“I have to go.” The pull from her alluring mouth, only inches away lured him back.
“I know.” Her warm breath mixed with his. “Come back to me.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
It wasn’t one he was sure he’d keep, but he knew one thing. “There’s nothing that would ever keep me from you.” He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her once more, then forced himself to walk away.
A demon was out there, and he’d detected it around Janie’s place. That meant one thing—it wanted her. Arto would do whatever it took to stop it. He wouldn’t let the demon get to her.
Not on his watch.
Not on his life.
CHAPTER7
JANIE
Wow. Kissing Arto had been something Janie had envisioned many times, but she never thought it would feel like that. It was simply amazing.
She ran her fingers over her bottom lip, replaying every delicious moment in her head.
When they’d been in the cab, she thought they’d kiss for the first time. Her heart had beat so fast, and the draw had grown so intense, but she chickened out. Instead, she gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek.
But once inside the tower, her defensive walls started to crumble. Arto was going to search for a demon because of what they did. He might not return. His hazel eyes flickered with gold, captivating her. The way he looked at her with unmasked desire left her trembling. The shields between them were collapsing.
She wanted him, and she wasn’t going to lie to herself with an excuse any longer. Even if it meant there was no going back.
So, she had reached up to touch his cheek, pulled herself up to her tiptoes, and asked him to kiss her.
When he bent down and brushed her lips, heat swirled in her core. Electricity coursed beneath her skin with a low, magnetic vibration that ignited her senses.
The smoldering tension was explosive. Their connection was much more than simply being close friends. Such vibrant tingles still reverberated through her body. A kiss had never felt like that.
And if that’s how magical the moment was simply with a kiss, what would it feel like if they were to do so much more? She exhaled. That might be an opportunity she’d never know. With the danger posed by the demon, and Arto going in search of it, anything could happen to prevent her from having that chance.
She sighed. The way he’d held her when they kissed was just like him—protective—the way he cared for her in every aspect of her life. He was always there for her.
Why had she waited so long to make a move?
She grunted. She knew. He knew. Everyone around them knew. Because she told him she was a mess after the interactions with demons and not ready for a relationship. But now?
Things had changed. The threat of a demon was present more than ever, but maybe they were better off dealing with the situation together.
As she paced over the floor in the sitting area, she stared outside the vast picture window. The skies seemed calm, dotted with clouds. Where was Arto now? Was he out there flying concealed by his gargoyle magic? Was his life in danger as he hunted a demon?
The sound of footsteps approached from down the hall. Most of the sentries on this level were out on patrol. There were a couple of gargoyle families on the lower level, and it was probably livelier there, but here was quiet—too quiet.
“Hey, you okay?”
She turned at Larissa’s voice.
Janie rubbed her upper arm. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She pursed her lips. “I can’t believe this. I’m so sorry. Everyone is in danger because of me.”
Larissa cocked her head. “Janie, we talked about this. Don’t go there with the self-blame. We’re going to move forward, not dwell in the past, okay?”
Janie nodded. “Okay.”
