Page 30 of Act of Brotherhood
Supernaturals weren’t rare by any means, and it stood to reason there would be many in Savannah. The sun had set, so it was entirely possible vampires were in the area. Maybe even Fae.
The strangest thing about the quick whiff of supernatural was that it made him think of both Landros and Auberi. Neither of them were in Savannah that Garth was aware of. As far as he knew, Auberi was still back at Division B Headquarters and, if memory served, Landros and his team were overseas.
Not that it mattered. Neither vampire was one he wanted to be thinking about when he was standing face-to-face with a woman who had nearly brought him to his knees with just a kiss.
Nicolette smiled. “The offer stands. You still willing to wear the helmet and carry a sword?”
She was funny, and Garth liked that.
“I’ve a massive sword collection at home. Wait. I shouldn’t have said that. My friend told me women will think I’m a homicidal maniac if I talk about my collection of weapons.”
Nicolette’s eyes crinkled with mirth. “Well, Iknowyou’re not one. I’m a really good read of people. Strangely though, my first read of you from before seems all wrong now. That doesn’t normally happen.”
“Before?” he asked.
“Yes. In the square. You know, when you were behind the tree. Right before you and Wheeler had a stare-off.”
“Me and who?”
She rolled her eyes. “Never mind.”
He lifted a brow, confused. Garth found himself reaching for her hand, wanting to make contact with her. He didn’t care that their hands looked like they’d spent the day murdering cakes. He didn’t even care that they both were wearing their fair share of the hipster cupcakes. He didn’t care about anything but this woman and getting to spend time near her.
He tried to think about the last time he’d ever wanted anything beyond sex from a woman, and he came up blank. He didn’t converse with the women he bedded. He talked to them long enough to see if they wanted to fuck and that was it. He didn’t go to their homes, and they didn’t come to his. He paid for rooms at hotels and kept it all on neutral grounds. A lot of the men he knew did the same.
Chapter Seven
Nicolette could not stop stealingpeeks at the hunk and a half walking beside her. How could she have read him so wrong to start with back in the square? She had to admit he looked even better with his hair down and out of the braid. She could have sworn he had a scar above his right eye, but she realized that she’d not been that close to him. It could have been a shadow she saw on his face.
The man was tall, exceedingly handsome, had an accent to die for (even if it was at times hard to understand), and had taken the fact he was covered in cupcakes in stride. Not a lot of men would have been cool with that. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself, but she really hoped he was agreeing to go home with her for more than just cleaning up. From the moment they’d collided, she’d wanted the man.
First, she’d heard a loud buzzing noise, and when that had cleared, she’d been able to really focus on him. The man was amazing. He was the type of guy who looked to have fallen out of a magazine full of hunky men. A guy who seemed like he’d fit better in the days of old. In fact, the first thing she’d imagined after they’d kissed was him dressed in historic warrior wear—just like a Viking. While he’d not had a horned helmet in her fleeting mental image, he did have a sword.
Her gaze inched down him as they walked hand in hand, like they were a couple and had been for some time. As her focus settled on his groin, she gulped.
Yeah, hisswordwas huge.
A soft whisper of curses in French came from her. She was fluent in the language, and in Greek, thanks to her uncle. While Clara had no issues spitting out whatever word was on her mind, Nicolette much rather preferred to curse in another language. Somehow, that made it better in her mind.
Garth snorted. “Interesting choice of words.”
“You speak French?” she asked.
“I do. Among other languages.”
Of course he did. Could the man get any more perfect?
Garth sent her hormones into overdrive. She wanted to throw caution to the wind, be wild, and take him home with her to do every naughty thing that was crossing her mind. Nicolette still couldn’t believe she’d actually blurted out the invitation not only to her home, but she was pretty sure to her pants as well.
That wasn’t like her. She didn’t drag home strangers. She didn’t sleep with just any guy, either. She’d been with two men in her life. They’d been nice guys whom she’d felt something for; not love, but a lot of like. They’d been gentle lovers, taking their time with her, never demanding more than she was ready to give.
Neither of the men had come equipped with what it looked like the tall blond stud was packing. Was that thing heavy to have hanging off him all day? It had to be. Did he walk with a limp because of it?
Garth gave her hand the tiniest of squeezes and Nicolette’s attention snapped back to his face, only to find him grinning as if he’d totally figured out what had been on her mind.
His groin.
She’d have felt guilty, but she’d seen the way his gaze had lingered over her chest only moments prior. She wasn’t the only one who had been having dirty thoughts since they’d run into one another. Of that, she was sure.
