by Tina Folsom
He turned his head and looked out into the darkness. Quietly, he answered her question with one of his own. “Do you find the thought so utterly disgusting? I know you didn’t want me to come home with you when we were in the bar, but you fantasized about me. I couldn’t have been that revolting to you.”
Why was he challenging her? Why couldn’t he simply let sleeping lions sleep? But to know that she knew what he’d done gave him a thrill he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“You were there? The entire time? All the while as I was …” She pressed her eyes shut.
“You called out my name. Twice.”
She lifted her head. “I can fantasize about who I want! And you had no right to watch me!”
“No, I didn’t,” he said, sobering. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I have no excuses.” And he wouldn’t make any up now. He alone was to blame. He and his uncontrollable lust that even now was coursing through his veins.
When he looked back at her, she avoided his gaze.
“And I still don’t believe your stupid ‘walking through doors’ claim. Why don’t you just admit it: you drugged me, watched me … then set my place on fire so you could kidnap me.”
“Fine. I suppose it takes a little demonstration.”
He pressed the car’s locking mechanism. “As you can see, I’ve locked the doors.”
Then he concentrated and exited the car as if the door were wide open, allowing his body to pass through the glass and metal while remaining visible the entire time. There was no need to reveal to her that he could also make himself invisible. It would only invite more questions and stir up more doubts.
From outside the car he looked through the window and noticed Leila slamming her hand over her mouth, her eyes projecting a shocked stare. But he also saw acceptance there as it crept into her features.
He reentered the car the same way he’d exited, letting himself fall back into his seat.
“Do you believe me now?”
She nodded. Slowly, she lowered her hand from her lips. “What are you?”
“I’m an immortal, a guardian who was sent to protect you.”
“An angel?” she echoed.
He gave a crooked smile. “No, we’re not exactly angels, least of all I.” He was pretty sure angels didn’t get hard-ons for their charges. “We’re called Cloak Warriors, and we protect humans from the Demons of Fear.”
He placed his hand over hers and felt her shrink back from his touch.
“Please don’t touch me.”
***
Leila looked at him with caution as his face all of a sudden turned gloomy as if somebody had spit into his soup.
She’d seen him vanish through the closed car door, and she believed him. It didn’t mean she had to like it—or comply with what he wanted for that matter. On the contrary, there was something very disturbing about his words. He was still a stranger, one who had followed her, entered her home without her permission, and practically kidnapped her. That he was some kind of superhero didn’t change that in the slightest.
He’d called himself an Immortal Warrior.
Aiden was a dangerous man with a dangerous job, even though warrior was probably not considered a job as such. His mere presence spelled trouble. What kind of trouble, she had no idea, but she sensed she was in a hell of a lot of it. Even if he was telling the truth and was really some sort of guardian or protector—which she wasn't at all convinced of—what did he want from her? The only protection she needed was somebody who protected her from him. Because he stirred a side in her she thought didn’t exist. A side that craved excitement, passion, even danger. A side that frightened her to death.
When he’d kissed her, she’d barely been able to contain herself, ready to agree to anything he wanted. No, she could never let a man like that close to her, not even if he was a guardian and there to protect her. Protect her from what?
Shit, she was so totally screwed up. It was time to get her head around all this, find out as much as she could, assess the predicament she was in, and then make a break for it.
“Demons?” she asked. “Like in the Exorcist?”
“No. The demons I’m talking about are made of flesh and blood. They’re close. They’re watching, and they want to harm you. That’s why I was sent.”
Why would anybody want to hurt her? She had no enemies. She treated people politely, she paid her bills and her taxes, and she donated to charities. Didn’t she have enough to worry about with her parents? She just wanted to be left alone with her research.
Instinctively, she pressed her hand over the pendant she carried in her pocket. It was still there, still safe. Whatever had burned in her apartment could be replaced. The item in her pocket could not.
“Looks like you’re doing a bang-up job,” she said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. Since she’d met him, she’d been nearly run over by a car, and her apartment had gone up in flames. Maybe he was the one who brought danger with him. Maybe it followed him.
“I suppose this kitten has claws,” he answered.
“I’m no kitten. I’m a respected resear—”
“I know everything about you, Dr. Cruickshank. There’s no need to inform me.” His voice was suddenly tight.
So, Dr. Cruickshank it was now? After watching her pleasure herself—God, what a horrifying and at the same time shockingly exciting thought—and kissing her, he found it necessary to be formal. Fine. She could be that way too. It was better that way. As long as she could keep him at a distance, she might get out of this unscathed.
“What kind of danger am I in, Mr. Cloak Warrior?”
She noticed him shift his gaze away from her, a clear indication that he neither liked her question nor the way she addressed him.
“The kind that gets people killed.”
She trembled involuntarily. “I can take the truth.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because there’s somebody out there who wants a piece of you.”
She shivered slightly, the predatory glare in his eyes indicating that he wanted a piece of her. And truth be told, in this instance she wasn’t sure whether she would have the willpower to resist him if he took what he wanted. Her throat was suddenly dry as sandpaper. She swallowed quickly, taking in an extra breath of air. Her nostrils filled with his male scent, a scent so potent it would have made her knees buckle if she weren’t already sitting. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of showing him the effect he had on her.
