“That’s very doubtful if not completely impossible,” Sylvan said. “They don’t have a properly trained focus and without one, their only hope to find Lauren would be to join with someone who knew her intimately. And you saw how that ended for Kat.”
“That’s true.” Sophie nodded. “But it just seems like there should be something else we can do.”
“You’re not the only one who thinks so,” Sylvan said dryly. “Baird told me he got another call from the detective the sister of your mother hired to find Lauren today. He was angry when Baird put him off.”
“He was?” Sophie frowned and sat up. “But why? What does he know?”
“I’m not sure.” Sylvan shook his head. “But I don’t think we can keep evading his questions forever. The male has good instincts—he seems certain that we know more than we’re telling him.”
That reminded Sophie of something. “Sylvan,” she said, looking up at him. “Speaking of keeping secrets, can I ask you something?”
“Of course, anything.” He looked at her. “But I hope you don’t think I’m keeping secrets from you.”
“No, I know you’re not—this isn’t about you. It’s about Deep.”
“What about him?”
“Well, Kat seemed to think that there was something he’d done in the past. Something…troubling. She didn’t get a chance to give us any details but Liv and I were worried about it.”
Sylvan sighed and raked a hand through his spiky blond hair distractedly. “What you’re asking me, Talana…it’s a secret that really isn’t mine to tell.”
His actions put Sophie on high alert—she almost never saw her cool, collected male so obviously agitated. Whatever it was, it must have been bad!
“Please,” she pleaded. “This is Kat we’re talking about—she’s my best friend in the world besides Liv. If she’s in any kind of danger when she’s with Deep I need to know.”
Sylvan was silent for a long moment, apparently debating with himself. Then he shook his head. “I’m sorry but I can’t reveal another warrior’s past—not even to you, Talana. Not when it concerns something this delicate.”
“Sylvan—”
“I will tell you that Kat is not in any danger,” he said, interrupting her protest. “And that Deep didn’t do anything wrong…though that’s not how he sees it.”
“Do you have any idea how frustrating this is?” Sophie demanded. “You keep throwing out these little half hints and then refusing to tell me the whole story.”
Sylvan looked serious. “The whole story, as you put it, is a grim tale—not something I want to talk about in the dead of night.”
“Not even with me here to keep you safe?” Deciding to let the matter drop for now, Sophie snuggled against him.
“There are other things I’d rather do with you at night than talk.” He kissed her, taking her mouth in a way that made her moan softly.
“Sylvan…” she protested. “About Deep—”
“I don’t want to talk about that. About grief and sorrow and loss.” His deep voice was unexpectedly rough. “Don’t you know I have dreams—nightmares—where I don’t reach you in time? Where I break into the Scourge ship to find you already…already gone?”
“Well, I’m not gone—I’m here with you.” Sophie pressed closer to him. “You got to me in time—you saved me, Sylvan.”
“No, Talana,” he rumbled, kissing her again. “It was you who saved me. Without you I’d be dead inside.”
“Hmmm,” she whispered, stroking his thigh. “You feel pretty alive to me.”
“I’m going to get a whole lot livelier if you keep that up,” he warned.
“That’s okay,” she murmured. “I don’t mind. I…” But she couldn’t finish—Sylvan was licking a long, slow trail down her neck.
Sophie’s heart began to race as his warm, wet tongue caressed her sensitive skin. His big, hard body felt so good against hers and his mating scent was rising, enveloping her in pure lust. She tilted her head to one side, baring her throat. “Do it, Sylvan—I want to feel you in me.”
“I never get tired of biting you,” Sylvan growled softly, lifting her so that she was straddling his hips. “Or kissing you…or tasting you…or fucking you.”
“Sylvan…” she whispered breathlessly as he lifted the lacy hem of her nightie and parted her thighs. Hearing dirty talk from him when he was usually so cool and logical never failed to turn her on.