Chapter 1
Myka Bering was distracted as she followed her partner across the field of soft green grass. She didn't notice when Pete stopped, and she crashed into his back. Both Secret Service agents went sprawling on the ground. Myka had the good grace to look embarrassed when she caught Pete looking at her with consternation.
"Geez, Mykes, look where you're going, okay?"
"Sorry," Myka shot back. She was sorry she'd run into Pete, but she needed to find the source of her distraction. She'd seen an implausible shadow lurking beside the building. It was the flutter of raven hair behind the shadow as it ducked around the corner that caused her to lose focus and run into Pete. Now, the breeze brought the slightest hint of an unusual perfume. It was a scent uniquely … her.
Pete Latimer couldn't help but notice how Myka was unfocused, which was not at all like her. Myka was usually observant and attentive to what she was doing. Myka seemed off today, but Pete couldn't put his finger on why. He followed her gaze to the side of the building, which was their destination. There was nothing there, at least nothing he could see. Pete shook his head and got to his feet, pulling Myka up with him.
Pete and Myka were in Texas searching for an artifact that caused several students on a college campus to commit suicide. All of them had leaped from the tallest building on campus. Strangely, none of the students had anything in common. Of the five incidents, one student was a freshman, two were sophomores, one was a junior, and one was a senior. None of them had any classes together. They didn't participate in the same activities, and they each lived in a different building. Pete and Myka could not find any obvious connection between the five students, except for the location of their suicides.
"This is it," Pete said, gesturing to the building. "The Library of Death."
"Mmm hmm," replied Myka absently. She was still watching the corner of the building where she'd seen the shadow disappear.
Pete snapped his fingers in Myka's face. "Earth to Myka!"
Myka turned toward Pete and looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Pete. I'm here."
"What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing," Myka sighed. "Sorry. Why don't you go inside and look around? I'll walk around the perimeter and see if there's anything out of the ordinary about the architecture or the landscaping."
Pete shrugged. He ran his hand through his hair and fiddled with his belt. "All right. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, Pete," Myka said with a smile. Her hazel eyes were clear and focused. She punched him in the arm for good measure. Pete eyed her again before heading for the front door of the library.
Myka watched until he pulled open the door, then she turned and strode toward the spot where she hoped to find the one thing she wanted…the only thing she'd been wanting for months. She hardly dared hope that the shadow was real and not a figment of her imagination.
Myka rounded the corner and found herself yanked off-balance by strong, slender hands. A petite figure pressed her into the side of the building, and a distinctly female body molded into hers and pinned her wrists at her side. Myka's nose welcomed the familiar scent she'd been craving as the other woman's dark tresses cascaded over her shoulder, releasing the comforting aroma. It was something unique to the wearer, a custom-made scent of lavender and sandalwood, among other things.
Myka was aware of firm breasts pressing into her torso, just below her own breasts. Even with heeled boots, the top of her oppressor's head only came to her chin. Shapely legs made contact with the agent's, and Myka felt a rush of something akin to pleasure as one thigh pressed between her own to spread them apart and allow the other woman to press her hips fully against the taller woman. The woman was invading Myka's personal space in a big way…and Myka didn't care.
Myka's hazel eyes, nearly brown in the shade, found the sparkling chocolate orbs of H.G. Wells. Myka's breath caught in her throat as she heard the other woman say, in a distinctly British accent, "Hello, darling. It's lovely to see you again. I thought you'd never come to me."