And oh, heavens above, he was hot and cold at the same time. He trembled. He...wanted more. He wasnt what she needed; hed already realized that. His past being what it was, he had no right to console a female. Hed hurt too many. He deserved a whipping, a beating, not a caress. But he just couldnt bring himself to move away.
Youre so warm, she said.
Youre so soft.
She reached up, her fingers again toying with the ends of his beard. So even my thoughts matter?
Of course. Your thoughts can create a fiery storm or a peaceful sea.
But I cant control
You can. If the wrong thought comes, force yourself to think of something else. Thats good advicewhy dont you follow it, too?
She sighed. What about the water you gave Laila?
It healed her body and cast the demon out of her, but what will happen if shes attacked by other demons? Will she once again cave to the toxin and fear?
She had a demon inside her?
Yes. Perhaps he should have broken that particular piece of news more gently.
Several moments passed in silence. I had no idea. Was so ignorant. A tremor raked her body, and warm tears soaked the fabric of his robe.
Tears? He had to see her face. Koldo palmed her waist, lifted her and parted her legs with his knee. She gasped as he settled her on his lap, and only then did he realize the sheer intimacy of the position.
He bit back a groan. Of pleasure. Of pain.
Of need. And regret.
Frightened of me? he rasped. Of this. He would rather die than cause the same reaction as her boss.
No. Her eyes were watery, glassed over, but the tears had stopped. Ive just... Ive never been in this position before.
Never?
A sense of possessiveness filled him, hotter than fire, more lethal than a flood. Do you have any other questions for me?
I do. She hooked her fingers over the collar of his robe and rubbed, as if she experienced the same compulsion to touch. Her skin brushed against his, cool where he was overheated, soft where he was calloused.
Must wrap my arms around her and urge her closer...closer still...then mesh my lips against hers...kiss her...savor her. Devour her.
He didnt. One thought stopped him. He couldnt put his filthy, ugly lips on so innocent a female.
But...what if he did it anyway? What if he gave in? What if she liked it?
Temptation had arrived, he realized, whispering so prettily.
He resisted. Her fragile heart would give out from too much stimulation in one day. And maybe, just maybe, so would his.
Ill answer one, he croaked. Just one. I dont want to overload you.
She thought for a moment, nodded. Do the demons look like little monkeys?
Two circuits seemed to connect in his mind, and he frowned. There was only one way she could have known what one of the lowest-ranking demons looked like. You saw the one in the office?
Him and many others. Two have even been hanging around Laila, she admitted shakily.
Yes, hed seen those two. One had been inside her. The other was his friend. They ran away every time Koldo neared. Theyll continue to return to her as long as she feeds them.
Tension radiated from her. And if were attacked by others?
Koldo would sense it. But...what if he didnt...or what if he couldnt get to her? Call upon the Most High. Hell send whoevers closest to help you. Germanus would never be as powerful as the Most High, and wouldnt hear a humans cries. More than that, he was limited in the number of troops he could send.
How do you know that for sure?
He promised to rescue every human who calls upon Him, and He always keeps His promises.
Every human. Even me?
His brows furrowed into his hairlineor what had once been his hairline. Are you human?
Har, har. You know that I am. Wait. I am, right?
Do not smile. You are. And now, Im ending this conversation. For both their sakes. There are chores to be done, and hopefully Im man enough to do them.
CHAPTER TWELVE
NICOLA WATCHED as Koldo stalked through her entire house, fixing everything that was broken, reinforcing the locks on the windows and doors, and even flashing in and out to stock her cabinets and refrigerator with food. All the while, she reeled.
The monsters shed seen as a child were real.
Demons had poisoned her and her sister.
The guy she couldnt stop thinking about wasnt even human.
She focused on himthe least complicated. Was he naturally bald or had he shaved his head? There was no hint of stubble on his scalp, which led her to believe there were no follicles. But that hardly mattered. As beautiful as he was, he had no need of hair.
And now that she knew what his back looked like under his robe, she found him more than beautiful; she found him breathtaking. Running parallel to both sides of his spine was scar tissue about twelve inches long and four inches thick. At one point in his life, hed had wings. Something or someonea demon?had cut them out. Now, crimson ink branched from both scars, forming glorious wings. The design was so amazingly detailed, each individual feather accounted for. And the muscles underneath those tattoos...sweet mercy.
How could a man who looked as fierce as he did be so kind? Or were the man and the Sent One intertwined? Could there not be one without the other?
And what about the smoldering fire in his eyes? Did it spring from a place of danger? Or desire?
He finished stocking her cabinets and leaned against the half wall between her kitchen and living room. He folded his arms over his chest and nodded. So you do know how to relax.
Har-har. If you want to pamper me, Im going to let you pamper me.
Actually, I want to question you. Why do you work so hard?
What he was really asking: Why do you work so hard, yet live in such squalor? Medical bills was all she said.
He opened his mouth, closed it, then pushed out a heavy breath. I want to pay your bills, he said hesitantly, probably expecting her to fly off the couch and attack him for daring to suggest such a thing.
As if such a kind proposition would offend her. I wasnt hinting or anything like that, she said with a smile. And wait a second. You have money?
A lot of money. Sent Ones are rewarded for our work. And I would like nothing more than to do this.
But
Id planned to pay your bills one way or another. This way, I can take the past-due notices stacked in the basket youve labeled Doom with your knowledge rather than stealing them and perhaps earning myself a punishment.
To have such a huge financial weight lifted from her shoulders...to no longer live in fear of losing her house, having her utilities turned off, to be able to afford real Hostess Twinkies rather than a dry knockoff...
