“Could you maybe say something more than just okay?” He growled.
“Like what?”
“Maybe that you’ll miss me? You don’t want me to go? Anything besides the cold fish act?”
“Iwillmiss you,” I said. “And I don’t particularly want you to go.”
“But?”
“But nothing.”
He glared. “Talking to you is like trying to get gold out of Fort Knox. Sometimes I wonder if you’re a robot.”
My teeth clenched together. And here I thought we’d been getting along. I stepped back so that I wouldn’t slug him. “You’re going to miss your flight.”
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”
I considered him as I tried to formulate what I wanted to say. I edited out thefuck you, assholepart. “I think,” I said instead, “that this is probably a stupid argument that’s quickly going way off the rails. Whatever is wrong, you clearly need to go handle it. I’ll be here when you get back and we can fight about something stupid then, if you still want to. In the meantime….” I closed the space between us and put my arms around his waist. See? I can adult.
He snatched me close and nuzzled my hair as I pressed my face into his chest and drew a deep breath. He smelled of himself, fresh air, and the spicy soap he used. It made me want to rub all over him like a cat.
“Christ, but I don’t want to leave you,” he muttered in a gravelly voice.
“I’d go with you, but I have too much to do.”
I felt him shake his head. “Last thing I want is to take you back there.”
I pushed back, looking up at him. “My manners aren’tthatbad,” I said. “I rarely ever pee on the furniture or chew shoes anymore. And I know how to useallthe silverware.”
A smile ghosted over his lips before he sobered again. “It’s too dangerous. You’re a golden goose, remember? Too many will want to scoop you up and use you to breed the Osterraven and Wyler Simms magic genetics into their families.”
I rolled my eyes. The witch world’s fucked up eugenics program was the whole reason I existed.
“I’m not going to let anybody scoop me up.”
He shook his head. “You’re powerful, but you won’t stand a chance if someone organizes a plot to grab you. At least here you stand a better chance of seeing trouble coming and if need be, you can take refuge at the estate. The gargoyle’s will protect you.”
“Because they don’t have a choice. I’m not going to take advantage of them.”
“They won’t mind. You’re working on freeing them. They want you safe.”
I looked away. I had no intention of using the gargoyles like that. He cupped my cheek and pulled me back around until I met his gaze.
“Promise me you’ll go to them for help if you need it.”
“I guess,” I agreed reluctantly. “IfI need it.”
He didn’t look entirely satisfied, but nodded. “Good. Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
Crap. He had the memory of an elephant sometimes. I looked away again. “It’s stupid and not worth talking about, especially when you’re in a hurry.”
Once again he made me look at him. “Nothing between us is stupid and everything about you is worth talking about. I’m never too much in a hurry to make sure things are good between us.”
“That’s sappy,” I said, even though warm pleasure washed through me. “Have you been watching the Hallmark Channel again?”
“I meant every word. Tell me what’s wrong.” His gaze locked mine in place.
I sighed. “You said you were going home.”
