“Is he still at it?” Milliner asked as he reentered the security booth with a steaming mug in each hand.
She never grew tired of knowing a former general was willing to fetch her tea whenever she smiled at him. “He’s wandering around like a lost puppy. It’s almost as if he can’t remember what he’s supposed to be doing.”
Milliner set one of the mugs down for her then stood behind her, rudely peering over her shoulder. “Is he drunk?”
“Some sort of intoxication was my first thought, so I went and spoke with him.” She picked up the mug and blew on the steaming tea before she took a sip. “As soon as he made eye contact with me, it was as if a switch was thrown. His expression animated and he seemed completely normal.”
“And now that you’re gone, he’s back to the lost puppy routine?”
“Exactly.”
“Shall I go and see if he reacts the same way to me?”
She shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt. I’ll watch for a few minutes and then join you. If he does something bizarre shove him into an empty cell.”
“Copy that.” Milliner tossed the reply over his shoulder as he left the security booth.
Tias watched Roberto meander along the row of cells. His image moved from one surveillance screen to another. He seemed oblivious to the occupants of the cells, even when they approached the bars and spoke to him.
Milliner’s shoes snapped against the tiled floor as he approached the younger man. As Roberto had earlier with her, he snapped out of the spell when he noticed the general. “Buongiorno, James. How are you this fine spring day?”
“You’re in a good mood.” Milliner shot a what-the-hell look at the camera then asked, “Were you able to learn anything on-site? Any idea where Devon is?”
Roberto’s features tensed and he looked around as if someone else would provide the answers. Then he calmed and flashed his practiced smile. “We’re still running down leads.”
“Who is ‘we’ and which leads?”
“Figure of speech.” After waving away Milliner’s concern, Roberto straightened his jacket even though the expensive coat hung perfectly. “I have the description of a truck and a partial license plate. The two escapees were assisted by two men, likely Therian males.”
This was new information. Luckily, Milliner was equally intrigued. “I thought no one witnessed the escape. Where are these leads coming from?”
“A workman was maintaining a power line nearby. He heard a scream and it drew his attention to an isolated building on his right. He wasn’t able to see much, but he thought he saw a large dog jump into the back of a full-sized truck. Moments later a small person, likely female, joined the two people already in the truck. He tried to get the license number, but he was only partially successful.”
Tias studied Roberto’s face. His eyes were glassy and his features basically expressionless. He sounded as if he were reading a police report, not conversing with a coworker.
For no apparent reason, Roberto turned around and walked away.
“Should I stop him?” Milliner said in a stage whisper.
She activated the intercom and said, “No, let him go. I’ll have him followed.”
“Copy that.”
* * * * *
Something brushed against Devon’s inner thigh, the sensation part tickle, part caress. She tried to wiggle away, but hands grasped her legs and pushed them farther apart. Her eyes flew open and she blinked away the morning haze. Ian lay on his stomach between her thighs, his face directly above her sex. Her nightshirt was bunched around her waist and her knees were drawn up, legs spread wide.
“Good morning,” she murmured as he moved her panties aside and brushed his lips against her crease.
His mouth moved for a moment then he whispered, “This will never do.” He grasped the sides of her panties and tugged. She raised her hips and drew her knees to her chest as he worked the panties down her legs then tossed them aside. “Much better.” He returned to his target, now fully accessible to his questing tongue.
“Shouldn’t we shower before we…”
His tongue parted her folds, easily finding her clit. She pushed her fingers through his hair and reveled in the churning sensations. Her body awakened slowly, warming and melting as his mouth explored. He was gentle yet focused, coaxing reactions from her body until she was aroused enough to make her own demands.
She’d wanted him last night, but the emotional turmoil of the past few weeks had taken its toll. Falling asleep in his arms had been a rare treat, one she was looking forward to repeating again and again. She’d felt safe and content for the first time in months.