Erik’s arms remained wrapped around her waist. “It was the only way I could think of to shut you up,” he murmured.
Cassie gave a skeptical half-smile. “A martial arts expert like you? Right off the top of my head, I can think of at least six other ways you might have shut me up.”
He drew her close to his chest and whispered into her hair. “Yeah, but I don’t think either one of us would have enjoyed them as much.”
Cassie didn’t push him away. She sighed unexpectedly. “I guess we’ve been dancing around this moment for a long time. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself.”
Erik drew back and regarded her with amusement. “Some psychic you are. You couldn’t read the vibe between us?”
She disengaged herself and walked over to the bed. Sitting down, she looked up at him sheepishly. “It’s a lot easier reading an ancient artifact than a living, breathing guy. Besides, I never thought I was your type.”
“So, I’ve got a type now?”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Dude, everybody knows a person never dates outside of their number.”
“Huh?”
She ducked her head, not wanting to meet his gaze. “You register as a solid ten on the Attracto-Meter. So, that means you’re only gonna date other tens. A chick would have to be a drop-dead-gorgeous hottie to be your type.” She peeked up at him shyly.
“Then I guess that makes you my type,” Erik said softly, his eyes never leaving her face.
Flustered by the unexpected compliment, Cassie felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her yet again. When she could finally form a sentence, she said in a tiny voice, “Tens are usually six feet tall and anorexic. That’s not me.”
The paladin chuckled. “If big and bony is all it takes to be a ten, then I’d be dating giraffes. There’s more to it than that.”
Cassie changed the subject even though she was secretly pleased by his reply. “So, why is this all on me, Mr. Ladykiller? How come you never made a move?”
He shrugged and came to sit next to her. “You’re not easy to read. I kept looking for signals, but you never gave me the green light.”
Cassie hesitated before replying. “I learned a long time ago to keep my feelings to myself. It was safer that way. Jerks stop trying to hurt you when they can’t get a rise out of you. It takes all the fun out of it for them.”
“That’s bleak.”
“You know my story. Like you said before, it is what it is.” Defensively she added, “You might have just asked.”
“Your poker face wasn’t the only thing that stopped me,” he demurred. “In the beginning when you started working for the Arkana, you were just a kid. No offense, but you were nineteen going on twelve.”
Cassie winced slightly at the observation but didn’t contradict him. “Yeah, I know I came across as the worst case of arrested development ever. A lot of my attitude was sheer spite. Sybil had always treated me like an idiot child, and I worked hard to live down to her expectations.” She gave a short, bitter laugh. “I mean, she was footing the bill for my schooling and upkeep. I wanted her to get her money’s worth.”
Erik cocked a dubious eyebrow.
She continued. “Before you say anything, I know it wasn’t really her fault. It was mine. I kept looking for a reason to grow up, but I never found one. All of that changed when I crossed paths with the Arkana and struck the mother lode of reasons to get over myself. So, I did.”
Erik nodded in agreement. “I know this job forced you to morph into an adult almost overnight but, as far as me coming on to you, I just didn’t think...” He paused, searching for the right word. “I just didn’t think you were ready yet.”
She frowned. “Dude, I turned twenty last month. Do I look like an eight-minute egg to you?”
He looked down at the floor and smiled. “No, but I mean this is probably your first time.”
“As if!” Cassie snorted.
“Really?” Erik asked in shocked disbelief. “What about all those years of being an outsider with a chip on your shoulder? You told me you didn’t have any friends. You said you were a loner your whole life.”
“First off, I said I was a loner, not a nun,” she protested in exasperation. “And second, you don’t have to be friends with somebody to sleep with them.”
“It helps,” Erik retorted.
“It’s optional.”
“So, I wouldn’t be your first?” Erik persisted cautiously. “Because honestly, I don’t think I could take the pressure. Most chicks want their first time to be special.”
“No worries there. My first time wasn’t,” she said derisively. “In fact, the bar still isn’t set too high.”
He turned to face her, regarding her with keen interest. “So, you’ve been around.”
She blushed. “It’s not like I’m the kind of girl who cuts notches in her headboard but, yeah, I’ve been around the block a couple of times.”
Erik moved a few inches closer. He slipped his arm around her waist. “So, what do you think we should do about this situation?”
She darted a sideways glance in his direction followed by a mischievous smile. “You should start by hanging a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on your door.”
She didn’t protest when he bent his head down toward hers and kissed her lightly. In a small voice she added, “After that, we can make it up as we go along.”
Chapter 26—Rude Awakening
Cassie picked up her shoes and tiptoed toward the door. It was a little past seven and Erik was still sound asleep. She wanted to leave before he woke up. Going to bed with a guy was all well and good but waking up next to him without benefit of a comb or toothbrush wasn’t how she wanted to be remembered. First nights should be special.
Opening
