“That’s heavy.” My instinct was to meander around the room, trying to get comfortable or work up the gumption to leave. I knew where I would end up, though. I knew that when I’d walked through the door.

So I just cut to the chase. And dropped my towel.

“When’s dinner coming? I’m starving,” I said, heading toward him as my body surged with need and my core tightened in desire. I’d fight it tomorrow. Tonight, I’d succumb, as he’d said.

“Soon,” he whispered, his eyes feasting on me. “But first, let me worship you.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

A hard knock sounded at my door.

I frowned, because I didn’t think J.M. was the type to pound, but I wasn’t expecting anyone else.

I sprayed a bit of hairspray on my newly styled hair and headed out of the bathroom.

It was Monday. We could’ve returned yesterday evening, but the whole crew had decided it was a great idea to take a day to recuperate, sightsee, and actually enjoy the town. Oscar had been shocked when I told him it was over. He’d began asking questions about the specifics, but just as quickly backed off and decided to investigate the remains of the site. Half of the information he got from me he wouldn’t be able to explain anyway.

Little did we know the guild mages would be stalking us the whole time. Looking menacing for long periods was actually harder—and more exhausting—than I’d expected. It kept the idiots away until we could make it back to the Edgewater Hotel, though, a place the guild didn’t seem to want any part of, so I wasn’t too put out.

I’d asked Darius what was going on between the mages and the vampires in that area, and how he’d come to know Penny, but he hadn’t given me a thorough answer. What I could deduce was that he’d helped out Mr. Regent the month previous, but didn’t have any direct dealings in Seattle. From his vague answers, I figured that the vampires didn’t like anyone having jurisdiction over them. They had to tolerate the elves in the Realm, since no one could unseat the elves’ power, but the vampires had decided they would no longer tolerate the guild. Somehow, Penny and some other mysterious mage were the reason. Darius wouldn’t say how, or who this other rogue mage was, but I had a feeling it had to do with a massive amount of power.

I’d quickly decided that it wasn’t my problem. In the last couple of months, I’d had some pretty close calls. I needed to lie low for a while. I hated it, but Garret would stay the king of the NOLA MLE office for a while longer, the douche.

Tonight I would connect with J.M. to see if he’d made any progress on dealing with magical people, because I’d made a promise. Truth be told, I didn’t really care. I’d help the guy out if he needed it, sure, but after everything I’d dealt with recently, I would just as soon stay in with a bottle of wine.

I opened my door to the surly face of No Good Mikey.

“Hey,” I said, leaving the door open and heading to the kitchen. A glass of wine while I waited sounded like just the ticket. “Want a drink?”

“Am I supposed to come in, then?”

“What was your first clue, the opened door or the offer of a libation?”

“Her and her fancy words,” I heard him mutter. He appeared in the archway to the kitchen and promptly leaned against the side. “What do you got?”

“Wine, beer, whiskey, cognac, vodka, Baileys—”

“A beer, thanks. Any kind, doesn’t matter.”

“Good. Because I only have one kind.” I grabbed out a bottle, popped the top, and handed it over. “What’s up?”

“Where you been?”

“Seattle. For work.”

He grunted before taking a sip. “Smokey said it was quiet while you were gone. You know, for the stuff he watches. The normal crime in the area went up, though. Some thugs are trying to throw their weight around. Expand their territory.” Mikey huffed and took another sip. “I figured I’d let it roll until you got back. Let them try and mug you.”

“Mug me?” I poured myself a glass of red. What type specifically, I had no idea.

“Yeah. A pretty blond girl like you—when you have hair—walking all alone in the dead of night? They’ll think you’re easy prey.”

“That won’t be a nice surprise for them.”

“Like I said, I’ll wait until they try and mug you.”

I motioned for him to go back into the living room. He peeled off to the side to allow me out, then followed me. I plopped down on the couch. He hesitantly took the love seat, the first time he’d dared to get comfortable in my house.

“So what’s up?” I asked, because he always had a reason for coming around. I didn’t think he was the type to casually hang in someone else’s space.

“I’m not gonna lie—I’m still not easy about all that stuff I saw.” He threw an arm over the back of the couch. “That shit ain’t right.”

“Either you get used to it, or I kill you.”

His laugh said he’d like to see me try. “The other thing is that someone has been coming in here. I ain’t never seen him, or heard him, but Smokey said someone’s been going in through your back door when you aren’t home.”

“Did he see just one person?”

He squinted at me.

“There have been a few people coming in,” I said. “Or I think so, unless they sent reinforcements the other day when I was messing around with them. A friend of mine, who has more money than a single person should, has his minions stock my fridge and clean up and stuff.”

Mikey’s eyes widened. He glanced around and slowly nodded. “It is always clean. Does this guy pay for it?”

“Of course. There is no way I’d pay for someone to bust into my house when I wasn’t home. I don’t even need half the stuff they stock. But he’s hard of hearing when I tell him to get lost.”

“You don’t seem like the kind of girl to let someone get away with that.”

“Trust me, you don’t know what I’m up against.” The doorbell rang as I took a sip. “I have a work thing tonight. Kinda.” I pushed myself off the couch. “This guy is in the same position you are with the magical stuff, but he works for the police and has to deal with it professionally.”

“With the police?”

“Yeah. Detective. I met him at my old job.”

“I wondered why you was all done up. It is that swank lookin’ dude who always comes around?” Mikey followed me to the door.

“No, he’s the one who stocks the house. And does a whole lot of illegal stuff. Definitely not a cop.”

Mikey shook his head. “Why would you, of all people, try to wrangle with a cop? I’d stick with the illegal dude. That’s a more comfortable setup, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“Trust me, it isn’t more comfortable, and also, I’m not wrangling. Just being nice for a change. It’s annoying.”

“I’ll say. I don’t bother. It makes my life easier.”

I huffed out a laugh as I pulled open the door.

J.M. stood there in jeans and a blue button-up, attractive by human standards, but unfortunately plain compared to what I’d been looking at for the past week or so. It was hard to compare anyone to Darius, and no one could compare to Vlad.

“Hey,” I said, pushing the door wide.

J.M. was about to say hey back, but his smile dwindled as his gaze snagged on Mikey behind me.

“Oh, he’s my neighbor.” I got out of the way so Mikey could leave the house. “He just stopped by.”

“I got nothing to do with this, bro.” Mikey held up his hands, one still holding a mostly full beer, and scooted by J.M. “Take my advice, though. Don’t put a move on her unless you know she’s into it. She is not one to mess with.”

“Lovely, Mikey, thanks,” I said sarcastically. “See ya.”

Mikey saluted with his beer and started down the street.

“Didn’t you say he was your neighbor?” J.M. asked, watching Mikey.

“Yeah. That house.” I pointed at the house on my right, in the opposite direction Mikey had taken off. “He wanders around the neighborhood sometimes. It’s fine. It’s all very normal.”