Through a Crimson Veil Read Online Free PDF Page B

she wasn’t prostituting herself and Conor knew it. He’d said that to make her mad; he wanted her to storm off in a snit, then he wouldn’t have to deal with her. Too bad for him that she knew what he was up to, and Mika refused to let him push her buttons.
    “No, but I might offer you my body for other reasons,” she answered easily.
    Turning her head, she snuggled into his shoulder and nipped at the pulse point in his throat, then ran her tongueover it. She couldn’t have chosen a worse action if she’d planned it—not if her goal was to stay close to Conor Mc-Cabe. He released her so fast, Mika staggered to catch her balance.
    Damn it, why did she have this need to always push? She knew he didn’t want to want her, that if she had any hope of him agreeing to her scheme, she had to do everything she could to play down the overwhelming physical attraction flaring between them. But was that what she’d done? Hell, no. She’d maximized his awareness of her. How stupid.
    “I’m sorry,” she said, and tried to sound contrite. “Let’s start over, shall we?” He pivoted to face her, and she could sense his reluctance. Be businesslike, she told herself. “Conor McCabe, I’m Mika Noguchi.” She took a few steps toward him, arm outstretched. For a moment, she didn’t think he was going to take her hand, but he surprised her. The shake, however, was perfunctory. “I’d like to hire you to protect me, and to slay the demon that’s trying to kill me,” she said.
    He tucked his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. “I don’t work cheap,” he warned her.
    She knew she had him then. McCabe might not realize it yet, but they were now negotiating price. Mika managed to keep her satisfaction in check. “That’s okay. I don’t value my life cheaply.” With a shrug she added, “And I can afford you.”
    “Can you afford this? ” He named a price that made her eyes bug out. “That’s per day,” Conor added.
    “That’s outrageous!”
    “So? Usually I only kill demons. You’re going to have to pay for my time if you want around-the-clock baby-sitting.”
    Mika reined in her temper. She made a counterproposal, offering a fraction of what he’d suggested.
    “Is that a joke?” He shook his head. “Never mind. I don’t know why we’re discussing money anyway. I don’t want the work.” He started to walk away.
    “You thought if you threw out that ridiculous figure thatI’d tell you to forget it? Well, think again, McCabe.” She closed the distance until she was toe-to-toe with him. “I want you.” When he tensed, she realized her wording. “I mean, I want your skills as a hunter,” she amended.
    He didn’t respond.
    “Would you really trust my life to someone else?” she asked.
    “What do I care about your life? You’re a demon.”
    “Half demon,” she corrected. “And half human.” The flash of anger she felt seeped away and humor returned as she realized he was grumbling more for appearances sake than for any other reason. She upped her offer.
    He countered, tacitly admitting he was taking the job. They went back and forth until they agreed to a figure that was about midway between their opening proposals. It wasn’t that the cost was important—her dad had plenty of money and was extravagantly generous—but if she didn’t dicker over such an exorbitant amount, he’d become even more suspicious.
    Their next argument was over what, precisely, his job would entail. She couldn’t give in on this; he had to put her up in his home. Mika needed access to his things in order to find and retrieve the incantation the Council believed he had. That was the plan.
    Reaching an accord was easier than she expected, once she agreed to obey his orders without discussion. Unless what she had to say was critical; she tacked that on.
    “Deal.” McCabe held out a hand.
    “Take off your glasses,” she ordered.
    “Why?”
    “Two rules. First, when I make an agreement, I always know exactly