Im going to say something, and I dont want you to be offended, all right?
All right, he said reluctantly.
Thats the most ridiculous thing Ive ever heard! You did not deserve to lose a friend.
He relaxed the tiniest bit. I havent always been the man you know.
And I havent always been the girl you know.
He shook his head. Youve always been sweet, kind and caring, and thats that.
No. He didnt know the full truththat she and Laila had once planned to murder the man responsible for the deaths of their parents and brother. And she would be forever grateful the plan had failed. A moment of rage would have changed the entire course of their lives, and not for the better.
But all she said to Koldo was, Youre making a mistake, and kissed his chest. There was no reason to spoil the moment. And notice how wonderful I am, pointing it out just like you asked.
Wonderful. Yes.
Thered been no sarcasm in his voice. Darling man. Say-la, she interjected, recalling the way hed once used the word with her.
He fell silent.
She traced an X over the heavy beat of his heart. What does the word mean?
To pause and think about what was said.
Well, well. From now on, she might be using the word after everything she said. So now that weve bared our souls, and Ive blown your mind with my intelligence, what do you want to do for the rest of our date?
Rest. For what I have planned tomorrow, youre going to need it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
FOR THE FIRST TIME in his entire life, Koldo spent the night in bed with a woman. His woman. Something hed wanted. Only, what hed truly wanted was to strip Nicola, strip himself, kiss her, have her, have her againand maybe againand fall into a deep sleep. Then wake up and have her again. Physically, however, she wasnt ready for that.
Maybe he wasnt, either.
Next time, he needed to slow down, get them both ready. Hed loved the sensations coursing through him so much hed verged on losing control. If that had happened, he could have taken her too forcefully. Hurt her the way hed always feared.
A sobering thought.
A horrifying thought.
What a man feared came upon him. He knew that. So it was time to stop giving in and start fighting these worries the moment they came. To practice what he taught.
As theyd talked, and shed snuggled into his side, he expected the rest of his arousal to fade. But it hadnt.
It had only gotten worse.
As she slept, her warm breath fanned over his neck in a decadent caress. Her heart beat in sync with his, connecting them in the subtlest of ways. Their scents blended, male musk with feminine sweetness, and all hed wanted to do was pick up where theyd left off.
Cant. Wont.
Everything had to be perfect for her. He never wanted her to look back and wish or regret. He would rather die. He wouldnt be another tragedy in her life. He would be something else.
I have to be something special.
All of his strength was needed to remain still, ignoring the achiness of his body.
By the time the sun rose, he was tremblingand sweating and panting and far more desperate. He untangled from Nicola, and even though she was the source of his torment, he hated leaving her. She muttered a soft sigh and rolled to her stomach, strawberry hair still in a ponytail and spilling all over the pillows.
Cant dive on her. Really cant. He didnt bother with a shower before he flashed to a nearby lumberyard and gathered what he would need to build a second, smaller home in the backyard of the ranch. His clothing cleaning him inside and out.
Next, he got to work. Hed decided to move his mother to Panama.
She was a part of his life. A part he no longer wanted to hide from Nicola. Last night, telling her about his past, hed discovered a peace unlike any other. Hed liked it. Now, he wanted her to know everything. He wanted to be completely honest with her. He wouldnt just tell her, though. He would show her.
One hour sped into another as he worked that morning, sawing and hammering. Eventually he removed his shirt. Sweat rolled down his chest and back, and the sun beat against his skin. His muscles welcomed the strain.
Would you like something to drink? Nicola called from the kitchen doorway. I made lemonade.
He glanced upand wished he hadnt. The arousal returned full force, as if hed never moved away from her. Shed taken a shower and pulled her damp hair into another ponytail. Those storm eyes were bright, her cheeks rosy. Her lips were still plumped from his kisses. She wore a tight white T-shirt and jeans with rhinestones around the waist. So young. So fresh.
So his.
No, thank you, he replied. If she came out here, he would grab her and never let go.
Are you sure? She held up a glass filled to the rim. You look really, really hot. And I mean that in every way.
He paused, the hammer raised midair.
What are you doing out there, anyway? she asked.
Building a cage.
He expected her to throw another question at him.
She didnt. She said, I bet youre working up quite a thirst.
I am. For you. You dont want to know.
Ill bet I do....
Oh, no, you dont. Are you flirting with me?
I am.
Confirmation. Killing him. Go back inside, Nicola. Now.
A dreamy sigh left her. So commanding. I never thought Id have a snarly handyman fantasy, especially after I got mad at you for snarling just the other day.
He almost ditched the tools and stomped after her. Almost.
She walked away. A few seconds later, Axel strolled out the door, his dark hair disheveled, his blue eyes glittering as he drank the lemonade that had been meant for Koldo. His wings were tucked into his back, and he wore the customary angel robe, the white gleaming in the sunlight.
Hey, you know anything about an immortal named William of the Dark? He also goes by the alias Ever Randy. Because all of a sudden, for no reason, hes decided to track me down, Axel said between sips. Its really getting to be annoying.
No. The moment the warrior reached Koldos side, Koldo snatched the glass and drained the contents. Mine, he said.
So not cool. Someone needs to learn the meaning of hospitality. And sharing. And kindness. And brotherhood. And friendship. And selflessness.
Ill be sure to look the words up later. Koldo handed him the empty glass. Thank you for taking care of Laila last night.
Axel tossed the glass into the bushes behind him. Dude, that girls got problems.
I know.
I probably shouldnt have slept with her.
Koldo was in the process of hammering another nail and on his next downward swing, hit so hard the end of the board snapped. Surely he hadnt just heard what he thought hed heard. You slept with her?
