Tempted by the Gargoyle (a gargoyle shifter romance): Boston Stone Sentries

by Lisa Carlisle

  “I know that look,” Janie said. “Twice in one week.” She clamped a hand over her mouth, then dropped it. “What is it?”

  “Not sure.” Searching inside herself for insight, the only word that came to her was change. “I don’t know. It’s just—something is—it’s about change.”

  “What?” Janie asked, her face scrunching as she attempted to scrutinize the cryptic reply. “Or for who?”

  Probing deeper, Larissa found nothing more. “No idea.”

  Janie’s worried expression snapped her back to the present.

  Larissa’s insights usually indicated that something was about to happen, which had saved her ass many times in her years as a police officer. And at other times…

  This wasn’t the night to dwell on enigmatic physical twinges. Not after all the trouble Janie had gone through to get her here. After all, she didn’t sense any negative vibes. Change simply meant change. It could be a move, a promotion—anything.

  “It’s probably all this talk about the moon freaking me out,” Larissa said to pacify her. “We came here to dance. Let’s dance.”

  * * * * *

  While surveying the city from above, a dark-haired woman on the roof caught Roman’s attention. She stood ramrod-straight and she fidgeted with her glass. Something about her discomfort triggered his gargoyle instincts, making him observe her more closely.

  When he scanned her from head to toe, he didn’t gain any insight other than how attractive she was. Her hair was rich and lush, flowing in loose waves over her shoulders. It had a burgundy tone from the various lighting fixtures around the deck. Her wide eyes searched her surroundings. What was she looking for? His gaze traveled down her body, studying how well it was encased in a form-fitting black dress. He lingered on her killer curves, fueling his imagination with sordid fantasies of what it would be like to touch them.

  He snapped his eyes away. He was supposed to be gauging what had set off his senses, not visualizing her naked body.

  Seconds later, his gaze returned to her, despite his admonition to himself. Her expression turned troubled. A strong reaction rose within him, one he couldn’t read. He rubbed the back of his neck. Something about her put all his senses on edge; he had to keep an eye on her, although he had no indication why.

  She spoke to a blonde woman next to her, and he turned his head to hone in on their conversation. With all the chatter in the room, he couldn’t catch it, despite his acute sense of hearing.

  What troubled the brunette? An instinct to protect her kicked in. The pull toward her was compelling, a sensual onslaught that overpowered him.

  Remember why you’re here.

  He stepped back, both mentally and physically separating himself from the woman, and shielded himself behind the bar. That compulsion was one he’d never experienced, and not knowing what it meant bothered him all the more. All the uncertainty about tonight had him on edge.

  Turning away, he gulped in the cool night air. It invigorated him for only a moment. What hit him next almost knocked him off his feet—a sudden whoosh of energy. It blasted past him with immense force and power, indicative of dark magic.

  A gut feeling made him turn to locate the brunette, and he scrutinized her. He sensed something unusual about her than the other humans on the roof. Was she the source of that dark magic? He opened a mental link to communicate with Arto.

  There’s a woman on the roof I’m going to keep an eye on.

  Is she in danger? Or is she dangerous? Arto asked.

  Good question. That’s what I plan on finding out. I sensed dark magic and will investigate further.

  His triggers were now on full alert. Whoever she was, he wouldn’t let her out of his sight. Not until he figured out who—or what—she was.

  And why she had that effect on him.

  When the woman and her companion walked to the stairs, he followed from a safe distance. The blonde had a limp. She led the brunette into the crowd and began to dance. The brunette joined in, although she didn’t seem to want to be there; she just moved through the motions.

  After a couple of songs, she loosened up and even smiled, all signs of the troubled expression gone. He watched her body move and soon became entranced by the sway of her hips, the gentle curves. Gods, she’d distracted him. As if she were some kind of siren.

  Was that it? She was stunning, that was for sure, but the way she captured his attention had disarmed him. What else could it mean save that she was somehow dangerous?

