Page 28 of Death Warden
“Not my life goal.”
“Whatisyour life goal?”
That threw me. Up until now, I hadn’t really considered a life goal. I wrote novels and did the odd necro work and that was enough. Now I had an evil necromancer to keep locked up.
Jessie glanced over my shoulder. “Yeah, it’s a tough one. Trust me, I still don’t have mine figured out. It’s enough keeping the citizens of Frostgate safe.”
“I thought you had wards to keep undesirables out.”
“The wards aren’t what they used to be and bad shit slips through.” We stepped onto a wide hallway. “Desirables can also turn undesirable with time. People change. Crime is low in Frostgate but the heavy population of spirits and the leyline power means that there’s always the odd psychic or Mageri trying to start a domination scheme.”
She stopped outside a door. “This is you. Bathroom across the hall.” She handed me the bundle of clothes she’d snagged from her ground-floor quarters. There was even a fluffy towel. “I’ll make sure someone fetches your car tomorrow. In the meantime, these should fit you.”
“Thanks.”
She shoved open the door and then walked off. “You can patrol with us tomorrow night if you like.”
“Yeah, I would.”
The room was bare except for a bed, a dresser, and a wardrobe. The wallpaper looked old and was peeling in places but it was clean. With a few knick-knacks, throws, and pillows, this could totally be transformed into my space.
Sheets were folded on the end of the bed, but I’d have to make it up.
But first I needed a shower and to change out of my slightly damp clothes. Yeah, being pressed to the snow by a huge male had left my jeans and top slightly wet.
I stepped out of my room and smack bang into a wall of muscle.
Hands shot up to grab my biceps and hold me still. My gaze drove up to lock with fiery eyes.
Adonis.
His nostrils flared, grip on me tightening, and his distinctive cedar aroma surrounded me.
“I almost didn’t recognize you with clothes on.” My words came out breathless and soft.
He needed to let go of me. I needed to ask him to.
Instead, I drank in his powerful features: the top lip with the perfectly formed cupid’s bow, straight, slightly wide nose, and angular cheekbones. His rich mahogany hair fell across his forehead, swept to one side as if in impatience, and his golden eyes danced with ruby flecks.
He breathed heavily, his hands flexing where they held me. Heck, I was breathing heavily too, body aching to move closer to him even as he held me at bay.
What was this?
My mind warred with primitive instinct. Flight versus fuck, and when he pressed me to the wall, my knees gave way, so his grip on me was the only thing holding me up.
His chest vibrated and he leaned in, increment by increment, until the tip of his nose brushed my jaw. I held my breath, afraid he’d stop. Afraid he’d release me.
What the heck was I doing? “Let go.”
His growl drowned out my words.
Panic bloomed in my belly. “Let go.” My tone was firmer.
He licked me.
Hell no.
“Get off!” I shoved his chest, and he flew away from me.
