“No. I don’t know,” Wendy stuttered “I don’t have any significant keys or even any new keys except for my apartment and car keys. When I mentioned them, he wasn’t interested in those.”
Roderick leaned forward. “Wendy, we need you to think. How about an item that was passed down to you from your grandparents or maybe you bought an antique piece that is unusual. It may not necessarily look like an actual key.”
Kieran hoped she remembered something. Fallon would hypnotize her if she didn’t think of something before long. When Fallon’s gaze swept over Wendy with more than faint interest, the heat of rage burned his insides. He didn’t understand the reaction. She shouldn’t be his concern.
Cyn spoke to her, getting her attention next. “When I went to your apartment, I noticed that you collect stones and other items for your jewelry making. Are any of those old or represent something to you?”
“Not that I can think of,” Wendy replied, shaking her head, her face pinched in concentration.
“How about family jewelry?” Kieran asked her.
When she turned to face him, his eyes locked on her bottom lip. She was biting down on it in thought. When she released it to speak, it was moistened, and he stopped breathing. He really needed to move away from her. Unfortunately, she put her hand in his.
“Well, come to think of it, I have a couple of items that have been in my family for a long time. A couple of necklaces that were my grandmothers, and I have a silver locket my grandmother gave me a long time ago.”
Kieran jumped to his feet, pulling her with him. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kieran released her hand and allowed her to get her balance and then gently cupped her elbow to guide her out of the room.
Someone in the room cleared their throat, but Wendy couldn’t tell whom. When she glanced at the Protectors’ faces, everyone watched them with varying interest levels, from a non-caring Logan to a scowling-faced Fallon.
When Wendy hesitated, Kieran tugged at her arm and steered her out. “Come, we must go,” he growled, half pushing her out of the room and down the hall.
No words were spoken until they arrived in her bedroom. Wendy was forced to concentrate on keeping up with his long strides with her clumsy short limps. Although he slowed his gait for her sake, he still took long steps.
They entered her guest room. “Pack your things. We’re leaving tonight,” Kieran said and gave the room a once-over, noting where her personal belongings were.
“Where are we going?”
“To your apartment to get the jewelry you mentioned earlier. Then to my house.” Kieran pressed his lips tight, letting her know that he would rather not waste time talking right now.
Not sure how she felt at that moment, Wendy wrapped her arms around her waist and looked away from him. “I don’t understand,” she half-whispered, hating not knowing what exactly she was being protected from and why.
The deep breath Kieran gave made her feel childish until he closed the space between them and touched her arm. The gentle caress making her fight tears. “Don’t worry, Gwendolyn. I won’t let anything happen to you. Now, will you please pack so we can go?”
Blinking away the moisture in her eyes, she looked up at him and nodded mutely. His clear green eyes met hers for just a beat before shifting away then returning. For some crazy reason, she felt an urge to comfort him in return. It was as if they were both were trying to figure out which direction to swim in while caught in a strong current.
Kieran stepped away from her. “I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
Packing took only half that time. Wendy heard Cyn and Roderick leave, their motorcycles’ rumbling becoming softer with distance. She took a sip of a comforting herbal tea that Hector, ever thoughtful, had brought her.
A soft knock on the door followed by footsteps told her it was time to go.
“I’m ready,” Wendy called out and went toward her bed to pick up her purse. She gasped in surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry, Fallon. I thought you were Kieran.”
Fallon’s violet eyes landed on her overnight bag and then slowly lifted to her. The heat in them made the room shrink. Funny, she hadn’t noticed his interest in her before, unless she had missed it, like when he was bullying her and demanding answers the night before in the library. Wait, is this some sort of trick?
“I came to tell you that it’s not necessary for you to leave.” His lips curved into a sensual smirk, causing her eyes to widen. “I know you probably feel safe with Kieran since he saved you years ago, but I assure you, you cannot be safer than here at my home.” His velvety voice washed over her like a warm blanket.
“I do feel safe here.” Wendy struggled for words, when he moved closer. With his proximity, the urge to touch him became strong until she wondered what kept her from throwing the gorgeous man onto the bed and ravishing him. What was he doing to her?
“I mean, this house is beautiful…but I have to go find the k-key…,” she stuttered.
“She’s leaving with me, Fallon.” Kieran’s voice broke the spell, and Wendy ducked around the now scowling Fallon.
“It’s insane to take her to your house. It’s in the middle of nowhere with little or no security. Why not just leave a map for the demons telling them how to find her?” The tightness in Fallon’s voice was in total contrast to his relaxed stance. One hand rested on top of the dresser, while his eyes roamed over Wendy lazily. “Besides, I think Wendy will be more comfortable here.”
Kieran glared at Fallon for a beat and then wordlessly picked up Wendy’s suitcase and grabbed the handle of the jewelry tote. He motioned for her to walk out ahead of him. The awkwardness of the situation made it difficult for her to properly thank Fallon for his hospitality, but ignoring Kieran, she went to Fallon and put her hand out.
“Thank you so much for allowing me to stay here. I will definitely keep your invitation in mind, in case,” she finished weakly, noticing that Fallon was not releasing her hand, and the heat of his gaze was beginning to warm her up again.
