“I’m fine.” She swallowed her growing impatience and reached for calm. “It’s just there’s a lot of work to do, and the police said I should do it myself. That way I’ll know if anything is missing. If you help me, I won’t know.” Araminta thought that lie was positively inspired.
“I just want to do something to help.” Mary Jo glanced away and chewed on her bottom lip. Araminta felt like an ungrateful wretch, but knew she had to be cruel right now in order to protect her friend. If she survived the day she’d make it up to Mary Jo. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to get caught up in the war she was involved in.
“And I really appreciate it, but now is not a good time. Tomorrow. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll get together.”
“I’m working tomorrow,” Mary Jo pointed out.
“Tomorrow night. We’ll order a pizza or something.”
Mary Jo’s expression lightened. “Okay. If you’re sure?”
“I am.”
Mary Jo shoved the coffee cake at her. “Take this in case you get hungry later and don’t feel like cooking.”
Araminta took the plate and felt tears well in her eyes. She very well might never see her friend again. “Thanks.”
“Hey, it will be all right.” Mary Jo put her hand on Araminta’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “If you change your mind and need some help or just want some company please call. I’m going to my quilting club this afternoon, but I’ll be home later.”
“I will.” Something crashed inside and Mary Jo peered around her. Araminta shifted slightly, not knowing what had happened. “I gotta go and see what Percy is into.”
Mary Jo reluctantly stepped back. “Remember.” She mimicked holding a phone to her ear. “Call me if you change your mind.”
“Thanks.” Araminta shut the door and leaned against it, releasing a pent-up breath. The cake plate was clutched to her chest. She’d had no idea she could lie quite so effectively. It was a little disconcerting.
“You did the right thing.” Leander appeared beside her, making her jump, his sleeveless tunic once again covering his incredible chest. He moved with a quiet and stealth that was really quite impressive. He pulled back the lace curtain and glanced through the window. “You don’t want to be responsible for any harm coming to your friend.”
He was right. As much as she hated to lie to Mary Jo, she really had no choice. Her friend’s life was at stake.
She pushed away from the door and went into the kitchen to set the cake on the counter. She gripped the edge of the countertop and stared blindly out the window. Her back yard looked normal, with the mature trees and hedge surrounding it, the fence peeking out between the foliage. Leaves had started to appear, but there were only a few flowers in bloom save the crocuses and daffodils. Would she live to see the garden in all its summer glory again?
She sensed Leander behind her and turned. “So what do we do now?”
His expression was grim. “Now we wait.”
Leander’s senses were all on alert. His ears were constantly twitching, searching for any sound that didn’t belong. He kept one eye on Araminta and the other on the entrances. It was too quiet.
What was Hades up to? What was he waiting for?
It was frustrating not knowing. Leander was a man of action and it galled him to stand around here waiting for Hades to attack. He’d had far too many years of inactivity. He wanted to take the battle to Hades, but he had Araminta to protect. His personal wants took a backseat to her safety.
She’d been unusually quiet since her friend left, going around her house with a garbage bag and a broom. Several lamps were shattered and the glass was scattered across the floor. She swept up the pieces and dumped them into the trash bag.
He helped as much as he could, placing books back on the shelves. He’d never had a home, had always traveled the world with the Lady and his fellow warriors. They’d stopped when they wanted, eaten what they wanted and he’d never imagined life any other way.
But he knew it was different with humans. Even back five thousand years ago, humans had created permanent homes for safety and shelter, gathering tools and food for survival. Humans were much more fragile, their lives incredibly short.
During the years he’d been trapped, he’d learned so much more about the human race. Their homes had become more elaborate over the years, their belongings more important. Personally, he thought they put too much stock in such things, but he understood it was their custom.
This was Araminta’s home. Her sanctuary. And it had been defiled. This was no random break-in. He could smell the underlying stench of sulfur and rot. Hades had sent several of his demons here. But what was his purpose? Had Hades been searching for something or was the purpose simply intimidation to make Araminta more frightened so she would be more likely to bargain with him?
He growled and his claws extended out of his fingertips. His lion didn’t like that idea at all. Anyone who dared to frighten his woman deserved to die.
“Everything all right?” She stood in the doorway of her bedroom with a partially filled garbage bag at her feet. Behind her, he could see her bed was made up with fresh linens. It was all too easy to imagine her spread out on top of the flowery quilt that topped the sheets, her tawny hair spread over the pillows and her pale thighs parted.
He swallowed and ignored the ache in his cock. “I’m fine.” His voice was rough and harsh, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted her with a fever that showed no signs of abating.
Was this a trick of Hades? Was the Lord of the Underworld doing something to make Leander want her so much? Leander didn’t think so, but it was a sobering thought.
She swiped her hand over her forehead. “The bedroom is done. I’ve got at least eight loads of laundry to do and a bag of clothing to go to the drycleaners. I didn’t know what they touched, so I’m washing pretty much everything from my dresser as well as the sheets that were on the bed.”
Araminta left the garbage bag in the doorway and came toward him. Her eyes widened as she took in the state of the living room. “You put everything away.” She blinked hard several times. “Thank you.”
Uncomfortable with her thanks, he shrugged. “It was nothing.”
She put her hand on his arm and her fingers scorched his skin where they gently rested. The muscles in his arms and shoulders clenched and his cock hardened. “Not to me.”
He so badly wanted to scoop her into his arms, take her to her bedroom, kick the door shut and stay there for the next several weeks. He figured it would take that long for him to quench his initial thirst for her. He wasn’t sure he’d ever quite have his fill.
He stiffened his resolve and took a step back. Now was not the time to indulge in physical pleasure. Her eyes darkened with hurt and she let her hand fall back by her side. Anger surged through him. He needed to be strong for her and for him. There could be no relaxing his guard until the time ran out on the curse and Hade was no longer a threat.
“Would you like some coffee cake?” Araminta headed to the small kitchen with him right behind her. He loved to watch her ass while she walked. She had a first-class behind, plump and firm, and he longed to take a bite out of it.
He cursed and reached down to adjust his unruly dick in his pants, grateful she didn’t glance over her shoulder and notice his predicament.
She stood in front of the window, staring out into the yard. It was large by most modern standards with mature trees and plants. A wooden swing sat in one corner, the wind rocking it slightly. Leander felt hemmed in by civilization and wished he could drag Araminta to the desert or the mountains where he could better protect her away from the prying eyes of her neighbors.
He put his hands on her shoulders and moved her away from the window. “It’s not safe for you to be so exposed.” He could feel the tension thrumming through her. Although it was against his better judgment, he pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.