“Already on its way back to Redrock.”
“Got it. Keep me updated.”
“Will do.”
I stood there for a long moment, phone still pressed to my ear. The lobby was quiet now, the only sound the hum of the concierge’s radio and the faint tick-tick-tick of the old clock above the front desk.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket and turned toward the stairs. The climb would do me well. I took the steps three at a time, wishing the activity would distract me from the stupid urge to go see what Meera was doing.
I punched in the code at the top of the stairs, unlocking the small landing outside the penthouse. The hallway contained the stairwell door, both elevators—the private one and the public one, which required a code or keycard on this floor—and the penthouse’s secured entrance with its iris scanner.
Was it a little excessive? Perhaps. But we liked our privacy. Plus, it kept all the women living with us safe. And right now, that included Meera.
We had the entire top of the building to ourselves. Each of us gargoyles for each of the four corners, except Eamon had taken Griff’s place. Griff and his mate, Emily, lived nearby on the rooftop of his friend’s bar, to whom he owed a life debt.
I hesitated at the door when I heard the sound of Meera’s voice coming through it. I thought about heading to Griff’s to visit Daryl’s bar. Daryl was a lone wolf shifter—most were trouble, but he was one of the good ones. But it was still early in the day, and this was starting to feel a lot like avoidance.
Maybe I could just wait until Meera went back into her room. But what if they decided to hang out in the common area? The mates did that a lot, and the once barely used middle section of the penthouse was now a hub of activity.
I didn’t trust myself around her. Because next time, I doubt it would be just a kiss. One touch from her already felt like it could burn straight through every wall I’d ever built. I’d want more from her. So much more. I wanted her in ways I had no business wanting, in ways that would change my life forever, and I wasn’t ready for that.
I’d never felt so out of control around anyone before. Not even with Sara.
“Are you planning on stepping inside?”
I whirled around to find Eamon leaning against the wall, arms crossed, one ankle hooked over the other like he’d been there for a while. His smirk was infuriatingly smug. Neither elevator had dinged, and the stairwell door hadn’t so much as creaked, which meant the demon had simply appeared beside me the way his kind liked to do. Blasted demon.
“Or are you just going to spy on Meera like some creep?” he drawled.
“I’m not spying.”
“Sure you aren’t.” His golden eyes gleamed with amusement. “And I suppose that wasn’t you tailing her around outside at lunch either?”
My jaw twitched. “I was keeping an eye on things.”
“Uh-huh.” He pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “She could feel you, you know. Felt eyes on her the whole time. You’re scaring her. Knock it off.” Eamon exhaled, rubbing his temple. “Look, she thought the feeling would fade once we got back here, but nope. Still there. Then I felt your presence out here.” He gestured between us. “So. Let’s take a walk. I promised the girls I’d sweep the area for anyone suspicious watching the penthouse.”
He punched the private elevator button. The doors slid open immediately.
I hesitated, then stepped inside, and the doors closed behind us.
Eamon leaned against the back wall, watching me with an unreadable expression. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“It’s been a century. It’s time you got over her.”
I knew whichherhe meant.
“Iamover her.”
“Right. Sure. That’s why you haven’t dated since. All this for a woman who never cared for you back.”
A growl ripped out of my throat.
“Ha! And you want me to believe that you’re over her? Seraphina used you like she tried to use everyone around her. Get over it.”
I gritted my teeth; the idea that I hadn’t been the only monster Sara had courted to save her from her unwanted marriage wasn’t new to me. At the time I’d been blind, but hindsight was twenty-twenty.
