I'm evil and you have aligned yourself with me, Ezra declared, a bit petulantly.
I have no doubt you're an evil badass, Ezra. You are,however, working for the good guys right now.
He sighed, and I took that as him conceding the point.
Mal brought our attention back to the game.
∞ ∞∞
That night I lay staring at my ceiling, running ourplan through my mind. It was as solid as we could make it. This ninja shit wasso not my cup of tea, however, and I was worried about tomorrow.
Ezra jerked me into the blank space. He was againwearing his silky dress shirt with the rolled-up sleeves and the black dresspants that fit him just right.
I jerked my gaze away from the red buttons on hisshirt and the trail down his chest they led me. My fingers itched for me to runthem up and down his chest.
"Worrying about it won't make it easier."
"I know." I hugged myself, frowned, andglanced at myself. I was wearing some sort of badass evening gown. It clung tome in the right spots to accent my figure. The fabric slid across my skin in away that was far more intimate than I would have expected.
"For real?" It also showed off a great dealof my ink. Yep, open backed, too, from the feel of it.
He shrugged and had the good grace to lookembarrassed. "It matches my clothes."
I sighed. "I've never worn anything like this inmy entire life."
"Pity. You can change it if you want."
Not having the energy to bother with trying to figureout how, and secretly enjoying the outfit, I simply turned my back and hunchedmy shoulders. I didn't want to deal with any of this. I'd quit. Gotten out. Somany people important to me had died. And now I was putting people at riskagain. Sure, they'd be a lot harder to kill, but still, they were puttingthemselves at risk because of me.
Ezra touched the small of my back, his warm fingerstrailing fire up my bare skin as he stroked along my spine. I hadn't heard himmove closer.
My breath came faster as he put one hand on my hip,the other caressing my bare neck.
"They're here by choice," he said, readingmy mind. "Sabian would be involved regardless. The hellhound lives forthis kind of conflict. Mal is a warrior despite his scholarly tendencies. Aaronis not at risk from the demonic energy, only human weapons and I'm certainSabian will protect him as their role is to release as many demons as they can."
His breath tickled my neck and my stomach tightened. Imanaged to keep from leaning back against his chest, but it was one of theharder things I'd done recently.
"You are the most at risk in this fight."
"But I have you," I breathed out, voiceraspy.
"You have me," he agreed.
We stood that way for a small eternity, neither of usmaking a move to come together, but seemingly unable to pull away from eachother.
The more involved I got with him, the harder it wouldbe to break away later. He was leaving. I'd probably never see him again. Atleast not like this.
"I should get some rest," I finally gaspedout. My entire body was pulled tight, and I wanted nothing more than to losemyself in what Ezra seemed to be offering. It was just a really bad idea. I wasgood at bad ideas, but somehow, I managed to take a step away from hisdelicious heat.
"Yes, you should."
I couldn't read his voice as I managed another step away.
Moments later I was back in my bed, staring at theceiling. Alone except for the Pomeranian curled up at my side.
I took a few shaky breaths, rolled over onto my side,and somehow managed to pass out. Though, briefly, while I was on the edge ofsleeping and being awake, I was certain I felt Ezra curl himself around me.
∞ ∞∞
"Think it's a trap?" I followed Mal into theliving room after letting him inside the house, trying not to stare at the wayhis jeans hugged his ass. I gave up and stared. The plain black T-shirt fitpretty well, too.
He set a bag down on the coffee table and sank downonto the couch. I told Ezra to shut it and curled into Mal's arms.
The vampire held me, resting his cheek against my head.Sabian looked on, expression peaceful. Aaron joined us a moment later, foldinghimself into the chair across from us. They were both dressed in jeans and darkT-shirts, too. Eye candy all around. I was not complaining.
"It's possible. Doesn't change anything. We haveto assume they are prepared for us to discover them. They know I'm a vampire,they know Sabian is an incubus. I'm assuming they have some idea of what makesAaron special since they are the ones that led us to him in the first place.What they might not know is that we still have Prince Ezra with us. I wouldn'tcount on that, either."
"Great. You're filling me with some extremeconfidence."
Mal kissed me and chuckled. "We'll be fine."
"You don't think we need any other form ofbackup?" Aaron shifted uneasily in the chair.
"Such as?" Mal asked.
"The cops, I guess." He hunched hisshoulders.
"We could simply tell them where to look. Itwould get a lot of them killed, however," Mal said.
"It's us or nothing," I added. "Let'sget ready to head out."
Reluctantly I uncurled myself from Mal's embracethough I felt Ezra's phantom hands on me, as if he were holding me in place ofthe vampire.
Mal pulled his bag open and pulled a few things out.
"I made a few of our own charms for protection."He handed out some etched silver circles. The sigils on them were familiar andI thought with a bit of time I could decipher what he'd done.
"Yours was the most complicated, Chris.Protecting you from other demons while not affecting Prince Ezra, Mayhem, orSabian was interesting. Especially Prince Ezra. None of these should harmSabian or Mayhem, but I wouldn't touch Chris unless you have to, just in
