Savage Hunger(57)

He was right. It had already happened with the shifters that she’d discovered at Feloray Laboratories. Which was the sharp reminder that someone out there did know about the shifters. Had done awful things to them. And now would kill, it seemed, to keep it a secret.

“You’re right,” she agreed reluctantly, the fight draining out of her. “But I still don’t have to like that awful little machine. It goes against nature. That poor man—”

“Is better for not knowing. And so are you, Sienna. Had we let him keep his memories, you would’ve been taken into custody. Do you realize that?” He straightened from the doorframe and crossed the small bathroom to where she stood by the sink. “We wouldn’t have been able to protect you.”

His sudden proximity, and familiar smell, encompassed her and dulled her ability to think. She found herself leaning toward him, wanting nothing more than to be wrapped in his arms. For him to promise the horror that she’d just witnessed would never happen to her.

So much had happened in the past few hours. After all these years she’d slept with Warrick—given him her virginity. And clearly, he hadn’t wanted it. Not that she’d held on to it to wait for him like he’d accused her of. The reminder of his harsh words made her swallow the sudden lump in her throat and blink back tears.

But she hadn’t even had time to think about what had happened, or to reflect on how amazing the lovemaking had been. Maybe it was a blessing this way. The way things kept happening at the speed of light. Because the last thing she wanted was the time to think about whether she should regret what had happened between them.

She shoved back the memory of their lovemaking by the river, and focused instead on the problem at hand.

“Someone doesn’t want me protected. Have you thought about that, Warrick? How did a local sheriff’s deputy know I was out here?”

He gave a small, but stoic nod. “Yes. I have thought about that. And the answer is I don’t know.”

“That answer isn’t good enough. Not for me. Not with everything going on.” She went to brush past him, but Warrick caught her hand.

“I’ll look into it.” He stepped closer. “But first, you never did tell me how the questioning went with Quinton.”

Sienna gave a humorless laugh and dropped her gaze. “You didn’t exactly give me the chance to.”

No. Instead, they’d gone at it like bunnies. He must’ve been thinking something similar, because his gaze darkened with heat.

“So tell me now.” He brushed his thumb over the inside of her palm and a tremble of pleasure swept through her.

Running her tongue over her bottom lip, she shrugged. “It didn’t go as well as he’d have liked, I’m sure.”

“Did you tell him anything that you haven’t told me?”

“Not much more. He guessed some things.”

“Some things? Such as?”

Sienna hesitated. She’d already told Quinton, so it was a given the other agents would know soon. If they didn’t already.

“Such as the fact that Leo was the one who told me about the shifters.”

Warrick’s mouth thinned and his fingers tightened around hers. “This Leo guy. Just what was he to you anyway?”

Her brows drew together. “I don’t understand your question. What was he to me?”

“Did you date him? Did he want to be your lover?”

Sienna choked on a noise of disbelief. “What? No. Leo was a friend. A coworker. He was probably old enough to be my father.”

Warrick grunted, but didn’t seem convinced.

“I’d ask where this is coming from, but it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is the fact that I don’t trust you guys. Any of you P.I.A. agents.”

He arched a brow. “Including me?”

“God, I don’t even know anymore…” Sienna pulled free of him, her stomach churning as she walked back into the bedroom.

“How the hell can you say such a thing? Can you doubt me, Sienna?”

She heard the barely restrained fury in his voice as he followed after her and knew she’d answered wrongly.

“We grew up together. I’ve saved your neck on more than one occasion. How the hell are you going to tell me that you don’t trust the man you gave your virginity to this afternoon?”

Spinning around she jammed her finger into his chest. And nearly bent it with how damn solid he was.

Wincing, she muttered, “I’ll say it before you do this time. Sleeping with you was probably a mistake.”

A warning tic started in his jaw, sending a frisson of alarm through her.

“A mistake?”

“Yes. You totally freaked out at my lack of experience, destroying the possibility of its being a casual, one-time thing. Well, forgive me and my vagina for not being a revolving door to the male population!”