Page 16 of Shield of Fire

He raised a pale eyebrow, the devilment growing stronger. A heartbeat later, his lips brushed mine—a warm, familiar caress that promised heaven if I just gave in.

There was definitely a part of me that wanted to, but I already had two lovers. I didn’t need the complication of a third.

“I suggest we move slowly,” he said.

“Slowly is not an answer, and neither is standing here attempting to seduce me.”

“No, but it is nevertheless delightful, is it not?”

I rolled my eyes. “Concentrate on the matter at hand, Mathi.”

He chuckled softly and pressed me harder against his groin. The man was delightfully erect.

“Not that matter,” I added dryly.

He sighed, an overly dramatic sound at odds with the amusement glowing in his eyes.

“If you insist?—”

“And I do.”

“Then we shall casually walk across the road to the side street, make our way to the lane that runs behind the betting shop, then head on up to the roof and take your head felon out.”

I frowned. “Surely he’ll have someone watching the back lane?”

“I couldn’t see anyone, but if a watcher appears, we’ll deal with them.”

It wouldn’t be that easy. It never was. And maybe we needed to prepare for that. “And the two watchers we can see?”

“The minute we take one man out, the other will react. It’d be better to cut off the hydra’s head first, so to speak, then deal with the limbs. It’s always possible said limbs will decide running would be the better option once we take their leader out.”

“When have we ever gotten that lucky?” I said, voice dry.

“Almost never, but it also never hurts to hope.”

“Hope is an emotion light elves disdain.”

“That is a blatant lie.” His blue eyes twinkled. “Take me, for instance. I live in the hope that you will come to your senses and warm my bed once more.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t bother responding. There was little point. “In the eventuality that they don’t run, or are there as a secondary means of taking out Kaitlyn should their boss fail, perhaps you should ring and warn her.”

He raised an eyebrow. “It is your vision—would it not be more logical coming from you, especially given she is well aware of your talent?”

“It’s because of my ‘talent’—and the problems it has caused her—that she’ll more than likely ignore my call. Besides, my phone lies somewhere in the mess that was Cynwrig’s apartment.”

“I really wish you’d come to your senses and stop seeing that man. He is not what he seems?—”

“He’s exactly what he seems,” I countered. “A hot, sexy man who is outstanding in bed.”

“You left me because I dared to have one other lover, but he?—”

“No, I left you because you broke an agreement stating you would tell me when you took other lovers or started looking for a wife. Ring Kaitlyn before shit gets real.”

He sighed, another of those overly dramatic sounds, then released me and made the call. It obviously went straight through to the answering machine because he hung up and sent a text message instead.

If we were lucky, she’d take notice and either leave or find a safe place.

If we weren’t, well, on her head be it if things went ass up.

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