“I have a right to know.”
Aiden gave her a long look. “I suppose you do.”
Then he studied the area outside as if he could see through the darkness that engulfed them in the dark alley. His hand went to the ignition. “It’s not safe here.”
A moment later, the engine roared back to life.
“I’m not going anywhere with you if you don’t—”
Her protest died when the swift acceleration of the sports car pressed her back into the seat. With a clear disregard for any rules of traffic, he merged onto the next street.
“You—”
He shot her a look that didn’t bode well for her immediate future. “You’ll get your answers when we’ve reached our destination.”
She could only hope that their destination wasn’t far, because she wasn’t sure how long she could keep her tongue in check while her so-called rescuer behaved like a caveman. It riled her up to no end, making her want to fight him when she’d never been one for confrontation. But this was different. This oaf was trying to take over her life. Without even telling her why. It was unacceptable.
Whatever this stupid threat was, she was sure that the police could take care of it. As soon as she found out from him what it was, she’d ditch him and go to the police. Then they could handle whatever the problem was, and she could go back to her well-ordered life and continue with her research. This unpleasant interlude would become merely a faint memory as long as she didn’t dwell on it.
ELEVEN
Aiden didn’t say another word until they arrived at their destination a few minutes later. He locked her in the car while he secured a room at a run down two-story motel in one of the shabbier parts of town, giving her no chance to escape.
As he now locked the door behind him, Leila perused the sparsely furnished room. Her eyes instantly fell on the bed: there was only one. Did he really think she’d share a bed with him? Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest. There was no way she’d stay here with him.
“Are you cold?” his gruff voice came from behind her.
Her shoulders tensed involuntarily. She ignored his question. “You were going to tell me what’s going on.”
The worn carpet swallowed the sound of his footsteps as he walked around her. He opened the bathroom door and peered inside as if to assure himself that they were indeed alone. When he turned back to her, he ran his eyes up and down her body. Then he pointed toward the bed.
“Sit.”
“I’m not a dog,” she snapped.
“Suit yourself.”
What had she ever done to deserve this impolite behavior? “If I did what suits me, I’d be back home right now.”
“Well, your home burned, so that’s not an option.”
He was right about that. But that didn’t mean she had to admit it. “I’m still waiting for an explanation.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes. “If you think you can handle it.” He paused for a moment and ran his hand through his dark hair.
His eyes drifted to the window that was obstructed by the heavy curtains he’d drawn upon entering. “There’s evil out there. Things you can’t even imagine.”
“Try me.” Leila steeled herself for his explanation.
He let out a bitter laugh. “Weak human,” she thought she heard him mumble, but didn’t trust her ears.
“I’ve been sent to protect you from the Demons of Fear.”
She nodded. “You said that earlier. But that doesn’t tell me anything.” He would have to be a little bit more specific about the alleged danger she was in.
“They want to seduce you to their side, so you’ll do their bidding.”
“Excuse me?” She wasn’t one to be seduced easily, and for sure was she never going to do some demon’s bidding. Besides, “What do those so-called demons do?”
“What do they do? I’ll tell you what they do: they spread mayhem in this world. They incite wars, they create discontent.”
Still not enough information for her. Did he really think he could serve her up a couple of lines, and she’d be happy with it? “What else is new? There are already plenty of wars.”
“If you think what this world is going through right now is bad, if you think the atrocities that happened during World War II were bad, if you think what happened in the concentration camps in Germany was horror, or what Pol Pot did to his people in Cambodia was evil, you’ve seen nothing yet. The demons are capable of much more evil than that.”
His words shocked her. “How? How do they do that?”
There was clear hesitation in him, just the way he’d hesitated back at the Irish bar when she’d asked him what he did for a living. He’d not lied to her outright then, but he’d only told her a half-truth.
“They approach the most talented and promising humans and entice them with things beyond their reach in exchange for their soul. Then they make sure whatever good this person was going to do would be used for evil in their hands. And they’re coming after you now.”
Uneasiness crept up her spine. “Somehow I don’t feel flattered by that.”
“You shouldn’t be. But you will. They all are eventually. And in the end, many give in to them. That’s how the demons get stronger.”
“By getting human souls? Sorry, but that’s a little too abstract a concept. You can’t separate the soul from the body. Scientifically that’s—”
He took two swift steps to cross the distance between them, bringing himself entirely too close to her. “It’s got nothing to do with science, at least not the science you know. This is supernatural, something you wouldn’t understand.”
Leila expelled an angry huff. He made her sound like an imbecile. “I’m not some stupid woman who doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together, something I can’t say for—”
He bared his teeth. “Say it and I’ll bend you over my knee right now!”
Her jaw dropped at his ridiculous threat. Would he really do such a thing? Like she was some naughty schoolgirl! She planted her hands at her hips and realized too late that this action virtually shoved her breasts against his chest.
