Reed wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then adjusted the prominent bulge in his slacks with impatient movements. “Look what you’ve done to me. Look what you keep doing to me, you fucking cock tease.”
Eve blinked, shocked by the vehemence of his attack. And the justification behind it. “I’m sorry. I—”
He cut her off with a glare. “Cain’s the one getting laid. That means he’s the go-to guy for your crap, not me. I want to fuck you, not carry your baggage.”
“Jesus,” she breathed, wincing at the resulting burn from the mark. A bucket of ice water couldn’t have doused her lust faster. “You know I feel like—”
“—you haven’t had sex in three weeks? Join the club, Eve. Don’t expect sympathy from me.”
A hand touched her elbow. She jerked in surprise, her head swiveling to see who joined them. Gadara’s gaze moved over her, pausing on the labored lift and fall of her chest and her clenched fists.
“Ms. Hollis,” he murmured.
The tension rushed out of her like water down a drain, fleeing her body at the exact spot where the archangel touched her. Eve was suddenly chagrined and emotionally exhausted. Still aching and slick between her thighs, she nevertheless was now capable of coherent, rational thought.
“Walk it off, Abel.” Gadara’s order resonated with divine command.
Reed spun on his heel and left them, the leather soles of his shoes thudding angrily upon the cement drive and sidewalk. It took everything Eve had not to chase after him. The set of his shoulders told her so much about his mood. She’d backed him into a corner, then wounded him. Her frustration turned inward.
“You should be inside with the others,” the archangel said. His irises were an iridescent gold rimmed with obsidian black. He was so beautiful it hurt to look at him. “Our plane will arrive within the next two hours. We will need everything packed by then.”
“I don’t want to leave.”
His brows arched.
“I need to be here,” she continued. “I can’t go. You might not want to admit it, but the Novium is on me.”
Gadara stood silently, eerily composed in the face of the day’s events.
“There has to be something I can do here that we can both live with,” she persisted.
“It is too dangerous. I prefer your original suggestion to assist from the sidelines.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be possible. Not in the shape I’m in.”
“We can resume training next week. A hunt conducted under controlled conditions should suffice—”
“Next week? I can’t stay like this for—”
The rhythmic thumping of an approaching bass beat halted Eve’s tirade midsyllable. Her head turned toward the sound, her eyes catching sight of the pea-green van that turned the corner. It was followed by a white sedan, which in turn was followed by a red pickup truck. The procession slowed, then pulled into the driveway of the duplex directly across the street.
“Is that your investigative team?” she asked, her gaze riveted on the exiting occupants of the vehicles. They seemed far too rambunctious to be longstanding Marks. They tumbled out with whoops and excited chatter.
He stepped forward, taking an almost protective position in front of her. “No.”
“Then, who are they?”
“Good question.”
“They’re fresh faced,” she noted. “Maybe a college study group? Biology or chemistry, if all that equipment they’re unloading is any indication.”
“No one is supposed to be here while we are.”
Glancing aside at Gadara, Eve registered his alertness. His sweat suit wasn’t capable of softening him completely, not with his ramrod-straight posture and elegant bearing.
“Did you tell whoever’s in charge that we’re clearing out today?”
“Yes.” He returned her gaze. “But the military rarely moves quickly when civilian requests are involved. We began talks for this year’s training two years ago. I fail to see how they could have granted permission to a new group in so short a time.”
Eve started across the street. Every step was a relief. She needed to walk it off, too.
“Ms. Hollis.” The archangel’s tone was admonishing. “What are you doing?”
“Saying hi to our new neighbors.” She looked down the road toward Anytown, which was within walking distance. Far too close for mortal comfort.
As she approached the new arrivals, Eve caught the attention of one of the girls—a somber-looking brunette with black-framed glasses and orange camisole. The girl elbowed the lanky man next to her, gesturing toward Eve with a jerk of her chin. He turned with a frown that dissolved into a smile when he saw Eve. He had unruly