“This is just my usual affection,” I replied. “You’d feel very different if I was trying to kill you.” I released him with a grin, and he took an exaggerated breath, like he was trying to cleanse himself from my attack. But I caught the twinkle in his eyes.
He liked me. Not sexually or as a potential love interest. Just as a friend.
“I have to get to work,” he said, swallowing. “Be safe, Gwen.”
“You too, G,” I murmured.
His gaze ran over me, pausing on my hair with a smile. “I like the new look. It suits you.”
My lips twitched as I pulled a few multicolored strands into my line of sight. “Yeah, I do, too.” It served as a sort of possessive mark from Lord Zebulon’s power, and it was accompanied by his sensuous energy roaming over my skin in a claiming kiss.
“See you later, roomie,” Gleason said, walking toward the front hall.
“See you later, roomie,” I echoed back to him. We’d said those exact words to each other our first day in this house.
It seemed fitting for those to be reiterated now, on our last day.
I sighed and busied myself with the rest of my packing as the front door closed.
This house had a lot of good memories in it. But we hadn’t been here long enough for me to really establish my roots. Being an immortal being made time a little strange in that way—what might seem long to a mortal wasn’t long at all to me.
I started up the stairs toward my room to do one last check when the doorbell rang behind me followed by Creek’s trademark knock.
Tap, tap, double tap, tap.
My lips twitched as I skipped back down to greet him. “You just missed Gleason,” I told him as I let him into the foyer. “Want me to call him back for you?”
“Nah, I’ll do it.” He wiped his boots on the entry rug as I closed the door behind him, then offered me one of his charming, crooked grins from inside his bushy auburn beard. “But I left my wristlet in the car. Can I borrow yours?”
“Sure.” I tried to remember where I left it. “I think it’s in the kitchen.” I started that way with him right behind me. The Nephilim always lacked personal space rules around me, which I didn’t mind. Most men gravitated toward me naturally. Perks and consequences of being a succubus.
“I don’t use it very often,” I admitted as I started searching through drawers. “It might not even be charged.”
“Hmm.” It came out on a soft singsongy hum, one that had me glancing back at him. He flashed me a jovial grin, but something didn’t feel right about it.
“You know, maybe you should go grab yours. Mine’s probably lost in a box somewhere.”
He nodded, but made no move to leave.
I studied him, my throat going dry.
Something isn’t right. I couldn’t pinpoint it, just an instinct chilling my spirit and drawing ice cubes along my spine.
Creek shrugged off his leather jacket and draped it over the kitchen chair. Then he started pacing around my space, his expression thoughtful as he started back toward the hallway.
I followed him, curious to see if he’d go back outside.
If he did, I was locking the door and calling Gleason. I might not know where my wrist device was, but I knew he had at least one in his office.
My skin itched as Creek turned again, avoiding the exit.
I realized why a second later as I caught sight of the black holster on his hip.
Silver bullets.
I shivered.Thatwas what had my instincts crawling.
But as a member of the Dark Provenance, it was perfectly normal for him to have a gun and ammunition.
