I get out of the car, opting to stand tall beside her rather than stay tucked in my Volvo. It’s what a jealous boyfriend would do.
As if he hadn’t already sized me up the other day, Malachi scrutinizes me from backward ball cap to doodled high-tops. “Everything all right out here?”
“Yes,” Electra says.
I put a possessive arm around her waist. “Just came by to see my girl.”
She stiffens, and it makes me recall her pet peeve—the one about being owned. I should probably let go but decide to stake my claim on her instead.
For show.
Her red top rides up, giving my fingers access to her warm skin. The sensation of rising goosebumps is all the encouragement I need to keep my hand on her body.
Malachi looks me over like I’m something he scraped off his shoe. “Didn’t you call a cab?”
“No, she called me,” I say.
Malachi stabs his hands inside the pockets of his pressed chinos, probably to keep himself from throttling me with his magic. “Shehas a mouth. How about you let her use it? Women tend to appreciate that. At least the ones I know. Can’t speak for the ones you pick up at your gym.”
I’ve just entered a pissing contest—one I plan to win. “I don’t pick up women at my gym. Never have and never will. You’re welcome to stop by and ask.”
Malachi doesn’t even give me a cursory look this time. “I was heading back. I can drop you off at yours, Elle.”
I slide my fingers nearer to Electra’s navel. “Ballsy move, trying to poach another man’s girl right in front of him.”
“He’s not trying to poach me,” Electra grumbles. “Thanks for the offer, Mal, but I’m all set. You can go back to…” She sweeps her tongue over her lips like she’s unsure how to finish that sentence. In the end, she says, “…to the others.”
He switches to Atlantean, and although I don’t understand what he says, I imagine it’s something along the lines of: “Don’t go off with this asshole.”
Electra’s expression sharpens as she hisses back something that makes Malachi shake his head and mutter something else. Something that makes a cold smile cut across her lips and a cold tone coat her next words. The blond male’s eyes flash with annoyance and then with magic.
He swings his attention onto me, and in English, he growls, “Take your hands off her, get into your car, and drive away. Leave the city and never come back.”
My heartbeats speed up at his command, because leaving would put a serious dent in my plans. More than a dent…I’d have to rethink the whole mission. Maybe even choose another target and try my best to seduce them before summer’s end.
The mere idea of swapping targets makes my stomach clench. I don’t want to start over with someone else.
I don’t have time to start over.
Still, I force my fingers to unflex and drift off Electra’s waist.
Right as I turn, her fingers spear through mine, sending what feels like an electric jolt into my elbow. I blink at our hands, then at her face.
Her eyes are bright—and not because of the landscape lighting. “Cillian Lowry, get behind the wheel of your car.”
My chest aches like her compulsion is landing, like this is the last time I get to look at her. I don’t want to tear my eyes away. I want to keep looking…keep touching.
Her fingers slip out of mine, and my chest caves in, as though the muscle in it is following suit—slipping away too.
Eyes still fastened to me, still brilliantly bright, she adds, “And take me home.”
Compulsion has no hold on me, yet her words reel my heart up and settle the organ back behind my ribs. I exhale slowly, my relieved sigh strong enough to lift the wisps framing her face.
“Elle?” Malachi snarls as I fold myself behind the wheel and shut my door, watching Electra circle the Volvo’s hood. “What exactly are you trying to do? Make me lose my fucking mind? Don’t go home with him!”
“I hear Ines yelling your name,” she tosses over her shoulder as she opens the passenger door.
Is she trying to get under Malachi’s skin by bringing up the woman he’s only keeping close so her ex stays far? Hopefully, by the time Electra finds out why her crush is feigning a relationship with Ines, I’ll have won the dark-haired Atlantean over.
