He stopped, his gaze doing a quick up and down of the alley. “And I’m still breathing?”
She choked out a laugh, then grimaced. “I…er, didn’t mention you by name.”
“Ah.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to tell them—”
“It’s all right.” A lazy smile lit his topaz eyes to the soft flame-gold color she was starting to love, and he started walking again. “Don’t want Blondie up my grid again. I need more time with you before I die.”
He was teasing, but she didn’t like the thought of him dying. “No one’s killing anybody,” she muttered. His lingering smile was her only response.
“Nate?” she said then, determined to address a troubling thought, one that didn’t sit well with her.
“Yeah?”
“I know you think of me as cold, but I’m not, not really.” He stopped so suddenly, she jerked back. His eyebrows tipped into a V, and she rushed to explain. “It’s just that growing up on Empyrea and being born to nobility, there are rules that must be followed, a front I must present. It’s all I know how to be—”
“I know,laika,” he said quietly. “We all wear masks, don’t we? I had to pretend to be normal—a human.” He shook his head. “I don’t care what facade we show outsiders as long as we’re true to ourselves.”
“Aye,” she agreed, his words igniting her heart like a candle in the dark. “I like you—”
“Like?” He lifted both eyebrows, and she laughed. “You know what I mean…” She smoothed her palms over his chest. “What I’m trying to say is that no one ever made me feel the way you do. Well, not enough to commit to a relationship.”
He grasped her hands with his. “First, I’d like to strangle all the worthless bastards. Second, why? You’ve lived a long time, and I understand there would have been others.”
“Not as many as you would think,” she said wryly. “Remember, I have a brother and overprotective parents…” She licked her dry lips. “Icouldn’t commit to any of them because I didn’t feel a connection like I do with you, one I think I felt from the moment I saw you.”
“Then I’m glad—”
A splintering sound echoed. They both spun, ready for action. A wooden crate lay broken into shards on the wet asphalt. A stray feline leaped down from the others and prowled around the shattered slats.
Nate exhaled and glanced about. “I must go.”
“Yes, to work, you said.”
A tic started on his jaw. He didn’t say anything. And the truth struck her. He didn’t mean at the garage, but Azgor’s jobs! And her stomach heaved.
What he did for Azgor troubled her, but she didn’t ask since he was bound to do so, and her oath would only get in the way, especially if it were here on Earth.
“Will you be here in the morning?” she asked instead.
“Yeah. I’m not going to miss out on seeing you.” His mouth came down on hers, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding over hers. Desire rushed through her veins. Ely responded with all the built-up longing inside her.
His hold tightened briefly, but then he stepped back. A spike of heat surged, and she bit back a groan. “Take care of yourself,laika,” he said, tone terse. “I’ll see you later.” He flashed from the alley.
Exhaling, Ely rubbed her hot face and started walking, scanning her surroundings, wishing the decade Nate had to work for that demon was over already, wishing he didn’t have the darn beast calling the shots…
* * *
Sunlight reflected off the chunks of ice in the river as Ely pushed forward, lungs burning, arms slicing through the freezing water as she swam against the current river, moving on autopilot now. Grateful for the brief reprieve the cold gave her.
The last two days passed in a blissful haze, despite her problem, meeting Nate here at the cabin for a few stolen hours. Yes, making love would ease her, but not at Nate’s expense, unable to find his own fulfillment with his damn beast torturing him.
They hadn’t met last night. He had another job to do. Ely hadn’t asked. Safer that way for both of them. But just the thought of seeing him again, a warm glow of happiness stole through her. She cut through the subzero water and headed for the riverbank to find Nate already waiting where she’d dropped her clothes.
He remained hunkered down, forearms braced on his denim-clad thighs, a tic working his jaw.
“Hey,” she gasped, taking the hand he held out. No, he wasn’t happy that she flat-out refused to let him touch her, give her ease, and chose to swim instead.
