Page 8 of One Dark Kiss (Grimm Bargains #2)

EIGHT

Rosalie

A fter a mostly successful taco night topped off by a delicious apple pie I baked the night before, two of my boarders help me finish cleaning up the old-fashioned kitchen.

I recently updated the counters into marble and the appliances into stainless steel, but the worn and uneven wooden floor is too costly to change for now.

Merlin finishes drying one of the plates.

He s dressed in his usual fancy slacks and shirt.

With his thick gray hair and eyebrows, he looks like a distinguished professor and not the retired computer hacker I know him to be.

We ve hacked more than one secure system in an effort to help people who need assistance with the pseudo-doing-good group I created with Alana and Ella.

I m sorry Percy crunched his taco so much at dinner. We ll buy him new dentures.

He was fine, I protest, having thought I hid my reaction.

Huh, Felix says. There are some new treatments out of the Misophonia Institute.

I nod. I m working through one of the trials now. Most people have never heard of misophonia, which is a weird and extreme internal reaction to certain sounds, usually mouth or nose sounds. Sniffing sends me spiraling for my EarPods.

Felix finishes replacing the glasses into the cupboard and then turns to stare at me. Good. We can try hypnotism again when you re finished with their sound protocols. Speaking of your overall health, are you taking those vitamin D supplements I prescribed for you?

Yes, I say. I take one every day. I m not entirely sure I need 5,000 milligrams of vitamin D every day, but my energy level has increased.

He crosses his arms, his bald head gleaming beneath the soft light.

The lines on his face are well worn, and I still find it amusing he won t tell anybody his age.

I guess him to be around eighty years old.

Merlin has offered to hack into government systems and find out, but I figure if one of my boarders wants to keep a secret, they should.

Felix worked as a doctor at a large hospital in Pennsylvania in his youth and then moved to a more rural area before he ended up with me, one of my renters who lack family.

I like to think that the seven of them have formed their own friendships, but I feel like they tolerate each other. At least they seem like a loyal group, and everyone needs friends.

For me, they re as sweet as they get. More importantly, they really try to pay their rent on time. I yawn and can t help it.

You do look tired. Merlin nudges my shoulder. Are you working too hard again?

I refrain from telling them about my brief kidnapping. Probably.

Go get some sleep, Felix orders. I m your doctor. You have to do what I say. He is the closest thing to a doctor I have.

All right, fine. Who am I to argue with a doctor who doesn t charge me a cent?

Yeah, he s retired, and I have no idea how he still writes prescriptions.

But he does come in handy. I ll see y all tomorrow.

With that, I turn and head out of the spacious kitchen and up the interior stairs to the top level, which is all mine.

My bedroom is in the turret, and I have my own bathroom and small office area as well as private exterior entrance.

The place is my sanctuary and I love it.

A momentary pang of sadness hits me that I never met the great aunt who left this wonderful home to me, but I m thankful for her every day.

After my father died five years ago, I was adrift.

I have the two best friends in the world, and either one of them would ve taken me in, but my father s will had directed me to this home that had been granted to me years ago.

I found boarders almost instantly and have been repairing the building since.

I m uncertain about the pink color outside, and yet it really does lend that Victorian look to the place.

Sighing, I shut the door at the top of the stairs and move into my sanctuary.

Something s off. The air feels weird. I walk into my bedroom and pause at seeing Alexei Sokolov lounging in my one chair by the window near a fully stacked bookshelf.

He s thumbing through the latest J.T. Geissinger romance.

There s some good stuff in here, he says. She can write.

Instant fire flashes through my body. Both anger and something else. A sensation I won t admit to, no matter what. He exudes sex, even sitting in the plush pink chair. What are you doing in my room? I ve about had it with the Sokolov family today.

He shrugs. I look over near my vanity, which is an antique that I ve lovingly restored, to see a small shopping bag. I m staying here, he says slowly.

