Dead Man's Deal The Asylum Tales - By Jocelynn Drake Page 0,103

the corners of my mouth as I stared at her. A part of me wondered how much she missed her old life with her people, but I smothered the thought as soon as it formed. If she missed it too much, she might feel the need to return home and not come back to Asylum.

“Did the Hearth Women tell you anything interesting?”

Trixie shifted her shoulders against me in a shrug. “Nothing too helpful. They were very sympathetic and concerned when I told them the problem. They gave me an entire list of herbal remedies and warnings, but most of them look familiar, so I’m sure we’ve tried them. They also gave me a few potions to be burned that are supposed to cleanse the air of evil intent and emotions. We don’t exactly believe in that sort of thing.”

“I can’t imagine that it would hurt to try. Anything else?”

Trixie was silent for a moment before she spoke again in a low voice. “They also believe that I’m quite fertile right now.”

I stiffened beneath her and my breath became trapped in my lungs as my mind scrambled, replaying that sentence as I tried to read her tone of voice. Was she scared? Hopeful? Excited? Worried? She was centuries old. She might be old enough to hear the biological clock ticking down. Did she want a baby? Even if it was mine. I was at that age when normal human males were supposed to be thinking about settling down and having a family. Unfortunately, my life looked like a war zone set in a natural disaster. Not a good time for a baby. Even if things weren’t a disaster, did I want a baby?

Trixie leaned back so she could look at my face. Laughter filled her vibrant green eyes. “Breathe, Gage. Breathe. I was teasing. I want kids, but right now isn’t a good time.”

I tightened my arms around her, pulling her against my chest as I sighed with relief and closed my eyes.

“Besides,” she continued in a blasé voice, “I’m not sure you’d be my first choice for a father.” I knew she felt me instantly stiffen at her words because she started laughing.

“Woman,” I growled, “you’re going to be the death of me.”

“You worry too much,” she murmured against my chest. Her fingers ran along my shoulders, soothing away some of the tension. A part of me longed to close my eyes and drift away in a dreamless sleep for a couple hours, but there wasn’t time and this wasn’t the place.

“Since this isn’t a good time, I’m guessing that we’re protected against today’s bit of madness,” I said, forcing my eyes open.

“Yes, we’re safe,” she said evenly, but I could still feel the laughter in her.

My gaze darted over to the one window in the room. The light coming in through the shade had dimmed significantly, casting deeper shadows about the room. The sun was setting and Bronx would be in the shop soon. This stolen private time was coming to an end and we needed to go back to the reality.

I captured Trixie’s mouth in another gentle but searing kiss that left her sighing before I rose from the chair with her in my arms. Putting her back in the chair, I ran one hand absently through my hair and tried to focus my thoughts.

“Gage, about this afternoon and Demoiselle Noire . . .” Her lovely voice drifted off as she brought up the one topic that I wanted to permanently purge from my mind.

I clenched my eyes shut and held up one hand, halting any additional words. Muscles tightened and spasmed throughout my body as my mind flashed images of Noire while recalling her cold touch, that intoxicating scent, and the lush curves of her frame as she enticed me. I wanted to be sick, vomit up everything within me until I was free of her memory, but it doesn’t work that way. I was stuck with her in my head.

“Please,” I said when I could speak past the lump in my throat. “I know we have to talk about it, but not yet. I’m not ready yet.”

“Okay.”

“I can say that nothing happened.”

“Gage . . .”

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes when I could turn my thoughts back to the parlor and the waning light. “Bronx will be in soon. I’ll light some candles and open the shop again.”

Trixie flashed me a devilish grin as she pushed back to her feet. “I’ll get the