Fate's Wish(5)
A wicked smile curled his lip as he stared at her chest. It was hard to hide her body’s reaction to him. Her nipples were pebbled and she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you about this darkness I’ve been seeing coming your way. I knew you needed someone to watch over you, so I hired his company. I didn’t really expect him to show up to do the job, though. You haven’t felt it because your magic has waned, but trust me, it’s there and it’s getting worse, a lot worse. I’m worried for you. I’ve been pushing it away from you, but with my upcoming trip I wanted someone with you at all times. This was the right thing to do.”
Half-listening to her mom, she watched Zahir head into her kitchen. She frowned. A moment later he walked out with a plate filled with cookie rejects. She gaped and watched him munch on her dubious cookie results. He calmly ate the test subjects and never made a face. It had been one of the things she’d loved about him. He’d eat anything she made just so she wouldn’t feel bad.
“Mom—” The uncontrolled clatter of her heart almost made it impossible to hear her mother’s words.
“Don’t argue with me.” Her command travelled clear across the line. “You know I wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t necessary. Please, he’s there to do a job. This is much bigger than you can handle. I would never put you in this situation if I thought you’d be able to take care of yourself. Dark powers are coming your way, and there’s little you can do in your present condition. Whatever happened between you two is obviously over, so let it go. Focus on getting stronger and hopefully that will allow you to get rid of him faster. He stays, or I don’t go on the trip, it’s your choice.”
Her plan to visit Ireland, where she would reconnect with nature, was all her mother had spoken of for over a year. It was a sad decision to make, but her mother had to go, even if it meant Shar would spend some time with Zahir.
She turned her face away from Zahir and clenched her teeth. “You sure this isn’t your attempt at getting me to have sex?”
Her mother’s tinkling laugh filled her ear. “Sweetheart, I think I’ll leave that part to you. My main concern is to keep you safe. If you need me to find you suitable men to sleep with I will. Do you?”
“No!” She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. “I mean, I’m good. I can take care of that myself. I’ll let him stay on one condition: as soon as there’s no danger, he goes.”
“But of course, darling. Now, tell me, how is your magic today?”
Chapter Four
Zahir was more than angry. That man, the one Shar had called Sid, had very sexual thoughts about her. Although the man had some powerful shields in his head, Zahir had been able to probe enough to see he wanted her for himself. Every possessive bone in his body yelled for him to rip the guy to shreds for just breathing over her. He’d calmed some when she pushed the man out the door.
He heard her conversation with her mother so clearly they could’ve been standing in front of him chatting. It was one of the perks of being his kind. Interest perked when they mentioned her lack of sex. Jealousy roared to life inside him. A haze of red colored his vision, and the blare of sirens bawled in the street. He didn’t want to know what he’d done. Instead, he focused on calming the angry beast inside.
Shar shut off her phone and turned to him. Her face was scrunched in distaste and her eyes flared. “Fine. I will agree to your staying here. We just need to set some rules. First, you are not to touch me, ever.”
“How am I supposed to protect you if I can’t touch you?”
“Figure it out, Einstein. Second, the minute whatever it is that’s coming my way is over, you’re out of here.”
“Fine.” It would kill him, but he’d let her go again if it was best for her. She’d loved him and had never asked for anything in return. He would ensure she was safe.
“And third, I don’t want any references to the past.” Pain shone in her eyes.
“You can’t hide from the past.”
“Yeah? Well you’re great at it, so I’m taking a page from your book. Those are my rules. Agree or get the hell out.”
He stared at her for a few long moments and sensed her internal battle.
“I will only do anything per your request.”
She frowned, but nodded. “Good. I have work I need to do, so do whatever you have to do quietly.”
He sensed the danger before he saw it and made his way to her in a few short strides. She was headed to the desk by the windows when the glass shattered. Large shards of glass turned into daggers and moved directly toward her.