I blink once and then again, my gaze wandering to the ornate silver mirror on the wall.

The beautiful piece had been my grandmother s, and sometimes when I look at myself in it, I see a hint of her.

My grandfather always said I favored her, so the thought warms me.

Right now, I take strength from that idea.

You most certainly are not sleeping in my bedroom.

His gaze is so piercing, I feel it to the bottom of my spine. Maybe deeper. I don t think you understand the danger you re in by representing me. He stands, crossing to me and gently taking my wrist to turn my arm. Who bruised you?

I glance down at the purplish marks. Your stepmother s goon doesn t know his own strength. I tell him about my forced ride home.

Alexei s nostrils flare. What is his name?

I don t know.

Describe him.

Warning skitters through me. He was actually kind of funny. At Alexei lowering his chin, I give the best description I can.

He nods. Don t worry. He will never bother you again.

I gulp. It sounds like the guy will never bother anybody again. I don t want him dead.

Don t worry about it. Alexei leans down and kisses the bruises before releasing me.

Warmth encloses my heart, and I shrug the feeling away to put my hands on my hips.

Back to the matter at hand. All I have is the bed.

There s no sofa, no air mattress, and my desk chair in the other room is not comfortable.

He glances at the bed, which I have to admit is large.

I like rolling around at night and spreading out.

That s big enough for the two of us. His upper lip quirks. Although I could do without the frilly red bedspread.

I like frills, and I like red, and I like all girly things.

He does not fit in this room. The man exudes raw male sexuality, and I m in no mood for it.

At least intellectually. My nipples harden and my hoo haw wakes right up and does a shivery dance that energizes my clit.

How does he do that? Must be pheromones.

I ve read about them. The horny-creating chemicals must roll right off him and zero in on any available vagina.

It s the only explanation for the sudden dampness between my thighs. Or the way my lungs are stuttering and holding onto oxygen I need for my brain.

I stare and am reminded of his overpowering height. Then I check out his clothes: faded jeans, plain black T-shirt, worn leather jacket, and motorcycle boots. You found clothes that fit, I mutter, telling my clit and traitorous vagina to go back to sleep. Now.

He nods. I had enough cash for one outfit but will need my funds released soon. The clothing is in the farthest bag. Please return that to whichever boarder you borrowed it from.

I look at him, naturally breathing him in. Male and something undefinable and dangerous. What do you know about my boarders?

Not enough, he admits. I ll know more soon, unless you want to tell me all about them.

They re nice and retired elderly men who pay their rent the best they can, I say evenly. I tilt my chin, hoping my bra is hiding my erect nipples. I have to concentrate on the case and not his broad shoulders. Is he as hard and rough as he looks? Why does your stepmother fear you?

If my words throw him, he doesn t show it.

She doesn t fear me. She hates me with every fiber of her being. Why?

I think she s terrified. Perhaps losing one son has made her realize what s important in life. But she does fear you.

While his eyes spark, his stance remains relaxed and his expression bland. I ll take care of it, he says. Like I said, neither she nor her employees will bother you again.

I don t need you to take care of anything, I retort.

I want to know if it s possible that Hendrix set you up for David Fairfax s murder seven years ago.

While I won t call Lillian as a character witness for Alexei, she could be questioned to point toward Hendrix s motive in the death and set-up of Alexei. Reasonable doubt is all I need.

It s entirely possible, he admits. The only reason he didn t try to kill us at Hologrid Hub is because you were armed with my gun, and he wasn t prepared. Which is another reason he shouldn t helm the organization. I m always prepared.

I watch Alexei carefully like I would any predator.

The entire atmosphere has swelled, heated, and changed from his presence.

My skin electrifies, and I don t like it.

My clit tries to argue, and I mentally order that bitch back to hibernation.

I ve never had a man in this room—and I usually date easy going and carefree men.

Not intense possible murderers. Is there any way to find peace with your brother?

I don t have a brother, Alexei returns. Hendrix is anything but.