  If she wasn’t human, why was she in a club full of humans? Did she have a nefarious purpose?

  He’d been studying her so acutely that when Arto interrupted with a telepathic message, the intrusion jarred him.

  Roman, I’ve checked in with the other sentries. All appears well right now. The dome you asked me to check out is a temporary attraction here for the night. It lets humans fly inside it.

  Roman’s eyebrows rose. The dome allowed humans to fly? Interesting concept.

  Good work, Arto.

  Anything pan out with the female?

  She was different. Unsettling him since he couldn’t read her.

  Not yet. I’m still tracking her. Check in with me later tonight.

  After he ended the mental link, the brunette caught his eye. Had he been staring at her the entire time he’d been communicating with Arto? That would explain the intense glare she cast at him.

  Shit.

  Had she been eavesdropping on their conversation?

  No, that wasn’t it. She wasn’t a gargoyle, which he knew for sure, and he didn’t know of any other beings who could intercept their communication channel.

  The way she approached with a grim expression, arms swinging at her sides, indicated that she was not happy with him.

  Not happy at all.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Someone was watching her. Police radar kicked in. Larissa stopped dancing and assumed a defensive posture, scanning for the source. Through groups of people at the fringes of the club, she saw him.

  His hair was so black it reflected the lights from above. It hung well past his shoulders. Six foot four or five, with a build that would intimidate most men. He stood alone and kept his eyes fixed on her, long after she’d caught him staring.

  The effect was disconcerting.

  “Some weirdo’s giving me an eye-fuck, and it’s pissing me off,” she told Janie.

  “Who?” Janie stiffened and appeared ready to kick ass, a sudden switch from her carefree dancing.

  Janie had been right. She walked with a pronounced limp, but when she danced, her injury was hardly noticeable. By shifting her weight to her stronger leg, she could shimmy her little heart away. No wonder she’d wanted to come out and dance. After all the physical therapy she’d gone through even to walk without a physical aid, she’d gone beyond it. Although Larissa had relaxed enough to dance with her, the indecipherable uneasiness had lingered in the back of her mind—and was now exacerbated by this guy staring at her.

  Janie zoomed in on the guy. “He’s hot. You should hook up with him. Long overdue. It would do you good.”

  “Oh, cut it out.” Larissa brushed her off with a wave. “I’m not going to hook up with some creep staring at me at a club.” This guy was interrupting her night out with Janie. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to tell him to piss off.”

  “Wrong play,” Janie teased. “Go get him!”

  Larissa ignored her as she strode over to the dark stranger. “Excuse me. Do you have a problem?”

  His eyes flickered with surprise. “What makes you say that?”

  His voice was rich and deep and had a slight accent she couldn’t place. European?

  “You’ve been staring at me.”

  He raised his brows. “Was I, now?” A glint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

  “Yes. And it’s creeping me the fuck out.”

  A full-blown laugh escaped him. “I apologize. Casting off a sinister vibe that disturbed you was not my intention.�
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  What was so funny? “What was your intention?”

  “You’re an attractive woman. I didn’t realize I was being so obtuse.”

  Sinister, obtuse—who spoke that way? The accent and speech pattern didn’t fit her perception of him as a weirdo loner at a club. Her cheeks warmed. She’d planned to come over here to rip him a new one and go on her way, but something about him threw her off her game. “Well, knock it off.”

  He bowed with a slight smile, as if he knew a joke she wasn’t privy to. “As you wish.”

  What was with this guy? Not like the cops she worked with, nor the usually pushy guys she met in clubs when Janie dragged her to them. “Okay, then.” She straightened and spun around to leave, to make a decisive exit, but forgot about the heels. Not having worn them for months, she hadn’t been graceful to begin with. The erratic movement knocked her off-balance. He caught her by her arms and steadied her as she fell against his chest. Holy hell—how embarrassing.

