Caden shut the drawers with a quiet sigh. Damn! Where else would she hide notes? He spun around to a short filing cabinet. Locked, both drawers. He reached behind him for a paper clip. This wasnt the first time hed broken into a filing cabinet. But as he shaped the little scrap of metal for his purposes, a burst of energy flooded his senses. His fingertips tingled. A wave of dizziness and a cold sweat followed. Then a distinct urge to pass his fingers in front of the cabinet and focus on mentally unlocking it.
Biting back a curse, Caden resisted the magical impulse. Hed been having them for the better part of a year. Hated them, too. Ignored them and hoped that if he never succumbed to such urges, theyd dissipate. But they were getting stronger.
Leaning against Sydneys desk, Caden focused on twisting the paper clip in the near dark. Despite a fumble or two, he managed to bend it into the shape he needed. Thirty seconds later, the filing cabinet was open. A quick prowl proved her files absent of information about Sydneys source. Damn, the little firecracker must keep her notes closer to her.
Pushing the drawer shut silently, he locked it up, then cast his desperate gaze at her laptop. Maybe she kept information there? He booted the machine up, only to be confronted with a prompt for a password. He had no idea what that might be.
Again, instinct screamed at him to grip the machine, connect to it with his mind, coax it to tell him Sydneys secrets. Again, he refused. Instead, he began searching under her desk, inside drawers, for scraps of papers with passwords lying about. But as always, Sydney was sharp and organized, and kept her secrets hidden.
Time to guess. What did he know about her, besides the fact she was gorgeous, smart, and determined? He typed in her birthday, and the system rejected his attempt. Only two more attempts before the system locked him out, so hed better think smart.
Had she mentioned upcoming travel? Was she excited about Christmas? Did she have any pets? What was favorite color? Favorite food? All common fodder for passwords, but Caden found himself genuinely interested in the answers. Christ, he had it bad for her.
Hed picked up an anonymous blonde a mere three days ago. And a well-curved brunette the night before that. And still he was hungry, crawling out of his skin for sex. But since meeting Sydney, he was utterly fixated on her. This intense attraction had to be magically enhanced. He didnt dare scratch the itch.
Focusing on the business at hand, Caden hovered his fingers over the keyboard again. Think, think. As his fingertips touched down, a wave of energy rolled through him, tingles drifted up his arms. Then knowledge burst across his brain. Cadensexy1. That was her password? Impossible.
But in the absence of other ideas, he typed it in. Her desktop appeared a few moments later.
Sydney found him sexy. Knowing that notched up his arousal. Not good. His fire didnt need more fuel. He couldnt jeopardize this job. He needed it to complete his mission. Sex with her would have to remain a fantasy.
Even worse, his unintentional magic had revealed her password to him. Hed never performed such an act before and feared it meant his transition from man to wizard was looming.
He scowled when he searched her computer from top to bottom and found nothing but old stories, months-old letters, and dull e-mails.
Caden extinguished the flashlight with a sigh. Now what? Figures that Sydney was too smart to leave important information unsecured. Waiting until Monday to move on this mission wasnt an option. Anka was alone, possibly in pain or danger. His favorite redhead would be crafting more stories over the weekend. Lucan was sliding closer to death. That damned diary of Morgannas . . . thank God she was no longer around to wield it, but the book in a human reporters hands spelled disaster.
He had to talk to Sydney. Charm her, Bram had said. Hed rather not use Sydney that way. He liked her too much. But time was short, and he didnt have enough of it to gain her trust.
After a quick stop by the office managers desk, Caden had the information he needed. Time to turn on the charm . . . he hoped.
The next morning, Sydney sipped tea, still fixated on Caden.
She fingered the spine of the little red book Aquarius had given her. Would it really make her sexual fantasies come true? Even if it did, shed be a pretty sad sack to magically coerce a man into bed who hadnt shown the slightest interest in her.
With a shrug, she tucked the book away in her nightstand and returned to the kitchen. Halfway there, she heard a knock at her door.
Who is it?
Caden.
Truly?
She couldnt run to the door fast enough. After fumbling with the locks, she jerked the door open and stared in surprise.
Caden was there, in the flesh . . . and what incredible flesh it was. Tight black T-shirt, faded crotch-hugging jeans, and an expression that said he had more on his mind than business.
He swallowed. And stared. Is now a bad time?
N-no, she stuttered.
After a lingering glance down her body, he swallowed again. Glad to hear it.
Sydney frowned at his odd behavior, then looked down at herselfand gasped.
Her one indulgence was lingerie, of which she was wearing her latest . . . and skimpiest. Pale and silky, the lace-edged straps of the camisole hugged her shoulders. More lace tipped the low-cut V and hugged the swells of her breasts. Silk cupped her beneath their curves, just as shed like his palms to do. The faint outline of her nipples showed through the flesh-colored fabric. His gaze, his stance, hardened as he stared. She wondered what else did, and fought the urge to look down.
He had no such hesitation, his gaze traveling over the sheer boy shorts that showed off every inch of her legs. Sydney suspected he could see a hint of the fiery hair between, as well.
Blast! The sound of Cadens voice had made her utterly forget she was more than half naked before she answered the door.
Wait here. Sydney jogged away and returned a moment later wearing a matching dressing gown. Frowning, she belted the flowing garment around her waist. It didnt cover everything, but enough to make her decent.
Do you want to come in or stare at me like a mutant in a circus freak show?
He swallowed. You dont look like a freak. At all.
That voice of his poured over her like melted chocolate, rich, warm, tempting. Sydney drank it in, though she wondered if he truly meant it. First, a look. Now, a compliment. Uncharacteristic, to say the least.
Is this a bad time? he asked. Too early to talk?
She stepped aside and let him in. Im surprised youre here at all. Is something wrong?
Must something be wrong for me to want to talk to you?