Loki's Game (6 page)

His hands clenched at his sides as she spoke into the phone. The voice on the other end was male, and the thought of her speaking to another man put his temper on the rise. He wanted to throw the phone across the room, to hold her down and make her understand how much he needed her.

She made a low noise and slammed the phone down. Rowan stood by, hoping she would ask his help, just to have an invitation to talk to her. She refused to turn around, opting instead to tug at her hair in frustration.

“What is it?” he asked, holding onto the tentative hope that he could draw her into conversation.

“It’ll be an hour before they can tow my car back to my house.”

“To your house?”

“Yeah. I’m currently without a job,” she sighed. “I don’t have the money to get it fixed.”

“Let me call my mechanic,” Rowan offered, and received a glare for his trouble.

“No.”

“Please, Lily… It is the least I can do.”

“I don’t want your charity.”

“This is not charity. You came here under the impression that you would have a job—which you can still have if you want it. Let me have your vehicle repaired. That is the least I can do for taking a day out of your search.”

“Listen, Rowan, I appreciate the offer, but…” She paused, staring up at him with a confused look on her face and a delicate shudder shaking her shoulders.

“At least give me a chance to explain. And to get you a fresh set of clothes.”

* * * * *

There it was again…that pain, etched so clearly into his eyes that it pulled at her heart. She wanted to be repulsed, to curl into herself and hide until the tow truck came to take her away from this place. But looking at the hurt on his face, she couldn’t help but feel the need to comfort him. Lily crossed her arms over her chest and fought the urge to go to him.

“You have until the truck gets here,” she said, knowing the chilly tone in her voice was undeserved.
Was it really?
she asked herself. After all, he’d not told her a thing about himself before taking her to bed.

But he had tried to tell her. It was her fault for stopping him. She’d told him to tell her later because she’d been so absorbed in the budding physical relationship that she didn’t care about words. Never had she been so eager to get in someone’s pants before. Shame burned her cheeks, and she tried to force away the thoughts of her depravity.

“Come with me,” he said, his tone gentle and coaxing. “Let me get you fresh clothes.”

Against her better judgment, Lily followed Rowan back through the house and into his bedroom. The feathers had been cleaned and the bed made—she had to wonder if he kept stacks of mattresses hidden somewhere just for the occasions when he tore them to shreds. The marks on the floor were hidden by an area rug, and despite her attempts to ignore it, her eyes still traveled back to the center of the bed…where she’d spent the night in his arms and woken up alone. Beneath the shirt, the scratches on her hips ached.

“I am afraid I do not have women’s clothing lying about,” he said, breaking her concentration, “but I hope these will not be too big on you.” He handed her a pair of jogging pants and a T-shirt. “I do apologize for your clothing. I will have it replaced.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she heard herself say, and wondered where her voice was coming from.

“The wash room is through that door.” He pointed to a paneled door the same color as the walls. “I will fix you some breakfast while you clean up.” Before she could argue, he disappeared, pulling the door closed behind him.

* * * * *

A sharp chill ran up Lily’s spine.

This was not how she meant for things to happen. From the time she’d left the house, Lily intended to walk out of his life and never return, yet here she was again in his bedroom. With him going downstairs to cook her breakfast.

Lily didn’t feel much like eating.

As her thoughts battled her hormones, she closed the bathroom door and turned on the water as hot as it could go. Which, as it turned out, was pretty damn hot. Turning it back to avoid scalding herself, she grabbed a cloth from the basket on the counter and used the hand-soap to clean the wounds on her hips. Each one, she found, was a small, round prick about the size of a pen-tip. They had already clotted over and begun to scab, but the warm water stung anyway. More bruises blossomed up and down her body, finger-sized marks that showed her just how possessive his lovemaking had been. She remembered the feel of his hands on her, the raw energy coursing between them and the need to feel him control her.

Frustrated with herself for falling back into the memories, Lily threw the rag into the sink, dried her body off, and pulled on the clothes he’d given her. When she opened the bathroom door, the smell of bacon slammed into her empty belly.