  All other thoughts vanished as she was pressed against his hard, muscular body. And he smelled so good…

  It had been a long time. Too long since she’d been with a man. Maybe Janie was right—one night with a lover might do her some good.

  “I’m fine,” she said, brushing his hands away. Falling all over him wasn’t the best way to reinforce her point.

  A moment later, she remembered her manners. He was trying to help her, not feel her up. She was the clumsy one with a problem with gravity. “Thanks,” she said in a sheepish tone.

  “Wait,” he called after her. “Allow me to make it up to you. Can I buy you a drink?”

  “I’m here with my friend.” She searched for Janie, where she’d left her on the dance floor. Janie was dancing with a blond guy with a tan that looked close to purple under the light. She didn’t seem to mind. In fact, wearing a radiant smile, she appeared to be having a great time.

  “All right, why not?” she said. No way was she going to interrupt Janie enjoying herself tonight. Besides, it was better than standing alone, a beacon for unwanted male attention.

  “Brilliant.” He grinned with self-satisfaction. “Shall we go upstairs? Much too loud down here.”

  After letting Janie know where she was headed, she led the way to the roof deck.

  He nodded to the bar. “What can I get you?”

  “A manhattan.”

  She studied him as he ordered her drink from the bar. The overall package was definitely appealing. When he placed the order, he said please, which was a plus in her book. His stance was relaxed and confident. As he waited, he didn’t move. At all. She spent many hours studying people in her profession, and most people made tiny movements even when they thought they were still. A slight movement of their lips, a tiny tilt of the head, or even the slightest motion of a finger. But he remained frozen. Only his eyes moved about, taking in the scene around him.

  Triggering her radar. Interesting…

  A few females cast appraising glances his way, bristling her with sudden annoyance. Odder still. Why would she care about other women checking him out? She’d called him out for staring at her, and only agreed to have a drink since Janie was occupied in a conversation with Mr. Tan.

  When the drink was ready, he stepped back to give it to her and smiled. “For the most striking woman on this roof.”

  She forced herself not to blush. Compliments made her uneasy. Compliments given by the alluring male in front of her made her doubly so. “Enough of that.” Softening her snappish reply, she added, “Thank you.”

  He took a sip from a glass of caramel-colored liquid and ice, watching her over the rim. His eyes shimmered beneath the string of lights wrapped around the potted trees. They were a brilliant amber with flecks of gold flickering within. Magnificent eyes unlike any she’d ever seen. She hadn’t noticed that downstairs. Perhaps it was a play of light and shadows.

  She sipped her manhattan, trying to dissect him as she did so. Something about him was odd. It didn’t set her cop senses all tingly like he was a bad guy. What was it?

  Her mind raced, and she forced herself to shut the questions down. She wasn’t on a case. He hadn’t done anything shady. She’d have one drink with him and say goodnight. No matter how he piqued her interest—or made her panties slightly damp.

  “What’s your name?”

  His question snapped her out of her thoughts. All that speculation and she didn’t even know his name. “Larissa. You?”

  “Roman.”

  “Interesting name.” For an interesting guy?

  “What brings you here tonight, Larissa? Looking for the right one on this momentous evening?”

  She snorted. “No. I don’t believe in that wacko crap.”

  “No?”

  “Hell, no. It’s all media-driven. No sound science whatsoever. I put as much faith in meeting my soul mate tonight as I would in a newspaper horoscope.”

  He laughed. “You have some strong feelings on the matter.”

  She steadied her arm, which she’d waved around while making her point. “Please don’t tell me you’re falling for it?”

  “Ah, no.” The humor left his eyes as he took on a more serious tone. “But I do think something is peculiar tonight.”

  “How so?”

  He tightened his lips. “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

  “And that’s why you’re here alone in a club? I’m presuming you’re on your own, since I haven’t seen you with anyone.”

  “I’m on my own.”

