Lover Uncloaked (Stealth Guardians #1) - By Unknown Page 0,30

through his veins.

When he looked back at her, she avoided his gaze.

“And I still don’t believe your stupid ‘walking through doors’ claim. Why don’t you just admit it: you drugged me, watched me . . . then set my place on fire so you could kidnap me.”

“Fine. I suppose it takes a little demonstration.”

He pressed the car’s locking mechanism. “As you can see, I’ve locked the doors.”

Then he concentrated and exited the car as if the door were wide open, allowing his body to pass through the glass and metal while remaining visible the entire time. There was no need to reveal to her that he could also make himself invisible. It would only invite more questions and stir up more doubts.

From outside the car he looked through the window and noticed Leila slamming her hand over her mouth, her eyes projecting a shocked stare. But he also saw acceptance there as it crept into her features.

He reentered the car the same way he’d exited, letting himself fall back into his seat.

“Do you believe me now?”

She nodded. Slowly, she lowered her hand from her lips. “What are you?”

“I’m an immortal, a guardian, a warrior who was sent to protect you.”

“An angel?” she echoed.

He gave a crooked smile. “No, we’re not exactly angels, least of all I.” He was pretty sure angels didn’t get hard-ons for their charges. “We’re called Stealth Guardians, we’re here to protect humans from the Demons of Fear.”

He placed his hand over hers and felt her shrink back from his touch.

“Please don’t touch me.”

***

Mortified, Leila looked at him.

She’d seen him pass through the closed car door, and she believed him. It didn’t mean she had to like it—or comply with what he wanted for that matter. On the contrary, there was something very disturbing about his words. He was still a stranger, one who had followed her, entered her home without her permission, and practically kidnapped her. That he was some kind of superhero didn’t change that in the slightest.

He’d called himself an Immortal Warrior.

Aiden was a dangerous man with a dangerous job, even though warrior was probably not considered a job as such. His mere presence spelled trouble. What kind of trouble, she had no idea, but she sensed she was in a hell of a lot of it. Even if he was telling the truth and was really some sort of guardian or protector—which she wasn’t at all convinced of—what did he want from her? The only protection she needed was somebody who protected her from him. Because he stirred a side in her she thought didn’t exist. A side that craved excitement, passion, even danger. A side that frightened her to death.

But that wasn’t all of it: he’d watched her pleasure herself. What this meant she didn’t even want to begin to contemplate. No, she had to get her mind to focus on something else.

Shit, she was so totally screwed up. It was time to get her head around all this, find out as much as she could, assess the predicament she was in, and then make a break for it.

“Demons?” she asked. “Like in the Exorcist?”

“No. The demons I’m talking about are made of flesh and blood. They’re close. They’re watching, and they want to harm you. That’s why I was sent.”

Why would anybody want to hurt her? She had no enemies. She treated people politely, she paid her bills and her taxes, and she donated to charities. Didn’t she have enough to worry about with her parents? She just wanted to be left alone with her research.

Instinctively, she pressed her hand over the pendant she carried in her pocket. It was still there, still safe. Whatever had burned in her apartment could be replaced. The item in her pocket could not.

“Looks like you’re doing a bang-up job,” she said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. Since she’d met him, she’d been nearly run over by a car, and her apartment had gone up in flames. Maybe he was the one who brought danger with him. Maybe it followed him.

“I suppose this kitten has claws,” he answered.

“I’m no kitten. I’m a respected resear—”

“I know everything about you, Dr. Cruickshank. There’s no need to inform me.” His voice was suddenly tight.

So, Dr. Cruickshank it was now? After watching her pleasure herself—God, what a horrifying and at the same time shockingly exciting thought—and kissing her, he found it necessary to be formal. Fine. She could be that way too. It was better that