Page 81 of Javier

“Missy,” I started again, feeling tentative, not to mention vulnerable and about to expose emotions I couldn’t understand let alone express properly. “You’re right about everything you said. This is my bad, and I’m really sorry if I came across like a—”

“Like a chauvinist pig?” she tossed out angrily. “Like a slut-shaming, misogynistic dick? Like a level ten complete and total asshole?”

“Maybe, if I can explain—”

“I don’t need your explanations.” She marched to the doors. “I’m sorry I asked a simple question any decent guy knows how to answer. ‘You look fine’ would’ve sufficed. I was just a little nervous about tonight, perhaps even looking for reassurance, but now I realize I don’t need your approval to look confident, tobeconfident.”

“I—”

“But no, oh no, the jerk in you came out in full force. You know what?” She whirled on me. “I don’t need your opinions. You’re a bodyguard. That’s all you’ll ever be to me.”

Ouch. That hurt more than a strike of shrapnel to the back.

“There’s a lot going on in my head,” I said, a lame attempt at an apology.

“There’s a lot going on in my head, too,” she shot back, merciless and unforgiving.

I needed to tell her everything, that Bozeman had called with a dire warning, that Tracker Team could be in trouble, and that King and the nuns had disappeared. I needed to explain why I was so fucking uptight tonight. I’d taken my frustrations out on her, and it wasn’t fair. Somehow, I had to convey that she was driving me insane, and I felt like a walking stick of dynamite lit up and ready to blast.

But how could I tell her that I was jealous, bitter, and miserable? How could I express the odd emotions tightening my chest? How could I verbalize things I couldn’t comprehend myself, like for example this new level of lust that made me hunger for her, or my obsessive, irrational need to protect, please, and pleasure her?

I pushed off the veranda and reached for her. “Missy, give me a chance to—”

“Stay away.” She recoiled from me. “I won’t allow anyone to slut-shame me anymore, to tell me how to look and act, and that includes you—especially not you.” She threw the sliders open. “You’re right. I’m primed for the hunt and you know what? I’ve been asked.”

I about choked on the damn word.“Asked?”

“Yes, asked, propositioned, whatever the hell you want to call it,” she said over me. “I’ve got good prospects. I’m proud ofit, happy to be free of myself, of you.”

“Missy, wait.” I stood there like the idiot I was, not knowing what to do, what to say. “Don’t do anything you may regret later.”

“Fuck you, fuck regret, and fuck chastity.” Her eyes glinted with a dangerous edge. “Stay out of my way. The virgin huntress-in-residence is on the prowl. Tonight, I hunt.”

She smashed together the sliders and disappeared. I heard the front door slam closed and plopped down on the lounger, propped my elbows on my knees, and held my head between my hands. I’d gone too far. I raked my fingernails over my scalp. Once again, I’d fucked up. I was my worst enemy and this might be my biggest screw up yet.

Tonight, I hunt.Belatedly, her words hit me full on.The virgin huntress-in-residence is on the prowl.

“Virgin?”The word echoed around me.

Oh, fuck.

I jammed my feet into my sandals. The gods really did hate meandmy guts.

Chapter Twenty-one

Missy

I couldn’t believe the things that had come out of Javier’s mouth. When had he turned into a total caveman? Had he lost his wits? Did he think he was my keeper?

Hours after our confrontation, even as I danced to the beat of slow grunge beneath the light of the moon, I was still pissed at him. I knew we were both uneasy, frustrated by the lack of news from Astor House, and on edge, knowing our attackers were likely looking for us, but tonight, he’d crossed a line. I’d crossed a line, too, one that had trapped and defined me for way too long. There was no turning back.

“Ma chérie.” Pierre leaned down to my ear to make himself heard over the loud music, casing my swaying hips in his hands. “You move like a siren.”

“A siren?” I threw my head back and laughed. “So, I smell like fish and have a tail?”

“And what a tail it is.” Standing behind me, Gerard kissed my ear and motioned his hands over my behind. “C’est magnifique.”

I blushed and shouted over the music. “You guys are good for my self-esteem.”

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