Her pained expression at the thought of wearing her shoes again told him he’d knocked down the first obstacle.
“Let me call—”
“No need. The cavalry’s here.” Reynner nodded toward the gallery entrance as her friends hurried out. Cold amusement seeped through that they would protect Eve from him. He’d allow no harm to come to her, ever.
“I won’t be long.” Barefoot, she ran over to them, the short hem of her bright aquamarine dress fluttering around her golden brown thighs. Reynner forced his gaze away and tamped down the sudden image of what they’d look like wrapped around his waist. Thanks to his heightened senses, he easily picked up on most of their conversation.
The redheaded grabbed her arm. “Eve, did you go find him yesterday?” she hissed. “That’s asking for trouble.”
Findhim?
“No, Kat, I didn’t. He helped me out last night at the club. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't think I’d ever see him again… Jeez, no, nothing happened! I accidently crashed into him, and our phones sort of ended up with each other. He came to give it back. That’s all.”
“And now?”
“And now…he offered me a ride home. I’ll be fine.”
Her friend snorted. “You’re hoping to get rid of the dreaded V with the badass, right?”
“Christ, Kat, hush! He’ll hear you…” She leaned in closer, and he missed some of her words. “…nothing. I feel nothing at all with him,” she said. “You don’t know how wonderful that is. For the first time, I don’t have to worry about anything.”
The redhead sighed. “Okay. But be careful. Have fun, and we want deets. I’ll call you.”
She felt nothing for him?Reynner frowned. She wanted him, he knew that, so why—
Urias, what was he doing?It was better this way, less complication. He had a job to do, no matter what his dick wanted.
Eve stifled an embarrassed laugh and hugged her friends. Her fingers fisted as she did so.
Was her wound worse than he thought? The sculpture had made a small cut, but his saliva should have healed it. And what the hell was this dreaded V?
Reynner stiffened, his nostrils flared. A trace of sulfur drifted to him.
Demoniis.
Since his escape from Hell, his one true enjoyment had been destroying the bastards. He glanced around and hoped none crossed his path right now. He should have let Eve go with her friends, instead of giving into temptation and offering her a ride. Hell, he could have had this conversation with her later, but her haunting scent and the painting in the gallery with her incredible sensuality splashed all over it messed with his rational mind.
No, he didn’t like that the artist had captured the very essence of her, or the fact that she’d posed for the damn thing.
Pulling his cell from his coat pocket, Reynner frowned at the two cards he drew out with it. Tossing the scented one into a nearby dumpster and using the other, he made his call.
***
Eve watched her friends walk away and wondered if she’d lost her mind leaving with a complete stranger.
She didn’t know Reynner, she only understood that from the moment she saw him, he drew her like a magnetic field. That haunted expression she’d glimpsed earlier. It made her want to ease him, to soothe the hurt in him.
She walked back to the man who scrambled her good sense. Only he wasn’t watching her, but the street. At her approach, he turned the full force of that stunning face on her. She had to clench her fingers not to reach out and touch him.
He ushered her into a dark gray Porsche parked at the curb. Eve sank into the luxurious seat, inhaling the smell of expensive leather and a faint hint of wild forest. She dropped her stilettoes on the floorboard, leaned back, and exhaled in gratitude as she stretched out her aching feet.
Reynner circled the hood, opened the door, and slid in beside her. Then the soft purr of the engine filled the interior.
“Where to?” he asked, voice clipped. Eve cut him a sharp look, unable to pinpoint what had set her inner alarm cranking its rusty bells. Okay, the man had that dangerous persona thing going for him, but something was seriously off.
“East Village.” She reeled off her address. “What’s wrong?”
“Fasten your seatbelt.”
