Words failed her for the first time in days. Her mouth opened and closed in helpless frustration. Is this how a netted fish felt when cornered by a circling shark?
His gaze drifted over her hair, and the amusement rolled back. “It must be really hard to rein in that temper.”
She hated that her emotions showed in such a physical way. Right then, she gave two hoots that glimmers of reds had probably appeared in her braid—a curse that had started a year or so ago. Most times, she could control it—except for whenhewas around. Dammit, she had to get rid of him. Liam would be here soon.
If the bane of her life found out that she wasn’t actually going to work or learned the truth of what she was about, without a doubt, he’d toss her into the castle dungeon and leave her there to rot until Gran came back.
Like the other Guardians, Týr possessed the same inexorable need to protect those he saw as weaker than him. Except, with him, he’d probably enjoy locking her away.
Kira shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, her fingers wrapping around her cell, aggravated up to her tired brain. What should she do now? She fingered her phone—
Yesss.She bit back a smile at her easy fix.
Týr headed for the door. “C’mon, let’s move.”
“In a minute, forgot my cell.”
“Fluff, don’t waste my time—”
“If you have to clock in, go ahead and leave.” With an airy wave, she ran back upstairs. In the safety of her room, she quickly typed a message to Liam. She didn’t dare call him, not with ears around that could probably hear an ant sneeze.
Meet you at the bar in 30 minutes.Text sent off, she inhaled a huge breath and prayed for patience. Right. The quicker she did as her nemesis demanded, the sooner she could get rid of him. She hurried back down.
Týr stood exactly where she’d left him, midway to the door, eyes narrowed, reminding her that beneath all that pretty gloss he was a deadly Guardian.
He couldn’t have heard her texting, could he? Heck, she wouldn’t be surprised if he had. Without a word, she marched for the door, yanked it open, and stepped out into the chilly night with him on her heels.
As she turned to lock up, her arm brushed his, and that tingle ricocheted through her again, as if she’d touched a live wire. She inhaled sharply.Oh, no-no. No tingling. No nothing zipping anywhere!
The first time it had happened had been earlier tonight when he escorted her to the reception. It had been unexpected, shocking her into silence.
A little off-kilter, Kira clamped her mouth shut and waited since he was already locking the door. Then she held out her hand.
He pocketed the key. “When you’re ready to head back, call me.”
“So, you keepmyhome key prisoner?”
“Points to the mortal.” He swiped the cell she held, tapped in something, and handed it back. “You have my number.” With that stellar news, as if shesooowanted to call him, he loped down the steps. “C’mon, Fluff, I need to get back on patrol, and you’re still wasting time.”
If she killed him— Ugh, the big lout couldn’t die. He’d probably just come back after regenerating and make her life even more miserable. Scowling, she followed him to a grove of trees down the street. He stopped in the shadows and waited, a brow arched.
Hanging on to her nonchalance by her teeth, she put her hand on his jacket-clad arm. He snorted, and with a sharp tug, hauled her close.
Kira stumbled into his hard, warm body. She hastily slapped her palms on his chest, putting much-needed inches between them as that unsettling awareness crept through her again. “Must you do that?”
“I live for it.” He cut her a sardonic look. “Wait, did you think I had some nefarious plans with that delectable body of yours? Rest assured, I don’t.”
She wanted to hit him. Instead, she squeaked, grabbing him as he dematerialized them.
A short while later, they reformed.God. Kira groaned and clutched his leather jacket. She rested her brow on his chest as her nausea slowly settled, trying to find her equilibrium. But his taunting scent of warm, woodsy citrus with cool, green pines crowded her lungs, and that twisting sensation in her tummy sprang up again. Oh, boy. She didn’t want to be aware of him. She really didn’t. Struggling for a cool demeanor, she pushed away and made her way up the alley.
The stench from corpulent trash bags piled against the building and exhaust fumes was a familiar welcome to the Lower East Side.
Týr shadowed her, equally quiet, probably ecstatic to finally get rid of her. As they neared the Peacock Lounge where she worked, he slowed his steps. “See you at one.”
With the threat hanging in the air, he disappeared into the night like the creature of darkness he should be. Instead, he looked like some sun god, all shiny-bright and golden.
Kira stared after him. Humans had it so wrong. The gods existed, and she rubbed shoulders with them most days. But this animosity between Týr and her was likely her fault. Every time he said something, she took umbrage. How else could she keep him at arm’s-length?
