Page 111 of Roses Are Dead
I pulled out another pair of bills and shoved them in his hand. “Fucker.”
“Nice doing business with you, Bear.” He tipped an imaginary hat and handed off the box, jewelry and all.
It was almost morning before I slipped into bed with Rose. I dragged the rounded nub at the end of the scabbard along her bare skin. It skipped over her ribs as I slid it lower. The sheet pulled away, revealing a breast. And that I couldn’t resist. I put the knife where she’d see it once she opened her eyes and bent over her body to suck on that pretty puckered nipple.
“Bear.” She slipped her fingers into my hair. It was automatic. The one place she was guaranteed to know immediately who was assaulting her. She played with the beads near my ears. Her eyes opened. “Hi.”
“Hey you. Got a present.”
Her forehead creased. “Please don’t tell me you killed Carl and cut off his finger or something.” Her eyes darted around to make sure I wasn’t bloody or worse.
“Not that good of a present. And I’d bring you his lungs. After he suffocates from a Blood Eagle. Here.” I put the knife in her hand. Fin helped me attach the belt so she could wear it right away.
She squirmed out from underneath me and turned on the lamp to get a better look at it. Her breath caught. “It’s beautiful.” Her fingers stroked down the engraved surface, halting on each decorative inlay and mounted stone.
“Check out the blade.”
She caressed the latch stone first.
“Onyx.” At least I sounded like I knew what I’d bought.
She grinned. “That keeps evil spirits away.”
According to Edie, yeah. I didn’t know if I’d ever tell her Sierra’s theory.
Rose slipped the latch open and tugged the knife out. Her eyes went a little wide as she took in the sharp edges and the intricate striations of tempered steel. “Wow. No one has a blade like this.”
“Just you.”
I didn’t dare lean in for a kiss. Old wives’ tales or not, Fin’s blades were always sharp. And with it unsheathed in her hand, I let it own a healthy distance.
“Thank you. And thank Fin for me. Please?” She put it back together and spun the locking mechanism into place. Only then did I breathe easier. I stripped the sheet down and begged her to model it for me.
“I kind of have a kink for armed women.” No sooner than I said that, I began to sweat. Why did I say something so …honest?
Rose crawled out of bed, stood naked beside it, and strapped the belt onto her thigh.
Then she posed.
I’d touched that goddess. And I’d get to touch her again soon.
“Wait.” She slipped her hair free and unbraided it. The waves turned into curls as she shook out the mass.
Now she was beyond perfect.
I shut my mouth and swallowed a couple of times to talk. “I want you.”
“Right now?” She twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. Her toes dug into the carpet.
“Fuck, yes.” Now, always, forever. But I’d settle for right the fuck now.
27
Roishin
If I’d have known a man could get mesmerized by a woman wearing nothing but a dagger…well. Bear hadn’t taken his eyes off me. Even as I circled the foot of the bed, he tracked me.
I halted on his side. The light from the bathroom silhouetted me from behind, casting him in shadow. I stepped closer so I could see him better. He was weary yet still so strong. He’d left so quickly and been gone so long I worried he’d been hurt, or worse. But here he was, whole, and looking like he’d stepped out of a very sexy nightmare. One where the monster wins.
