by Deanna Chase
Harrison shrugged and disappeared into a galley kitchen. “Thirsty?”
“No.” I paced the room. “Where are Tal and Link?” I all but shouted.
A yelp came from the next room and a door opened. Link shot out and launched himself at me. Thank goodness he was in Shih Tzu form, otherwise I would’ve been buried under one hundred and fifty pounds of wolf. I caught him mid-leap and buried my face in his fur. “Hey, buddy. There you are.”
He licked my neck, making me laugh.
“Missed you, too. Where’s Tal?”
His little body wiggled with excitement as he pressed into my shoulder.
“Okay, that’s enough.” I kissed the top of his head and set him back on the floor.
Harrison strode toward the door Link had shot out of but stopped in his tracks when Link growled and paced back and forth in front of the doorway. Harrison took another step and Link started to shimmer.
“I’d stop if I were you,” I said. “If you get any closer, he’ll shift.”
Harrison froze, but it was too late. Link growled and shifted into full blown wolf. Harrison narrowed his eyes. “Call off your beast.”
I could. Link would obey, but Harrison deserved a little payback for his performance downstairs. I shrugged and joined Link near the door. “Is Tal in there?”
Link rubbed his head on my leg, showing Harrison I belonged to him. I had to swallow a laugh. I wouldn’t let Link hurt Harrison, but it sure was fun seeing his confidence stripped down.
I knocked once on the door that had clicked closed and then pulled it open. Inside, Allcot had his hand out and Tal was reaching for it hesitantly. The pair shook briefly, with Tal pulling his hand away first.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Kavanagh,” Allcot said. “I knew we’d come to an agreement.”
I stared openmouthed at Tal, who shook his head slightly, warning me to not ask just yet. An agreement with Allcot? Shit. What had Tal done?
Allcot nodded once to me. “Ms. Rhoswen. I have some information for you.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You mean other than my mother being in town?”
“She is here at Carrie’s request.” He was as cool as ever, irritating me to my core. We were talking about life and death and he acted like it was just another day. Maybe for him it was.
“It’s good Mom has time with her and Beau,” I said, happy Carrie had thought of my mom. Tal reached out and took my hand in his. I squeezed his fingers, itching to leave.
“You’ve had a stressful day,” Allcot said.
“Is there a question in there?” I challenged. Way to state the obvious.
He cracked a smile and chuckled. “No. But you should be questioning me.”
“Why? Are you behind any of it?” I was tired of his game.
His smile vanished as anger flashed in his piercing gaze. “I don’t appreciate your tone, Ms. Rhoswen. Push me too far and I’ll reconsider your security detail.”
I shrugged but kept my mouth shut. The truth was I did want help to keep my staff safe, even if I wasn’t at all interested in being followed by his henchmen.
“I see we’ve reached an understanding.” He paced forward as if stalking me. “We have reason to believe someone at the Void is responsible for the break-in at your office.”
“What? Who?” Why would they do that? They already had access to my recipes. Did they know about my abilities?
“The new director is most curious about you. We believe she’s behind it.” Allcot tilted his head, studying me.
“Why?” I didn’t want to believe it. Didn’t want to even consider that the Void might be after me again.
“We have our ways.”
“And the attack today? Was that the Void too?”
He shook his head. “No. We believe the attacks on you and Carrie are both from Asher’s men. I have my people working on finding him. Until then, stay near Harrison. He will keep you safe.” He gestured to Harrison and said, “You may take them out the back way now.”
“What about Carrie?” I called as he turned to go.
He paused and glanced back. “That is none of your concern.”
Chapter 6
None of my concern? What an ass. Of course Carrie’s well-being was my concern. She’d been engaged to my brother. She was the mother of my nephew. She was practically family. Effing vampire.
Tal and I followed Harrison up a flight of stairs to the roof access. Only this time, my security detail kept his hands to himself. It was a good thing, too, because I could feel the anger radiating from Tal. It was so bad, Link hadn’t been able to shift back to Shih Tzu form. We were failing at being inconspicuous.
Talisen strode with purpose toward the adjoining building as if he knew exactly where we were supposed to be going.
I stopped in my tracks. “Wait a minute. If I’d been followed earlier today, my tail knows I came here with Talisen. Isn’t he going to be suspicious when he doesn’t see Link and Tal leaving the building?”
“It’s already taken care of,” Harrison said.
Tal put his arm around my waist and tugged me to him. I fit perfectly and even though I was still keyed up from my mother’s revelation and the short meeting with Allcot, his presence made me calmer. Tal visibly settled, too, and Link shimmered back into Shih Tzu form at our feet. I pressed into Tal and rested my hand on his hip. He glanced down at me, his expression soft, full of all the love I knew was there.
He leaned closer and kissed my temple. “Link and I already left the hotel once. We came back in the same way we’re leaving now.”
“You already know about the plan then?” I glanced once at Harrison.
Tal stiffened but clamped his mouth shut and nodded.
When we got to the edge of the roof, Tal and Harrison jumped the short way over to the next building. I fluttered my way over, clutching Link to my body. Landing next to Talisen, I set Link down and glared at Harrison. “Where do you think you’re going?”
