Pleasures of the Night(63)

“Breaking into the Temple sounds dangerous.”

“I think so.”

“Shit, I hope so. Wouldn’t be any fun otherwise.”

Connor tossed back another beer, and then belched. “So here’s what we’ll do…”



“Call and check on him, Stace. Please.”

“No way.”

Lyssa dropped her head back onto the pillow and ran her hand through her tangled hair. She was surrounded by Aidan’s scent, even though he was no longer in bed. From the lack of heat on his side, she guessed he had been up for a while. She’d slept in due to sheer physical exhaustion. The man had stamina in spades, his body a well-honed machine. “I just want to make sure he’s okay.”

“Chad’s fine. You said so yourself yesterday.”

That was before Aidan kicked his ass. He was an innocent pawn in the battle between her and “the Elders,” and she hated that she had inadvertently caused him pain. “Just a quick hi. Maybe you can call about Lady?”

“On a Saturday?” Stacey scoffed. “I might as well start off the conversation with ‘Hiya! Lyssa wants to know how you’re doing since she dumped you and feels guilty.’ Too high school, Doc, trust me. He’s a big boy, he’ll be fine.”

Lyssa closed her eyes, blocking out the view of the vaulted ceiling above her. “I’ll give you a raise.”

“Right.” Stacey blew out an exasperated breath right into the receiver. “That bribe always works. I’m such a money whore.”

“You’re a single mom. I admire you.”



“Flattery will get you nowhere with me. It’s all about the money. Though if you can arrange a hunk delivery for me, I’d call it even. How’s that working out, by the way?”

“He’s dreamy.” For real.

“I’m glad. I really am.”

“I know you are.”

“’Kay, I’ll call Chad and try to make some nonblatantly suspicious small talk. I better see you at dinner, though.”

Lyssa’s fingers pulled the soft, denim-colored top sheet up to her nose to better smell Aidan. She didn’t want to leave her home. She wanted to seclude herself with him, keep him, never let him go. “We’ll be there.”

“See ya then.”

The connection was severed. Lyssa hit the off button, then set the phone down next to her. Through the open bedroom door, the scent of fresh, hot coffee drifted up to her. It was such a domestic thing to experience with a man she’d met so recently. But it worked. It made her feel whole and loved, in a way she hadn’t felt in years. If ever. Wanting to be with him, she tossed back the covers and pulled on a robe.

As she crept down the stairs in her attempt at stealth, Lyssa hoped she’d catch another display of Aidan’s morning exercise routine. Instead she found him yawning and drooping wearily over the jeweled book at the dining table. She padded up behind him and set her hands on his shoulders, kneading her fingers into the tense muscles of his back.

He groaned, and leaned his head back. “Hi,” he murmured in that low tone that made shivers run down her spine.

“Hi.” She bent and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Did you sleep at all?”



He shook his head. “No way I’d risk it with you asleep at the same time. I’ve been checking on you every half hour.”

“I thought I was safe once I’d fallen into deep sleep?”

“That’s an educated guess.” His mouth curved. “In any case, you’re adorable when you’re sleeping.”

Lyssa moved around the chair and slung her leg over his, straddling his lap and wedging herself between him and the table. It was a tight fit, but she didn’t mind. Especially when his arms came around her and tucked her closer to all that warm, yummy-smelling skin and ripped muscles. “Find anything interesting in that book?”

“Some things, yes.” He sounded weary and disheartened. “Basically I’m just translating at this point so I can look at the whole text at once. Piece by piece isn’t working.”

“You can’t read it?”

“It’s in the ancient language. Like most of your words are derived from Latin.”

“Ah, gotcha.” Her hands slipped along his bare sides, and her lips moved along his jaw, her aim to take both of their minds away from talk of Aidan going home. “You don’t have a morning shadow.”

“Mmm,” he purred, tilting his head to grant her access to his throat. “Guardians don’t grow facial hair beyond eyelashes and brows.”

“Really?” The doctor in her pulled away in curiosity. “What other physiological differences are there between us?”