Page 118 of Lost

One perfect blond brow lifted, but she didn’t pull away from him—which Kevin definitely thought of as a victory.

“Now, go smear some of that disgusting blood crap on yourself, but not too much of it. I’m going to try to cover the smell.”

“Huh?”

She sighed. “Kevin, Neferet would never believe I’d let a stinky red vamp drive me all the way to Dallas and back, even in the town car with the glass partition. So, I’m going to attempt to cover the stink.”

“Town car? Glass partition?”

“Were you raised by wolves?”

“No. An elder of the Children of Faith,” he said.

She shuddered delicately. “Worse. No wonder you’re such a barbarian. Goddess, you have so much to learn. But, first things first.Sparinglyput on your disgusting blood perfume and grab my overnight bag. It’s just inside the bathroom door.”

He did as she asked, grimacing and holding his breath as he unscrewed the top of the jar that held the gelatinous, disgusting mixture and smearing it—sparingly—under his clothes. When he was done he grabbed Aphrodite’s suitcase, which was decidedly more than an overnight bag, and his own satchel, and rejoined her in the sitting room.

“This isn’t an overnight bag.”

“Oh, you know nothing, Kevin Snow.”

“Hey! I got that reference!”

“Well, there’s hope for you yet.” Then she grimaced. “Eww! I can smell you! Goddess, that’s disgusting.”

“I know. I hate it.”

“Okay, come here.”

Kevin walked over to her. She lifted a pretty purple crystal bottle that had a weird-looking rubber bulb thing attached to it, and she squeezed the bulb, which sprayed a fine mist of lavender-scented water on him. He breathed deeply and then sneezed.

“You don’t like it,” she asked, eyebrow raised again.

“Yeah, I do. It smells lots better than that blood gunk.”

“Boy, cat shit smells better than that blood gunk.” She tucked the bottle into her giant Louis Vuitton purse. “Is it time yet?”

“Yes. The sun set forty-nine seconds ago.”

“That’s a real weird talent.” She stood by the door waiting for him to open it.

“But a handy one,” he replied.

“True. All right—remember to—”

“Walk behind you. Carry your stuff. Look subservient and stupid.”

Her smile had the blood rushing through his veins hot and hard. “Youcanlearn! Well done, you. And let’s go.”

She twitched away and he followed her, trying not to grin at the view.

“I can feel you looking at my ass,” she said without even glancing over her shoulder. “Stop it. You’re supposed to besubservient. Plus, that’s a little pervy.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

She’d come to the outside door and stopped, waiting for Kevin to rush past her and open it. As he did so he asked, “So, just for the record, is there ever a nonpervy time for me to look at your ass?”

This time she raisedbothof her perfect brows. “If there is, I’ll be the first to let you know.”