Oh, Koldo. She leaped from the couch and threw herself against him. At first, he was stiff. After a few seconds, however, he softened and wrapped his arms around her. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I accept. Youre welcome, by the way, she teased in an effort to mask her trembling chin. I mean, Im such a giver, unwilling to allow you to be punished.
He snorted, and it was such a gorgeous sound. This pleases you, then? Makes you happy.
It does. Her heart thundered in her chest in a boom, boom, boom rhythm. I know I should feel guilty, too, like Im using you for your money or something, but I just cant summon the emotion.
He stiffened all over again, saying, If you feel a shred of guilt, I will rescind my offer.
You heard the part about being unable to summon the emotion, right? And youre loaded, arent you? Thats what a lot means, right?
Yes, Im loaded, he said, the stiffness leaving him.
Of course he was. A dreamy sigh left her. You have to be the sexiest male Ive ever met. Beauty, brains and megabucks.
He stilled.
Her words echoed in her mind, and she almost groaned. No. No, no, no. She hadnt just said that aloud. She couldnt have said that aloud. I mean, you have to be the sweetest man Ive ever met.
He peered down at her, silent.
You consider me sexy? he finally asked.
She had. She really had said it aloud. Heat filled her cheeks. To hide, she buried her face in the hollow of his neck. What would you do if I said yes? He might have touched her today, might have held her close, but she hadnt forgotten what hed said. I dont want you in that way.
I would tell you...that you have had a very eventful evening, and that you will have to wait until tomorrow. His voice was gruff. I would show you my reaction then.
And just what, exactly, would he show her?
Her heart fluttered as he set her away from him and strode to her kitchen table, where the Basket of Doom waited. He lifted it highand it disappeared.
She blinked, saying, Uh, what just happened?
I placed the items inside a pocket of air.
She closed the distance between them and reached up, trying to feel the spot where the basket had last been seen, but she was too short. Even when she jumped. And jumped again.
His lips twitched at the corners. Is there a problem?
Do not crack a short joke, Gigantor.
Very well. Allow me. Koldo wrapped his big hands around her waist.
The strength of his grip wrung a startled gasp from her, though he was nothing but gentle as he lifted her off her feet. She palpated the air. Theres nothing solid, she said, amazed.
The pocket is a small doorway between the spirit realm and the natural. Slowly he set her back down.
Realm?
One for your world, and one for mine.
Thats so cool. She turned, intending to return to the couch.
He reached out and cupped the back of her neck, forcing her to stay. No, doing more than that. Tugging her deeper into the hard line of his body. Heat rolled through her, and she gave another gasp.
Dont be afraid. Am I strong enough to force myself on you? Yes. Will I? No. His gaze pierced all the way to her soul. Ill never hurt you, Nicola.
I know, she said, and shivered. He was so intense. She flattened her palms on his chest, on the softness of his robe, the hardness of his muscles.
I told myself I wouldnt do this while the memory of what happened today is so fresh. But then I got my hands on you. He leaned down, coming closer and closer, his lips soon a whisper away from hers. Now I have a desire to replace the bad with the good. Its a desire I no longer want to resist.
Cant quite catch my breath. I like...the way you think.
Then we should start over. Do you find me sexy?
She gulped, softly admitted, Yes.
Just like that, his pupils expanded, black consuming gold. Very well. My reaction. He lowered his head and pressed his mouth against hers, the contact soft at first, noninvasive, and yet still her head spun. Then he lifted his head and peered into her eyes. Whatever he saw must have encouraged him because he once again lowered. This time, his tongue flicked out, tasting her, and he moaned. Eager for more, she opened for him.
He swooped in, angling his head, hesitantly rolling his tongue against hers. At the moment of contact, a cascade of heat melted her bones, and she sank into him, her body suddenly smashed against his.
The force of the kiss increased, quickened.
This was... This was...
Good, he rasped, and she wasnt sure whether he was asking a question or commanding her to like it.
Perfect. But perfect hardly seemed adequate.
Magnificent. Heady. Exquisite. No, they werent good enough, either.
Her tongue met his, thrust for thrust, her fingers sliding through his beard, locking behind his neck, kneading of their own accord.
The horror of the day faded. Mr. Ritter ceased to exist. There was only this moment and Koldo. Hed been right. Shed needed something good to wipe away the bad.
Am I hurting you? he asked, and there was something in his tone. Something shed never heard before. Vulnerability, perhaps.
No. Promise.
Not giving you enough?
Youre giving me plenty.
He lifted his head. Lines of tension branched from his eyes and mouth, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. My blood is heating, practically in flames already.
Mine, too.
You were pleased?
Very. Was he...unsure of his performance? Was that the problem?
Back down he went, not just kissing her but consuming her. His big hands roved over her back, up and down, up and down, then rode the ridges of her spine. As strong as he was, he managed to keep the touches light.
Koldo, I want... I need... More.
Nicola, Laila called, her voice cutting through the tension.
Koldo jolted, then set her away from him, looked away from her and rolled his shoulders, as if he had wings he wanted to flare.
Ill be back, he said tightly.
Wait. What? No! Where are you going?
He ignored her, saying, Im commanding you to take the day off tomorrow. To rest.
I will. But
No. No buts. There will be no arguments. Remember?
He was using their bargain against her, she realized. So, what else could she say, but, Dont worry about me. Ill remain calm, be at peace and sow joy. Her voice was trembling. And thank you. For everything.
He nodded, but the action was stiff. Do us both a favor and guard your thoughts, your words.
I will.
Good. He nodded again, glanced at her lips, stepped toward hertook another step and vanished.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Co Co?