He flinched and took a step back. Regret nipped at me, and I tried to shove it down into the dark hole it belonged. A realization came to me as I tried to ignore the look of pain that had flashed over his face.
“If someone at the bar suspected me of being Fae, they saw me leave with Jeff. He could have been followed.” My eyes widened even further. “My sister lives with him.”
Panic set in. Damn Rian. I needed him, and it had only been a day.
No, I could do this. I’d get Annie, and we’d get a motel. That was as far as I could plan as worry filled me. I turned on my heel, clicked the door open, and strode down the hall. The entire way, I felt Roark looming behind me.
“Could you go away?”
He didn’t reply as he kept on my ass. I sighed and tilted my head up at the sky as I walked out of the gold crested doors. The sun bared down, and I blinked the shine away.
In the light of day, and more specifically on the other side of alcohol, I realized where we were. It was the ritziest part of downtown, the part I seldom explored. Hell, my old apartment was on the whole other side of the city. The streets were barren, and I forecasted an uninterrupted walk. Just how I liked it.
I gauged the easiest way to get to my old apartment. If I took Garden Street all the way down to the bus station, I could board from there and it’d take me southbound toward Walnut Street. There, I would only have to walk a block to reach my old complex.
Decision made, I started down the street and tried my best to ignore Roark. He made it easy by not talking, but at the same time, I wanted him to. I’d forgotten how well he did with silence. My lips tightened at the contradictions swirling in my head.
I cleared my throat exaggeratedly and eyed him out the corner of my eyes. His body was angled toward me protectively, his beautiful eyes scanning the area.
As disappointed and mad at him I was, I would never stop referring to those eyes as beautiful. They struck me every time they looked on me, causing butterflies to erupt. It also helped that his eyelashes were long and coal-black, the envy of every woman.
Again, I did the whole exaggerated throat clearing.
“Are you well?”
I tried for nonchalance as I turned to him, my eyes widening. “Me? Yes, I’m great. Why, do you have something to say?”
The corner of his mouth tilted up, and he resumed his vigilance. “Not at all, my love.”
I wanted to stomp my foot. Damn him. “Don’t call me that,” I gritted out.
He gave me another side look with a half-grin, and I positively melted. With a growl, I quickened my pace.
“You know you will arrive quickly if we run.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to call attention to myself.”
He hummed. “I suppose you are correct. It would be easier if we were under the dark of night.”
It was funny the way he phrased some sentences. I rubbed my mouth to hide my smile. Nearing the bus stop, we arrived just in time to board. I fell to the back of the line. My lips twitched at Roark’s confused expression. The closer we got to the threshold of the bus, the more his nose wrinkled, and I was about to laugh at him until the smell hit me.
It was exhaust, sweat, and…. anxiety? I guessed that’s what that smelled like. They were all intermingled in a concoction of stank. I stopped breathing from my nose.
When it was finally our turn, we went up the metal steps up to the bus driver, who intoned, “Dollar per person.”
I reached for my pockets without thinking. They were obviously empty. Shit. As I prepared to beg the driver to let us on, Roark’s hand slid forward and slapped down a bill. The driver stared at the hundred, confused.
Roark pushed me forward, and I called back, “Keep the change.”
I barely heard the driver’s “For real?” as we went deeper into the bus. I looked for seats, and regrettably, the back ones were taken, so I went toward the lone middle seat and pointed at the one across from it, motioning Roark to sit.
He didn’t seem too happy about it but dropped down elegantly. I nodded shortly and then went about ignoring him. It wasn’t until the bus had taken off that the pretty, pale girl next to him started talking.
“I’ve never seen eyes like yours.” I flicked my eyes over to her. She was wearing a pretty flowing dress, and her face was angled up at him, appreciation plastered on her face. She was cute little thing and I wanted to gouge out her eyes. “Are they contacts?”
I couldn’t help but be grateful that he didn’t turn to look at her. His gaze remained on me, and he nodded stiffly, grunting. I wanted to throw daggers at the girl for daring to speak to him, but I had to admit I was charmed by his awkwardness.
Instead of turning away, she continued staring up at him, and this smell invaded my senses. It was sweet and coiling. I wrinkled my nose, and it wasn’t until the girl readjusted her seating position that I realized what it was. She was turned on.
Something primal in me rose, and I clutched the seat under me, gritting my teeth. When I watched her hand reach out and touch Roark’s arm, it felt like I was about to lose it, so I squeezed the plastic under me. I heard the crack of the seat and loosened my hold. Shutting my eyes, I attempted to breathe. My heart rate galloped in my chest, and I swallowed with a rough inhale.
Hands grasped my waist, and I jumped at the touch. I was easily lifted, which was no small feat,
