Page 54 of Gates of Rapture
But the newer part of who he was asserted itself.He forced himself to calm down, then he made himself visible.
Her eyes widened when he appeared, but she didn’t look too shocked, like maybe invisibility was more normal on Third Earth.“Who are you?”she asked.“And what are you doing here and did you bust up a bottle of vino or what?The entire room reeks of it.”
A wine scent.Grace had said he smelled of mulled wine.
He wondered what this woman would think ofbreh-scents.
He moved forward holding her gaze.“I’m Casimir of Fourth Earth.James brought me here to guard Warrior Leto.”
She blinked several times as though processing what he’d just told her.“So, you’re Casimir.I mean, I know of you because James and I talk a lot.And you took Grace to Fourth Earth as yourbreh.”
So she did know about thebreh-hedden.“Then you know all about Leto and Grace?And you know about me, about events of five months ago?”
She nodded.“I felt so bad for my Grace.She was so torn, but James assured me that there were strong reasons for your presence in her life.I hear you entered Beatrice’s redemption program?”
He nodded.“I did.It’s been extremely difficult but the right path for me absolutely.I have two little boys—”
“Kendrew and Sloane.”
He smiled; he couldn’t help it.“Yes, apparently James does talk a lot.”
“But what’s this about you guarding Leto?”
“Apparently, he’s in his rite of ascension to Third and for some reason I was chosen to get the job done, I think because Greaves wants him dead.”
“Leto’s ascending to Third?But won’t that change things for Grace?”
“I don’t think any of us understands what’s going on.Leto’s supposed ascension just isn’t following the norm—starting with the fact that I was assigned to guard him.How does that make sense?”
“I see what you mean.So while you’re guarding him, you’re staying here?”
“James’s idea.”
She looked around.“Exactly how are you guarding him if you’re up here?”
He tapped his head.“I have my voyeur window tracking him constantly.I wasn’t going to follow him around at the Seattle Colony or wherever else he happened to go.Besides, he and Grace are engaging with thebreh-heddennow, and I don’t want to intrude.”
At that, she cocked her head.“James told me a lot about you.All I can say is that Beatrice’s program really must be working for you to be staying out of their business.”
He smiled wryly.“Then you really do understand my previous reputation.And you called it exactly right.In fact, I would have made a point of annoying the hell out of him by constantly suggesting that we make it a threesome.”
At that, the woman laughed, a full-out laugh that made his heart soar.“And that would have bugged Grace as well.”
He felt himself drifting back into dangerous waters, because right now he wanted to tease this woman, say some risqué things, see if he could get her worked up.Given that she was still cascading her wildflower scent in his direction, it wouldn’t take much.
He turned to stare at the wall just to gain some perspective.He wanted to stay on the right path.
When he glanced back, he could see that she was eyeing him.He shrugged.“I’m trying to be good.”
“You know, this is really strange that I’ve caught your scent like this.”She blinked twice and enlightenment dawned.“Holy shit,” she said, eyes wide.“Are you mybreh?”
“I think it’s possible that I am.You smell of wildflowers, by the way.”
She waved her hand in the air.“Sorry, but your wine scent is getting to me.”Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes dilated, her lips swollen.She fanned her face and looked around.
This time she glanced at the wall, but she said, “I know there’s a Murphy bed in there.Were you aware of that?”
“Yes.”The word came out strangled.
