Page 67 of Heat & Deceit
Stopping on the porch, I peer inside. Dark-stained wood floors and greenish-gray walls. Eclectic art that probably cost a small fortune. Heady, alpha-scented air coils around me like a snaking tendril come to draw me deeper into their dwelling, promising knots and orgasms and the softest blankets. And that’s just the foyer.
There’s no way I’m going in there. I can tolerate working with them, but going into their personal space? That’s too much.
“Um, hello?” I call into the house, planting my feet firmly on the other side of the threshold.
Javier appears a moment later, wearing casual gray joggers and a black shirt, forehead wrinkled in confusion. “What happened? Are you okay?” He reaches for me, but I step back.
“I’m fine.” I pretend not to notice his hand lingering in the air, grasping at nothing. “I ran into Lycus and he needed a ride...and now I need one,” I finish with a frown.
“Done.”
“I can call a car.”
Javier closes the door and joins me on the porch, softly grinning down at me. “It’s the least I can do after everything you did for Lycus.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t mind.”
He gives me a look.
“I didn’t mind that much,” I say with a soft laugh. “Besides, the bartender wasn’t about to let me leave without him.” I hand over the car key, taking care not to touch Javier.
“Ah, so he was cut off.”
“Only because his date threw her water in his face.”
Javier grimaces and gestures for me to lead the way. “You saw what happened?”
“I had a front-row seat to that disaster. I don’t think she’ll be calling.” I glance over to see how he’ll take it, but he only nods.
“Figured as much.”
We get into the car, and he pauses, studying my bag of takeout. His face darkens the longer he stares at it. I buckle and grab the bag, setting it between my legs. He lifts his gaze to meet mine.
“You’re hungry.”
“I have food.”
He makes a noise. “That’s probably cold by now.”
“I have a microwave.”
“Let me make you something. We have plenty of food, and I’m a pretty good chef...” He trails off as I press my lips together and shake my head. “Right.” He puts his seatbelt on and starts the car. The rock music that had been playing before Lycus made his grand exit blares to life, startling me.
“Shit.” I turn it way down and suck in a sharp breath. “Sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Javier pulls out of the driveway and shoots me a look. “Can you enter your address?”
“Oh, yeah. Sure.” I input the details, then sit back, fidgeting in my seat.
Javier’s presence is different. Lycus is a hailstorm of sarcasm, pointed words, and a dash of broodiness. He presses in, cornering me until I have no choice but to be consumed or bite back. He makes me react. On the other hand, Javier is a steady storm. Intense, but unsuspecting in a way that’s dangerous. He seems like the easy one, especially with the way Lycus makes things sound, but I don’t know that I buy it.
Javier is the one I hate deceiving, because he hates liars, and I don’t want to disappoint him. I don’t want the way he looks at me to change. I don’t know why Rome hasn’t told them about the heat suppressants, but I’m grateful the secret has stayed between us.
“I’m sorry about Lycus.”
“It’s okay. He was drunk.”
“I’m sure he was more than that,” Javier drawls. “Lycus doesn’t exactly make friends.”