I think he s probably charging the crystals at Hologrid Hub, I murmur, waiting for a reaction. I don t get one.

The man is a master at masking his thoughts and emotions. Probably, but the crystal felt weak to me. Speaking of which, I m surprised you didn t ask any questions when you dropped me back off at the bar.

I shake my head. The guy was half-asleep as if healing himself had taken a boatload of energy, and I didn t know what to ask.

I wasn t surprised. I know all about the use of the crystals in powering the servers.

Sure, it s a lifelong deadly secret, but he has a right to understand my insight as his attorney.

His chin lifts very slightly. I was not aware of your knowledge, which unfortunately puts you in danger.

I suggest you don t advertise, to anybody but me, your comprehension about crystals and power.

My guess is that yes, Hendrix is charging the crystals at the company.

I think Cal was better at it, but there s no choice now, is there?

So you re better at interacting with the gems? Not everybody in the lineages is able to charge the crystals.

Yes. Alexei smiles, making my vagina perk up again. I touch an amethyst, and the charge is immediate. The purple eyes on the panther dance across his skin.

I blink. That must ve been a hallucination.

The panther looks like he wants to take a bite out of me.

Maybe two. My breasts tighten more as if trying to reach for him.

I have totally and completely lost my mind—and any control of my body.

I must get him out of here. Since you have very little money, at least right now, I can help you find a hotel. I don t have an empty room here.

He glances at the bed again, and awareness ticks down my back. Like I told you, I m staying here. He runs one knuckle down my face.

I gulp, my feet frozen to the ground. Which doesn t make sense because my entire body has gone firestorm hot. You can t sleep with your attorney. My voice shakes, and I concentrate on watching the panther watch me.

I have no plans to sleep. His voice is low and dark, licking across my skin.

I shiver, and his answering half smile should piss me off. But there s so much intent in it that wings flutter through my abdomen ... and lower. Much lower. I press my lips together, tight, to keep from whimpering. Sex is off the table, I whisper.

How about over the bed?

Over the bed. Not on the bed. Not in the bed. But bent over the bed. My core screams a holy yes while I shake my head. No.

He clasps my jaw between a roughened thumb and finger. I know when a woman wants me, Rosalie. He says my name like he s tasting heaven.

I m sure every woman within a two-mile radius wants this man, just from the pheromones zinging around. You want my brain and not my body. Trust me.

I ll possess both.

Who says that? Seriously. You get neither. I look up, meeting his gaze evenly, instantly wishing I hadn t.

His eyes are black pools of intrigue and desire along with warning.

Your choice. He releases me and turns his back, pulling the T-shirt over his head.

He flings it to the chair, revealing hard muscle and several scars down his strong back.

Knife wounds, whip marks, and other scars I can t identify—including a fresh one on his shoulder.

My vagina rolls over and moans. That fucking bitch.

She needs to crave safety and not ... this. Whatever this is.

I glance at the bed. You are not staying here.

He turns, his hands already unzipping his jeans. Then call your ancient boarders for help, and we ll get this over with now. I ll try not to harm them too badly, but I can t guarantee all seven will survive.

My knees tremble. There s too much trembling, shuddering, and vibrating throughout my entire body right now—with different feelings and emotions attached. He knows more about me and mine than I like.

He tosses the pants, leaving himself in black boxer briefs that are filled out.

I mean seriously filled out. His gaze softens.

Slightly. I m tired, Rosalie. It s been a long seven years, and the next couple of months aren t going to be any sort of picnic.

Get your sweet ass in that bed, and I promise, this once, I won t touch you tonight. Won t even tempt you.

The man tempts me just by existing. Fine.

I m too tired to fight him. But I ll cover myself with heavy vanilla scented lotion while preparing for bed.

I m sure that will mask his scent and send those pheromones fleeing.

You ll love my winter pajamas. I find them in the great-grandma aisle at the women s shelter.