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 Ah, then I ll close this file and if Mister Burtwick comes
around again, arrest him for making a false report.
Adalric heard clothes rustle and the creak of furniture,
indicating they stood. He stepped back and waited.
72
A Bite of Fulfillment
When the door opened, Seth smirked.  Waiting for
something? he teased.
 For you, Adalric replied. He reached out and grabbed
his beloved, making no bones about his plans. Seth didn t
fight him, coming willingly, and Adalric wrapped his arm
around Seth s waist and tucked him close to his side and
stole a swift kiss before turning back to the detective.  Was
there anything else?
 No, that ll be all. Thank you for allowing me to interrupt
your day, Detective Hanson replied. Adalric noted his gaze
flitted between the two of them, then away, as if
uncomfortable with a show of affection between two men.
Well, shit, that doesn t bode well for Xavier!
 Would you like to join us for lunch? Adalric asked.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Seth s surprised
expression, but he kept his focus on the detective. Hanson
looked toward Xavier, then the floor. Could he be a closet
case? Or maybe he didn t understand his attraction to the
older gentleman?
 Uh, no, I m afraid I need to get back to the station. Thank
you, and good luck with, uh, everything, the detective
finished lamely.
Adalric nodded. It looked like they d have to find out
more about the man.  Gerald, if you could show Detective
Hanson out. Good day.
Xavier tensed, his hands fisting as Gerald accompanied
the detective down the hall.
 Xavier, Adalric said the vampire s name softly.  Why
don t you come with us?
 What s going on? Seth murmured as they started
walking.
Adalric glanced over his shoulder, then turned to his
beloved.  It seems the good detective is Xavier s beloved.
73
Charlie Richards
 Really? Seth grinned at the older vampire.  Hey,
congrats. How ya gonna catch your man?
 I have no idea, Xavier replied softly, looking a little
dazed.
Adalric rested his free hand on the gardener s shoulder.
 We ll figure it out. I ll put Garner on him and have him
verify friends and family.
 Thanks, Xavier responded.  I think I m gonna go back
to my gardens. Clear my head, he said almost absently. He
looked at Seth.  You coming?
Before Seth could respond, Adalric replied,  No, Seth and
I have some talking to do. He grinned at his human.  Don t
we, beloved?
Seth blushed.
74
A Bite of Fulfillment
Chapter Nine
dalric led Seth to his office. Seth glanced around with
A
interest, taking in the dark oak furniture and hardwood
floors. A pair of tan leather chairs rested on a braided green
and brown throw rug. Shelves lined the left wall, filled
nearly to capacity with leather bound books.
A bay window lined the wall on the far side, behind the
desk and chair. The desk was a massive L-shaped
monstrosity, pushed flush to the far wall and then jutting
into the room. A slender laptop rested on top of it.
Still holding Seth s hand, Adalric pulled him around the
desk. The vampire flopped back into his equally mammoth
desk chair, then pulled Seth down onto his lap. He frowned.
 I don t really do laps, he said, intending to stand.
 Humor me, Adalric stated.  I like holding you.
Grumbling under his breath, Seth eased back, wiggling a
bit to find a fairly comfortable position. Adalric grinned,
ignoring him as he held onto him with one hand and
reached for his desk phone with the other. He pressed the
intercom button and signaled for the kitchen.
  Yellow, said a friendly feminine voice.
 Vickie? Adalric questioned.
 Hey, sir. What can I do for you? she greeted.
 Track down Garner and send him to my office, he
ordered.
75
Charlie Richards
 You got it, boss. Anything else? Ya want lunch for Seth
delivered, too?
Adalric paused and looked at him.  You hungry?
Seth shook his head, appreciating the option to decline.
 No. Peter brought me food earlier.
Nodding, Adalric answered,  No, Vickie. That will be
all.
 So, who s this Garner guy? he asked after Adalric
disconnected the intercom, unable to contain his curiosity.
 How s he gonna help?
Adalric leaned back in his chair and wrapped both arms
around Seth s torso. He slipped one hand under his shirt
and started leisurely running his fingers over his abs.
 Garner is my tech guru. He will dig up info on the detective
that we will use to help Xavier connect with his beloved.
He grinned and nibbled Seth s neck.  Although ever-
increasing technology makes it more and more difficult to
hide our existence, it does help us in other ways, like
figuring out how to seduce our beloveds, once we meet
them.
Seth snickered. Then, Adalric s clever fingers rose higher
and plucked a nipple, the sound turning into a grunting
moan. Adalric hummed and scraped his teeth across the
tendon of Seth s neck.
 Shit, he hissed.  That shouldn t turn me on so much.
 Sure it should, Adalric whispered, the warm air of his
breath over Seth s wet skin causing goose bumps to erupt
over his skin.  You re my beloved. You should love my
teeth.
Fortunately, he didn t have to think up a response. A
sharp knock on the door sounded through the office. Adalric
sighed and called,  Enter.
When Seth moved to get off his lap, Adalric tightened his
hold.  Stay, he growled.
76
A Bite of Fulfillment
Huffing a sigh, he settled, again. They d need to have a
talk about this lap-sitting thing, Seth decided.
A pale, slender man with shoulder-length bleach-blond
hair and hazel eyes strode into the room. The man stopped
in front of the desk and stood at parade rest. Seth would
never have guessed it from looking at the lean, nearly skinny
vampire, but from his stance, maybe he d been in the
military?
 Yes, Adalric?
 Relax, Garner, Adalric ordered lightly.
 Yes, sir. The only thing that changed about the man was
a slight loosening of his shoulders.
Adalric smiled.  I have a job for you, Garner. I need
information on the detective who was here, Detective
Hanson. Find out what you can and report back in twenty-
four hours.
Seth s brows shot up. That wasn t a lot of time.
Instead of looking in the least bit worried about the short
time-frame, Garner asked,  How deep do you want me to
go?
 Personal information. Hobbies. Friends. Who he spends
the most time with. Habits. That sort of thing.
 Yes, sir. Garner responded.  Is there anything else, sir?
Adalric shook his head.  No. That will be all.
Garner nodded curtly, turned on his heel, and headed
toward the door. With his hand on the doorknob, he paused
and looked at them over his shoulder.  Congratulations, sir.
Welcome to the coven, Seth.
 Thanks, Seth replied while Adalric returned the man s
nod.
Garner slipped out of the room.
 Wow, he s& reserved, Seth commented, uncertain how
else to describe the man.
77
Charlie Richards
Adalric chuckled.  Very true. He doesn t have much of a
personality, but he s the best at background checks. He ll dig
up info about the detective and we ll use it to help Xavier
bag his man, he said, winking.
Seth shifted on Adalric s lap a bit so he didn t have to
crane his neck so far to see the man.  You surprise me.
 How so?
 I wouldn t have thought you d take such an& active role [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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