Page 14 of Red Fury

“We cross that bridge when we get to it.” He raises a brow.

I hate that idea. I hate the idea of working with a Red. There is no way I can trust him.

“Work together? I don’t think so…but perhaps we stay out of each other’s way until we figure things out.”

“That’ll be tough since we leave on the same jet for the Big Apple tomorrow.”

“Crap!” I mutter. “You’re on the team coming with us tomorrow,” I state the obvious. I was too busy earlier to check the itinerary. I don’t normally care much who the security detail is.

He nods. “I am.”

“I don’t trust you, Red.”

“Looks like we have a whole lot in common, Draiger.”

I can’t think of any other option that doesn’t involve one or both of us bleeding out on his bedroom floor. And he’s right – we do have similar goals, at least for now.

“Are you in control of your dragon?” I ask him, not expecting an honest answer, but I have to ask it anyway.

“Trust me, I’m in far more control than you are, Draiger.”

I give him what I hope is a filthy look.

He sighs and smiles, looking prettier with dimples. I hate him so much. “I’m in full control.”

“Fine,” I say finally. “It’s a truce.”

To my surprise, he hands me back my knife by the hilt, and I take it. I still have mine pressed tightly to his throat. I study his face for any sign of deception, then slowly ease the blade away from his neck and climb off him and stand.

He does the same and in all his glory. He sure is a fine specimen of a male. No wonder he has my dragon so riled up.I don’t think she’d be like this if I had the opportunity to shift more often.

I have to work not to stare. To keep my eyes on his.

“Truce, Draiger?” he asks in that deep, rich voice of his.

I sheath both knives, my hands steadier than I feel.

We stare at each other for a few charged seconds. Then I nod once, turn, and walk backward toward the window, keeping my eye on him.

“I guess I’ll see you at work tomorrow, then,” I say.

“Looking forward to it.”

“Oh, andDamien…”

“Yes,Claire.” He grins and out pop those damned dimples.

“Stay out of my way,” I tell him.

“That’s not very nice.”

“I mean it.” I slip out through the window and scale down the fire escape, my heart still racing. As I make my way back to my car, one thought keeps echoing through my mind.

Did I just make a deal with the devil?

I think I might have.

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