I nodded, fighting the urge to sink into him. When I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, I found concern written on his face. And underneath that, a growing hunger. Entranced by his whiskey-colored eyes, I watched a heat begin to build in them, as I became even more aware of our proximity. I’d laid my hands along his arms, and his hard-muscled shoulders radiated heat. My stomach somersaulted and my mouth watered. Pure power and dangerous energy radiated off him, causing liquid heat to pool down between my thighs. We’d already established I was crazy and had a death wish.
The desire to kiss him was so overwhelming, it beat off all other thoughts with a bat so it could take up residence as my sole focus. I wondered if he tasted as good as he smelled. Grim said he’d once fallen into a pit of vice and pleasure, and that was exactly where I wanted to be, peeling off that suit and feeding a different hunger he’d stoked in me.
His hand moved to slowly thread up into my hair, while the other pressed against my lower back, pressing me against him. My mouth dropped in an “o” when I felt the length of his arousal straining against my thigh. My mind couldn’t quite wrap around the size of his hardness, while also comprehending that Grim’s thoughts mirrored mine.
If anyone struck a match anywhere in the vicinity, the whole place would blow.
Pushing away from him, the angel on my shoulder gave me a standing ovation while the devil threw her pitchfork at the angel in hopes of nailing her pious halo or an eyeball.
Grim was right. We needed to go, before I did something I’d regret, like tear my clothes off and ask him to take me next to a coma patient who happened to be my vampire ancestor and might also be potentially related to Grim.
That did it. Jets officially cooled.
18
Once we entered the penthouse, I was surprised to find a sleek black dog sitting at attention. It looked exactly like the one I’d seen in the morgue, and in the underground chamber, except this one’s eyes glowed gold.
Grim rubbed his forehead. “Yes, yes, work does not wait.”
The dog caught sight of me and growled, a low rumbling sound, then streaked toward me. A yelp caught in my throat. In a split second, I realized I wasn’t willing to hurt a dog, even in self-defense. My bits could grow back, but I wasn’t so sure about poochie.
I shielded my face, preparing to be mauled. Two paws landed on my chest. The dog was light enough that he didn’t knock me to the ground; instead he looked into my eyes with expectation.
“Um, good dog?” I said, lowering my arms and smoothing a hand over his head. The dog closed his glowing eyes, as if reveling in my touch.
“What is the meaning of this?” Grim asked in an affronted tone.
“I met your weird dog at the hospital right after I woke up a vampire.” The dog dropped back down to all fours. I got down on my knees to hold him against my body and pet his side. He was a nice supernatural pooch. “You really should get control of your pets. If someone else saw him at the hospital they’d have a conniption fit.”
“Not you,” Grim snapped at me before looking at my new furry friend. “Explain yourself, Assilem.”
The dog turned his head away from me to regard Grim. Since when was Fido not a good enough name for a dog?
“I know she can see you; she is undead,” Grim said. “What I want to know is why you believe this behavior is appropriate while you are on the job. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Hey crazy man,” I said, waving a hand while continuing to pat the belly of the dog with my other. “Are you addressing the dog? Because he can’t talk.”
Grim’s eyes flashed and my senses warned me of danger. Maybe it was the long night, or the fact I was petting his weird dog, but he seemed at the end of his rope. If I pushed any harder, he might snap and kill me now.
“That is not a dog,” he said, as if explaining to an insufferable, dumb child. “Assilem is one of my reapers, and while he should act with dignity and mind his duty, he seems to think it appropriate to beg you for belly scratches.” He wrinkled his nose and said the last words as if he’d sipped vinegar. Grim paused again. “Yes, I know you are always on the job.” It took me a moment to realize he was talking to the dog again.
Assilem had rolled onto his back while I rubbed and patted his stomach with vigor. As tired as I was, it was satisfying to pet the reaper’s soft fur. It was the best thing to happen to me, short of a hot, fresh meal. Turned out, fur therapy was just as effective on supernaturals.
Timothy chose that moment to join us in the penthouse. Despite the madness of the night, he looked as pristinely put together as ever. It didn’t appear as though he’d had to deal with a mound of bodies, a mob of terrified guests, and the authorities. Forget blood. Whatever he was drinking, I wanted some of that.
Timothy stopped in his tracks when he saw us, Grim bearing over me, snarling, while I sat on the floor snuggling Assilem’s adorable face off.
“What is happening here?” Timothy asked, his tone suggesting he knew to approach with caution. The way his face turned red suggested he was halfway between busting out laughing or making a hasty exit out of the tension-filled room.
Grim ignored his question, his attention still directed at the reaper. “I don’t care what Nire told you, this is completely unacceptable.”
“Who is Nire?” I asked, struggling to follow.
Grim’s eyes narrowed as they met mine. “Another one of my reapers you have apparently met and wooed with your degrading treatment.”
“Degrading treatment? You mean the dog I petted in your dungeon?” When Grim’s eyes glowed for a split second, instantly incensed, I amended, “ThereaperI met in your dungeon?”
“Yes, he has conveyed your propensity for affection and now my reapers are all abuzz with this need for pets.” He curled a lip. Timothy took one look at Grim’s expression and disappeared farther into the penthouse.
