Catastrophic Attraction - Eve Langlais Page 0,78

a sense as being king.

And this was what Tanzie had chosen to accomplish their task? He had to wonder at the choice given his instructions to her were to make Casey fit in.

“She looks too dangerous,” he said with a shake of his head. “She needs to look innocuous so she can blend in and listen, not like she can take them out.”

“Trust me, this will work,” Tanzie insisted.

It helped to remind himself that Tanzie had an interest in protecting the Marshland, which was the only reason why he didn’t assume she was setting him up for failure. She had a mother living in a newly renovated house. Her retirement home she called it. Given Tanzie spent more time in Port City than he did, he deferred to her judgment.

“They’ll let me in or fucking else,” Casey snapped.

“Not if you talk to them like that they won’t,” he retorted.

“Like what? A normal fucking person? You’re one to talk about sticking out.” She pointed at him. “You look like a rich bringer of death.”

“I’m not armed.” He lifted his arms to show he had nothing strapped to him.

“You are brimming with darkness.”

“How can you tell?”

She sketched a hand in the air. “It’s all around you, like bubbling smoke. Can’t you see it?”

He shook his head, and so did Tanzie, but he found Casey’s description interesting. “I am dressed appropriately for the occasion.”

“According to everyone who saw me, so am I,” Casey hotly retorted.

“If you’re going to start fighting again, I’m leaving. Jorah wants everyone packed and ready to go just in case you cause a mess.”

“Who, me?” Roark said with a smile.

“Just like the cap’n’.” Tanzie left, and Roark eyed Casey again.

Her hair no longer lay in one fat braid down her back but was caught in several complicated braids that looped around her head. The dark shadow on her eyelids and shiny gloss on her lips gave her a sultry appearance. She was so fucking gorgeous that he finally realized why he so ardently didn’t want her anywhere near the Enclave. A beauty like hers… if anyone knew it came with a deviant power…

“This was a bad idea,” he muttered aloud.

“Why?”

“Because you are going to make every hot-blooded person in there mad with lust.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you,” he growled. “Do you really have no idea of just how alluring you are?”

Her brow arched, and then her lips curved into a smile as her hips undulated, her slow walk bringing her close enough he could smell her perfume. “I think that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said.”

Did she feel how hard he was when she pressed against him?

“Casey.” He moaned her name.

“You know,” she whispered, getting on her toes to brush the hot words along his jaw, “I’m not the only one looking pretty. You look good enough to eat.”

He swallowed hard. “Perhaps we should skip the ball and sneak in later.”

“After all the work Tanzie put into this?” She laughed and pulled away. “We are going to this event.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling.” It had been nagging him since they left for the Enclave sector.

“Don’t tell me you’re turning coward.”

“The people at this ball are dangerous.”

“I’m dangerous.” She ran a finger down his chest, and his body trembled. Why did she have such a power over him?

“Maybe if we tuned you down a notch.”

“It’s too late to change it. Have a little faith.”

“I’ve met you. You’ll never pass for benign.”

“Don’t be so sure.” She gazed at him and batted her lashes. Her voice purred. “Knives are dangerous things. I would never play with sharp objects.” She giggled. The tone sweet, innocent, unlike her gaze. “Would you like to touch one and see?”” She grabbed his hand and pressed it to the broach at her breast.

Even knowing it was an act, his breath caught.

“See, just a pretty bauble,” she murmured.

As he saw her plan, his jealousy swelled. “You are not to put anyone’s hand on your body,” he said in a voice gone rough.

“Then you better ensure no one stops us from entering.” She bit his chin and moved away. “Shall we go to this ball thing before you completely lose your nerve?”

“I have not lost anything.”

“Says you. You’re not going to drug me and leave me behind this time.”

“This is going to be dangerous. These people…” He shook his head. “They won’t fight you with weapons you can defend against.”

“Worry less about me and more about you.” She eyed him. “Can you even move in that suit?”

“You like it? I