* * * * *

Rowan had to force himself not to stare at her when she came into the kitchen wearing his clothes. She’d had to roll the pants at her waist to keep them from dragging the floor, but the T-shirt fell over the curves of her breasts so deliciously that he had to shake himself back to reality. She still carried herself as if poised to run at any moment. Even as she perched on one of the bar stools at the island, she sat lightly with every muscle in her arms and legs singing with tension. He didn’t blame her. He had a lot to tell her, and he was certain that telling her he’d upended her plans with the tow truck would make her angry.

“I need to apologize to you again,” Rowan said as he flipped eggs into a hot pan. They sizzled and popped, and from across the room he heard her stomach rumble. “I never intended for things to happen like this. I never meant to frighten or harm you.” Lily remained silent. As he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, he realized she was again curling in on herself. She feared him. “I had hoped to have more time to explain my…situation,” he continued. “You should not have seen what you did this morning.” He turned around with a plate of food and crossed the room. She leaned away from him as he placed it in front of her. “There is no excuse for my behavior.”

She looked at the plate then glanced up at him. Her stomach argued against her resolve, and ultimately won as she picked up a strip of bacon and bit the end off of it. He moved around the island to sit in front of her. She nibbled the bacon, looking everywhere but at him. Her mind was racing, he knew. She’d done the same thing while making up her mind the previous night.

“Lily?” he asked. “Look at me.” She blinked, froze, and raised her eyes to meet his. “I am sorry.”

“I know,” she whispered, and looked away again. She eyed the plate, but did not move to pick anything else up from it. Everything about her screamed that she had something to say, but he had no idea how to make her say it. Finally, after six agonizing minutes, she cleared her throat and whispered, “What are you?”

Rowan cringed. Part of him knew it was coming, but he still wasn’t prepared for the reality.

“A shape-shifter,” he said, his voice cracking. “My parents were both bred from wolves.”

A disbelieving bark of laughter erupted from her throat. “You’re joking, right?”

“I wish I was. What you saw this morning was the most surprising change I have ever experienced.”

She dared a look up at him, and as their eyes met, something in her face softened. He was willing to give anything to know what thoughts danced around in her head. She stared at him for a long, silent moment. Her blue eyes twinkled in the bright kitchen lights, and she reached for another strip of bacon.

“What exactly do you mean ‘surprising’?” she asked.

“Being with you as we were last night forced a change in me.” He swallowed and kept his gaze level with hers. “In all my years in this life, I have never experienced a shift in quite that way.”

She blinked at him, her mouth falling open slightly. “What does that mean?”

“I wish I knew,” he replied. “I would give anything to know.” Rising from his seat, Rowan stalked around the island to stand beside her. Lily stared up at him, her eyes wide and a little terrified. He took her hand and placed it, fingers splayed, in the center of his chest. “I just know what you do to me.”

Lily cleared her throat. “What…what is that?” she asked timidly. Rowan smiled.

“You make me want to protect and possess you all at once. To dominate and be dominated. You,” he placed his fingers under her chin and lifted it as he stepped between her outstretched legs, “make me want you.” He bent and brushed his mouth across hers, just the lightest of fluttering kisses. Finding no opposition, he cradled her head with one hand, slanting his mouth over hers to claim her again. Despite the flavor of cooked meat on her tongue, she still tasted as sweet and wild as she had the night before, and every bit as delectable.

She shoved him away and stumbled back from the island. “I can’t do this,” she cried, skittering toward the door. “It’s all too much for me right now.” She turned and pulled the door open. “Thank you for breakfast…and for last night. But I have to go meet the tow truck.”

“Lily, wait,” he called. For a moment he didn’t think she would stop, but she paused just outside the door. “I have something else to tell you.”

“What?” Her voice cracked.

“The tow truck is not coming.” She wheeled around and stared at him, flames rising in her eyes as her face bloomed bright red. “I cancelled the tow to your house and had my personal mechanic pick it up. It will be ready for you this afternoon.”

“You did it anyway,” she hissed. “I should call the police for kidnapping and theft.”

“Please,” he gasped, fighting the urge to go to her and take her in his arms, “let me do this for you. And while your car is being repaired, let me take you to replace your clothes.” He held his arms up in surrender. “I swear I will keep my hands to myself.”

* * * * *

Lily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He was so genuine about everything he said, but he was also a monster. He was a thing from camp-fire stories and children’s nightmares. Yet he stood before her, his large, pale blue eyes begging her to stay. Her fight-or-flight instincts told her to fly—to run far away and never return…but he had her car. And he wanted to buy her clothes… It was such a weird situation.

