Lamont set the phone down, meeting Ewen’s eyes across the table. The flush had drained from Ewen’s cheeks, and Lamont could see the fox shimmering just beneath the surface.
“They got to her,” Ewen said quietly.
“Sounds like it.”
“A sabbatical. A fucking book.” Ewen’s laugh was harsh, bitter. “Is that the story they’re going with? That I just decided to ghost my job, my house, my entire life to write a goddamn book?”
“It’s a cover story. It’s plausible enough that casual inquiries will accept it, vague enough that they don’t have to provide proof.” Lamont leaned back in his chair. “They’re trying to tidy up loose ends. They want to make your disappearance a non-issue, so people like me stop asking questions.”
“Louise wouldn’t…” Ewen stopped, shook his head. “No, actually that’s not fair. She would, and in a way, I don’t blame her. If someone in a suit showed up and told her the right story, andapplied the right pressure, she’d buy the story. She’s got student loans and rent in Manhattan. She can’t afford to lose her job.”
“She sounded scared,” Lamont said softly. “Like, she just wanted to say what she had to say and get off the call - and did you hear that laugh? She didn’t seem scared of you being missing though. It was more she was worried that I had found something, or more to the point, that I had found you.”
“Which would’ve contradicted what it was she was told to tell you.” Ewen pushed his plate away, appetite clearly gone. His hands were shaking slightly, although whether from anger or fear Lamont couldn’t tell. Probably both.
“They’re covering their tracks. Cortesi’s dead, the Cairo contact’s dead, The Times has been leashed, and even Louise has been told a lie she probably believes just so she can keep getting a paycheck.” Ewen’s voice was tight, controlled. “If I’d died in that basement, they could’ve just made me disappear. Problem solved.”
“But you didn’t die.” Lamont stood, moving around the table. “And there’re at least seven people we’re aware of who now know that you’re out there somewhere, with all your evidence intact. You do realize they’re probably going to escalate the moment you show up in public.”
“Let them.” Ewen looked up, and there was steel in his eyes. “I’ve got everything backed up, encrypted, and distributed through so many cloud servers it will take them a year to find them all. They can’t touch what I’ve got, and I won’t let them silence me. Now we know they’ve compromised The Times, that simply means we go international like you said. Multiple outlets, simultaneous release, FBI and Inspector General’s office cc’d on everything.”
“We’ll make it happen.” Lamont rested his hand on Ewen’s shoulder, feeling the tension vibrating through him. “But not tonight. Tonight…”
“Tonight I’m hoping you don’t have any plans to do anymore work. I want to go to bed with you.”
The words hit Lamont like a physical blow - a blow that sent a surge of warmth through his whole body.
Ewen stood up, moving close enough that Lamont could feel the heat radiating from his body. Close enough to catch the scent of wine on his breath and something else - arousal, need, and the same hunger that had been quietly building between them for days.
“No robe this time,” Ewen continued, his voice steady despite the flush creeping back into his cheeks. “I want…I’m ready. For all of it, for everything you’ve got.” He purposely looked down at Lamont’s crotch lump.
Lamont’s carefully constructed restraint cracked. Three nights of sleeping beside Ewen, feeling the warmth of him, breathing in his scent, and keeping his hands to himself had been its own special torture. The collar bond hummed between them, warm and golden, but incomplete. Their bond still needed the claiming bite he’d get from Ewen that would give them the dual claim – the shifter way of claiming.
His hound wanted that bite. He was proudly anticipating them wearing the scar made by Ewen’s teeth on their neck. Yes, they had a pretty collar, that looked just like a beautiful slim necklace when Lamont was in human form, but that bite mark would let everyone know that not only did Ewen belong to them, but that they - hound and man - belonged to Ewen.
“You’re sure?” Lamont had to ask, even though his body was already responding to the invitation. “After everything today…”
“I’m damn sure.” Ewen stepped closer, closing the last few inches between them. “I’ve been sure since this morning, watching you work. Watching you care about my story, about the people who died, about getting justice for them. I’m sure because you could’ve just taken me to bed the first night and completed the bond, but you didn’t. You let me heal. You let me set the pace.”
Ewen’s hand came up, fingers curling into the front of Lamont’s shirt.
“I’m setting the pace now,” Ewen said, and his fox was there in his eyes. “I want you. I want to make my claiming bite on you as you spill in my body. I want to feel the bond snap into place and know that we’re complete in every way. I’m not begging, Lamont. I’m telling you what I want. Take me to bed.”
The last thread of Lamont’s control snapped.
He pulled Ewen against him, one hand sliding into that mop of black hair, the other settling at the small of his back. Ewen made a small, satisfied sound and tilted his head up, lips parting in invitation.
“Bedroom,” Lamont growled against Ewen’s mouth. “Now.” And then, because he was a hellhound, he made that happen.
Chapter Sixteen
The bedroom materialized around them, all dark wood and soft lighting, but Ewen barely registered his surroundings. Lamont’s mouth was on his, demanding and possessive, and Ewen let his body go limp, knowing Lamont would never let go of him. He’d never been kissed like he was something precious and necessary all at once.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Ewen realized his feet weren’t even touching the ground. Lamont held him effortlessly, hands under his thighs, and the demonstration of strength sent another spike of heat through him.
“Perhaps you could put me down, so I can get my clothes off?” Ewen managed.
“Nope.” Lamont’s eyes had gone dark, pupils blown wide. “I want to do that for you.”