“I know some Demonish phrases,” Rourke said. “But of course the written language will be a challenge. But the demons have close ties with the Shamans of the East, correct? They worship the Underworld and speak many European languages. I know a lot of those.”

Lili appraised my mate with a calculated gaze. “Yes, the Shamans do have a strong connection to the Underworld. Unfortunately, they are not involved in any of our laws. We use them for… ceremonies.”

I followed Lili and Rourke behind the desk and sat down in the chair. It was ridged and cool. “There has to be something here we can work with, Lili. We need information, specifically about the Scriptures.”

Lili strode back to the entryway where Tyler stood. Ray and Selene had stayed outside the office. I could hear them bickering about something in the hallway. “I will check the other rooms and see what I can find.”

I nodded toward Tyler. “Go with her and see if you can come up with anything.” Watch her like a hawk, I said. Something’s up.

I’m on it. He turned and followed her out, closing the office door behind him.

I swiveled in the chair and met Rourke’s heated gaze. It was the first time we’d been alone since he’d arrived. Shivers raced up my spine and a calm heat spread over my entire body.

Instead of speaking, he simply extended his hand.

I took it and energy immediately zinged up my arm in a delicious current. He tugged me out of the chair with a gentle pull and led me back around the desk toward a door I hadn’t noticed before. It wasn’t one of those concealed cutout doors, but looked like a regular working door.

“Before we continue our investigation, I need you to help me clean this crap off,” he said, grinning like a cat with a canary. He had a point, as he was still covered in dried blood from the orthrus.

We reached the door and he turned the knob. It gave easily. He swung it wide.

To reveal the biggest bathroom I’d ever seen.

20

“How’d you know there was a bathroom here, you tricky beast?” I laughed.

“I didn’t.” He chuckled. “I was actually hoping it was a bedroom.”

Before I could respond he had me pressed up against the doorjamb, mouth slanted over mine. It was a needy kiss and I responded in kind, my tongue delving deeply into his mouth, matching him stroke for stroke.

His hands slid down my body, electrifying everything along their way. He broke the kiss with a growl and ran his delicious blond stubble along my jaw and down my neck. “My beast went crazy without you,” he whispered. “I couldn’t think. I couldn’t function. I craved your smell. I needed to have it back inside me. You make me totally irrational”—his voice was low—“and I like it that way. You’re not allowed to take off without me again. Do you hear me?”

I shivered. “I—” His tongue found its way to the hollow of my neck and as it licked, a small sound erupted from the back of my throat. “—I… promise.”

He shook his head as he gazed up at me, his eyes slightly unfocused. “I realized something huge when you left.” His irises radiated their emotion like tiny prisms of the most beautiful emerald. “I can’t take a backseat where you’re involved. We’re either in this together—as a team—or it doesn’t happen. My beast can’t stand it and neither can I.” He ran his tongue up my jaw, stopping a hairbreadth from my lips. “Deal?” he purred.

With his passion and love pressed against me, my wolf howling in pleasure, there was no way I could say no. He was right. This was where we needed to be. We were a team, bonded together in the most primal way possible. I gazed up at him, knowing my eyes were full of the same emotions, a kaleidoscope of violet. “Deal,” I whispered.

His lips took mine again as he slid his hands down my back until they were firmly planted around my backside. In one motion he picked me up, and I obliged by wrapping my legs around his waist. He walked us into the large room covered in an intricate mosaic of black and white tile, kicking the door shut behind us.

I broke the kiss as I glanced upward. Everywhere I could see were row after row of what looked to be sprinkler heads. I gazed back down at my mate with one eyebrow arched. He flashed me a devious smile and reached a hand over and flipped a large switch on the wall.

Demon water cascaded down around us in heavy currents, coating us completely in seconds.

It was thick and warm, instantly eating off all the nasty grime as it went. Rourke leaned into me, his cinnamon-laced breath on mine. “No one will begrudge us a quick shower break.” His eyes twinkled. “I smelled like old roadkill. A demon would scent me a mile away, making our getaway much too risky.”

“I hadn’t noticed any nefarious smells,” I replied coyly. “You always smell like heaven to me.” I cupped a hand around his jaw as I moved forward and took his mouth slowly, enjoying the feeling of the wetness coupled with his heat.

Once our kiss deepened, he walked me over to a ledge that ran around the large showering area. My backside fit perfectly onto the shelf and he pressed his way between my thighs, flattening himself against me.

Gods, he felt so good.

My hands splayed along his now-clean torso and I leaned over and bit his bottom lip. No other man in the history of the universe was as hot as he was. I would dare anyone to say otherwise. My wolf barked her agreement.

The shower continued to rain down as I covered his mouth with mine, my tongue plunging deeply. He returned my kiss with a sigh, tilting our heads together, melding them perfectly. His full warm lips felt ridiculously good against mine. He took his sweet time exploring my mouth, making my toes curl in pleasure. I ran my hands up his neck and into his hair, grabbing fistfuls and forcing us together even closer. I had missed him an insane amount.

I broke the kiss reluctantly, pressing my forehead against his, sliding my hands down his neck, my nails raking his bare shoulders as I murmured into his lips, “We only have about three minutes left to spare in here, you know. We are in the bowels of Hell and it’s imperative we stay focused. People are waiting for us. As much as I regret it, this is not the time for loving.”

“I am laser-focused,” he answered in a serious tone, his voice raw. “This is the most important mission I’ve had in days.”

I laughed into his lips. It felt so good to relax for a few precious moments. “It would be highly inappropriate for us to lose ourselves right now. I know how we operate, and if we give in, we will be lost for hours.”