Page 16 of Torn Between Two Worlds

“For being so disgusted and annoyed with me, you have yielded to me quite sensually. And if the look of hunger in your eyes is any indication, you're not so immune.” His hand went to his zipper. “I had every intention of doing the opposite of this, but if you're going to look at me like that, you better finish the job.”

She swallowed at his words and somehow managed to shake her head no. She reached out and placed her hand over his. “I'm a female, not dead. You're the playboy the book made you out to be, I can't help it. But I am not going there.” She rose and grabbed a photo of her and Derrick off the nightstand. “I've chosen the wrong man before with him. He was a wonderful guy, but not the right one for me. So, excuse me, if I don't immediately bow down to what my hormones want.”

His smirk made her want to punch him in the face.

“If that is what you wish to think, I will leave you to your delusions for now. But we do need to discuss this, and honestly, woman, if I have to say it again, you're going to dislike me more than you already do.”

Her laughter bubbled out before she could stop the full-blown hysteria that made absolutely no sense. A week had passed, her entire life had flip-flopped upside down, and there she was clutching her stomach and dying of laughter. She couldn't open her mouth long enough to apologize or her eyes long enough to see through the tears.

“I come from a family of nitwits, and I fail to see the humor in the threat offered to you by a Horsemen's second.”

She was trying to wipe the tears from her eyes and catch her breath at the same time. Unsuccessful attempts occurred for about three minutes until she was finally calm. “Sorry I didn't mean to be rude. Not that time at least.” She took a deep breath again to calm herself further. “My life has been torn apart and sewn back together with pieces missing in the past week.”

She extended her hand and cursed as the towel fell from her hips. She quickly tugged the sweater down and moved to sit on the bed, tucking her legs under her and knowing it was strange looking. She flushed when she looked up and saw the laughter in his eyes.

“As I was saying, everything is a jumble right now. I swear, I'm not normally Queen Bitch of the Universe, and I won't continue to be to you. But you aren't Alcott, and I didn't want a different Guardian.” She sounded whiney, and she cringed a little.

He raised a brow and laughed himself. “No, perhaps you are just Queen Bitch, and only of the universe some of the times.”

He grinned at her, and she felt a little tug at her heart. Perhaps she could like him, if she got to know him, like with Alcott.

“That was a fair shot. I'd like to start over. To try this fresh tomorrow night. I won't read until then, so there's no need for you to hang around. I would, in fact, love it if you left until then.” She looked directly at him to see how he felt. No emotion played across his face, and she wondered if that was a blessing or a curse.

“I was going to suggest a nice night out. But I suppose you would feel strange sitting in a restaurant alone would you not?”

She nodded, not thrilled with the idea.

“All the same, I would like to be in a civil situation with you. To learn one another. Consider it war games, to learn each other and plan how to deal. Would a picnic on the grassy area of your complex be suitable? Or perhaps you would like to come to my world, you would love my house.” He let the offer hang there, polite yet strained.

No way was she giving him the home field advantage.

“My vote is for the grassy area here. Don't take this the wrong way. I don't think I'm ready to see a whole new world and meet everyone. Not until I know I can stand you.”

She offered him a smile to weaken the blow of her decision. She could somehow sense how important her liking him was to him, and oddly enough, she did like him.Maybe that is just how the Guardian bond goes. Or maybe I am missing Derrick. Or maybe, just maybe, he is the fantasy I always wanted, sitting on my desk chair offering me his world.She shook her head scattering the foolish thoughts.

“Something the matter?”

He was looking curiously at her, and he must have been talking.

“No, I'm just a mess up here.” She tapped her head. “I have a seminar today. I write, but not as well as I need to, and seminars are how I plan to get better. I need to get ready, and then I have work.”

She had been blowing off her job at the bookstore since Derrick left. Not because she was sad, really, but because she didn't want to find more books to read as she rang customers up. But her savings were going to dwindle trying to pay for her place all alone, and she knew she needed a second job.

“Alright then. I will be back here tomorrow evening. Should you need me prior, I take it you can open these portals whenever you wish?” He gestured to the shimmering doorway in the middle of the room.

“Um actually, no. That just started. Before, I presume Alcott did it just as the bad things from the books do. I've never personally controlled it until now, and I've never needed them to travel before either, so maybe they're something to do with you?” He looked at the doorway and walked up to it. He pulled a dagger from his belt and sliced through the portal, muttering something.

“We will have to figure it out then. We need to know what's changed if we are to keep you safe. Thank you for this opportunity.”

He walked back to her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and her heart thumped in response before he turned and walked through the doorway.

“He's dangerous, Ci.” But her outspoken warning didn't stop the small smile as she touched where he had kissed her.

* * *

The next morning, Ciara blew out a breath and groped around the bed for her phone. Seeing the ‘good morning, beautiful’ text from Derrick should have made her smile. Instead, it annoyed her. What did he think he was doing still doing things like that?

She typed out a quick good afternoon to him to be respectful of his time zone and went to get dressed. She had a little less than thirty-six hours to learn how to turn off her feelings toward Stryder or stop lying to herself and commit to them.

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