“Bullshit.”
“You’re panicking.” His voice is so gentle. “You need to breathe.”
“Says my stalker. The man who kills people and leaves them on my doorstep.”
“I’ll do anything to protect you.”
“This is wrong on so many levels! You think you can call all the shots and take over my life? You’re not the king of the city.”
“No?” He lounges back in his chair, looking every inch the king he is. “I’ll tell that to the city council the next time they come asking for advice. Or to Chief Jordan the next time he calls to thank me for a particularly large donation. What do you think he’ll say when he finds out you came to interview me?”
I grind my teeth.
“What did your partner say when you told him your intent?”
“You already know.” He probably watched it from his security cameras, way up here in his throne room.
I’m so out of my depth that it isn’t funny. And the worst part is, I want to slide into his lap and kiss him. I’m dizzy now, imagining it.
He looks at me with fascination as if he can tell what I’m thinking. His aura is shimmering blue streaked with copper now.
He opens his mouth, and I’m mesmerized by the movement of his lips. “Inara?—”
Just his voice is enough to break my will.
Enough.
“We’re done.” I rise and toss my napkin down. “Thanks for the meal.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
I want to tell him it’s not necessary, but he’s already looming over me. It’s not fair that he’s so much bigger and taller than me. It’d be easier to move a mountain than get him to go away.
He sticks to my side as we walk through the gargantuan floor he uses entirely for one office. I try to walk faster, but he easily keeps up. I’m keenly aware of the heat of his body next to mine. I zip up my leather jacket and stuff my hands in the pockets like that will keep me from reaching for him.
“You’re not wearing your coat.” He’s frowning at my jacket.
“This is my coat.”
“It’s too cold out there to wear that.”
I halt and face him. “I can’t be bought.”
“I know. It’s a gift, freely given.”
“Nothing from you is free.” I start to head off, then stop again. “One more thing. You need to leave my friends alone.”
All softness leaves his expression. The man staring me down is a killer. “This is about Aramina Rodriguez.”
He knows her name. Shit fuck, indeed. “Yes. She’s a friend. Someone I care about.”
“Tell her to stand down. I won’t hunt her for her sins. If she stops digging.”
“And if she does?”
“She’s safe from me. I give you my word, Inara.”
I swallow and nod. It’ll have to be enough.
