Shae hurried past the annoyed warriors and onto the porch. Dagan took her hand, startling her. But strangely enough, it soothed her as well. Obviously, she must have lost her mind. The man was about as calming as a washing machine, all turbulence. Open the door, and he’d probably wreakhavoc.
“Wait.” She hastily untied her jacket from her waist and pulled iton.
“Dag, you need company?” Aethanasked.
“Nah, he’s got this one covered,” the buzz cut guydrawled.
The blond, however, watched Dagan with a look Shae couldn’t fathom…remorse edged withpain?
Dagan ignored them and grasped her hand again. “Address?”
She told him. The next minute, everything became a swirling sensation as the looming mansionvanished.
Ohhhhcrap! Her stomach heaving, she grasped him tightly around his waist and buried her face against his chest, breathing in his unique and warm malescent.
All too soon, they took form in a backstreet near the chrome and glass building of The Tower. And she was clinging to him like a vine. Hastily, she let go, straightened her top and, evading the reeking dumpsters there, headed for the front of the building, all the while aware of his quiet, dark presence followingher.
Harvey was still on duty. His warm smile slipped when he looked behind her, wariness spilling off him. She couldn’t blame him. Dagan was about as friendly as a tiger with his spaceinvaded.
“Hey, Harv,” she called out. She had to find a way to get into town tomorrow evening to meet Harvey, without her shadow, because she doubted Dagan would calmly accept her summoning a brokerdemon.
At the penthouse elevator, she slowed. Then, gritting her teeth in determination, she stepped into the suffocating steel space. With Dagan there, she really hoped she didn’t lose hershit.
Shae squeezed her eyes shut and leaned against the wall, arms wrapped around her waist as the cage bore them up, claustrophobia making her stomach churn. She tried desperately to center herself like she usuallydid…
“Shae, look atme!”
The urgent voice came from a distance. Someone was shaking her. She blinked her eyes open and found Dagan in front of her. Concern flickered in his brighteyes.
Oh, no.Not again. Embarrassed warmth flooded her face. “I’m sorry, I don’t like enclosedspaces.”
He let her go. “So you create a windstorm to breakthrough?”
She frowned in confusion. “What the heck are you talking about? I don’tcreateanything. I just shut my eyes and pray it ends, fast. I’m grateful this is the penthouse elevator so no one sees me losing mymind.”
He eyed her thoughtfully as the doors slid open. Shae hurried out of the deathtrap and made for the penthouse at the far end, then unlocked the door and entered the condo. She was halfway across the room when she realized Dagan hadn’tfollowed.
Spinning around, she found him standing at the doorway. “Well, aren’t you coming inside? Or do you need an invite like a…a vampire?” She couldn’t resist the taunt, or stop her grin when his sexy mouthtightened.
“In a minute.” A coldsnap.
Who knew she could ruffle the feathers of this big, bad, uptightwarrior?
He cut her a cold stare before pulling out his phone. A hazy memory of lips kissing her throat stirred again. Her smile faltered. But when she found him watching her, she blinked away the images and smirked. “Okay, then. You hang out there and ghost the place, I’ll gopack.”
