Chapter 14
Wooden tubswith overgrown shrubs and vines edged the entrance of the Oracle’s domain.Týr pushed aside the creepers hanging from the trellis of the front porch as Kira opened the door and walked into the brownstone. He followed, the rich fragrance of herbs and incense crowding his nose.
“I thought I heard you…” Lila paused in the kitchen doorway that led to the open-plan living and dining rooms when she saw them. Týr frowned. She appeared pale—a quick scan revealed no illness—which was good. And her direct stare was reassuring.
“Warrior, thank you for taking care of my child.”
“Gran,” Kira began and rubbed her palms down her pants, her gaze darting to him and then back to her grandmother. “I need to—”
“In a moment, my dear. That stray cat is wrecking my herb garden again. He needs feeding.”
“Okay.” Kira nodded, appearing a little relieved.
Nope, not letting her put this off for later. “Lila, wait. If you don’t mind?” Týr grasped Kira’s hand and drew her close. Yep, stiff as a board. He put his palm on her waist. The Oracle arched a delicate brow, her expression suddenly unreadable.
“Can’t say I’m surprised at this outcome. I always had a feeling…” Those dark, dark eyes pinned him as if to say,“Buthurt her, and there’ll be hell to pay.”
Týr gave a slight incline of his head in acknowledgement.
“You don’t mind?” Kira asked in a rush.
The Oracle’s expression softened. “My dearest child, who else would keep you safe—er,saferthan me?”
A smile broke free, revealing those perfect, tantalizing dimples in Kira’s cheeks. She ran to her grandmother and hugged her. “Thank you, Gran.”
“As long as you’re happy, it’s all I want.” Lila stepped back. “Well, then, I shall go feed the cat and then put the kettle on.” She patted Kira’s hand and then fixed an even stare on him. “Warrior, you will stay and drink tea.”
It wasn’t a request. Hell, he’d never had the beverage in his life. Even so, he politely nodded.
The Oracle disappeared into the kitchen, the door closing behind her.
Kira snorted. “Drink tea? Really?”
“I have to be on my best behavior,” he responded stoically. “Chances are, she could turn me into a toad if I refuse, and I still haven’t had my wicked way with you.” He made a grab for her.
Laughing, she hastily stepped back, her hips hitting the dining table. Before she scampered off, Týr slapped his palms on the table edge, caging her. Deliberately, he let his lower body press into hers, keeping her pinned in place. If he touched her right now, he’d probably want to drag her upstairs to her room. But even he wasn’t so debauched as to do that in the Oracle’s home.
He pressed his mouth to hers and felt her smile against his lips. His heart bumped hard in his chest. He slipped a hand under her sweater and caressed her spine.
“Týr, wait—” she gasped, putting her hands on his chest, trying to move him with as much success as an ant would have. “You can’t possibly want Gran to see you mauling her only family?”
“Mauling?” he growled low in his throat. “Let’s see about that.”
He kissed her with deep, sensual strokes, and a moan broke free. Her hands went from pushing him away to running over his wide back.
Damn, his great idea of tormenting her had been a colossal mistake. He was so fucking hard, if the Oracle saw him like this—yeah, she’d definitely come out with guns, or in her case spells, blazing, and he’d probably end up the toad he’d teased Kira about.
As much as he savored touching her whenever he could, for the sake of his sanity, he broke their kiss. He couldn’t wait to make her completely his. “We’ll finish this later.”
Kira blinked up at him with passion-glazed eyes, her mouth swollen from his sensual onslaught. Threads of breathtaking gold wove through her reddish spirals. Now, he had a shade for happiness. But much as he enjoyed the visible signs of her emotions, he had to teach her to shield her abilities, which he knew usually made an appearance when he was around. To know that he affected her as profoundly as she did him, made him all the more possessive.
Týr reluctantly put distance between them, stopping at the lace-curtained windows to stare outside. It would be dusk soon despite the early hour. For the first time, he hated this season and the longer working hours. He rubbed his jaw. The wound there was finally starting to heal. Honestly, he didn’t give a shit. Gut-deep, he knew the fucker would be back. And he’d be ready.
Lila walked into the living room and set the tea tray on the dining table. With no way out of drinking the concoction, he sat opposite Kira as she poured the beverage and handed him a cup.
He took a sip of the hot liquid—fuuuck! It not only looked but also probably tasted like dishwater would. Man, the things he did for his woman. However, there was one more item that needed to be addressed. “Lila,” he began quietly, and waited until she looked at him. “I’ll speak to Michael about you moving into the castle, too. I think it would be best.”
The Oracle set down her cup and tucked back a steel-gray strand of hair, a weary cast to her face like he’d suggested she do all the grunge work at the castle. “I like it here, Warrior, and I have friends close. At least I don’t have to worry so much when I go to Seattle now, knowing Kira is with you.”
