“It is. Everyone calls me that.”
“I doubt it.”
“Why? What’s so unbelievable about my name?”
“You’re at the NSO and have the name of a feline?”
It sank in. “It’s spelled with a K.”
“I don’t care. Why not use a more human name like Mary?”
“That’s not what my parents stuck me with. I’m actually named after my grandmother. She died while my mom was pregnant with me.” That was also true. “It’s just a weird coincidence.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“It’s too obvious if you think about it. I’d have to be dumb to pick that name and I didn’t even make the connection to cats until you brought it up. I’m not an idiot. I would have done a fantastic job at building a false identity for myself.”
“That, I believe.”
“Good.”
“Who do you work for?”
“Bakersfield Police Department, crime lab.”
“What color is your bra?”
“Black.” He was testing her, trying to gauge facial expressions or her tone of voice to determine if he could spot a sign that she lied. She’d done the same thing to suspects.
“My hair is brown. So are my eyes. I’m five-foot-five. Don’t bother asking my weight. I’m not telling. Everyone lies on their license about that.”
“You’re about a hundred forty pounds. No need. I lifted you out of that chair.”
He was good. She was actually a hundred thirty-eight pounds.
“You appear to be lighter, about one twenty-five, but you have good muscle tone. That tells me you work out or train often.” He studied her breasts. “No plastic surgery.” He lifted away and stood, his gaze raking over her stomach and thighs. “No children.”
“How do you know that?”
“You have scars on you. Your upper arm, one near your calf. They are noticeable. It is telling. Pregnancy would have marred you as well and left signs. Your lower belly and upper thighs are flawless. No signs of stretch marks.”
“Not all women get them.” She admired his skills of observation. It was kind of hot.
“Not all but most have at least a few.”
“I don’t have kids,” she confirmed.
His focus returned to her face. “You don’t wear makeup. It also explains your plain undergarments. No lace on them and your bra isn’t a padded one to give your breasts a larger appearance. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself from men. Why is that?”
“Maybe I just didn’t have time to do my face this morning. As for my bra, pushups are uncomfortable as hell.”
He regarded her, expressionless, and she would have loved to know what he was thinking.
Darkness hoped fear provided the last push he needed to get the female to break. Everything he’d told her was true. He did admire her. An image flashed of what would happen if he struck her or broke bones. She’d scream. He’d feel like the monster the humans had tried to create. He couldn’t hit her.
She had beautiful, expressive eyes. He hoped he could read her correctly and that the males who’d attacked the gates weren’t with her. It would anger him if she were evil. He’d already fallen for one female who had betrayed him. He could use that anger on Kat but one glance at her frail build stopped him cold. There was no honor in harming Kat. She was helpless and, damn it, he really liked her.
Frustration came next. It was his job to get answers and find out who she really was. He just couldn’t do it effectively. He considered his options. Someone else would have to take his place. He didn’t even want to be in the building, knowing what would go down in that interrogation room. A wave of compassion and protectiveness washed over him. Queasiness pitted in his stomach, thinking about another male inflicting pain on her to make her talk.
He stared into her eyes again, torn between duty and the unexpected desire to just escort her to the gate. That would put an end to it all but that wasn’t possible. He decided to try one more shot at intimidation and fear.
Chapter Three
“Look at me.” He removed his tank top.
“I am.” Kat studied Darkness.
“All of me.” He backed away from the table a few feet. “Tell me what you see.”“You’re tall.” She took in his naked chest. “Very fit.” The tight, well-defined muscles displayed across his abs were perfection all the way down to the waistband of his sweats. She jerked her attention to his face.
“Never entice a predator into playing a game you can’t win,” he rasped. “The NSO isn’t to be fooled with. I don’t want to hurt you because I have an issue with hitting females but others won’t have that same problem. Tell me everything, the whole truth, or this is going to get extreme.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” She really didn’t.
He stepped closer and her heart pounded when he braced his hands on the table on each side of her breasts and leaned over. He pressed his nose against her throat, inhaling. She turned her head to give him access and to keep her face away from his scary teeth.
“I can smell your fear, yet you won’t break. Fine. I’m going to get someone else in here.” He reached up and untied the cord then straightened and gripped her arm, hauling her into a sitting position. “I strongly suggest you talk to whoever replaces me. I would hate for you to see the inside of Medical.” He let her go and glanced down her body. “Something so beautiful should never be bloodied and battered.”
He spun around and stalked toward the door. It sank in what was happening and Kat panicked. “Wait!”
He halted and slowly turned to face her. “You’re willing to tell me the truth?”
“I’ve already told you what I can. That’s about as honest as I can be.”
“That’s not good enough. Just sit there. Someone will be in shortly.”
“There’s got to be another option.”
“It’s beat it out of you or…” His dark gaze lowered to her breasts.
“Or what?”
“I could seduce it out of you.”
Kat was stunned for a few seconds, letting his words sink in. “Oh.”
“That’s against the rules.” He actually smiled.
It transformed his features and Kat just gawked at how handsome an amused Darkness was. She did her own once-over of his body. He had the best one she’d ever seen and the idea of getting up close and personal with him was oddly appealing. “You don’t look like someone who plays by the rules.” That came out of my mouth. She cleared her throat, slightly embarrassed at her slip. “I mean, that sounds better than taking a beating.”
His grin faded. “I’ll go get someone else.”
Kat bit her lower lip as he gripped the door handle, turned it and swung it open a few inches.
“You could try.”
He froze.
“I mean, it might work. The seduction thing.”
The door slammed and he spun, anger on his features. “Are you trying to bait me?”
“Maybe.” Her gaze traveled down his length again. “You know you’re seriously hot.”
He advanced a step, paused. His hands fisted at his sides. “This is a dangerous game, Kat. If that is your name.”
“I told you it is. Everyone really calls me that.” She licked her lips. Darkness was the type of man she’d always fantasized about. Big, sexy, and he probably didn’t follow the rules. She slid off the edge of the table, ignoring his command for her to stay in place. She might never get another chance to be with someone like him. “I’d rather have a battle of wills than be on the receiving end of a beat-down.”
He drew closer and growled softly. She advanced, meeting him halfway. Only inches separated them. It made her aware of how much taller he was, how much bigger. She wasn’t afraid though. He’d been willing to walk out of the room rather than hit her. It made him even more appealing. A lot of muscular men she’d met were bullies. Darkness had a sense of chivalry. That was a rare trait.
“This is a mistake.” He reached out, though, and gently encircled her hips with his warm hands. His head lowered and she tilted hers to give him access to her neck.
“Maybe.” She hoped he’d go for her throat again. She’d liked it before when he’d sniffed at her.
She smothered a moan when he brushed a teasing kiss under her ear. His lips were soft and his tongue hot as it swiped at her skin. A shiver ran down her spine when his fangs pressed against her throat. He didn’t bite but instead lightly used them to trail a path lower to the curve of her neck.
He used his tongue and teeth to explore her throat and shoulder. It was amazing and her body responded when his chest touched hers. He was feverishly hot but it felt incredibly good. She’d been cold but he warmed her. She resisted the urge to lift her cuffed hands up and loop them around his neck.
He nipped her with his fangs. Her entire body jerked at the sudden jolt of sensation. It didn’t hurt but it had been hard enough to shock her system. He growled. Her nipples ached where they touched him, the thin material of her bra doing nothing to lessen the vibrations that originated from his chest. His lips trailed upward to her earlobe and he stopped kissing her.
“Tell me who you really work for.”
She tried to clear her mind. He was good. She had almost forgotten she was still being interrogated via seduction. She was turned-on and he had the sexiest voice ever when he spoke in that gruff whisper.