understand this conversation and the way her body urged her to rub up
against him. “No.”
“Lover?” He growled the one word. He appeared taller, his
shoulders broader as he towered over her.
She shook her head, mute. Something in his posture eased, and
the darkness around his eyes lessened. She nervously licked her lips. Part of
her thrilled to see his gaze drop to her mouth as if he wanted to devour her.
He tipped his head to the side, studying her in a way that left
her shivering and hungry for his warmth. When she found herself shuffling
forward, he quickly backed away and turned.
Her brows lowered at the distance he put between them. It
had seemed like a good idea to stay away from each other. Keep it business and
not get involved. Now that he wasn’t within reach, she didn’t like it at all.
“This is ridiculous. I don’t even know your name.”
Silence filled the air for a second. He shoved his hands in
his pockets, his shoulders hunched a little, his back to her as he surveyed the
street. “Merrick.”
Chapter Five
L eo
had no idea what prompted him to tell her his real name. Only a handful of
people knew it and no one dared use it. But he didn’t want her to call him by
his title, couldn’t stand to see her eyes change when she found out the truth.
Oh, she’d learn of it soon enough but for these few precious
minutes, he wanted to enjoy simply being no one else but Merrick. He hadn’t had
that luxury since he’d become Leo so many years ago.
When she started walking, he fell into step beside her, his
fingers twitching to touch her again. Not wanting to upset her, half-afraid
she’d bolt when he wasn’t watching, he restrained himself.
“You’re a witch.” He saw her wince and grimaced at his lack
of finesse. He was so used to demanding answers that small talk felt awkward. The
desire to know everything about her was more of a physical need. He clenched
his jaw, trying to think of something to say that didn’t sound like a command.
“Doctor,” she corrected again.
“Why were those guys after you?”
This time, she just shrugged. She stole a glance at him from
the corner of her eye then went back to surveying the streets like someone who
had been on the run for a while. She didn’t elaborate.
“They wanted you for something. They were going to take you
and do whatever necessary to find that scepter.” He didn’t know why he
persisted when it would only push her further away, but he had to know what he
faced. Now that he’d touched her and had seen her fight, his fascination with
her increased.
If she attempted to leave, he would find her and follow. She
desired him as well. Even now, he smelled her scent. It was part of what calmed
him down enough not push for more. Just a brush of her fingers made him hard.
Beast rose beneath his skin as if as curious as him, the
movement painful after so long. He found his hand reaching up to tug at her
cap. Only to have her pull it firmly back into place. She threw a glance over
her shoulder at him, and he raised an eyebrow in question.
She turned around with a cute little frown between her eyes
that he wanted to smooth away. He’d bedded his share of women in the past, but none
he’d ever wanted to take his time and learn what made them tick. All the other
women in his life had been selected mistresses for the Leo. Women deemed
appropriate to be his lover and expect nothing more from him than enjoyment.
Trina was different.
This witch, though she desired him, wouldn’t willingly
consign herself to that role. She asked for his protection, but she clearly
didn’t know that providing protection gave him certain rights. And until he had
her safe at the Den, he had no intention of enlightening her.
They would come to an honest agreement.
Then he would seduce her.
He found himself walking a step behind her. He’d intended to
watch her back in case they were being followed. Instead, he was fascinated by
the
against him. “No.”
“Lover?” He growled the one word. He appeared taller, his
shoulders broader as he towered over her.
She shook her head, mute. Something in his posture eased, and
the darkness around his eyes lessened. She nervously licked her lips. Part of
her thrilled to see his gaze drop to her mouth as if he wanted to devour her.
He tipped his head to the side, studying her in a way that left
her shivering and hungry for his warmth. When she found herself shuffling
forward, he quickly backed away and turned.
Her brows lowered at the distance he put between them. It
had seemed like a good idea to stay away from each other. Keep it business and
not get involved. Now that he wasn’t within reach, she didn’t like it at all.
“This is ridiculous. I don’t even know your name.”
Silence filled the air for a second. He shoved his hands in
his pockets, his shoulders hunched a little, his back to her as he surveyed the
street. “Merrick.”
Chapter Five
L eo
had no idea what prompted him to tell her his real name. Only a handful of
people knew it and no one dared use it. But he didn’t want her to call him by
his title, couldn’t stand to see her eyes change when she found out the truth.
Oh, she’d learn of it soon enough but for these few precious
minutes, he wanted to enjoy simply being no one else but Merrick. He hadn’t had
that luxury since he’d become Leo so many years ago.
When she started walking, he fell into step beside her, his
fingers twitching to touch her again. Not wanting to upset her, half-afraid
she’d bolt when he wasn’t watching, he restrained himself.
“You’re a witch.” He saw her wince and grimaced at his lack
of finesse. He was so used to demanding answers that small talk felt awkward. The
desire to know everything about her was more of a physical need. He clenched
his jaw, trying to think of something to say that didn’t sound like a command.
“Doctor,” she corrected again.
“Why were those guys after you?”
This time, she just shrugged. She stole a glance at him from
the corner of her eye then went back to surveying the streets like someone who
had been on the run for a while. She didn’t elaborate.
“They wanted you for something. They were going to take you
and do whatever necessary to find that scepter.” He didn’t know why he
persisted when it would only push her further away, but he had to know what he
faced. Now that he’d touched her and had seen her fight, his fascination with
her increased.
If she attempted to leave, he would find her and follow. She
desired him as well. Even now, he smelled her scent. It was part of what calmed
him down enough not push for more. Just a brush of her fingers made him hard.
Beast rose beneath his skin as if as curious as him, the
movement painful after so long. He found his hand reaching up to tug at her
cap. Only to have her pull it firmly back into place. She threw a glance over
her shoulder at him, and he raised an eyebrow in question.
She turned around with a cute little frown between her eyes
that he wanted to smooth away. He’d bedded his share of women in the past, but none
he’d ever wanted to take his time and learn what made them tick. All the other
women in his life had been selected mistresses for the Leo. Women deemed
appropriate to be his lover and expect nothing more from him than enjoyment.
Trina was different.
This witch, though she desired him, wouldn’t willingly
consign herself to that role. She asked for his protection, but she clearly
didn’t know that providing protection gave him certain rights. And until he had
her safe at the Den, he had no intention of enlightening her.
They would come to an honest agreement.
Then he would seduce her.
He found himself walking a step behind her. He’d intended to
watch her back in case they were being followed. Instead, he was fascinated by
the