Page 7 of Torn Between Two Worlds

Kissing her on the tip of her nose, he laughed. “I think that sounds like a lame idea, but anything for you, darling.”

Laughing, she smacked his shoulder.

“So what, my darling, are you reading this time?”

She tried to pass him the book, but he shook his head. “Naw, I'm gonna go findRoad to El Doradoin this mess we call a DVD cabinet. Just read it aloud to me, I'm sure it’s as generic as the last.”

Panic filled her expression, and her breath caught in her throat. There was no way she was reading the summary of the book that contained her new Guardian aloud. There was just no way of knowing if he would pop out, and she had just somehow trapped him inside of it. It didn't matter that Derrick couldn't see Stryder. There was just no way in hell she was going to make that mistake. She wasn’t ready to see him again because, if he came out a second time, then Alcott was actually gone for good.

Without a goodbye.

“Come on, there's no way it’s too embarrassing to read aloud. Besides, if you're taking all these seminars to write romance better and get your million dollar book deal, sooner or later, you'll have to read it aloud to adoring fans.” He popped the movie in and came to sit back down on the couch. Lifting up her legs and laying them across his, he messed with the remote. “Ya’ know I'm not deaf, last I checked, so I think someone needs to start reading.”

At that moment, the movie started playing. She gave him a playful glare and went right on saying the lines.

“You do know that that might be the most annoying habit of yours.”

He reached across the table to grab the book, and suddenly, she didn't want him even reading it. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want Derrick to know anything about the book or it's too sexy, male hero and his family.

She pushed off the couch in an attempt to take the book from him and was distracted by the movie, something about the scene in the temple always drew her in, made her laugh and that time was no exception.

“You know, there's something wonderful about watching you watch a kid movie.”

Taking the book from his hands as calmly as she could, she tossed it into the bedroom, not really caring where it landed at that point. “You do know you tell me that almost every time we watch one?”

He laughed and tugged her back onto the couch next to him. “Yes, I'm certain I do. Good thing you don't mind repetition.”

She started to say something back to him, but he put a finger to his lips.

“Shh, or you'll miss your favorite line.”

Smirking, she didn't even bother to look back at the TV while making a sound effect and making air quotes with her fingers as she quoted Chell, “Are you serious?”

They both laughed, and she grinned before leaning against him on the couch. She would miss nights like those the most. There was something so serene in just being herself, lazing around on the couch.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully, two more kid’s movies popped in for good humor, a delicious steak dinner, and the two of them polished off the entire tub of ice cream before her yawn slipped out. Derrick sent her off to bed while he finished up some last minute car loading for the next day.

As she snuggled into the warmth of the blanket, her thoughts were a mess. Images scattered through her subconscious, and she struggled to settle into sleep. The thoughts were a mixture of good memories with her parents and the tearful goodbye she never got to have with Alcott that morning. She wasn't sure when sleep finally took her, but she was grateful.

5

It had beentwenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours since she'd sent him back home, back into a freaking book. He hadn't even known he'd lived in a god damned book until she'd become a part of his life, but now it irritated him. He was home, and he should have been ecstatic. He hadn't really been thrilled with the whole Guardian idea. He should have been able to screw the pretty brunette demon, who was essentially between his legs.

Should have, but couldn't.He couldn't even feel her. All he could feel was how Ciara had felt in his arms as he’d carried her, crying, up to her apartment. How her chest had felt pressed against his.

Fuck. He was getting hard just thinking about her when he hadn't been able to get an erection with the female demon stroking him. Snorting, he pushed her away, tossed her off onto the next guy, who would most gladly take a piece of willing ass.

Stryder just sat there waiting for the guy in the trench coat to pop back into the bar and explain what the hell had just happened. The guy who'd set him up with the crazy bitch who'd just sent him packing. Shit, if he was honest, he needed the guy to show back up. He might not be thrilled with the Guardian idea, but he sure as shit needed to sleep with her, so he could move on if she was just going to reject him from his apparent new job. He had to figure out just how the fuck he was supposed to pass the next countless millennia knowing the girl he’d waited centuries for tossed him to the fuckin' curb.

“Hey, dickhead!”

He jerked to see Demarcus standing next to him.

“You plan on ever leaving that there stool? Or are you planting roots and laying down your weapons?”

Stryder stared at him and looked down at his lap before letting out another curse. “I'm waiting right here ‘till the trench coat SOB shows up.”

His brothers had been there the other day, and the laughter almost coaxed him off the stool to shove his fist in Demarcus's face.

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