“Don’t make me hurt you.”
He sank his teeth into his lower lip as he looked me over. “I can get into pain.”
Damn it, why was that sexy? I was supposed to be all discombobulated with worry, and now I was distracted. “I’m being serious.”
“There’s an art museum I want to take you to. It’s something I think you might like. Might even get some inspiration for your gallery,” Harris said, seeming to ignore my worry.
I looked at him, eyebrows raised. It was sweet, but our world was currently on fire. “All that’s going on, and you want to look at art?”
“I have my people working on things. We have some free time. No sense sitting around the house waiting. Unless that’s where you’d like to rest.”
I knew what Harris was doing. Putting me first once again. Truth be told, I didn’t want to go back. The creature didn’t have to be there, but it felt like he would be. Waiting. For me. “No, let’s go.”
He picked up my hand and kissed it, eyes still on the road. “Princess, I’m going to give you the world. Just wait a little longer, and I’ll get us through this.”
I was still surprised by how romantic he could be, and my heart squeezed in my chest. I wanted to jump on him and sprinkle him with kisses, but that would be bad because he was driving. “I don’t need the world, Harris. I just need you.”
And so, we went to the museum and then for a late lunch. As it had been in our quieter moments, it was nice. As scary as everything was, I was glad he was here with me to face it. Hecould be controlling, grumpy, stubborn, and pessimistic, but he was mine. And he was who I wanted.
When we returned to the house, it appeared as if even more people were there. Had he doubled patrol without telling me? He didn’t have to say anything; it was his place, but a girl needed a little privacy.
Paulo was already at the door when we entered. “Hey, Boss.” He nodded his head at me. “Ms. Camilla.”
I nodded back, giving up on telling him that he could drop the Ms. There was a darkness to his gray eyes that let me know this was not the time for that chat.
“Where is he?” Harris asked.
Paulo tilted his head to a closed door on our right. “In the garage.”
I frowned. Who were they talking about?
Harris turned to me. “Stay on this floor.”
I shook my head, confused. “What’s going on?”
“We found the warlock. I’m going to get some answers from him and break this curse.”
“I need to ask him about the shadow creature.”
Harris placed a hand on my shoulder, his eyes intense. “I can do that. I don’t want you seeing what I have to do.”
He looked at Paulo. “Get her my noise-canceling headphones from the guest room.”
I tossed my head back. “Is it going to be attached to an iPad playing kids shows? I’m not a child. If I’m with you, I’m with you.”
“I’ll meet you inside, Paulo.”
His right hand gave a curt nod and left as Harris turned fully to me. “You’re a badass, I get it. There’s no need in trying to prove yourself by going in there. You don’t know this side of me, baby. And I don’t want you to know it.”
“How can I be with you if I don’t know every part of you?”
He raised a hand to my cheek, and I pressed into it, grabbing his hand. “Baby, you’re mine now. Do you understand that? If I let you in there and you see something you don’t like, nothing changes. You aren’t going anywhere. Curse or no curse. I’m not letting you go.”
Okay, that kind of felt like a threat, but also, it was kind of hot. I was disturbed. And scared, my new favorite emotion. Did I really need to go and watch him possibly torture some guy for answers? Did I need to see that side of him to love him? Know him?
I got on my toes and kissed him lightly on the lips, balancing my hand on his chest. “I’ll go sit on the deck.”
He breathed what sounded like relief and remained still as I walked away. I heard him open the door and close it by the time I was halfway to the sliding glass doors. And when I sat and waited, watching the gentle waves of the ocean, I wished I had gotten those noise-canceling headphones. I’d never heard anyone scream in agony before. I think, perhaps, it would haunt me for the rest of my days.
