AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He sighed and shot her down. “I really should’ve taken a class in humanity. But then I would’ve had to deal with humans.” He didn’t hide his disgust.
His glib, dry sense of humor surprised her. Doubtful he could be a stand-up comedian, but a sense of humor put her somewhat at ease. Yeah, right. At ease up against a wall, wedged between her furniture in nothing but a towel while a being who could pass through walls sat at her desk, lecturing her.
“You can sit on your bed, or I can leave, let you dress, and we can have a civilized conversation in your living room. Your choice.” He threw her a lifeline. “Likely, the only choice you will have ever again.” Then yanked it away.
Her knees buckled, and she slid to the ground. Tears flowing down her face. The most horrible thoughts crowded her mind.
He rose and stood in front of her. All seven feet of him, and she was a bug on the ground at his feet. Eden wrapped her arms around her knees and folded. She buried her head and cried, couldn’t hold it back any longer.
She flinched and looked up when a hand brushed the crown of her head. He’d crouched in front of her, close enough to get lost in the depths of his now inky eyes.Roguish. The word popped into her brain. It was the cleft chin and the slight bend to his nose. It had been broken at some point in his life.
“You’re afraid?” He sounded surprised, and that surprised her.
He’d placed her friend in a supernatural coma in a thing called limbo and woke her at his whim. And he walked through walls. Duh! “Yes.”
“You’re not supposed to be afraid,” he said absently, still stroking her head. She had the sudden urge to stroke his brown shoulder-length hair. This being could be there to erase her from history, and she wanted to touch his hair.
“Hmm.” He took her hand. “You do not cower. Ever,” he murmured, more to himself than her. He rose and took her with him, forcing her to stand on wobbly legs.
Her towel slipped, unraveled, and slid to her hips. She yelped and scrambled for the only protection she had. But she couldn’t look away from him, didn’t, as his eyes dipped and skimmed the length of her exposed body.
His eyes snapped back to hers and the heat flaring in his gaze left her trembling for a different reason. Her nipples tightened and between her legs —Don’t think about it.
She had one edge of the towel in her right hand, but the other hand flapped around, searching for the other edge while all of her was exposed.
Faster than she could blink, he snatched the other end and yanked it across her body. “Living room,” he grunted.
Her choice had been stripped, and all she could do was swallow the lump in her throat and nod.
“Five minutes. Do not abuse my generosity. It won’t come again.”
Gently delivered, the threat was no less powerful. “Understood.” That should’ve been it, but she blurted, “What is your name?” Because she had to know.
“Agone.” His voice was a deep rumble, stroking her insides.
His gaze swept over her again, no less heat, however more critical. Then he whipped around. His long strides ate the short distance to the dresser and her bedroom door. Instead of passing through both obstacles, he shoved the dresser aside, returning it to its exact position.
The exact position!
How did he know where to place it? Unless he’d been there before.
Oh God! This time she didn’t have the luxury of collapsing when he’d given her five minutes to dress and meet him in the living room. To talk. Have a conversation.
Talking was better than rape or death.
Eden rushed to her dresser for underwear, a pair of sweats, and a hoodie. Her damp hair was swept into a ponytail, and then...
It took everything she had to turn the knob and exit the pretend safety of her bedroom. “Come.” With a flick of his fingers, Agone beckoned her forward and patted the empty seat next to him.
The front door was right there. She wouldn’t make it. Not with the three locks engaged and a being who could walk through walls.
Though he was relaxed, one leg braced on his knee and slightly slouched on the pillows, she approached him as one approached a rabid animal. With great respect. She sat gingerly, as far away as possible, and perched her ass on the edge of her seat.
“I’m going to tell you a story.”
Though he didn’t need her agreement, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Twenty years ago, eleven newborn girls were seeded with —”
