Page 77 of Veiled Justice
I took the can eagerly, listened to the crack and hiss as I opened it, then gave a happy sigh as I sipped at the sweet, peppery nectar. I closed my eyes and let the bubbles fizz in my mouth. Notes of vanilla and almond danced on my tongue and I opened my eyes as I swallowed. Next to me Krieg was unnaturally still, watching me with hot eyes.
‘Oh boy,’ Grant said.
‘Well, that answers that,’ Rupert snickered. ‘They haven’t shagged yet.’
‘Told you,’ Ava said smugly with a wobbly smile.
‘No shagging,’ Loki agreed.
‘This isnotappropriate dinner-table conversation!’ Mum harrumphed.
‘You’re right,’ I interjected. ‘So when areyougoing on a date?’ I changed the subject and took another sip of my Dr Pepper.
My mum looked at me flatly for a minute then said, ‘So how come you two haven’t shagged?’
I spat my Dr Pepper all over Ava. ‘Oh my God!’ I said, eyes wide. ‘I am so sorry!’ Her dress had probably cost more than my flat.
Ava started to giggle, then the whole table erupted into peals of laughter. I set the can down and rubbed my face with both hands. I turned to Krieg. ‘You still like them?’
He grinned. ‘Definitely.’
There were worse ways to end your day.
Chapter 41
‘I’ll see you to your door,’ Krieg offered. ‘You’re too tired to be aware of your surroundings.’
He got out of the driver’s side of the car and held open the passenger door. Loki darted out and flew ahead into the flat through the small gap in the window I’d left open just for him.
I unclicked my seatbelt and took the hand Krieg was offering. Even tired as hell, I felt a jolt when our skin touched. Damned pheromones. ‘You’ve had the same amount of sleep as me – even less,’ I pointed out as we started up the steps into the flat.
‘Ogres need less sleep. I’m fine.’
‘Whereas I’m a fragile human, I suppose,’ I sassed.
He snorted. ‘You’re about as fragile as a boulder, Inspector Wise.’
For some reason that made me smile. ‘Prickly as a cactus and fragile as a boulder? You like your similes, Krieg.’
His lips twitched. ‘You make me want to compose poetry. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day …’
I snorted. ‘I’m neither lovely, nor temperate. Save your sonnets. I’m a woman that appreciates action.’ I fished my keys out and unlocked my front door. ‘This is me,’ I said, unnecessarily.
‘Youarelovely, Inspector Wise. Truly.’
The corridor suddenly felt too narrow, or he was entirely too big. He was so close and the scent of him was dizzying. Maybe that was the lack of sleep.
The moment hummed between us as I looked up at his astonishingly silver eyes before dropping my gaze to his lips. I inadvertently licked my own and he copied me. I enjoyed watching his tongue dart out. I may have moaned.
My heart was pounding, the blood rushing in my ears. My chest was rising and falling rapidly as I stared unapologetically at the King of the Ogres.
He gave a low rumbling groan that sent jolts of heat to all the right places then reached out and took my hand. His fingers felt inordinately warm. To my surprise, he bowed low – far lower than I’d ever seen any ogre bow to anyone, including to him. He brushed his lips delicately against the back of my hand then he released it and stood upright, his large frame filling the space around me and sucking the oxygen from my very lungs.
I drew in a breath. ‘Oh boy. You’re going to be a complication, aren’t you?’ I asked ruefully.
He smiled. ‘Life isn’t supposed to be simple, Inspector. It should be messy, wild and fun. I am going to delight in being your complication.’
He turned and walked away. Leaving me completely discombobulated – 660 days celibate and ruefully counting.