Aiden lowered his lids, and there was no doubt that he was checking out her boobs. Instinctively, she took a step back to bring some distance between them and to prevent her nipples from hardening if they rubbed against his hard muscles once more.
The jerk responded with a self-congratulatory smirk around his mouth. “Backing off, Dr. Cruickshank? That’s so unlike you.”
As if he had any idea what she was like! And he was still keeping up this ridiculous pseudo-formality of calling her Dr. Cruickshank, when she knew what he really wanted to say: bitch.
She thrust her chin up, ignoring his mocking expression. “What do those demons want from me?”
The word demons left a strange taste on her tongue. It felt so odd to say it when her brain couldn’t wrap around this data. As a scientist, she needed more than just somebody’s word. The existence of demons was highly unlikely and not supported by any testable evidence. Extraordinary claims required extraordinary evidence. Without evidence, all she had was a stranger’s statement—or a lie.
“Do you really need to ask? I thought you were so smart,” he continued mocking her.
She was about to retort when it suddenly dawned on her: there was only one thing precious enough that anybody could want to steal from her. Her research. Her chin dropped.
“Ah, finally,” he said calmly. “Do you understand now why you have to stick with me? You’re not safe on your own. I’m here to protect you from them.”
“If you think I would ever give my research to some demons, you’re sorely mistaken.” She would guard her data with her life. For her research she was prepared to do anything. This was her life’s work. There was nothing in this world anybody could possibly offer her to part with it.
“Everybody has a price. Even you.”
Leila shook her head. “You don’t know me. You don’t know me at all.”
“I know everything I need to know.” He glared at her.
For a long moment, she faced off with him. As she stared into his chocolate brown eyes, a thought hit her out of nowhere. What if he was a demon himself, and under the guise of wanting to help her, he gained her confidence and thus access to her research? She’d seen his preternatural skill of passing through solid materials. For all she knew, he could be a demon and not the immortal guardian he claimed to be.
“What do these demons look like?”
Aiden shrugged. “They are humanoid in appearance; only once they use their demon powers will you recognize them by their green eyes.”
She swallowed. This wasn’t good. By his description, anybody could be a demon, even he. She had to get away from him. Now.
“I need to take a shower.”
***
Aiden watched as Leila wrapped her arms around her waist as if trying to cocoon herself, guard herself from the danger he’d warned her about. Maybe now she understood.
“You took a shower earlier,” he said without thinking.
Her outraged look confirmed that he shouldn’t have reminded her that he’d been watching her in her apartment. Another stupid move on his part.
With a clenched jaw, she glowered at him. “I feel dirty.”
Great! How had he screwed this situation up so quickly? It had taken him all of an hour to turn his charge against him. That had to be a record, even for him.
But every time Leila had voiced a protest or asked another question, he’
d felt like he had to defend his actions. Her combative nature was riling him up, and he felt unable to keep his temper in check when around her. It had started when she’d told him in the car not to touch her. Despite the fact that he deserved her rejection, her words had hurt him. He should have been able to let them wash over him like an insignificant wave, but her words had struck him as hard as if she had slapped him in the face.
“Fine. Take a shower.”
As she slid past him, the aroma of her skin drifted into his nose. She felt dirty? He was in the right mood to show her what feeling dirty really meant. He clenched his fists so he couldn’t reach for her and throw her onto the nearest flat surface to show her what he called dirty.
When she opened the door to the bathroom, he couldn’t hold back his next words. “And don’t bother locking. I can walk through walls.”
A second later, she slammed the door. The click that followed confirmed that she hadn’t listened to his advice. He shrugged. If he needed to get in there, he would simply walk through the damn door, whether she liked it or not.
Aiden let himself fall onto the bed, lacing his fingers behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. He dreaded the night ahead of him, a night he had to spend alone with Leila. As if being near her wasn’t bad enough. No, if he wanted to make sure she was fully cloaked while he got a few hours of shuteye himself, he would have to keep her in his arms all night. During sleep, a Cloak Warrior’s power to cloak with his mind ceased to function, and only his ability to cloak with his touch remained.
He hadn’t even broached that subject with her yet. Because he could already guess her reaction. She’d fight him tooth and nail on it, question the necessity of it, the science behind it, the ins and outs of how it worked. Hell, he wasn’t in the mood to give a lecture on the special powers of Cloak Warriors. In fact, he should tell her as little as possible. It was bad enough that he’d had to tell her about the demons and show her his power of walking through solid objects.
Anything else, and he might as well give her a tour of their compound and show her how the portals worked.
Fuck, he wasn’t the right person for this job. Everything about this assignment was wrong. He was emotionally involved, and that was never a good thing. His conscience dictated that he hand the assignment over to somebody else who would deal with Leila in a more professional manner than he was capable of. She was getting to him, stirring a part of him that he’d rather leave hidden. She would be safer with somebody else. He was too distracted by his desire for her to be a good bodyguard. Eventually, he’d make a mistake. And then what? Would Leila have to pay the ultimate price for his failure? It was unacceptable.
