Something about the man pleased her phoenix, making that part of her heat up until she was sweltering. Now wasn’t the time, though. She couldn’t afford the distraction—though a man like that would be ideal to see her through this. The problem? She could seduce the stranger for a night, maybe two, but convincing him to give up a week of his life for her as an unknown wasn’t realistic.
She slipped behind the bar and toed her backpack for reassurance before grabbing a glass, pulling a lager and then slamming it back. She dropped her chin with the last swallow and found the stranger’s gaze boring into hers. Undiluted desire slammed into her without warning, burning her from the inside out and incinerating every ounce of air in her lungs. The taste of ash on her tongue made her pull a second drink and slam it down even faster. Still, grit coated her mouth. She fought the urge to go straight up to the man and demand who, and what, he was, because he wasn’t a run-of-the-mill human. Oh, no. Too much power rolled off him for that. He also wasn’t a phoenix. If he had been, he would have arrowed straight toward her when her hair began the preliminary mating dance that was, as always, out of her control.
Thank the gods he’s not one of us. Otherwise he’d have me flat on my back in the middle of the bar, fighting for my life. She shuddered. At least until the madness claimed me.
When she shuddered a second time, her empty pint glass slipped from her fingers.
The sound of shattering glass against the stone floor had a wave of attention shifting toward her. Several men laughed and whistled, calling her out—her—out over the broken glass. She, who tossed bottles and slid drinks and juggled empties—and had never broke a one. Yet experiencing a polite, if solitary, glance from a stranger had her falling apart.
Damn hormones.
She refused to blush, instead offering the crowd a wicked grin and one-fingered salute.
Grabbing the broom and pan, she cleaned up without comment, never acknowledging the jests. She’d work, simply work, and if the man became a problem, she’d deal with him. Until that point, she wouldn’t allow herself to worry. More importantly, she’d keep her temper in check. Good rule of thumb, not killing while on the clock. So far she’d held to that little rule.
So far.
Copyright © 2016 by Denise Tompkins
ISBN-13: 9781488004759
Brimstone Seduction
Copyright © 2016 by Barbara J. Hancock
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