Carpathian 09 - Dark Guardian

smiling. "You are beginning to have feelings for me."
    "Keep telling yourself that," she told him. "This soup is good. I'm surprised you know how to cook." She didn't want to examine too closely or allude in any real way to what he did or didn't eat. Now wasn't the time to scare herself to death. She stood up carefully, moving away from him in a feminine little retreat he found secretly amusing.
    Everything she did was like that. It lit him up inside. Filled him with warmth. Made him want to smile.
    More than that, he had to smile. He watched as she very carefully, very domestically, washed out the bowl and spoon.
    Jaxon caught him watching her. "What?" She sounded defensive.
    "I like watching you," he admitted easily. "I like having you in my house."
    She tried not to let him see how much his words pleased her. Maybe she was just lonely. Maybe she was entirely too susceptible to his beautiful eyes. His voice. Or maybe his mouth. Or maybe it was because he was drop-dead gorgeous. She sighed aloud. "I'm going upstairs to rest for a while. Life with you is way too much excitement for me."

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    Lucian followed her up the stairs, carrying her sniper's rifle. "This thing weighs almost as much as you do, Jaxon."
    "You said you knew I was out of the house," she suddenly mused aloud, completely ignoring his teasing.
    "Why didn't I know what you were doing?"
    "You didn't look."
    She glanced at him over her shoulder, her large eyes eloquent with censure. "Look? Look at what?"
    "My mind." He spoke in an even voice without any inflection at all. "I stay a shadow in your mind. Aside from the fact that it is much safer for me to know what you are doing at every moment, it is necessary for us to touch each other to be comfortable."
    "You know, Lucian, if I had any brains at all, I wouldn't let you suck me in this way. You throw out these casual statements, and my curiosity always gets the better of me." She flung her knives and guns onto the dresser, pulled her cap from her pocket, and added that to the growing pile.
    Lucian was watching her through half-closed eyes, a small smile curving his mouth. "Look at you, a walking arsenal."
    "Well, at least I know how to protect myself. You think you're so powerful, not even a sniper's bullet can get you."
    "We are back to that. Honey, I can command the heavens, move the earth, move my body through time and space. I am much more armed at all times than you will ever be. Do not look at me with your big brown eyes and that little frown on your face. You are in grave danger, for I have a desire to kiss that look right off your face." Jaxon backed away from him so quickly, she fell backward onto the bed, alarm on her face. "Stay across the room, you fiend." She held up one hand to ward him off. "No talking, and no looking at me either. You use unfair tactics to get your way."
    He stalked her right across the room, looming over her small figure like a conqueror of old. "You deserve some kind of punishment for leaving this house after you so sincerely promised me you would stay put."
    "I assured you I had no intention of going out dancing," she pointed out virtuously. "I can't think where you ever got the idea that I intended to sit around waiting for you. I have things to do. Modern-day women do not sit at home while their men go out and play."
    He touched her face with one fingertip, tracing her soft skin, the delicate line of her high cheekbone. "I told you to stay here."
    "I was merely out walking. Fresh air is good for a person—didn't you know that? And walking is the greatest exercise of all. It can be done anywhere, anytime." She looked absolutely convinced of it.
    "Walking doesn't count as going out."
    Lucian sat on the bed, crowding her. "Walking." He murmured the word absently, his fingers tangling in her hair. The feel of it against his skin distracted him. "Do not place yourself at risk again, angel. I will take action next time."

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    She shoved at the wall of his chest, more to get some breathing room than for any other reason. He seemed capable of robbing her of her very air. "I hope you don't think you're threatening me with something. I'm a police officer, Lucian. Threats are not a great way to win favors."
    "I do not need favors, and I do not much care for your rather strange choice of occupations. This may not be a good time