Forgotten Sea

Deliberately, she met his gaze. “That depends on you.”

Deliberately, she met his gaze. “That depends on you.”

His tawny eyes locked with hers. The tingling spread to her thighs and the pit of her stomach.

“I’m done with work,” he said.

Her mouth dried at the lazy intent in his eyes. “Won’t they be expecting you? Back at the boat?”

“Boat’s been delivered and I got paid. Nobody wil care if I jump ship.” He smiled at her winningly. “I’m a free man.”

She moistened her lips. “Isn’t that convenient.”

No one would miss him if he disappeared tonight.

Her heart thudded in her chest. Al she had to do was identify him as one of her own kind, the nephilim, the Fal en children of air.

From his corner, Gideon glowered, no doubt wondering what was taking her so long.

If only she were more experienced . . .

The waitress returned with their beer, two bottles, no glasses.

Lara gripped the slick surface and gulped, drinking to ease the constriction of her throat.

“Let’s get out of here,” Justin invited suddenly.

“What?”

He reached across the table and took her hand, wet from the bottle. An almost visible spark arced between them, a snap of connection, a burst of power. Shock ripped through her.

His eyes flickered. “You pack quite a punch.”

So he felt it, too. Felt something. Hope and confusion churned inside her. She dampened her own reaction, F o r g o t t e n s e a 15

feeling as though her circuits had al been scrambled. The air between them crackled, too charged to breathe.

“I . . . You, too.”

Her heart thudded. He was not human.

Or only partly human. His elemental energy beat inside his mortal flesh.

But he was not nephilim either. She didn’t know what he was.

His energy was not light, but movement, swirling, thick, turbulent as a storm. It swamped her. Flooded her. She clung to his hand like a lifeline, focusing with difficulty on his face.

“. . . find someplace quiet,” he was saying. “Let me take you out to dinner. Or for a walk along the waterfront.”

“What are you doing?” Gideon demanded.

Lara flinched.

“Who the hel are you?” Justin asked.

Gideon ignored him. “Are you trying to cal attention to yourself?” he asked Lara.

Lara tugged her hand from Justin’s, her mind stil stunned, her senses reeling from the force of their connection. “You felt that?”

“They could feel you in Philadelphia,” Gideon said grimly.

“Shield, before you get us both kil ed.”

Justin’s eyes narrowed. “Look, buddy, I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but—”

Gideon gripped Lara’s elbow. “We’re getting out of here.”

Justin rose from the booth. “Take your hands off her.”

“It’s al right,” Lara said quickly. She struggled to pul herself together. “I know him.”

Justin’s mouth tightened. “That doesn’t mean you have to go with him.”

“Try and stop her,” Gideon invited.

16

V i r g i n i a K a n t r a

Lara shook her arm from his grasp. “That’s enough,”

she said, her voice sharp as a slap.

Gideon met her gaze. “Your little energy flare just gave away our location. This place wil be crawling in an hour.

We need to leave before they get here.”

Lara’s throat constricted. “What about him?”