“I’msensitive.”
Had he stepped closer? Perhaps, it was an impression brought on by his arresting presence. Like a magnetic force, Jarod Adler absorbed everything around him, from buildings to trees to the very air. He wasn’t just a sinner or a hybrid, he was a vortex, who’d sucked me straight into hisworld.
“Is the restaurant close?” My voice was disturbinglybreathy.
He seemed to have leaned forward a little, because the heat of his body lapped against mine, and since he wasn’t made of fire, his area of radiation wasn’t disproportionate like mybrethren’s.
“It’s across the street,” he finally said,pivoting.
My nose and forehead felt suddenly cold, which was weird. Not to mention perturbing. Maybe, Jarod was right. Maybe, I had to let him go—not his case, but his company—because staying might lead Asher to believe I was fighting to save Jarod’s soul for the wrongreasons.
Jarod placed his hand on the small of my back and spurred me back into movement, first across the pedestrian walkway and then down the sidewalk. I glanced up into his face that was focused on the cars slowing to a stop at the edge of the thick white zebrastripes.
I knew he didn’t hate me, but that didn’t mean he liked me. Perhaps, he just felt indebted that I’d invested so much time and lost so many feathers. That was probably all itwas.
He looked down at me once we reached the opposite side of the road. “What thoughts are slinking through that mind ofyours?”
“I was wondering why you were being so nice tome.”
“How else am I going to get you into mybed?”
My lipsparted.
He tossed me a lopsided smile. “I’m just kidding,Feather.”
I smacked his chest, but regretted it when I remembered Luc and the other guard were watching us. Hopefully, they wouldn’t pull out their guns and aim them at me for assaulting their boss. When neither reached for a weapon, Irelaxed.
Jarod was still rubbing the skin I’d hit. “Angels are such violentbeings.”
I rolled myeyes.
“Truthfully, though?” His expression cooled. “I tried being mean to you, and you stayed.” The tips of his fingers slinked to the indent of my waist, gripping instead of just guiding. “I’m hoping kindness might scare youaway.”
Chapter 33
“He cameby to see me this morning,” Jarod said, swirling the diminutive glass of amber wine a man in dark tails had just poured him from a bottle labeledChâteaud’Yquem.
Jarod dipped his lips inside, then nodded hisapproval.
The sommelier filled my glass before topping off Jarod’s and leaving with the bottle nestled against his chest as though it were a newborninfant.
“Who did?” I picked up my glass and sniffed the liquid curiously. Delicious notes of spun sugar and candied apricots eddied off the golden surface. I took a small sip and all but purred when the nectar hit mytongue.
Maybe, I did purr, because an even heftier smugness draped over Jarod’s already complacent self. “Good?”
“Ambrosial.” I took another sip, then licked mylips.
Jarod’s gaze lingered on my mouth before moving to the golden-framed fabric panel depicting a head of cabbage and various other pastel vegetables behindme.
I set my glass back down beside a plate so ornate it belonged on a wall instead of on a dinner table. “You were saying someone came by to seeyou.”
“Right.” He cleared his throat and returned his attention to me. “My dear cousin stoppedby.”
My eyebrows jolted. So that was why Asher had returned toParis. . .
I sat up straighter. “What did hewant?”
“He wanted to know what lies I’d been feedingyou.”
