Ryder zeroed in on the table at the back of the cellar. Just what he needed. Old swords and daggers, sheathed in ancient scabbards and leather holders.
“Let me see those,” Angie said, coming up next to him.
He handed one to her and she carefully pulled a sword from its scabbard. She held it in her hands like a woman would a newborn. Lovingly, gingerly, and with tender care. Then she put it down, her eyes lit up, and she sifted through the others.
“These are phenomenal. Cutlass, rapiers, daggers, even battle-axes. Some newer, some as old as medieval times.”
Angelique gazed in lust at the objects in front of her. Ryder laughed. “Gives you a thrill, huh?”
She didn’t turn from the weaponry in front of her. “You have no idea. These must be worth a fortune. I wonder if the current owner of this property is even aware of the treasures in here. Who would leave this stuff locked up in a cellar? They belong in a museum.”
“Not sure. Either way, they’re ours now. Gather these up.”
She finally swiveled and faced him. “What are you going to do?”
“We’re going to use these weapons. Now help me carry them out of here.”
“Ryder, these are antiques.”
“No, they’re weapons.” He scooped up an armful and waited for Angelique.
“We can’t take them.”
Ignoring her, he pivoted and walked out of the cellar, knowing she’d follow. He made his way back into the house and laid his stash on the kitchen table. Angelique put those she had carried alongside the ones he’d brought.
“I don’t like this,” she said.
“Duly noted. Now I need a blowtorch.”
Angelique whimpered.
He smiled at her misery as he walked out of the house and down the stone walkway. He didn’t think he’d be lucky enough to find a torch in this place, but he figured it wouldn’t hurt to search the garage anyway.
Damned if the owner didn’t have a blowtorch in the garage. Actually, the garage was fairly well stocked with tools.
“It’s got to be my lucky day.” Not much had gone right the past few months. It was good that at least something had. They’d found plenty of silver, and now he had a torch hot enough to melt it down.
He grabbed all the silver and brought it to the garage, then found a pot sturdy enough to hold it all and set to work.
It was a tedious, painstaking task that took the better part of the day. And Angelique stayed right there with him, her goggles on to protect her eyes from the blinding light of the torch. He burned, she watched. And brought him drinks and food during breaks. She was silent the entire time, though from the sour expression on her face he was more than aware of her displeasure at what he was doing.
It wasn’t like he was melting down any of the antique weapons they’d found in the shed. Those he’d use later, after the silver was liquefied.
By the time he was finished, it was dark outside, and he was filthy.
“I’m going to go take a shower and let this cool down a bit. Then it’s part two.”
“Delightful,” Angelique said, wrinkling her nose.
He shook his head at her continued disgust with the process, and headed into the house to clean up. She followed.
“What, exactly, do you plan to do now that you’ve melted all that precious silver that didn’t belong to you?” she said, following him up to the bathroom.
He stripped off his boots and socks. “I’m going to coat all the weapons in the melted silver to use against the demons.”
“I see. So you’ll be ruining all the antiques, too.”
He dragged his shirt over his head and discarded it on the floor. “Yes, as a matter of fact I will be.”
“I really hate this, Ryder.”
“So you’ve mentioned.” He leaned in and turned the shower on, then flipped the button on his pants and dragged the zipper down.
Angelique’s gaze followed.
“You gonna hang in here and continue to argue with me?”
“I might.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” The pants dropped to the floor and he turned and stepped into the shower. “But if you’re going to bitch, talk loud. Otherwise I won’t be able to hear you over the water.”
“Damn you, Ryder.”
He heard the door close and grinned, then reached for the soap.
The man had the body of a god. Breathtakingly stunning. Muscles ran in ripples down his abdomen, his arms lined with clearly defined ridges. His thighs were like stout tree trunks, and she’d gone utterly female when he’d dropped his pants.
She’d completely lost her train of thought while he’d stood there, briefly and gloriously stark naked, before he turned and stepped into the shower.
She might as well have drooled while she was at it.
By the time she recovered her senses, it was too late to continue the argument.
Ryder was the most stubborn, infuriating man she’d ever known. And clearly, he had no idea what she did for a living. Or at least he didn’t care.
Angelique stared at the closed bathroom door and listened to the shower running, trying not to remember the sight of Ryder’s naked body. Though she doubted she’d ever forget. She sucked in a breath, blew it out with force, and contemplated opening the door to continue their discussion.
To what end? It wouldn’t get her anywhere. She knew what he was doing. And really, what choice did he have? It wasn’t like he was going to ruin the antiques out of spite. It was necessary for their survival-for her protection.
Still, it didn’t mean she had to like it.
Frustration was pointless. She decided to go downstairs to cook dinner and take her anxiety out on raw vegetables. It felt good to attack something with a knife.
And the vegetables didn’t talk back or argue with her. By the time she’d cut up carrots, zucchini, and squash, she felt immensely better.
“You’re dangerous wielding that knife.”
“You have no idea.” She didn’t turn or glance Ryder’s way. It was bad enough to be able to smell his clean scent. And her head was still filled with visuals of what he looked like without clothes. He had a mighty fine ass, too.
Irritated by her wayward thoughts, she scooped up the vegetables and tossed them into the pot, then shoved a plate at him.
“There’s a grill out back. Cook these steaks.”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
After Ryder left, she concentrated on food instead of the effect his nearness had on her. Now that she had her wits about her again and had recovered from the attack by the demon, she was all too aware of how Ryder made her feel.
Frustrated, angry, irritated, turned on, curious, excited, flushed with heat, and filled with need. Mixed emotions for sure, none of which should be front and center in her mind. Finding her sister and staying one step ahead of the Sons of Darkness were her priorities.
She just had to figure out a way to accomplish both.