“Stop that shit, Fallon, before I shove your head through the wall,” Kieran warned, moving closer.
With a sigh, Fallon looked at Kieran and shrugged. “Try it and you may find your head stuck up somewhere darker.”
When both large men took a step toward each other, Wendy snapped out of her fog and jumped between them, hopping on one foot. “Stop it! Stop being such macho jerks for a damn minute. You can pound on each other later. Right now, I need to go find the freakin’ key and give it to Julian so that he can get rid of the demon that wants to kill me. Then, I can go back to my boring but somewhat normal life.”
She hobbled out the door, hoping to hear Kieran behind her and not the sounds of Fallon’s head being shoved through the wall.
The drive to her apartment was quiet. From the corner of her eye, Wendy watched Kieran. The man kept a permanent glower etched onto his gorgeous face. She wondered if the occasional twitching of his jaw was an indication that he was recounting the episode with Fallon. Somehow, she doubted the issue was over.
“Do you still live in Midtown?” Kieran asked as he signaled and changed lanes. The beauty of his shimmering eyes in the daylight when they met hers momentarily made her heart skip a beat.
“Yes, same place. I’d just bought it right before you were there that time.”
Since they were speaking, she took the opportunity to ask him questions. “Where do you live?”
“Dahlonega.”
“Oh, that’s over an hour from here. You drive that far every night for work?”
“Yes.”
“What if you’re like super-tired after?”
“Sometimes I stay at Cyn’s house.” Kieran pulled into her parking lot just as she was about to ask him another question. It was clear that he was uncomfortable holding a conversation. Surely, he conversed with Cyn, Blue, and Emma when he was at their house.
No, he probably slept in the spare bedroom and rushed out without having
to interact with anyone. This man was definitely a loner.
The normalcy of the surroundings and her familiar apartment building on Peachtree Street didn’t help to dispel the chill that caused her to shiver. The memory of her second attack was instantly vivid in her mind.
Still seated in his Jeep, Wendy waited on Kieran, not sure what to do next. He studied her apartment building, his large body perfectly still. The energy that hummed from him told her was doing some sort of scanning for demons. Finally, he got out of the vehicle came around to her door and opened it.
“It’s clear, but I don’t want to take any chances. Let’s get this over with and leave,” Kieran said as he took her elbow and helped her toward the entrance.
When they exited the elevator, she hurried into her brightly decorated apartment. Once inside, she let out a sigh of relief that it had not been ransacked. Everything was just as she’d left it. Wanting nothing more than to sink into her couch and flick on the television, she ignored the pang in her chest and went to her bedroom to get the small jewelry box where she kept all of her expensive jewelry. Her rather large costume jewelry collection was displayed on two window frames that she’d found and screened. Using small hinges and S hooks, she’d used them as a standing jewelry display.
She was about to pick out a few pieces when Kieran scooped her up and covered her mouth with one hand. “Is there anywhere on this floor we can hide?”
“There is a water-heater closet across the hall, but it’s probably locked,” she said when he removed his hand.
After bending and picking up the small jewelry box, he handed it to her and dashed straight out the door, carrying her as if she weighed no more than a couple of pounds. A strong odor like that of sandalwood followed them, and she gave him a questioning look before he squeezed them into the closet, pulled the door shut, and plunged them into complete darkness.
“It’s a scent eliminator, so the demons won’t know I was in your apartment,” Kieran told her, his warm breath way too close for comfort. She was about to ask what demons when heavy footsteps sounded, exiting the elevator and moving down the hall toward them.
Oh, God! She began trembling and grabbed blindly until she found Kieran’s hand. A silent scream vibrated through her at the knowledge that those monsters were within a few feet of them.
Not able to even cry for fear that a sniffle would be overheard, she bit the inside of her cheek. Wendy was terrified that somehow she’d give away their hiding place. Kieran took the small jewelry box out of her hands and placed it on the floor, probably to make certain she didn’t drop it.
“Stand guard while we go in,” a gruff voice spoke right on the other side of the door. Wendy jerked at the sound of it.
“Shhh.” Kieran’s whisper was so quiet, she wasn’t sure how she heard it over the cacophony of her heartbeats, chattering teeth, and short breaths.
Soundlessly, his hand slid up her arm, sending her focus to the precise spot. Ever so gently, his calloused fingers glided over her skin, leaving a trail of heat. Up and down they moved, capturing her total attention.
The demon in the hallway cleared his throat, but she barely heard it. Kieran’s other arm encircled her waist, and he pulled her back against him. The heat from his hard body doused her shivers. A soft sound next to her ear alerted her as he smelled her hair.
“Lavender,” he whispered into her ear.
Any thoughts other than being held by the man she’d loved for years evaporated. Wendy bit her lip to keep from moaning as she leaned back into him and snaked an arm over her shoulder so she could run her fingers through his silky mane while he nuzzled her neck. A crash sounded in the distance.
The twirling of his warm tongue on her skin made her immediately forget. Heat simmered and pooled between her legs, causing her knees to practically give out.
