Page 86 of Rapture's Edge (Night Prowler 3)
“Hmpf.” She lifted her chin and stared at the tall, sweeping form of the Eiffel Tower and thought about standing there with Demetrius on the platform overlooking the city, what seemed like a lifetime ago.
Alexi’s voice grew even softer. “When you’re not being evasive, you’re honest, though I suspect your evasion has less to do with wanting to deceive and more to do with wanting to protect something. And now that I’ve met your family—who I never knew existed, aside from Mel, before your phone call—I think that something is them. Which makes me think that in addition to being mysterious and sexy as hell…you’re honorable.”
Honorable. If there was one thing she truly wished to be, it was honorable. She wasn’t, but just hearing him say it made all her righteous indignation drain away as if a plug had been pulled. She shivered, and the sunlight reflected from a building across the river almost blinded her eyes. “Honor among thieves,” she murmured, “isn’t quite the same thing as Honor, capital H.”
“It says nothing against the ripeness of a spirit that it has a few worms.”
She turned and looked at him, brows lifted, and he shrugged. “Okay, I stole that from Nietzsche. But it’s true.”
“So now I have worms?”
His brown eyes were warm and soft as they gazed down at her. “You have wounds, but you don’t let them get in the way of doing what you think is right. I’ve been with a lot of women, Eliana, but you’re the only one I’ve ever admired. So, no, you’re not exactly the most positive person in the world, but you’re light years ahead of most everyone else I know in terms of character. Myself included.”
She blinked at him. She swallowed. She said, “You sure know how to pay a girl a compliment, slick.”
One golden brow cocked. “Really? Am I better at it than, say, your charmer Goth Godzilla Romeo who’s waiting downstairs in my garage to slit my throat even as we speak?”
Her face reddened. She wouldn’t even try to deny it; she knew D was lurking in the garage, where she’d sent him in an effort to calm him down and hopefully distract him from the mayhem plain on his face when he looked at Alexi.
“Is that why you didn’t want to see me anymore? Because of him?”
“No,” she admitted truthfully. “We weren’t together then.”
“But you are now,” he persisted.
She was taken aback. “No.”
He was clearly dubious at her refusal. “You sure you don’t want to think about that before you answer?”
“We’re not together. What would make you think that?”
“Because, mysterious, blue-haired, sword-wielding Butterfly,” he said gently, “you’re in love. It’s all over you both.”
She blanched, stiffened, and sucked in a breath, all at once. In love?
He said sourly, “Try not to look so hopeful—you’re giving me a complex, here.”
She sputtered, “I’m not—I’m not hopeful—I’m not—not anything—”
“Oh,” he interrupted flatly, “I did forget something. You have a tendency to reject the obvious even when it’s smacking you upside the head with a two-by-four. Also, you’re a terrible liar.”
“I’m not lying!”
“Okay then. Look me in the eyes and tell me you’re not in love with him.”
She was horrified. This was ridiculous. “Alexi!”
“If it’s true, it’ll be easy. Just do it.” He folded his arms across his chest and stared at her, waiting, not angry but not happy, either, just…patient.
“This is stupid.”
“No, this is my price for letting you stay here.”
“What!”
He lifted his shoulders.
“Alexi,” she said through gritted teeth, “don’t make me kick your ass all over this room.”