“I don’t know,” she sighed. Her feet seemed glued to the floor, unable to move in either direction.

“Come on, Lily. Let me repay you for everything you have done for me. The least I can do is replace the clothing I destroyed.” At the mention of it, her body tingled with excitement. How could she still want him so much after everything she’d seen? Her body very obviously didn’t understand that her mind was not happy. She was trapped with him for a few hours anyway…why not listen to her body and make the best of it?

“All right.”

Rowan rushed across the room as if he would hug her, only stopping short several feet. A lopsided grin curled his mouth and he held his hands up again. “I promised I’d keep my hands to myself.” The comment made her smile, and deep in the pit of her stomach a small bloom of warmth spread its tendrils.

Chapter Five

Shopping with Rowan was more fun than Lily imagined it could be. Every article of clothing he picked up fit her as if it were made only for her. No matter how she argued, he continued to throw clothes at her, picking out his favorites while creating a large discard pile near her feet. She agreed to one set of clothes, but he insisted on more, simply because he thought they flattered her. In the end, the bill from the posh little boutique totaled more than her last two paychecks combined. Lily tried to argue, to demand that the clothing go back and they find the nearest department store, but he ignored her in favor of handing over one of the many credit cards tucked inside his wallet.

To further her financial discomfort, he insisted on buying shoes in a neighboring store to match the clothes, and lunch on the river at an upscale restaurant she never would have imagined entering while alone. With the money he spent, Lily had a hard time being angry with him over the issue of his nature. Instead she chose to be angry with him for not appreciating the value of money, and for throwing it around to impress her.

“So is this all a ploy to distract me?” she asked, ducking under his arm to enter the restaurant.

He grinned. “Something like that.” Within moments they were led to a table in a bright, windowed corner. “Before you argue with me further,” he said, “I do not intend to buy forgiveness. I do not want to make you feel guilty. I only want to see you enjoy yourself.” His words, while flattering, unnerved her.

“Why?” she snapped. “You don’t know me.” He watched her, his eyes flickering with a confusion of emotions. “You and I have known each other less than twenty-four hours. You have already spent more money on me than I would have made in a month at the museum. Yet you expect me to just be okay with all of this?”

“I suppose you are right,” he said with a sigh. “This sort of situation is very new to me. I haven’t a clue how to court a woman.”

“And there’s that, too.” Lily dropped the menu to the table. “You’re proper and refined…almost like you’re an artifact in one of your cases. And your language borders on archaic.” She took a sip from the water glass to steady her nerves, and cleared her throat. “How old are you, anyway?”

Naturally, the waiter chose that moment to appear and demand an order. Lily hadn’t even given the menu more than a cursory glance, and Rowan was ready with his order before the kid had his pen poised. She glanced down, and hoping she’d read it right, ordered a club sandwich. The skinny kid looked down his nose at her, but said nothing as he snatched her menu from her hand and skulked away toward the kitchen.

“So?” Lily prodded when they lapsed into silence. Rowan sighed.

“I do wish you had not asked that.”

“So you
are
older than you look.”

He hesitated a moment, eyeing her with a careful mask in place. “Considerably.”

She swallowed the sick feeling and leveled him with her gaze. “How old?” He glanced around, looking at the empty tables surrounding them and leaned across the table. Lily didn’t like that… Nothing good ever came from a man leaning over a table to whisper something to a woman.

“I was born in the winter of 1368, in a small town just outside of Vienna.” The accent was Austrian. That answered one question, but left her with ten more, all bubbling up at the same time.

“You’re telling me you’re almost six-hundred fifty years old years old?” The rational part of her brain flat-lined as the absurdity of the statement overpowered her good sense. “You actually expect me to believe that?”

“Honestly, no. I expect you to believe nothing at this point, except that you are special to me.”

“Why?”

“I wish I had an answer for you.”

Their food arrived and they ate in silence, Lily picking at her food rather than devouring it as she had originally planned. Something about finding out her lover-slash-personal monster was nearly seven hundred years old had killed her appetite.

He paid the bill and led her back to the car, still without speaking. Once they were back in the relative confinement of the car, Lily turned to him.

“Where are we going now?”

