Chapter 9

“Excuse me?” I dropped the blanket and looked up to take in the angry expression of the man across the room. No, the demon. Surprisingly, he didn’t frighten me, but a small, tiny part of me wondered if he would pull out the wings and horns if he got angry enough. Idly, I shook off the thought and crossed my arms. “Why do you get a say in what I do?” The words, You don’t even want me as your mate, hung silent and heavy between us

He was across the room and within touching distance with just a few of his ridiculously long strides. “I saved you from three very pissed off vampires last night. Do you think I want you to walk out that door just to end up with them again?” he snarled down at me.

I scoffed, even though I knew he was right. “Way to make it all about you, big guy. I thought this was my life we were discussing, not yours?”

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. I noticed he did that a lot when he was upset and tried not to think about how sexy he looked doing it. “That’s not what I meant,” he glowered down at me. He dropped his hand and took another step closer. “You’re in danger, and you fucking well know it. The safest place for you is here, with me, so that I can keep an eye on you.”

My mouth dropped open. “I’m not a helpless baby! You don’t have to watch me. Besides, I highly doubt it’s so safe here with you, considering everyone seems to know where you live.”

“Syn won’t tell the Master,” he snarled, but I got the impression his snarl wasn’t directed at me. I had a feeling it was at the thought of Syn betraying him that had that look on his face. I cocked an eyebrow, not caring if I poked the bear.

“You sure about that? She seemed pretty determined to get rid of me. I wonder why that is?” I was taunting him, but I didn’t care. I wanted to push him to see how far he would go to defend her. A petty jealousy was simmering inside my gut. Ever since I saw them greet each other the night before and watched them disappear together into her office, knowing what kind of shenanigans she got up to in there, I had been positively green.

A look of confusion flashed across his features before waving my words away as inconsequential. It made me deliriously happy that he didn’t seem to notice her crush on him, while at the same time, I wanted to call him an obtuse dumbass. “She would never give anyone my location.”

“But she would give me away in a heartbeat,” I insisted. I could tell he wanted to argue that point, but she had already gone looking for me at my apartment for that very reason. Which meant he was right, damn it. I couldn’t go home.

“Your apartment isn’t safe. Every vampire in the city will be on the lookout for you.”

“Perhaps. That’s why I should get my things and leave the state before anyone is the wiser. I can just go somewhere and start over new. I’ve done it before, and I could do it again.”

“I won’t allow you to put yourself in danger!” His words were practically roared in my face, and that was when I realized that we were toe to toe and nearly nose to nose. Both of us were breathing hard, our chests rising and falling in almost perfect sync.

“Aw, pookie bear, we’re having our first fight!” I smirked up at him and then turned to walk away. I needed to gather what few belongings I had and make a plan for my escape out of the city. Before I could take a full step, my arm was grabbed, and he tugged me around, my hands landing against his broad chest. His wide, warm, bare chest. Damn, what I wouldn’t give for a chance to be able to explore all the dips and valleys his muscles provided.

“I said I would keep you safe and always keep a promise, mate.” With those words hanging between us, his face descended, coming closer until his lips hovered over mine in an almost caress. “And, babe?”

My voice was nothing but a breathy ghost of a whisper as I stared into his brilliant green eyes, nearly eclipsed by his widened pupils. “Yes?”

“Don’t ever call me pookie bear again.”

In a heartbeat, he was gone, just the warmth of his breath still hovering over my lips. With wide eyes, I stared at his retreating back as he entered the bathroom, firmly shutting the door behind him. A moment later, I heard the shower turn on. With a huff, I dropped onto the small couch, my fingers drifting over my mouth as the memory of him so close to actually kissing me replayed on repeat in my mind. Did I want him to? I closed my eyes and dropped my head back against the cushion with a groan. Of course, I wanted him to. I had been drawn to him at first sight before I even knew who or what he was. Even knowing that he didn’t want me in his life didn’t stop the need from coursing through me.

I had already fixed myself another cup of coffee before Valen finally emerged from the bathroom, a cloud of steam wafting out with him. I sipped the cup of hot coffee as my eyes followed him to the corner where his bed was. He had obviously forgotten to take a change of clothes with him when he’d decided to leave me hanging on the cusp of receiving my first real kiss—the jerk. I couldn’t regret the sight of him wrapped in nothing but a low slung towel, though.

He glanced back at me as he rustled through his bag. I watched as he withdrew a pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt. Typical. It was the same thing he wore the night before. If I had to guess, it was all he ever wore. I glanced up from admiring the way his muscles bunched and flexed as he moved to see him looking at me with one eyebrow raised. My face flamed hot at being caught ogling his body. Before I could apologize, his hands went to the knot of the towel at his waist, and with a single flick of his wrist, the towel dropped to the floor, baring every glorious inch of him.

With an embarrassing squeak, I jerked my head away until I was facing the wall. At the sound of his deep chuckle, my face grew hotter, and it took all my control not to lob my hot cup of coffee at his arrogant head. I might have if I didn’t want to waste a second cup.

Holy shit, I wished I had gotten a better look. The brief view I did have wasn’t enough to satisfy my curiosity, but it would live rent free in my brain for the rest of my life.

The heavy tread of his motorcycle boots was loud as he walked toward me, but I refused to look up. Instead, I kept my eyes glued to my rapidly cooling coffee.

“Is there anything in particular you want me to get from your apartment?”

His question had me jerking my head up so fast I felt a twinge of pain. “You’re going to my apartment?” I asked, the shock I felt clear in my tone.

“Well, if you’re okay with wearing nothing but my T-shirts and flashing me your pussy while crawling on the floor, I won’t bother.”

My mouth gaped open at his audacity. Then my eyes narrowed into slits. “I did not flash my vagina.”

He simply stared at me with an exasperated, are you kidding me? expression. “Babe,” he drawled.

I spluttered. “I did not.”

“Okay, you didn’t. Now, is there anything in particular you want me to grab?”

“I didn’t,” I insisted stubbornly, even though I specifically remember crawling away from him when I got freaked out. I totally flashed my, err, pussy at him. Damn. I sighed. “Can you just bring everything?”

He snorted and then pointed in the direction of the lift. “You do know I ride a Harley-Davidson, not a U-Haul, right?”

I just smiled ruefully. “Don’t worry. Everything will fit.” He looked doubtful but seemed done with the conversation.

“I’ll bring food back. If I can fit it on my bike somewhere,” he muttered. He turned and started walking toward the big freight elevator as I sat staring into my cold coffee and rolling my eyes. “Don’t leave this loft, Kallista. I mean it. No one can get in without the code, even if they find out where you are. You’re safe as long as you are inside this building. Got it?”

“Don’t worry, I have no desire to become vampire chow.”

“Good girl.” Why did those two words make me feel all squirmy inside? I would have to take it out and examine it later. Much later. “Be back soon, babe. Keep being good while I’m gone.”

With those parting words, the lift slowly began to lower while my temperature grew hotter. I’ve read one too many romance novels to not be asking myself what my reward would be. Or even, what would be my punishment? I stood up and headed straight for the shower as I reminded myself over and over that he didn’t want me. I wasn’t sure that the reminder was going to help stop my growing infatuation with the man.