Savage Hunger(20)

Smart girl.

Coming to a halt in front of them, Larson narrowed his gaze in the moon’s light. “If this is going to be a problem, Donovan—”

“It’s not going to be a goddamned problem!” Shit. Warrick fell back a step when Larson tilted his head to the side and simply stared at him.

Warrick clenched his fists and blinked, forcing his tone to be more subservient. “I apologize. I simply meant she’s under my watch, sir, and I won’t let it happen again.”

He felt Sienna’s questioning glance on him, before her hand tightened around his arm.

Just stay quiet, he silently willed her. Don’t say a—

“I’m sorry. It’s Agent Larson, right?” Sienna asked sweetly.

Oh for fuck’s sake.

“This was all my fault. I just… I needed air. I probably should’ve told Warrick first, but I thought it would be rude to wake him.”

Warrick closed his eyes and bit back a groan. Thanks for trying to cover my ass, baby, but it ain’t gonna fly.

“Really.” Larson turned and looked at her, his smile hard and humorless. “At four in the morning?”

“Oh, is that the time? I honestly didn’t even notice—”

“Miss Peters, I’m sure you get through life quite nicely by charming the boys with that pretty face of yours, but let me save you some time. I’m allergic to bullshit.”

Warrick’s lips twitched at Sienna’s choked gasp. Her nails dug into his arm as she clung tighter to him. He’d warned her. It was Sienna’s fault for not listening.

Nathan Larson made no pretense of being anything but brutally straightforward and it worked for him.

Sliding his arm around Sienna’s waist, Warrick gave her a small smile. “I’ll take her back inside.”

“Do that. And when you’re done, meet me in the front room. We need to talk.”

Now didn’t that just sound ominous.

Sienna struggled to keep up as he rushed her away from Larson. She glanced over her shoulder at the agent and muttered something under her breath.

“Just don’t say anything until you’re back in the room,” Warrick bit out tersely before she could say anything more damaging.

“Why? It’s not like he can hear me anymore.”

His lips twisted and he grunted in response. Larson showing up had been piss-poor timing. And Warrick couldn’t be more grateful. Maybe he didn’t appreciate getting his ass handed to him on a platter, but it beat the hell out of what could’ve happened. What would’ve happened if he’d kissed Sienna.

Warrick’s gut clenched and he led her into the house. Once they were back in the bedroom, he shut the door firmly and turned to face her.

Sienna, apparently, was ready for a verbal showdown. Standing in front of the bed, she leveled a furious glare at him.

“You’re treating me like I’ve committed a crime.”

“I’m not sure that you haven’t, Sienna.” Which made it even more depraved that all he could think about was what she’d feel like naked beneath him. “I’m going to go out there to talk to Agent Larson, so don’t even think about leaving this room, do you understand me?”

“I’m not promising—”

“Dammit. Do not push me, Sienna.” He advanced on her and gripped her arms. “Get your butt in bed. I don’t care if you sleep or just sit there with your eyes closed. You move a muscle and so help me God I will tie you down.”

Her eyes widened and a flush of pink stained her cheeks. Oh hell. He tried to stop them, but his mind flickered with all kinds of images that were nowhere near appropriate.

The pads of his fingers seemed to tingle where he touched her skin. He glanced down in dismay, thought he saw a glow between them, and jerked his hands away. What the fuck? Dammit, he needed to get some sleep.

“Go to bed,” he rasped and turned toward the door.

“What’s with you, Warrick?” she called after him, her voice not quite steady either. “Agent Larson says ‘jump’ and you say ‘how high?’”

His lips twitched. “Something like that. He’s…the commander of this op, Sienna. There’s hierarchy everywhere in life, you should know that.”

Reaching the door, he hesitated when she asked, “What was he even doing outside this time of night?”

“I don’t really know and it’s not my business anyway. So drop it.” He glanced back at her, staring her down hard until she looked away. “No more problems, Sienna.”

Warrick turned and left. Out in the living room he muttered a curse when he saw not only Larson waiting for him, but Agents Hilliard and Rafferty as well.