“To check on your car,” he said. “It was supposed to be ready an hour ago.” She looked at the dash-clock, surprised to find she’d lost almost a whole day in his company.

“Oh, right,” she said. “I guess I should be getting home.” A glimmer of sadness tumbled through her mind. If it weren’t for such a horrible secret, he’d be the perfect man.

The little office was dingy, as most auto shops were, and very stuffy. Rowan’s massive frame took up much of the little room, and Lily leaned against the windows to escape his orbit. His large hand crashed down on the bell on the counter, and the sound echoed off the walls. A window facing the garage slid open, and a grease-covered mechanic stuck his head through.

“Rowan,” the grease-monkey cheered, “good to see you! Listen, man, I’m sorry, but that car ain’t ready.” Lily’s heart did a backflip. She was stuck. Again. “Had to order a pump, sensor, and a coupl’a valves. Should be ready tomorrow afternoon.” She collapsed into the single office chair with a heavy sigh and cradled her head in her hands. The gods seemed to be working against her. She wanted to escape this hell, yet was still forced to rely on Rowan’s generosity and hope it wasn’t a mistake. It didn’t help that her heart told her one thing while her mind screamed something else.

“I am sorry, Lily,” he said, and knelt in front of her. He was so warm that his presence was stifling in the little room.

“So, I’m stuck.” A deep chuckle rumbled through his chest. Lily clamped down on both her anger and her desire as best she could. “It’s not funny.”

“Actually, it is. Come on.” He took her hand and pulled her out of the chair. Despite the day’s unseasonable warmth, the breeze on Lily’s skin was cool and refreshing as they left the cramped little office. She took a deep breath and the corners of her mouth curled up in a small, satisfied smile.

“Where are we going now?”

“I assume you would like to go home,” he said, and she easily picked up the note of sadness in his voice. “But I can take you anywhere you like.”

“Home is good,” she replied, and gave him the address. She was surprised by her own disappointment that he hadn’t offered to take her back to his house. Like it or not, she was starting to grow attached to him. How the hell was she supposed to explain that the one and only place she wanted to go was back to his bed, monster or not?

* * * * *

The drive was long and silent. More than once, Rowan caught her watching him, but said nothing. He wanted to quiz her; to find out what she was thinking and if he had any chance at all of winning her affections. He’d been tempted to lure her back to his home by way of his gallery, but thought better of it. Bribery didn’t seem to work on this one the way it would on so many others. She’d already trusted him enough to give him one more day, and he did not want to lose what little footing he still had. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but wonder at the look of heartbreak in her eyes.

Amazingly, the problem of the old god had not once crossed his mind as he treated her to a day seeing the Savannah sights. As the haunting memory of Loki’s demands filtered through his mind, his mood darkened considerably. She would notice, too, because she was perceptive. Rowan had to clear his thoughts.

He focused on the scenery as they left the city and moved into a more suburban, almost rural, setting. He’d never been anywhere near her little community, even on his longer runs. He’d never had a reason. As they entered her neighborhood, he noticed that it was a beautiful area, and her small house backed up to the woods leading away from town. He pulled the car into her driveway, and a plan started to form in his mind. She definitely had a sense of adventure… He only hoped she was the outdoor type.

* * * * *

Lily’s mind was a whirl of thoughts as he helped her out of the car and gathered the purchases. The bags alone told how much money he’d spent on her, and the thought turned her stomach. She had nothing to give him in return.

Except…

The attraction was undeniable, but also inconvenient and more than a little frustrating. She’d never wanted someone the way she wanted him, but she’d also never been faced with the reality of someone not entirely human. Or willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money on her. That made her more uncomfortable than anything else.

She spent the entire ride home agonizing over how to get him into her home, while simultaneously questioning the whole idea of wanting him there in the first place. But when he took the decision from her by leading the way to her front door, she sighed with relief…only to be immediately flooded with worry that her home wouldn’t be up to his standards.

“This is cozy,” he commented of her small living room, again removing the fear. “It feels like coming home.”

What the hell?

“Uh, thanks,” Lily muttered, and squeezed past him to drop her purse on the coffee table. “Want a drink or something?”

“Thank you, but no. I was thinking perhaps we might take a walk together.” Lily brightened.

“I’d like that,” she replied, and started toward the back of the house. “Just let me change my shoes.”