She shivered. "I know, but it doesn't make sense. Why would Bear want to harm witches, especially when his sister is one?"
"I don't know," Jasper said. "Witches and dragons have never gotten along very well, and he is part dragon. Plus, whoever is selling Apollo in the States is making millions. Humans are loving the drug. Well, those who don't overdose."
Aye. The drug made them feel godlike for a few hours. "Bear doesn't seem to care much about money," Nessa said. Darn it. She needed to think logically and not let her hormones get in the way. "If he's behind the manufacture and new distribution of the drug, it'd be about something else. Revenge, maybe." She needed to dig deeper with him.
"Revenge?" Jasper asked.
"Yeah, but for what? I mean, his dad died when he was a teenager, and he moved to the States by himself." She tried to remember the facts from the information compiled about him. "I think Vivienne Northcutt forced him out of Dublin and away from her daughter-his sister."
"Trauma in his teen years would certainly give him motivation," Jasper mused. "But he would've had to amass a fortune in order to mine the PK in Russia, ship it to the States, and then create Apollo with it. Does he seem smart enough to do that?"
"Definitely," Nessa said. "He's incredibly intelligent." But would he use his energy that way? "I'm uncertain he'd want to spend years planning a terrorist campaign. He's more of a rip-your-head-off kind of guy." The planning this took would have required great patience.
"Keep alert, and if you need anything, call," Jasper said.
"I will. Before we sign off, have you seen my uncle?"
Jasper grinned. "Aye. He took part in the field exercises the other day. First he kicked everyone's ass, and then he healed any bones he broke."
Nessa chuckled. "He still thinks I'm on vacation after the council job?"
Jasper sobered. "Which is a very bad idea. Tell him the truth."
"He's retired." The man was over two thousand years old and deserved a break. Oh, he'd be back to work at some point, but for now he was mentally recharging. If Nessa told him about her mission, he'd be in Seattle in a heartbeat. "He stays out of this one, Jasper."
"Your decision. Check in as soon as you can."
"Aye." She clicked off the call and stood, smoothing her hair into place. She'd been undercover before, but even when pretending to be part of a group, she knew she was alone. Aside from her uncle, she'd always been on her own. Nothing new. Drawing her courage around her, she slipped into muted beige heels and finally exited her bedroom.
Bear was at the table, eating what looked like several platters of food. "Mornin'." He was in the same faded jeans and dark T-shirt, and he'd pulled his hair back at the nape. Scruff still covered his angled jaw, and his bourbon-colored eyes were clear, but dark circles slashed beneath them.
She paused and then continued toward him. "Hungry?"
"Yeah. I'll pay you back." He gestured toward a chair. "You?"
"A little." She took a piece of toast and ate it. "You look tired. Are you hurting?"
He finished his eggs. "No."
"Liar," she said softly, a part of her needing to ease his pain. It came with healing. "How about I heal you a little?"
He leaned back, studying her. "You up to it?"
She tilted her head toward the settee. "Let's find out, shall we?"
* * *
Bear took in her pink skirt. While it was probably meant to be businesslike, it hugged her ass perfectly. He followed her to the sofa, enjoying the distraction from the pain thrumming through his chest. He'd overdone it the day before, and he was paying for it.
She paused, her lips pursing. "Hmmm."
"What?" he asked, his fingers itching to yank out her hair clip.
"I'm not sure how to do this." She looked around the room. "It'd be easiest if we sat across from each other, but I'd have to lean the whole time, and I need to concentrate just on you."
"Easily solved." He sat on the couch and pulled her onto his lap to straddle him.
"Wait-" she started, her hands flattening on his chest.
He pushed her skirt up her smooth legs and pulled her closer. "There."
Her mouth slightly opened, and she barely shook her head. "What are you doing?"
With her legs on either side of his, with her core so damn close, what he was doing was losing his fuckin' mind. "Solving the problem." He glanced pointedly at her hands on his chest. "See? You're in position and you don't have to lean."
One of her shoes dropped to the carpet. Her mouth tightened. "This is not appropriate."