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “Why would you come here alone?” She sounded too much like a cop again, asking too many questions. Why couldn’t she let go and enjoy a drink with an attractive man?

  He motioned with his glass, out toward the skyline. “Open air. Great view of the city. If I’m going to come to the city, it beats fighting through patrons in an overheated bar.”

  “True.” She took a sip. “What do you do, Roman?”

  “I’m in…” He paused before adding, “…security.”

  His reply triggered a new round of questions. “What type of security?”

  “Private sector.”

  “Like a security guard? What company?”

  “Let’s just say our job is to keep the bad guys out.”

  He’d avoided a direct answer. “Interesting.” She tapped her glass. The more he evaded her questions, the more she wanted to go for them.

  Before she had a chance to ask if he was on duty tonight, Janie grabbed her arm from behind. “Hey, Larissa! I’ve been looking for you.”

  “I told you I was coming up here.”

  Janie glanced at Roman as if she’d just noticed he was there. She reached out her hand. “I’m Janie. Larissa’s best—” she paused to grin, “—and cutest friend.”

  “Roman.” He shook her hand.

  “Mind if I steal Larissa away for a minute?”

  He gestured with a broad sweep of his hand. “Please.” He nodded at Larissa and walked away.

  She watched his back disappear into the crowd with a twinge of regret.

  “I thought you were going to give him hell. Or else I never would’ve dragged you away,” Janie said. “Figures—I think I’m saving you, but you’re looking at him like he’s the most decadent piece of tiramisu in the North End.”

  Even the mention of desserts in the Italian neighborhood made Larissa’s taste buds flare up with excitement. “I am? I mean, I’m not.” Larissa tore her eyes from Roman. “Never mind. What’s up?”

  “Guess what?” Without waiting for her to answer, Janie said, “I scored some tickets for Thrill of the Chase!”

  “The what of the what?”

  “It’s this attraction at the Boston Common. They brought it in for the night. One-time thing. Supposed to be awesome.”

  Larissa glanced toward the Common, but the dome wasn’t visible from their vantage point. Odd. Something that big should have been mentioned at the station.

 
“So, anyway,” Janie said. “I scored some tickets from a couple whose friends were a no-show. Got them scalper-desperate-to-unload-tickets cheap. It’s supposed to be wicked fun. You fly. Fly!” She waved the tickets. “Isn’t that sweet?”

  Larissa scrunched her face. “Um, I still have no idea what it is.”

  “It’s your chance to meet the man you’re destined to be with.” Janie grabbed her arm and steered her toward the rooftop entrance. “Come on. I’ll tell you on the way.”

  Larissa stole another glance at where she’d last seen Roman, but found nothing. Had he left or had he disappeared into the blackness of the crowd?

  What do I care? It was one drink.

  “Yeah, okay, I’m coming.” They descended the stairs through the interior of the club, and she breathed in the cooler air once they’d exited on the main level. “You’re always dragging me to things. In fact, this is the second time tonight.”

  “That’s because you need me to make your predictable, workaholic life more fun.”

  Larissa opened her mouth to protest, but then shut it. No point arguing with the truth. She turned back toward the club.

  “Oh my God,” Janie said. “You want to go back to that guy.”

  One vocal part inside her shouted yes!

  “Janie, please. I shared half a drink with him.” She took two decisive steps away from the club.

  “I think you should go back to him. All you do is work and take care of others. You have needs, babe. Time to take care of yourself.”

  Larissa considered that option; it was tempting. She pushed it aside. “I’m here with you. Show me this contraption you speak of.”

  * * * * *

  The lit-up dome loomed out of place on the Boston Common, and the action within had her eyes glued to it. The transparent windows gave an opening onto people zooming about, appearing to be chasing each other. They were indeed flying, wearing some sort of jetpack.

  “This is crazy,” Larissa said, taking in the two lines of men and women waiting to get into the dome.

  “Crazy fun,” Janie replied. “Besides, you may meet someone hot.”