Call of the Siren(14)

A sudden fit of anger struck him at Lina’s treatment of Ronin these past few months.

“He loves you, Lina. He’d do anything for you, and all you do is treat him like shit. He wasn’t there for you back then, but he’s here now. Get over it. And tell him.”

Lina frowned and placed her hands on his chest, trying to shove him away. “So we’re supposed to tell him everything? Does that mean you’re going to tell him you stopped by here today, or what you were doing at Opiate last night, when you were supposed to be working?”

Dagan sucked in a breath at her not so subtle blackmail attempt. Even though part of him wanted to slink away at the shameful thought of what she’d seen last night, he forced himself to meet her eyes. Because he sensed something else behind those words…

“You almost sound like you’re jealous,” he said.

“Jealous? Ha!” Two splotches of color darkened her cheeks, and she half-heartedly struggled against his grasp.

Holy shit, he was onto something here. Yeah, he’d always sensed an intense sexual awareness when she was around, but since she’d pretty much brushed him off every time he’d been in her vicinity, he’d dismissed it as being one-sided. But the way her pupils dilated before his very eyes, the way her vanilla and honey scent deepened with the alluring scent of musk, he was starting to think maybe it was more than that. Maybe she was just as attuned to him as he was to her. Maybe…

Their gazes caught, and something wild and electric thickened the air between them, sparking the fierce staccato beat of his heart and hardening his cock. Her chest heaved, and his hands involuntarily tightened on her arms, as if they were going to pull her in without any conscious thought on his part. When Lina’s mouth parted and her tongue flicked across her lower lip, the muted tunes of desire that filled his head in her presence rose to a staggering crescendo.

Oh hell…

Just as Dagan was about to crush her to him, the doorbell rang. They both jumped, and the heaviness in the air dissipated.

When he took a steadying breath and threw her a questioning glance, she gave a nonchalant shrug. “I’m not expecting anyone. But then, I didn’t expect you or Thorne either.”

His jaw tightened at the mention of her ex, but then, like a derailed train, it hit him what had almost happened between them.

Son of a bitch.

Dagan flung himself away from Lina, his gut clenching with the unmistakable acknowledgment that he was a total shit.

How could he? Here he’d been, about to repeat the same damn pattern all over again, all because of his stupid dick. Why couldn’t he, for the sake of his brother, just leave Lina the fuck alone?

As if sensing his inner turmoil, Lina avoided his eyes and strode across the room to peek through the peephole of her front door. She froze, and a moment later, he understood why.

“It’s me, Lina,” Ronin’s voice said through the door.

Shit. Double shit.

Think of his brother, and there he appeared. But the last thing Dagan wanted was for Ronin to find him here. No telling what he’d assume.

He’d think you were macking on Lina, that’s what.

And apparently he’d be right.

You asshole.

Lina turned to Dagan with a grimace. She crossed the room and spoke in a low tone. “Maybe you should leave through the roof deck.”

Good to know he wasn’t the only one feeling tense at the thought of Ronin catching the both of them together.

Dagan moved aside so Lina could unlock the deadbolt and then followed her out to the deck. He couldn’t fly, but he could always jump. At least, thanks to his demon heritage, the four-story fall wouldn’t be enough to kill, or even really hurt, him.

“Take the fire escape.” Lina pointed to one end of the roof.

Even better.

He climbed onto the fire escape. “Oh, and Lina.”

When he faced her, she gave him a look of challenge. “What?”

“Tell him. Or I will.”

“I will,” she snapped. But then, much to his surprise, her face took on a half-pleading expression. “Just give me some time.”

When she said it like that, it was impossible to resist her…even if he knew he should.

“One week, no more.” When her mouth tightened, he added, “Believe me, he’ll want to hear it from you.”

Dagan turned and concentrated on making his way down the fire escape. Thank the devil that the only parking spot he’d been able to find was several blocks away. There was little chance Ronin had seen his car as he walked up to the building.

Because if Ronin found out he’d been here…he’d probably kill him.

…

When Ronin’s knock elicited no response, he frowned and raised his hand again. He could’ve sworn he’d heard some movement coming from inside Lina’s apartment. Could she be ignoring him?