Read Online Lover's Bite by MAGGIE SHAYNE - Free Book Online Page A

done.”
    She nodded, knowing he was right. With their preternatural speed, they could move so fast that they would appear only as a blur to mortal eyes. In the darkness of night, even that much might not be visible. “All right, go ahead.”
    He put his hand on the doorknob, focused his attention on it. An instant later, she heard the lock free itself. Then he ran his palm up the surface of the door, past the dead bolt, and shook his head. “He didn’t even throw the bolt.”
    Topaz made a “tsk tsk” sound, then stiffened in anticipation as Jack turned the knob and opened the door.
    No alarm sounded. She glanced at the panel that was mounted to the wall just inside the door, and it read, The Adamses’ System Is Secure. A green light glowed from its face.
    â€œNot as secure as if you’d armed the darn thing, but still, secure,” Jack whispered.
    She frowned and studied him. “You’re enjoying this.”
    â€œIt’s what I do. I’m good at it.”
    He sounded as if he were proud of the fact. Rolling her eyes, she continued through the house, which was small enough that it didn’t take long. Les Marlboro/Adams apparently lived alone, so that was a plus. No children to traumatize, no mate to contend with.
    They stepped into the lone bedroom and stood there, looking at the sleeping man. He wasn’t bad-looking, Topaz thought. Not attractive, but not repulsive, either. Must be his personality that kept him living alone.
    Or maybe he’s just a confirmed bachelor. Jack spoke to her silently, as the man lay sleeping.
    There’s no such thing.
    Excuse me, but you’re looking at one.
    She shook her head. When you fall in love, Jack, you’re not even going to know what hit you, much less be content with living alone any longer.
    Ha!
    She shrugged and gazed again at the man in the bed. Mid-thirties, brown hair, starting to show a little gray and some thinning in the center. He had a bit of a belly, too, expanding the blankets that covered him. Mortality sucked. She glanced at Jack. So what’s the plan?
    He grinned at her, then walked over to the bed and crouched low. Bending close to the man’s ear, he said, “Wake up, pal. We’ve got some talking to do.”
    The man’s eyes flew open wide, and he immediately sat up in the bed.
    Jack slammed a palm into his chest, pushing him flat again. “You aren’t to speak until I ask you to. I could kill you very easily, and way faster than you could get to the telephone.”
    â€œWh-what do you want? You want money? Jesus, take it, just don’t—”
    Jack gazed hard at the man, and Topaz knew he was exerting the power of his mind. The man’s jaw clamped shut and his eyes went wider. Jack was preventing him from speaking as effectively as if he’d clapped a hand over his mouth.
    â€œI said not to speak until I ask you to.” Then Jack smiled. “Oh, yes. That’s right. We’re not your garden-variety burglars. We’re not even human. Now, there are two ways this can go. You can tell us what we want to know, and we’ll leave here and you’ll never see us again. Or you can be stubborn and make us torture it out of you. Either way, we’ll get what we came for. Is that understood?”
    Les strained to move his mouth.
    Jack smiled. “Oh. Sorry. Go ahead, you can answer now.”
    Les opened his mouth experimentally, then rubbed his jaw with one hand.
    â€œDo you understand your options?” Jack asked.
    â€œYeah. I got it.”
    â€œGood. This lovely lady has a few questions for you. You will answer them. And you will tell no one of this visit. Unless you want it repeated in a far less pleasant manner.”
    Frowning, Les looked at Topaz. Then he looked again, his eyes straining.
    â€œWho was your source for the Tanya DuFrane story that ran today?”
    His eyes widened. “Holy shit. You—you’re her,