Page 28 of Torn Between Two Worlds

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

His voice sounded tight as if he wanted to fight her, but he just kept his eyes forward on the road. It gave her a moment to really look at him. His strong jawbone was perfectly offset by his dark black hair. From the side, his eyes were such a clear a blue she could almost not see the color.

“Ciara, drive. Stop staring at me and ask the question.”

Busted. “How many women have you been with? Romantically.” She was hoping to use his answer as a way to be repulsed by him, to draw the barrier between them.

He snorted and dropped her hand, crossing his arms in his lap.

Fuck.

“Well not that it's any of your business, but I think my bed hopping number is close to as many centuries old as I am. Four thousand years old. Don't you dare judge me. I'm practically a god amongst demonkind, and as you've experienced, a definite God in the department of making you scream and come undone.”

Ciara's hand tightened on the steering wheel, and she brought her now free right hand up to it and clenched it as well. Her teeth had clenched too, and she gave him a terse nod. “Thanks for trying to piss me off. I said romantic. You know, picnics, aquarium trips...” She almost said, calling them “mine,” but stopped herself because she really wasn't sure what she’d heard two nights before.

She could see his lopsided grin. “Oh, in that case. One, Ciara Miller. One and only one, and it will always be that way.”

Unable to resist, she turned her head to look at him. A predatory gleam shone from his eyes, and they flashed from black to blue when he saw her looking. A shiver passed through her, and she forced her eyes back to the road.This is going to be a long day.

Not wanting any more conversation between them, she pushed the button for the radio. Rascal Flatts filled the car, and she was shocked when Stryder sang along. Maybe their worlds weren't so different after all.

Three songs in, and he had taken her hand off the wheel again and was holding it in his own. She smiled at him, and they sang to whatever came along for the hour drive down. All the while, her heart was slowly losing on its prejudice to falling for someone for another world and accepting that it wasn't just happening, she already had.

Standing next to the car, she stretched and smiled as Stryder grabbed her and kissed her, a quick peck, but a promise of what else he could do. He grabbed her hand, and she quickly slipped it free. His frown made her feel guilty, and she quickly put the blue tooth on, so they could communicate.

“It's nothing bad, you dummy. Think about it. What would it look like if I walked around holding my hand out to thin air? Come to think of it, no kissing either.”

He growled but nodded. “You're right. Dammit to hell, what was I thinking? I'm sorry, Ciara. I didn't mean to put you in a compromising position.”

She grinned at him and walked toward the door. “I may have a solution for that. How about you stand behind me and wrap your big, strong arms around me. Might make walking a bit slower, but I can promise you, I won't push you off.”

She bought her ticket, and he wasted no time taking her suggestion and putting it into action. The minute his arms wrapped around hers, she smiled and leaned back just a little. Pushing open the big door, they stepped inside, and she heard him whistle.

“That whale on the ceiling, that's a big ass, fucking whale.”

She laughed. “Yes, they do have a Blue Whale hanging from the ceiling in here. It's really impressive. But not what I think I want to see right now.” She'd had tons of practice communicating in public with Alcott. The shift in speech to make it appear as if she was on a call came as second nature.

Stryder squeezed her shoulders, and she could hear the amusement in his voice. “Well, I'll be damned. You are good. Where are we going?”

Leading them down the pathway on the right side, she smiled as the cylindrical tanks came into view with the various types of jellyfish floating through the water on the current. “I just love jellyfish. There's something so serene in watching them move through the water.”

She stood back a bit from a tank of moon jellyfish, her favorite, and watched as Stryder unhooked from her and walked up to the glass. He put a hand up on it, and his eyes widened in fascination.

“You've never been to an aquarium, have you?”

He pulled his face from the tank and offered her a small smile. “We have them. But no, I've never been. You mentioned these places are your favorite. Why not walk me through the way you like to go. Show me how Ciara Miller does Aquariums.”

She laughed and almost slipped a hand out to tug him with her, but stopped herself. “Good thing for you that you're talking with an experienced aquarium attendee. I always go to the seahorses and tropical fish tanks next.”

“Lead the way, fearless leader.” He winked and stepped back, putting his hands on her shoulders, making it easier to walk for them both, but still giving them a connection.

Walking through the aquarium, she paused a little longer at each tank than she would have if she were alone. It wasn't just about watching the fish, she was watching him. He was so gentle and boyish. It was almost difficult for her to imagine either the bloodthirsty demon she’d watched fight for her or the sexy man whose hair she'd dug her hands into when his tongue had been inside her.

“The fish, they're so colorful.” He pointed to a lionfish. “This guy. I've seen him a lot. Aggressive and poisonous. Kind of like me.”

He smiled at her, and she couldn't help but laugh.

Their path wound them around to the room with the giant crabs, lobsters and the octopus. She accidentally pointed at the tank holding the octopus. “I could stand here and watch him all day.” For the first time, she felt Stryder’s eyes on her and not the octopus. Not wanting to feel as if she could turn around, fall into his arms and kiss him senseless, she turned away from the tank.

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