Mr. Cool with everyone else but her. Ari reached for his hand to calm him down. “Let me explain.”
And so she did. She told him everything, not leaving a thing out. Being in a towel (that went down well).
Charlie trying to kiss her (a little spark of ember actually blazed in Jai’s hands before he controlled it). Charlie’s threats.
Jai took a calming breath when she was done. “How do you want to handle this?”
Ari winced inwardly. What she was about to ask of him was a lot, considering how much Jai had grown to respect Michael. “By ourselves, if we can.”
He sighed wearily and sat down beside her. “I guess I knew that was coming.”
“Jai …”
“I get it.” He nodded reassuringly, even though his jaw was clenched so tight it was in danger of shattering.
“We’ll deal with it.”
“There’s more.”
“Oh, goodie.”
“Jai.” She made a face. She needed him to be cool on this.
He held up a hand in apology. “Hit me with it.”
“For the past two months … Asmodeus has been visiting me in my dreams.” Ari closed her eyes, bracing herself for his reaction.
When her confession was met by silence, she pried her eyes open and found Jai staring incredulously at her.
“You’re just telling me this now?”
“I thought he’d stop. That he was just playing with me. I mean, he is just playing with me but he’s not stopping and I don’t know why …”
“Because he wants you, that’s why,”
Jai growled dangerously.
Ari blanched. “I was trying not to burden you.”
“Is that really why?”
Oh, God, they weren’t having another argument already? Ari sighed and slid along the sofa until she was pressed up against his side. His jaw clenched tight again and she stroked her fingers along it, feeling the bristle of his stubble. “He frightens me, Jai. I talk to him because he knows where to hurt me. And where to hurt me is sitting right in front of me. I talk to him so he won’t do anything to hurt you.”
Jai heaved a sigh but wrapped an arm around her waist. “You still should’ve told me.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
They were silent a moment and then Jai tilted his head to peer down at her, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“None of this is going away tonight. It’ll be here in the morning.”
Ari’s stomach flipped with excitement. “What do you mean?”
“I mean …” He stood up, pulling her with him. “I’m taking you out on a real date tonight.”
“Really?” she laughed happily, glad to shove their troubles to the back of her mind for now. “A real date?”
Jai nodded, grinning at her. “A real date. I’m taking you to dinner, to my favorite restaurant. In Rome.”