Kate Daniels 02 - Magic Burns

stick it to the People.
    I frowned. “How did Julie know to call here?”
    â€œHit a redial button from what I understand. Smart kid. You’re going to tell me what you’ve blundered into.”
    It wasn’t a question, but I determined to take it as such. “No.”
    â€œNo?”
    â€œNo.”
    He crossed his arms on his chest, making his carved biceps bulge. I vividly remembered those steel-hard biceps flexing as he hoisted me up off the floor by my throat.
    â€œYou know what I like about you? You have no sense. You sit here in my house, you can barely hold a spoon, and you’re telling me ‘no.’ You’d pull on Death’s whiskers if you could reach them.”
    Actually, Death wasn’t that far out of reach. If I stretched my leg, I could kick him.
    â€œI’ll ask one more time, what were you doing?”
    It was a pointless battle. Julie didn’t stand a chance against Derek. She would tell him everything she knew, which he would then relay to Curran. But I would be damned if I’d let Curran intimidate me into caving in.
    â€œI see. I retrieve the surveys the Pack let slip through its fingers, and in return you bring me here against my will, interrogate me, and threaten me with bodily harm. I’m sure the Order will be amused to learn the Pack kidnapped its representative.”
    Curran nodded thoughtfully. “Aha. Who’s going to tell them?”
    Um…Good question. He could kill me and nobody would ever find my body. The Order wouldn’t even investigate that hard; they might just chalk it up to the flare-related craziness.
    â€œI guess I’ll just have to kick your ass and break out of here.” I bravely drank the rest of the soup from the bowl, abandoning all propriety. Probably shouldn’t have said that.
    â€œIn your dreams.”
    â€œWe’ve never had our rematch. I might win.” Probably shouldn’t have said that, either. “Bathroom?”
    Curran pointed to the two doors on his left.
    I untangled myself from the sheets. I really had to go to the bathroom. The question was: would my legs support me?
    Curran smiled.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?”
    â€œYour panties have a bow,” he said.
    I looked down. I was wearing a short tank top—not mine—and my blue panties with a narrow white strip of lace at the top and a tiny white bow. Would it have killed me to check what I was wearing before I pulled the blanket down? “What’s wrong with bows?”
    â€œNothing.” He was grinning now. “I expected barbed wire. Or one of those steel chains.”
    Wiseass. “I’m secure enough in myself to wear panties with bows on them. Besides, they are comfy and soft.”
    â€œI bet.” He almost purred.
    I gulped. Okay, I needed to either crawl back into bed and cover myself with the blanket or get the hell to the bathroom and back. Since I didn’t fancy peeing on myself, the bathroom was my only option.
    â€œI don’t suppose you’d mind giving me a bit of privacy for my trip?”
    â€œNot a chance,” he said.
    I tried to get off the bed. Everything was under control until my weight actually hit my legs and then the room decided to crawl sideways. Curran caught me. His arm hugged my back, his touch sending an electric shiver along my skin. Oh no.
    â€œNeed some help, ass kicker?”
    â€œI’m fine, thanks.” I pushed away from him. He held on to me for a second, letting me know that he could restrain me against my will with laughable ease, and let go. I clenched my teeth. Enjoy it while it lasts. I’ll be back on my feet soon.
    I walked away from him, successfully maintaining vertical position, and zeroed in on the nearest door.
    â€œThat’s the closet,” he said.
    Why me?
    I made a small adjustment to my course, arrived at the bathroom door, got inside, and let out a breath. That was entirely too close for comfort.
    â€œYou okay in there?” he asked. “You need me to come and hold your hand or something?”
    I locked the door and heard him laughing. Bastard.
    I found a white bathrobe in the bathroom, which permitted me to emerge with some small shred of dignity intact. Curran raised his eyebrows at the robe but didn’t say anything.
    I made it to the bed, crawled in, and hugged Slayer. While I was in the bathroom, somebody had taken away the soup. I had still had a little bit left in my last