“He has, but he didn’t succeed.”
“Don’t you think it’s safer if he stays here? The B&B has been compromised.”
“He isn’t safe anywhere. Keegan is combing the city for him. Rose would rather have him here where we have the manpower to protect him than at your place. No offense.”
Thomas shrugged. “None taken. So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re consolidating all resources at the B&B. We want you and Eddie to bring him in and then stay here.”
Eddie gave him a thumbs-up as he heard the news, clearly ready for some action. And it suited Thomas fine too, considering they still hadn’t executed Samson’s orders to make a sweep for the flash drive containing the list of vampires.
“We’re on our way.”
He disconnected the phone and swiveled in his chair. “Blake.”
The human turned his head. “Yeah?”
“Training exercise is over. We’re heading back to the base.”
“Did we win?” he asked eagerly.
Thomas grinned. “Yeah, we won.”
If only one battle. The war was still ahead of them. But there was no need to worry the kid.
28
Rose sighed in relief when she heard the SUV that carried Blake enter the garage. She felt like hugging him when he walked into the foyer, but refrained from such a show of emotion. Knowing her grandson, he would have misconstrued the situation and thought she was coming onto him.
Thomas and Eddie were right behind him. She had met Eddie very briefly at Haven’s party, but had had more contact with Thomas when she had given him information on Keegan. Adding two more vampires to the guards at the B&B filled her with confidence. Not that she had any illusions that they could trick Keegan into thinking for very long that Blake wasn’t at the B&B. He had to suspect that they were bringing him back. It didn’t matter. Protecting Blake at the B&B was ultimately safer than keeping him hidden at Thomas’s house. By now Keegan had to know about Scanguards and was probably already trying to hack into their systems to find out where Blake could be hidden.
“So we won, huh?” Blake grinned from one ear to the other and looked at Quinn and her.
“Good work,” Quinn praised. “You must be starving. Why don’t you join Nina and Wesley in the kitchen? I think they cooked a late supper.”
“Great! I can eat a whole cow!” Blake claimed and patted his belly.
“And then you might want to get some shuteye. It’s well past midnight, and you’ve got a long day ahead of you.”
“Sounds good.”
Blake trotted off toward the kitchen. As soon as he was out of earshot, Thomas pointed toward the stairs.
“Eddie and I will get situated. Which rooms are available?”
Only now did Rose notice the small backpack Thomas had slung over his shoulder.
“There’s only one room empty on the second floor, next to mine. If you guys don’t mind sharing?” Quinn answered.
Rose caught an odd expression on Thomas’s face, as if he would rather stay by himself. Knowing that Quinn would most likely not use his room anyway, she figured there was no need to make the two guys uncomfortable.
She tugged at Quinn’s arm and leaned closer. “Why don’t you give up your room?” she murmured.
Immediately Quinn stared at her. “Why would I—?”
He stopped, his gaze suddenly dropping to her mouth where her tongue darted out to moisten her suddenly dry lips.
“You won’t need it.”
Realization darkened his eyes, lust suddenly blazing from them. Without breaking eye contact, he gave Thomas new instructions.
“Take rooms 23 and 24. I’ll move my stuff into Rose’s room later.”
“Great!” Thomas answered, relief evident in his voice as he headed up the stairs, Eddie on his heels.
A moment later, Quinn pulled her into his arms. “How can I thank you for the invitation?”
Need bubbled up in her. She bit her lip. “It’s not as much an invitation as it is a demand.”
His mouth twisted into a smile. “How so?”
“As a wife, I have certain rights. One of them is to be bedded by my husband.”
She noticed his Adam’s Apple move as he swallowed. Then his hand on her back slipped lower, palming her backside and pressing her closer.
“Your husband has certain rights too, as well as duties. As luck would have it, they coincide with yours.”
“Well, then I’m a lucky lady.” She rubbed herself against him, feeling the ridge in his pants swell and harden.