The Rule of Luck (33 page)

“Because I don't ever want you to think I'm with you because your luck gene twisted events in your favor, or I'm using you for some advantage you'll give me over everyone else. I'm with you because I want to be with you. Because you're the only woman I want.”

Then he leaned down to kiss me, just a brushing of his lips over mine before he pulled away. It was the kind of kiss he gave me when he was trying hard to be gentle but in reality wanted to throw me down on the nearest flat surface and bury himself inside me for hours. I knew it and he knew it, and I think I may have swooned a little because he reached out to steady me and chuckled softly.

“As you say, there's no time for that, or you know I would,” he murmured.

“But…My cards…Fine, I guess. If you don't want a reading, I can't force you,” I managed to sputter out.

Behind him, the door to my shop opened and two Consortium bodyguards stepped inside, tall, overly developed muscle with close-cropped hair, the ubiquitous sunshades, and wearing identical black suits so it was impossible to tell one from another. Though I had my suspicions, I'd never been able to get Alexei to confirm if the Consortium grew all their muscle out of the same vat of genetic goo or what their Modified Human Factor might be.

“Looks like your ride's here,” I said, peeking around his shoulder.

He threw a negligent look behind him before refocusing on me. “So it would seem. We'll have to table the rest of this for later.” He brushed a thumb over my cheek and across my lips as if memorizing the contours of my face before he kissed my forehead. “I'll be back as soon as I can.”

Then he let me go, turned on his heel, and left the shop. The Consortium chain-breakers fell into step behind him. And I was left with nothing but a sharp ache of loneliness that wasn't going away anytime soon, a gut feeling Alexei didn't want me to investigate, and an appointment who tripped through the door staring wide-eyed after Alexei and carrying—gods help me—another dog.

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