fun with the ladies. I’ve got to go,” Cain replied with a teasing tone and said his goodbyes.

  Sebastian typed in stud and paused.

  The password needed to be at least six characters.

  What would his friend have added?

  Grinning, Sebastian recalled the old password Cain used in high school and entered in the next two digits. He hit enter and shoved aside the image of Cain and his girlfriend locked in the sixty-nine position.

  Immediately, Cain’s case files appeared. Clicking on the one called Winslow, Sebastian scanned the new listing and selected the one dated three days ago, July second.

  A series of numbers popped up.

  “Holy shit, bro, don’t do this to me.” Sebastian groaned, knowing instinctively his friend had encrypted the file. They’d used the method while in school to keep nosy siblings, friends, and, of course, their parents from reading their notes to each other.

  “Man, we had way too much time on our hands back then.” The ache of never being able to talk to his friend again hit, and Sebastian reached for the phone and dialed a familiar number.

  Two rings and a soft voice rang through the receiver. “Hello, Seb. I figured you’d be calling me again soon.”

  Cain’s mother had the unique talent of knowing who was calling before she ever picked up the receiver. She’d developed the skill as a child long before the telephone company marketed caller ID.

  Noise in the background confirmed she wasn’t alone. Others in their tribe had arrived to offer support and help her through this difficult time.

  “Hello, Mrs. Platero. I hate to bother you, but I need your help. Cain encrypted a message—”

  “And you’re hoping to find out which book he used?”

  He doubted she’d know, but it was worth a shot. “Yes, did he mention any book he was reading?”

  “No, I thought he’d outgrown the silly game you two used to play. It drove his father crazy. He always assumed you were sharing some state secret. I told him more times than I care to say, you boys were merely conversing about sex and girls.”

  Holding back a bark of laughter, Sebastian pictured Cain’s family. His father, a more distant figure, had died of a heart attack not long after they graduated high school. Sebastian, however, couldn’t forget the man’s hearty laugh and teasing manner.

  Cain’s mother, a short, round woman, had dark hair and sympathetic brown eyes. The perfect image of a caring grandmother, she continued to rule her house with a gentle hand and a loving heart. Cain and his brother, Austin, had catered to her every need after their father died. Not wanting to be a bother to them, she pushed them both to follow their passion—Cain to join the military and Austin to graduate college with a geology degree.

  A knot formed in Sebastian’s throat, and he silently promised his best friend to help his mother in any way he could. He gulped in a quick breath of air and forced out. “Did he leave any books at home?”

  The background noise faded, and the click of a door shutting echoed through the receiver. “I’m in his room. He has a whole bookcase of his favorite novels. I see several you both read back in high school. Lord of the Rings. Space Odyssey.”

  Fighting the old memories, which threatened to overwhelm him, Sebastian glanced at the books on his bookshelves. Titles jumped out at him, and he debated the likelihood of Cain using a recent title.

  “Wait, here’s one. Austin used it for one of his classes. Atlas Shrugged. They discussed it a few weeks back when they were both home. Cain said he hated the book. Told his brother to trash it.” Mrs. Platero chuckled. “Austin told him to give it another shot now that he’d experienced life. The two almost came to blows.”

  Sebastian pictured the two brothers dancing around each other with fists raised to fight and Mrs. Platero stepping between them. She’d say a few choice words and smooth out the argument, their shouts turning to laughter. Another of what his grandfather called her unique inherited talents. She could defuse any violent situation.

  “I told them if the earth could shrug it off so could they.” Her voice held a wistful note.

  Standing, he stepped to his bookcase and retrieved the book. “I’ll try that one then. Cain and I debated the story, too. Have it here in my hand. I’ll give it a shot. If it doesn’t work, I’ll call Austin and see if he has any suggestions.”

  “You’ll have to call here. Austin is on his way home. I tried to…” A slight sniffle resonated through the phone.

  Sebastian jumped in to reassure her. “He needs to know you’re okay and to help if he can. I’d be there, too, but I’m in the middle of this assignment. Once I find out what happened and bring whoever killed Cain to justice, I’ll come see you.”

  “No worries. You’re a great friend to all of us. We’ll look forward to seeing you when this mess is done.” She rushed through her goodbyes and hung up the phone before he had a chance to say anything other than he’d check in with her later.

  He tossed the book on his desk and set the phone back on its base. Slowly, he sank back into his chair and closed his eyes. Grief swelled inside him, blocking every other thought in his head and clogging his throat with the desire to weep.

  How did one survive losing a best friend?

  Tears dripped from his eyes. He ignored them. His mind replayed a million different memories of Cain—playing army in the backyard, hiking through the woods, hunting trips, double dates, senior prom, boot camp, drunken binges after being dumped by girlfriends. Only one burning desire kept him from sinking into a dark endless pit of despair. He had to find his friend’s killer.

  After a few minutes, he lifted his head and stared at the computer screen. Like a call for deliverance, the numbers sprang at him. He gritted his teeth, retrieved the discarded book, and turned to the first page listed in Cain’s code.

  “I’ll find your killer,” Sebastian promised gruffly to the empty room and set to work deciphering the reports.

  ****

  Steam gathered and created long drip lines on the mirror. Lily wiped the moisture away from the smooth surface
and stared at her reflection. Having slept for almost four hours, she’d woken to go to the bathroom. Remembering she had landed in a strange place and not a tropical paradise created a real shift in her perspective. But nothing compared to having to face the sad reality of someone dying in the parking lot of her lab.

  Technically, she only owned a small share of the DNA facility. Mark had the controlling interest while Zane held forty percent and she had a measly five. Still, she considered it hers. Every day, she spent time there, working on the different projects. Some were part of her research while others were simple tests for customers. Zane handled more of the business side of the company while Mark kept teaching and brought in new investors.

  After plugging in her hairdryer, Lily flipped it on and combed her fingers through her hair. The warm air caressing her skin diverted her thoughts to the man she had met earlier. Sebastian Berlin.

  He’d made no excuses for wanting to kiss her and had done as much with no warning. The erotic haze she experienced in his arms had her rethinking the pleasures of sex. Not ever being what she considered a sensual person, she preferred the excitement of making a new discovery in the lab instead of a physical connection to someone else.

  She’d only married Mark because he had wooed her for months if not years into a comfortable relationship. When he suggested marriage, she had seen it as simply another step in their personal association. She hadn’t believed them sharing a bed would make a difference.

  At first, maybe it hadn’t. She had relished in his lovemaking and responded to his touch. The problem between them developed when he demanded she change her priorities. Yes, she loved him and wanted him to be happy, but attending social functions and mingling with strangers wasn’t something she enjoyed.

  She’d tried to explain how merely being in a crowd made her nervous. Having to talk to a stranger almost caused her to become physically ill. He refused to listen. Instead, at the end of every party, he’d go over every flaw in her behavior. Then he’d tell her how she should develop her social skills. Soon, he requested she spend more time entertaining guests than doing her job at the lab.