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27
Bernadette Gardner
Apparently. You should take into consideration that you may have been seen with
me as well. He let that thought hang in the dense air between them for a moment. The
possibility of a new royal crèche being formed is foremost in the minds of the Gemii.
My partner, Darq, is also from Verakos. He s recently taken a mate. The woman he s
with is in danger now too and I need to convince both of them to accompany me away
from here.
By away, you don t mean to New Jersey, do you?
Now he laughed with genuine amusement. No. He held out his hand, certain
she d recovered from her brief trip to the shadowy psychic realm. She placed her
fingers tentatively in his palm and let him help her sit up in the chair. For your own
safety you need to leave.
Her hand slid across his palm, leaving the flesh there tingling. If this assassin is
after you, let the department help. The NYPD can offer you protection, especially if
you re willing to help them locate this man.
Heath shook his head. It s not a matter of catching a clumsy human criminal. The
Gemii have skills of deception and modes of killing that are beyond the experience of
law enforcement.
She didn t look convinced. He wished he had time to fully explain, but more
important right now was figuring out a way to convince Darq and Makena to cross the
next bridge with him before the Gemii set his sights on another victim.
He considered the beautiful woman sitting in his chair. She might, very likely, be
the next target. He didn t want to feel responsible for that but he couldn t fight it.
Trust me, Miss Daniels. The longer you remain here, the more danger you re in.
Her crystal green gaze defied him and her expression made his cock stir almost as
much as her words did. Why? Will the killer assume you fucked me too? She drew a
deep breath, which pushed her breasts against the stretchy fabric of her shirt.
Yes. He will. You ve already been here long enough for someone to assume we ve
had sex.
Not if we did it properly. The hint of mischief in her voice ignited his lust. It
might already be too late to stop the Gemii from targeting her as a possible carrier of his
DNA. Soon it would be too late to prevent that from being the truth.
He leaned close, taking in the subtle scent of her skin. A light perfume mixed with
female musk and the competing aromas of coffee and city air made him think of a rainy
spring evening and a stroll through Central Park. He had to wonder if her skin tasted as
sweet as it looked. I gather by that remark that you like it slow and thorough?
Well, what woman doesn t?
The pressure in his balls skyrocketed. He had to get her out of here so he could
concentrate on the crisis at hand. Miss Daniels, I would like nothing better than to
show you just how slow and thorough I can be, but once I ve been inside you, the
assassin will not be able to dismiss you. Let me give you something that will help
28
Slither
protect you from the killer once I m gone rather than something that will make you
more of a target.
She sighed through slightly parted lips and swung her legs off the chair. The only
thing I need from you is information. If you want to protect me, and anyone else who
may be in danger from this man, you need to tell me something that will help me locate
him.
I can t do that, but I can give you a guardian of your own.
She tilted her head and he watched as a faint tremor went through her body when
realization struck her. You mean like those? She pointed to the crimson serpents on
his arms.
Exactly like these.
She hopped off the chair. I don t believe tattoos will protect me.
Heath rose and stepped close. Her eyes were even with his chin and she didn t look
up. He wondered if she were looking down at the bulge in his jeans, which hovered
only inches from her hip. What about the ones you already have? What are they meant
to protect you from?
Now she did look up. Her lips compressed in annoyance. How would you know
that?
Gambling that she wouldn t scream or slap him, Heath lifted a hand to her shoulder
and swept the edge of her shirt back from her collarbone. Putting his hands on her
naked shoulder was like touching electricity. Just as he suspected, the images inked on
her dark skin were not decorative. No butterflies or hearts for Rihana Daniels. She bore
powerful religious symbols that he recognized from research he d done for a Cajun
client once. This woman had already been given protection from the dead. Now she
needed protection from the deadly.
These aren t for looks. The words came out in a sensual whisper. Her breath
quickened, and beads of sweat formed on her upper lip.
Someone marked you to keep your soul anchored to your body.
You know a lot about the old ways for someone who supposedly comes from
another planet. She paused for a shuddering breath. Her body trembled, and each tiny
tremor made Heath desperate to crush her against him, to run his hands all over her
bare skin and make her still.
I ve done a small amount of research on the subject of protection symbols. Where I
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