Wendy reached behind her with her free hand and held on to his hip to pull him closer. His hand moved slowly up her side until his palm rested on her waist. He pushed into her again, and she swore she almost climaxed then. When his hand cupped her breast, his fingers flickering over her taut nipple, she pressed her lips together hard and breathed through her nose.
He wrapped his other arm around her thighs, pulling her up so that her butt was perfectly aligned with his hardness.
His breathing harder now, but somehow, he was silent as a mouse. When he ground into her from behind and simultaneously kneaded her breast, Wendy lost control and moaned. God, how she wanted this man inside her at this very moment, his body covering hers. Seeming to know what she needed, he put his foot up on the wall to hold her in place and moved his hand between her legs. His fingers teased at her center with swift movements. Stars exploded in the darkness as Wendy allowed herself to let go.
She turned her head and pressed her mouth onto his bicep so that the sounds of her climax were muffled by his skin.
The noise of their heavy breathing penetrated through her foggy brain. “Oh, my God, they might hear us,” she hissed at Kieran.
At first, his silence filled the tiny space. “They left about five minutes ago,” he finally replied.
“What?!” She attempted to shove away from him, her face flaming, but in the cramped space, they were still touching.
CHAPTER TWELVE
It took several moments for Kieran to force his breathing to slow. The small space became engulfed in light when Wendy scrambled out of the water-heater closet into the hallway. She reached back in and grabbed his hand, pulling at him to follow her.
“Are you sure they’re gone?” she whispered, her anxious eyes searching his.
“Yes, I heard them leave,” he replied, bending down to retrieve her forgotten jewelry box. He was grateful for the distraction, willing his erection down. Although his jeans did a good job of holding him back, it was still damn uncomfortable to walk.
When their gazes met, Wendy blushed before she turned away from him to enter her apartment. He grabbed her arm and held her against the wall. Her breathing accelerated.
“Let me walk in first. Just to make sure it’s safe.” He leaned forward and their bodies touched again, and it took all of his willpower for him to move away from her. “Right. So stay close,” he instructed her and moved toward the door.
What a difference a few minutes made. The apartment was now an utter disaster. Just about every single piece of furniture had been broken, and shattered dishes were strewn across the floor. The curtains had been ripped; the remnants hung haphazardly from the rods. Stains from some substance that had been flung carelessly about covered most of the carpeting. Their shoes squished into wet flooring with every step as they made their way into the living room.
“Oh. My. God.” Wendy sank into an upright chair and surveyed the disaster with a dazed expression on her face. “They didn’t have to do this much damage.” Her voice trembled.
Kieran looked away when the first tear spilled down her cheek. He left her and walked through both bedrooms and the one bathroom. All of the rooms were in the same state. All of her possessions were destroyed.
A burning rage coursed through him.
It was the way of life, it seemed.
Don’t hold anything or anyone dear because it will get ripped from you. One way or another. He understood the pain Wendy felt and the scar it would leave behind.
The sound of Wendy’s sniffs only made him angrier. He pushed the feeling down, forced himself to go through the process of investigating the scene, and made sure the demons didn’t leave any kind of tracer behind.
Minutes later, he stood in her bedroom doorway and watched Wendy scurry around. With hunched shoulders and a stoic face, she jammed some clothes in a bag.
He didn’t like seeing her like this. The sprite’s personality always seemed to lean toward optimism. Kieran assumed a neutral expression and walked into the room.
“Okay. I’m ready,” she told him, picking up the brightly colored, overstuffed duffle bag. He handed her the small jewelry box and took the bag from he
r. He followed her out of the apartment.
Wendy hesitated at the doorway and took one last look around, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She picked up a small picture from the floor and pushed it into the bag he carried, and then, holding her head up, she walked out.
Halfway to his house, Kieran pulled into a steakhouse. It was late, and he wasn’t sure if there was anything edible at his place, so he decided to stop and have dinner before heading home. He made a mental note to shop for groceries as soon as possible.
Wendy remained silent the entire ride. When he parked, she glanced around and gave him a grateful smile.
Once they were seated and their drinks were placed in front of them, she finally spoke. “That apartment is the first place I bought on my own. My parents own a few properties in Georgia. I lived in one of their houses with my twin brother, Guiles, after they moved to Ireland. When Guiles moved to Savannah, the house felt so big and empty.” She shrugged. “Since Emma and I spent so much time in Midtown, I decided to buy a place there. It’s perfect. I can walk to work and to all my favorite places…” her voice cracked, she picked up her iced tea and sipped from it. “I guess now I have a new project. It will take me weeks to clean up that mess. Damn demons!” Her mouth twisted into a grimace.
“We have a cleaning service that will take care of cleanup and disposal and not ask questions. I will call Roderick’s wife Rachel. She will know what to do,” Kieran told her.
“That would be awesome, thank you,” she replied with a smile that lightened the constriction in his chest
A couple of males at a nearby table slid nervous glances over at them. Kieran sensed their demon blood. He’d already noticed the blue tinge of their skin. They were benign, the type that tried to blend in with humans and keep their identity hidden. He nodded at them in acknowledgement, and they visibly relaxed.
Surrender: Immortal Protectors, Book 2 Page 7