He blinked. “To do my job.”
“Not tonight.” I placed my hands on my hips. “You can start tomorrow. I’ll be at my shop by seven.”
“Sorry, Wil.” He smirked and I wanted to smack him for using my nickname. We weren’t that familiar. “Allcot has me on duty tonight. But don’t worry, you won’t even notice me.”
My mouth hung open in total irritation and Talisen ground his teeth together. “I don’t think we have a choice,” he said. “Just ignore him. Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me after him through another door and down five more flights of stairs. Only the sound of shoes and paws on the wooden steps filled the narrow stairwell.
At the bottom, Harrison blocked our way through the back entrance. He stared Tal in the eye. “When we get in your car, head directly to your apartment. Don’t deviate and whatever you do, do not let anyone see Rhoswen. Got it?”
“Yeah, I’ve got it,” Tal said. “I’ve already been briefed.” When Harrison didn’t move, Tal raised both eyebrows. “Are you going to move aside, or are you going to stand there eyeballing my date all night?”
A thrill ran through me at Tal calling me his date. It was stupid because the evening had turned into a disaster. My mom, Allcot, Harrison, and David. None of them were a welcome addition. All I’d wanted to do was enjoy this night with Tal. But he hadn’t forgotten our plans for the evening and neither had I. Of course, now we were banned from going anywhere accept Tal’s apartment.
Oh crap. Our first date and we’d be alone at his place.
My heart started to beat erratically and my breathing turned uneven. What would he do? What would I do? Hell, I wanted him. Badly. But when we took our relationship further it would change everything. Was I ready for that? Tal gave me a worried glance. I shook my head, indicating I was fine. But I was far from it. A swarm of butterflies had taken up residence in my chest.
Harrison checked a text on his phone and then, without a word, stepped outside. The door shut silently behind us and waiting at t
he curb was Tal’s new black truck. The four of us climbed in with me and Link sandwiched between the two of them.
“So,” I said, “your place?”
Tal took off, clutching the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. A few moments later, he purposely relaxed his grip. He reached out and placed a light hand just above my knee. “Sorry. It’s not much of a date.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “I’m sure we can think of something to salvage it.”
He let out a surprised laugh. “You think so, huh?”
Heat crawled up my neck, but I smiled at him and tried to forget Harrison was privy to this conversation. “We’ll figure something out.”
“No doubt,” he said in a low seductive voice. “But dinner first.”
We were quiet the rest of the way to his apartment. Tal turned right off St. Charles. Another right and then a left and we were pulling into the long driveway of a large, unfamiliar French colonial home that appeared to be converted into multiple apartments. So this was where he’d chosen to live. It was gorgeous. He pulled around to the back and parked next to a red Saturn SUV.
All four of us climbed out, and without even so much as a good-night, Harrison disappeared, presumably to find a good stakeout spot. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Fancy place,” I said, glancing up at the three-story home and admiring the multitude of bay windows and intricate moldings.
“It’s a one-bedroom,” Tal said.
I lifted an eyebrow. “Who gets the bed?”
A gleam lit his green eyes. “We’ll negotiate after dinner.”
I took his hand and let him guide me to the stairs. Nervous anticipation sent blood rushing to my head. For the first time, his flirting actually meant something. When we were in the friend zone, Tal had been quick to flirt, but anything that was too overtly relationshipy, like helping me with my coat or holding my hand, had been off-limits. It had been a line we’d drawn and neither of us had dared to cross it…until last week when Tal hadn’t been able to handle the thought of David and me together. Tal had finally admitted his feelings for me. Everything was new, but also familiar. It was odd. Not uncomfortable, just different.
“So,” I said as we climbed the back stairs. “You said something about dinner. Does this mean you cook now? Or am I going to have a frozen dinner forced on me?”
He placed a hand on his chest and gave me a wounded look. “Ouch. If you must know, I have learned a few useful things.”
“In the kitchen?” I teased.
He gave me a sly grin and stuffed a key into his door. A second later he pulled me into his kitchen, slamming the door behind us. He lifted me easily and placed me on the counter, moving to position himself between my legs. Leaning in, he brushed his lips along my jawline and trailed soft kisses to that sensitive place just beneath my ear.
“Hmm,” I murmured, my skin tingling all the way to my toes. He could do that forever and I’d die a happy fae. “That’s nice.”
He lifted his head, his intense gaze searing into mine. Then he placed both hands on either side of my face and moved in. My nervousness came rushing back. Not from the physical act, but from the desire and intense need to belong to Talisen. To give him that part of me I’d always known was meant for him but had kept buried in the depths of my heart.
I sucked in a breath and bit my lip. Tal paused, his eyes focused on my mouth, then he met my gaze and brushed a lock of hair out of my eyes. “Is this too soon?”
I shook my head, not daring to speak, afraid I’d say too much.
“This,” he said, placing a hand over my heart, “is what I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember. Just you and me, Wil.” He brushed his lips over mine, coaxing yet another murmur of pleasure from me. He responded by darting his tongue across mine and kissed me deeply, devouring the emotion running rampant between us.
