Casual words, but a far from casual tone. He spoke in a voice most would reserve for candlelit bedrooms.
She licked her lips. “I was getting a look at my new place.”
“You’re going to stay here?” He leaned against the lacquered pine wall, feet crossed at the ankles, hands in his pockets, staring at her. She caught a glimpse of the twin blades strapped to his waist, the idea of how dangerous and capable he was, an unusual thrill. She’d only ever dated civilians, and even the one who thought he was all big and bad lacked the power Jett commanded in his gaze alone.
“Yes. So,” she said, unsure what to do under the intensity of his stare, “they gave you a break?”
“Yes, but with an ulterior motive. Sometime tonight I start sparring with Lark.” His gaze stayed locked on her, traveling down her body and up again ever so slowly, his tone disinterested in his words.
“Sometime?” She wiped her clammy palms on her jeans.
“The point is to try to catch me off guard.”
Lexine shivered and glanced around.
“I was promised the daylight hours to myself.” His lips twitched. “There’re a few things I’ve been meaning to do.”
“Oh?” She knew her nonchalant attempt failed when his smile broadened, the expression sinful and full of promise.
She gave herself a mental slap. The raw, sexual vibe coming off him promised that this could get out of hand. Far out of hand. She needed to rein this in. Despite her desperate dating habits in the past, she’d never gotten sexually involved with a male without the hope of a committed relationship.
Since he’d started training, she’d slept without the recurring the dream. His decision to become a Guardian to the archangels must have changed their future.
But what was the harm? Her previous relationships hadn’t worked out, despite all their sweet promises. Once, she’d been flat-out used and left, after all the empty words he’d sung to get her naked. She would have picked up on his game sooner, but she’d been blinded by the fear of her then-recently-begun nightmares and the need to cling to a demon male. Any demon male. At least she knew where she stood with Jett. No promises, just the present. And the heat in his gaze was no lie.
She hadn’t been able to put their first kisses out of her mind.
Her hesitation must have shown on her face. His voice quiet, but no less intense, he said, “You set the pace, Lex. But not seeing you for two weeks might have driven me mad.”
She flushed at his first use of her shortened name.
“May I call you Lex?”
“Absolutely.”
He stalked forward and took her hand. His intensely sexual tone persisted as he murmured, “May I be blunt?”
“Sure.”
“You’ve lost weight these past two weeks. Have you been well?”
“I haven’t had much of an appetite. But I’m fine. It’s getting better as time passes.”
“That’s good.” He cocked his head. “I was on my way to find something to eat. Will you join me?”
Perfect. A way to keep this under control but still share his company. “Absolutely.”
They made their way down the path to the village. Around the cluster of wood-and-stone buildings in the center of the colony, nothing moved except for the two of them, most of the residents inside for the daylight hours. The scent of baking bread and seasonings drifted through the air from the tavern—which the owner, her cousin, Gregory, had named The Ninth Circle. Smartass. Lexine smiled whenever she saw the sign, which hung above the door, complete with a little red devil and pitchfork.
Jett led her inside, a hand on her lower back.
Gory lounged behind the bar, watching a human news program on the wall-mounted television. The bald demon grinned and lifted his fingers in greeting. “Help yourselves. Got your favorite out today, Lexi.”
“Thanks. What’s going on in the world?” Steam rose from a mug in front of a Guardian, the only individual at the bar. Though most of the colonists stayed in their homes during the day, the Guardians on day shifts frequented The Ninth Circle. Since she also worked during the day, Lexine stopped by often, as did many single demons, and the archangels. Today was quieter than usual, the colony still adjusting after the recent attacks.
Gory shook his head. “War, bad politics, and celebrity scandals. What else?”On the serving counter, the small daytime spread included soups and warm breads. A cooler offered sandwiches and pasta salads. Lexine took a bowl of corn chowder and a wheat roll to a table that had a chair in a beam of sunlight. Jett settled opposite her with the potato bisque, a turkey sandwich, and two rolls. They ate for a moment in comfortable silence.
She chewed her lower lip. “Hmm.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. This is just so…normal. Seeing you makes me feel like we should be rushing off on some emergency.”
He grinned, though his eyes seemed sad. “I’m sorry we met under extreme circumstances. How’s Bryce?”
“He’s had a few nightmares, but otherwise, he’s doing well.”
“Good.” He leaned back in the chair and leveled his dark crimson gaze on her. “How have your dreams been, Lexine?”
“Um…” She shoveled some chowder into her mouth to buy a moment to choose her words. She settled on the simple truth: “I’ve had no dreams these last two weeks, at least, none that I remembered when I woke.”
“No poacher?”
“No poacher.” She kept her gaze on the soup, hoping she didn’t look too guilty.
“Excellent.” He reached across the table and rested his fingers on hers. “I’m sorry I disappeared for two weeks. This training—”
“Don’t worry. I understand, and I respect what you’re doing. Mostly, I’m glad you’re not going back to the woods.”
He scoffed. “I wouldn’t have gone back to the woods after meeting you.”
Her heart hammered.
“I still want to get to know you, whether the time is easily won or not.” He drew circles on the back of her hand. “I agreed to train on the condition that my life was still my own and my personal decisions still mine to make. It’s not fair of me to ask, considering how little time I’ll have to offer, but I want to spend my free moments with you. Are you willing to give it a try?”
She smiled and grasped his hand, but cautioned herself. Just a try. In all reality, seeing him only once in a while wasn’t something she wanted. She craved companionship, and despite the way she responded to Jett’s every touch and glance, she wouldn’t be happy with this arrangement long term. Also, as a Guardian standing directly between poachers and the archangels, she’d worry. And worry and worry. Perhaps telling him no would be smart, but the word refused to form on her lips.
Try.
“I’d love to.”
He kissed her fingers, stood, and made quick work of clearing the table. “The day’s wasting.”
“Yes. Can I make a request?”
“Sure.”
“You lived all these months in the woods. Show me where?”
He glanced away. “Why?”
“Because it was your home.”
“I suppose it was.”
“More of a home than you’ve had in a long time.”
“True enough.” He didn’t sound convinced. “It’s nothing worth seeing, though.”
“I want to see what you did with the freedom you’re always griping about,” she said, smiling. “I want to know more about you, not what others forced you to be.”
“It’s not far from the scene of the murders.”
“Oh.” She should have realized that—how else had Jett found the humans faster than the Guardians? She’d been hoping to never venture into that area—Jett read her well. But she refused to back down. “I’ll be fine.”