Page 21 of Toward Immortal Ruin

It was more than that, and they both knew it. But Nero didn’t call her out, instead, dipping his chin in a gentlemanly manner. “Goodnight, professor.”

Oh lord.Her toes curled in her socks at the purr in his voice.Everything about Nero was a temptation, from the way he walked to the seductive way he said her name to that silly pink t-shirt he bought just because she’d picked it. Part of her wanted to scrap the idea of him sleeping on her couch and just invite him straight into her bed.

Woah, she thought.Just where are these thoughts going? He’s a guest. A friend. Nothing more. A deliciously tall, handsome friend with sexy arms and kind eyes, who makes me feel like I’m the most important woman in the entire world … Down, girl!

What was it about him that dropped all of her boundaries?

“Sleep tight,” she chirped, spinning around and snagging the accordion wall from where it rested against the doorframe.“Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” She paused. “Or Marianne. That cat will probably attempt to gnaw off your toes or something during the night.”

“I’ll make sure to keep them safely under the blanket.”

***

For once, Eden’s sleep was dreamless and peaceful. Perhaps because the man on the other side of the wall had proven his instinct would always be to put himself between her and any harm coming her way.

She scrambled to freshen up, sans bathroom, quickly applying makeup and tying her hair back in a bouncy ponytail. Her comfortableMary Shelley did it firstpajama set was switched for a slimmer cut sweater dress, the kind that hugged her slightly emaciated body but hid the protruding bones well enough. Unscrewing each pill bottle, she popped half a dozen in her mouth and swallowed without water, accustomed to the slightly bitter taste.

Once she looked somewhat presentable, she gently retracted one side of the accordion wall to peer into the living room. And then stifled a laugh.

Nero’s impressive six-and-a-half-foot frame was literally falling off the couch. Despite his claims the previous night, his legs dangled outside the edge from at least mid-calf. Thankfully, the blankets had done their job. Marianne the Betrayer was curled on his chest like the perfect little saint she definitely wasn’t.

His right arm disappeared underneath his pillow, and when she noticed the warrior swirls of the Polynesian tattoo adorning his skin, her mouth went dry. Muscle, defined and corded beneath golden skin, was gleaming in the morning light. Her eyes struggled to take all that male perfection in, and would havegiven anything to get a peek at the abs currently covered in his white undershirt.

His chest rose and fell soundlessly, his eyes shut in slumber. She took the moment to just admire the handsome lines of his features, the way his bulk didn’t fit her couch but seemed so incrediblyrightwhere he was.

Oh lord, she was a voyeur. All his reassurance the night before, and her doubts about trusting his intentions, and here she was, creeping on him instead.

A sudden shrill ringing echoed from his pants, and the man jerked awake. Eden had visions of Marianne going flying as he came to a sitting position, but his hand gently cradled the cat against his chest like a benevolent protector.

Eyes wide, he slapped a hand over his pocket and retrieved the phone. Nero stared at it, uncomprehending, as though he’d never seen its like before. Chuckling, she sauntered into the room and sat next to him.

“Having some trouble?”

“I’m not very good with technology,” came his velvet voice, deep and slightly coarse with the morning.

When her eyes landed on the screen, the incoming name highlighted was ‘Zia’, and a flare of suspicious jealousy seared through her. “Slide here to answer it.”

He brought it to his ear. “Zia?”

Odd. He was answering another woman’s call right next to her, but nothing about him screamed subterfuge or awkwardness. His tone was filled with genuine concern, as if he was expecting problems.

She quickly weighed the best options to give him privacy for his call. Her apartment was too small, and going outside would involve loud feline drama that would only cause more interruption.

“Caught on fire?” Eden snapped to attention at the fear in Nero’s voice and the hand that reached out to hold hers. “Was anyone hurt?”

His eyes searched the floor sightlessly, his attention riveted to the other end of the line, but his thumb drew comforting circles in her palm. After a brief but entirely professional conversation, Nero was again blinking at the screen. Shily, she extracted her hand from his and ended the call for him.

“I didn’t mean to snoop, but obviously overheard that you’re worried. Is everyone okay? Can I help?”

“All is well, professor. Fortunately, it was just minor damage, and no one was hurt, so I have it handled. I do need one favor, though—could you help me with this phone? It doesn’t have any proper buttons, and I feel like a caveman trying to handle a magic brick.”

“How have you managed to avoid smartphones for so long?”

“Technology just… stays ahead of me, somehow.” He gave her a disarming lopsided grin. “This is a work phone, not something I chose, and they didn’t really provide any instructions. Apparently, everyone is just supposed to know how to use it.”

Biting her lips to keep from laughing, she held out her hand. “Let me give you a crash course, grandpa.”

Nero immediately handed her the phone, with no hesitation. Either he really hadn’t used that phone at all, or he was an open book with no secrets. She gently grabbed his thumb, bracing for the delicious sparks that happened every time they touched, and pressed it against the home button to unlock it.

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