Blink, blink. What? Im not a he-slut or anything. She was only my third lay of the day. And you told me to make her happy, right?
Three. Three women. In one day? Koldo wanted Nicola and only Nicola, and couldnt imagine sharing his bed with anyone else. Yes, hed entertained the idea of returning to Thanes club and taking the Harpy, and others, but he never would have been able to go through with it. He knew that now.
No other woman would be able to assuage the ache. No other woman would taste the samesweetness and light. No other woman would be as soft. No other womans moans would be as intoxicating. Oh, yes, only Nicola would do.
Why is that vein throbbing in your temple? Axel asked. Lailas not your woman, right? Or is she? Ive asked before but youve never said. Are you thinking about doing a sister-wife thing? Because its totally not the party in the box you think it will be.
No, he gritted. Laila isnt mine. But he wasnt sure how Nicola would feel about her sister being with a Sent One that wouldnt keep her. If you hurt her...
Hey, the warrior said, palms up. I deprived her of Blainey Boo Bear, or whatever lame nickname humans like to give each other, and I owed her big funand no, thats not the name of my penis, even though it fits. Theyd swapped so many stories about their exes they were both depressed. I did her a favor, and she kicked me out afterward, not the other way around. She just used me and ditched me, and made me feel all dirty inside. So of course Im hoping we can do it again.
Koldo wiped his brow with the back of his hand. And she didnt pass out? he found himself asking.
Well, yeah. Yours did, too, eh?
He shouted, And you took her anyway?
Hello. I woke her up first.
Koldo shook his head. The male had no shame.
So were building a cage? Axel asked, as he claimed a hammer of his own. Thats what you told Nicola, right?
No more questions, he said, looking away. His gaze landed on Nicola, perched next to her sister in front of the kitchen window, gazing out. She waved, unabashed at being caught staring. He swallowed a curse.
Desire wasnt supposed to hurt. Was it?
* * *
THOUGH THE TIME ZONES were off, Koldo knew when Monday morning dawned in Kansas, and flashed Nicola and Laila to the rear of the Estellä building. The girls hadnt wanted to be parted, and hed liked the idea of having them both in the same location.
He materialized in the natural realm and walked the pair from the alley to the front door.
You wont grant my request and quit? he asked Nicola. Even though its dangerous here?
I wont.
Frustrating woman. Why?
Because she wont always have you, but shell always need the job, Laila answered.
He...had no protest, he realized. He planned to keep Nicola, but he was as uncertain about his future as any human. Actually, his was more uncertain than most.
Very well, he replied, because really, there was nothing else to say. He stomped inside and into the confines of the elevator.
There were two other males in the tiny cart, and they pressed themselves against the far wall, getting as far away from him as they could. He forced his scowl to ease before the pair began screaming for aid.
Dont look at the women, and youll be fine, he said.
Instantly they averted their gazes.
Nicolas sweet perfume wafted around him, and his anger with her was lost to another punch of arousal. At what point would his body just shut down, the desire for this woman too much to endure? How was he supposed to ease her into making love without killing himself?
She leaned into him and whispered, The last time we were in an elevator together, I wanted to sniff your neck.
He sucked in a breath. She really was going to kill him.
I wonder how you would have reacted.
Laila gagged. If you guys get any more lovey-dovey, Im going to puke.
Nicola slapped her on the arm. Laila slapped her back, and the two erupted into a childish fight and a fit of giggles.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. The men raced out, and the girls ceased their antics, acting as if theyd never attacked each other. Silly humans. But their play lightened his mood. Oh, to have a playmate.
He wasnt sure whether or not Axel had slept with Laila again last night, but either way, her color was better, and there was a bounce to her step.
Koldo wanted to put that same bounce in Nicolas step.
He took her handsoft, delicateand ushered her to her office. Jamila sat at one of the desks out front, dressed in a tight black dress, her dark hair piled on top of her head. Sirena was nowhere to be found.
Guard her, he projected into the Sent Ones mind. An ability he was more and more comfortable using, he realized. Anything for Nicolas safety. With your life.
Jamila blinked in surprise, but nodded.
He yearned to kiss Nicola goodbye, but couldnt allow himself the luxury. At the moment of contact, he would convince himself it would be okay to take things further. Already his muscles were knotted. His blood was fever-hot. His palms itched.
Ill be back, he growled, and didnt wait for Nicolas reply. Her expression was one of confusion, but now wasnt the time to explain his thoughtsand if he tried, he would only make things worse.
The moment he cleared the doorway, he entered the spirit realm. He stalked through the entire building, searching for unattached demons and lurking Nefas. He found neither.
He should have forced Nicola to quit, but...he couldnt bring himself to argue with her. He didnt want her mind on his stubbornness, didnt want her to think he was mean. How ridiculous was that? He was mean.
He just, he wanted her focused on her healing.
And that wasnt an attempt to buy her affection, he told himself. Even though, every time she looked at him with those big stormy eyes, he experienced a desperate urge to hand her the world.
He materialized in the natural before pushing through the door to the accounting offices. Jamila was exactly where hed left her, but now, Sirena was also in place. Sirena, meaning temptress. And she was certainly thatfor other men. She was the girl who had slept with Dex. The girl of questionable origins.
It was time to talk to her, and find out what she had planned.
When he loomed in front of her desk, she glanced up from polishing her nails. Well, hello there, gorgeous. Her bold gaze perused him from head to toe, lingering on his chest, between his legs, making him feel like a piece of meat. You decided to return. Im glad.
He flattened his hands beside her keyboard and leaned forward. What are you?
A sultry grin revealed a mouthful of pearly whites. What do you want me to be?