No, of course not, I bite back. He wants me to trust him, he’s said so more than once, it goes both ways.
Silence reigns for a couple minutes, and the sound of the waves lapping the shore not far away, along with the chirping of cicadas fills the pause. The moon has risen, and its glow partially illuminates white fluffy clouds drifting by in the night sky.
“Now that the scrolls have been relocated—” Harpoc breaks the quiet. “—any idea what you might want to do?”
Thanks for reminding me that I’m unemployed.
I stare at the clear, aqua pool water, but my mind is as adrift as the couple of leaves floating on the surface and a feeling of emptiness fills me. “I don’t know.”
“For what it’s worth, I didn’t like Irik either.” It comes out a growl.
I look over at him and smile. There’s so much I don’t know about him, but he’s definitely been protective of me. Why? Yet another mystery.
“I don’t know where I’ll go. I don’t have a home, not really. Apart from college, that dig was as close to a home as I’ve ever known. I pictured most of the guys as idiot brothers. They sure acted that way.”
Harpoc raises an eyebrow. “Typical males?”
I snort. “Yeah.”
He leans back, draws his arms across his chest, and stares at the water. A pained expression flits across his face, then disappears.
“Sorry you put me out of a job?” I guess.
He looks up. “That’s not it.”
“Then what?”
He shakes his head.
I don’t hide rolling my eyes this time. What’s he not saying?
I look back up into the night sky. Between the moon’s glow and the ambient light from neighboring hotels, only the brightest stars stand out.
Just like life, I muse. I’d thought I’d found my place to stand out with that treasure trove of scrolls, but alas, no.
“What’s something you’ve never told anyone?” Harpoc asks, returning my attention.
Interesting question for someone so secretive.
“Why, so you have a secret on me?”
He snorts. “No, so I can get to know you.”
“If I tell you something, will you tell me something?”
He bobs his head. “Of course.”
“Wow, what deep, dark secret will the dark overlord reveal?”
I enjoy the sound of his chuckle as I think about what to share, and then an idea strikes.
You sure about that one, Pell?
I feel shy sharing it, but hey, go big or go home. He wants to get to know me ,and it’s definitely part of me.
“I always see eyes like yours when I'm afraid. They comfort me.”
Harpoc tilts his head. “What do you mean?”
“When I’m afraid, a pair of eyes, one gold, the other silver, appears in my mind.”
He draws his hand up and starts tapping his lips. I don’t yet know him well enough to pick up on his tells, so I can’t be sure if he’s schooling his features, trying to hide something or not, but the fact that his breathing stops for a second, makes me wonder.
“I’ve never questioned the origin of the image, but every time I picture those sparkling eyes, a very real and visceral calm falls over me.” I chuckle, more to myself than him. He must think me crazy. “I’ve always pretended it’s a powerful god looking down and smiling, assuring me everything will be okay.”
He stops tapping. “Well…” He exhales sharply. What’s that supposed to mean? “… that’s good that image helps calm you.” The way he says it makes it sound like he’s covering something, but what?
“So what about you?” I ask. “What’s something you’ve never told anyone?”
He thinks for only a second. “I enjoy getting away from everything and everyone during a new moon, going out where city lights don’t dim the night sky, and seeing all the stars.” His voice fills with wonder, and I can tell he’s envisioning it as he speaks. “There’s so many of them. They’re breathtaking.”
“That would be nice,” I say, trying to picture it myself. “You’ve never told anyone that before?”
He pats the water absently, then looks at me. “Never.”
“I’ve never really noticed the stars. I mean, I think they’re cool, but I guess I’ve never stopped to appreciate them, at least not like you.”
He smiles, and I know I’d like to experience the stars that way with him.
The cicadas have gone to bed it seems because their droning white noise has gone quiet. Only a cricket chirps, no doubt trying to seduce a lady friend or two. Typical male.
“Well, I’ve turned into a prune,” Harpoc says, looking at his hands, then over at me, a corner of his mouth rising. “What say we head on in and figure out sleeping arrangements?”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A mix of panic and uncertainty flood my mind.
I can’t help but notice my lady bits heat.
You’re a mess, Pell.
No kidding, Sherlock.
I bite my cheek as I scoot off the ledge and duck walk back to the stairs. Harpoc laughs as he sloshes up the steps and throws a towel around his shoulders, then opens mine and holds it out for me.
His eyes become bedroom eyes. He’ll wrap me up in his arms if I let him.
My heart flutters because I want him to.
My inner voice is quiet and I’m taking it as evidence that he’s seduced her, too.
I grab the silver railing and use it to help propel myself up the steps, then screech as the night air takes a bite out of me and my teeth start to chatter, but then I’m in Harpoc’s arms and he’s holding me in the softness of the overlarge terry towel that comes nearly to my ankles.
Harpoc bends forward, and I