Oh God. This was really happening.
I matched his fervor and clutched at his shirt, pulling him closer so that our bodies were flush, my legs wrapped around him. His healing hands roamed over my back, under my wings, and even though he’d touched me a million times before, everything was new and different. His fingers were light, almost hesitant, but not afraid. He was taking his time. Reintroducing himself to my bare skin, knowing I wanted him to touch me intimately. To memorize the way I felt in his arms.
Shivers of anticipation crashed through me, and I pulled back, gasping for air.
His gaze went soft with undisguised desire. “Sorry.”
“For what?” I leaned in and nuzzled the hollow of his neck. A faint trace of vanilla and spice filled my senses.
“Not making dinner.” His fingers moved to the tips of my wings, sending a ripple of pleasure straight to my toes. It was then I noticed my wings fluttering. Dammit if Harrison hadn’t been right about that little tidbit.
I sucked in a breath and gently pushed him away. “Don’t think you’re getting off that easy.”
His eyes crinkled and then he laughed. “Easy? I was definitely going to work for it.”
Heat rushed to more areas than just my face. I pushed him farther away and then hopped down off the counter. “You’re a bad influence, Mr. Kavanagh. Food first, then we’ll see where things go.”
He took a step closer and wrapped one of his strong arms around me, gazing down at me. “I love having you here in my space.”
I blinked, not expecting that. “Then why didn’t you invite me over sooner?” He’d moved in a week ago and until tonight, I hadn’t even known what neighborhood he’d chosen.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I wanted to finish unpacking first.”
I glanced around, noting a California redwoods print above his couch. The blue glazed vase I’d given him as a housewarming present sat in the center of his dining room table. He didn’t have much else in the way of décor, but there weren’t moving boxes lining the walls either. “Looks pretty put together already.”
Shaking his head, he tucked my hand in his and led me through the kitchen to the sparsely furnished living room. He paused outside his bedroom door. “I want to show you something.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Um, is this an ‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours’ situation?”
He stared at me with equal parts admiration and exasperation. “You are feisty.”
I smiled up at him, noting the gleam in his eye. What was he up to?
He brushed a lock of hair out of my eyes and then pushed his bedroom door open. “Take a look.”
I stepped inside and even without the light on I saw the outline of branches and leaves against the ceiling. “Tal?” I gasped out. “How?”
He grinned, clearly pleased with my reaction. “I had some help from a certain witch we know.”
“Phoebs did this?” I flipped the light on and gasped at the gorgeous cypress tree and the bed nestled on the floor between its roots. If I ever stayed over, the tree would be perfect to replenish the magic I used every day at my lab creating magically enhanced treats for all my customers.
“Yeah, she worked the spell for the tree.”
He pulled me to the middle of the room and turned me so I was facing him. “I want you to know I did this without expectations.”
Both of my eyebrows shot to the top of my forehead. “Really? Because from here it looks like you have a whole lot of expectations for us.” Tal was gifted in crystal magic. He didn’t need nature to replenish. Sure, it was probably comforting, but totally unnecessary. And the tree couldn’t have been easy to pull off. There was only one reason it was there. Me.
“Okay. Maybe some expectations. But future ones. The kind that I only want to happen if we’re both ready for them. This”—he waved at the bed—“was more about letting you know I’m all in. What we have? It isn’t going away. And I know it’s new, or at least this chapter we’re headed into is new, but it’s real and right, and I’m in it with you. The bed? It’s about letting you know that I know what you need and if I can give it to you, I
will.”
He stepped back, giving me some space.
I rubbed my hands over my face and when I dropped them, I found Link lying right in the middle of the bed, sprawled out as if he owned the place. “Link! Get down.”
He blinked his amber eyes at me and then turned his gaze on Talisen. Damn dog. He knew who was in charge here. Tal glanced at me, then Link. “Off.”
The Shih Tzu rose reluctantly but eventually did as he was told and took up residence at Talisen’s feet.
I shook my head in exasperation. Tal had made him get off because he knew I didn’t want Link to get in the habit of not obeying my commands. Not because he minded my dog lying in his bed. I waved a hand. “Go on, Link. It’s fine. Go to bed.”
Link didn’t hesitate. He jumped up and a second later was curled against a pillow.
“He should be your dog,” I told Talisen.
“Nah.” Tal slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me back into the living room. “He adores you and if he thought I was a threat, he’d rip my face off without hesitation.”
I snorted. “Not likely. He’d probably take your side in a fight.”
“Good thing we’ll never have to find out.”
We stood in the middle of the living room and I suddenly felt awkward. Tal and I had spent countless hours together. I’d never been uncomfortable around him before, but now, on a date in his apartment, I didn’t know how to act. I couldn’t exactly leave and go home, in case another tail was waiting for me. We needed these people to think Harrison and I were together at the hotel. So I was stuck here. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue. Tal and I would’ve likely even slept in the same bed. Everything would’ve been one hundred percent platonic. But now…
“Have a seat.” Tal indicated the brown leather couch and headed to the other end of his apartment into the kitchen. “I’ll work on scrounging up some dinner.”