“Maybe you got that when you hit the ground?” he said, working to keep the growl out of his voice.
“But I didn’t. I didn’t fall, didn’t stumble. Somethingmovedme.”
Sitting up straight, Obsidian narrowed his eyes, though she couldn’t see them behind his sunglasses. “Something?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Something moved me out of the path of that car seconds before I would’ve been plastered to the pavement.”
“What time was this?”
She shrugged. “A little after eight, I guess.”
He made a mental note to follow up with the guardian angel. Although Reidar hadn’t mentioned the situation, Obsidian could only assume Stig had intervened. The male deserved his gratitude, but he also needed to know Obsidian expected to be informed of these situations. ASAP.
“I thought I’d imagined it.” Penelope turned her arm over again, studied the scratch. “It looks like I’m not crazy after all.” She looked back at him, nodded in his direction. “Do you wear those sunglasses all the time?”
“Sensitivity to light.”
“Oh.” Her gaze darted to the lamp dangling overhead. “Would you like me to turn it off?”
“No. It’s fine.” Not like he could take them off and reveal the fact that his silver eyes glowed naturally. The lamp merely gave him an excuse because his eyesweresensitive to light.
“Well, if you change your mind…”
He wouldn’t.
Feeling the need to find a safer subject, Obsidian glanced back at the book. “Tell me more about thisDark Hunterstuff.”
ANHOURANDAHALFLATER,THEYwere sitting at her kitchen island, sharing dinner and trading stories. Penelope had been enjoying the interaction, the easy conversation.
“It’s true.” She giggled. “I didn’t mean to call him out like that, but I did. I remember the way his eyes blazed with anger. He hadn’t been too happy that I’d confronted him in front of the entire class, but I couldn’t help it. I mean, what mythology professor can’t remember the name of Zeus’s father?”
“Cronus,” Obsidian said.
She pointed her fork at him, grinned. “Exactly. He said it was a momentary lapse. I call bullshit. Honestly, I think the guy was hitting the bottle before class. So you know about the Greek gods?”
“Not really. But I’ve got a dog named Zeus. Back when we were picking a name for him, I got an earful about Greek mythology.”
“A dog?” The idea warmed her.
“Two, actually. Zeus and Aphrodite. They’re at home right now.”
Obsidian’s smile held her captivated, and the warmth in his voice when he spoke of his animals made her smile in return.
“What about you?” she asked. “Do you have any crazy college stories?”
He shook his head. “Didn’t go to college.”
“It’s not for everyone. My brother gave up after two semesters. Ended up here a few days after.” She pushed her plate away, wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Would you like some more?”
“I’ll get it.” Obsidian got to his feet and moved around the island to dish more lasagna on his plate.
For such a large man, he was graceful, as though every move was choreographed.
Before he returned, he walked over to the refrigerator, pulled out the wine. After refilling her glass, he returned the bottle and took his seat on the barstool beside her.
Penelope couldn’t resist watching him. There was something innately sexy about him, the way he moved, the way he talked, the sheer size of him. Until Obsidian had shown up, she’d considered her apartment a relatively decent-sized space. With him here, it felt small, cramped. Even the oversized island felt miniscule. He just took up so much real estate.
And boy, could the man eat. He was on his third serving, each one at least twice what she’d scarfed down, and she was stuffed.
