I countered, my head thumping almost painfully as I got a little pissed off. “It could take months.”
“I won’t let them keep me that long, not with Raphael’s mysteries still darkening our doorsteps. Just stay out of trouble, will you?”
“I’ll do my best.”
He nodded once and left again, jogging away to his car. Raphael shut me in and walked to the driver’s side, adjusting the seat when he sat down.
“You were looking at him like a piece of meat,” he said softly as we pulled out of the parking lot. “Sure you’re over him?”
“Yes.” I looked at his profile, illuminated by the streetlights and dash. He had such a strong jaw. The alcohol and my own biological urges told me I wanted to nibble on it. His pretty chocolate eyes were shadowed.
“Okay,” he said simply and sharply.
“What?” I snorted. “My personal life isn’t your business. If I had said yes to Sorcha, it wouldn’t have been your business.”
“You’re right,” he said, turning to get us on the right road toward home.
I felt stung and went quiet.
I want it to be your business.
I shouldn’t have drunk so much. I’m beginning to think like a fool.
Fucking biology.
He pulled into the parking garage of my building and turned off the engine, sighing.
“Let’s get you upstairs.”
I managed to get the door open and walk out on my own, but he had to catch me before I fell into someone else’s car, then closed my door and locked it. He kept his arm around my waist all the way to the elevator and hit the button for my floor.
“This is how you always drink, isn’t it?” he asked softly, keeping me on my feet.
“No.” I leaned into him, unable to resist a drunk woman's urge to anchor myself to something solid, usually an attractive man. “Sorcha really got me going, then I couldn’t bring myself to stop. It was fun hanging out with her. She’s fun.”
“She’s something,” he mumbled. I wanted to glare at him, but then I felt him chuckle. “She knew how to embarrass every one of us at that table. And, uh, the bartender, Henley. He’s a werewolf, right?”
“Yup. Paden is fae. Deacon is fae, too. Everyone who works there is supernatural.” I turned to push my face into his shoulder, closing my eyes at the same time. The world stopped spinning for a second. “Sorry she teased you.”
“It was, uh, fine,” he said, obviously uncomfortable again. I looked up, blinking a couple of times to try to clear my vision, but I still saw four of him.
“You’re allowed, you know. To…go date, or whatever. No one can stop you. Probably not a good idea to date human girls, but…” I shrugged. “You don’t need to stay single because of the shit going on.”
“I’m not staying single because of that,” he whispered, looking down at me. “Not completely.”
“I would fuck you, no strings attached,” I said, sighing as I put my head back on his shoulder. Wouldn’t that be the dream? Fucking him but not mating him. Not needing to worry about any of the other shit. Feeling those hot…
Then I realized what I’d said, and that I had said it out loud.
The elevator dinged for my floor as I pulled away from him, horror going through me. He tried to catch me as I stumbled back through the open door. Luckily, I didn’t plant my ass on the tile and was able to make it to my door. I fumbled, looking for my keys, frustrated when I remembered he had them.
He seemed calm as he reached around me and unlocked my condo, even twisting the handle to push it open before I could bring myself to move.
“Good night, Kaliya,” he whispered as I finally started walking inside. I didn’t stop, keeping my feet moving until I made it to my bedroom and locked the door.
My back hit the door as my buzz quickly disappeared, and reason came back to me.
I just said that. I can’t fucking believe I just said that. Out loud. What is wrong with me?
New rule, no drinking around Raphael. Obviously, I have no self-control and can’t be trusted. I still barely fucking know the man, damn it. What is wrong with me?
I stripped and walked into my bathroom, washing my face with the coldest water I could get, then slammed my hand on the counter in frustration.
“Damn it!” I snapped. “He can’t…”
I had made a promise to myself that Raphael couldn’t know about the naga biology I