Page 27 of For the Love of the Gods

Dominic caught the motion of my throat, his eyes dropping to the base of my neck, to the open space between my collarbones. I’d taken off the necklaces I normally wore and it made me feel bare. That combined with the heat in his gaze made me feel indecently exposed.

Dominic didn’t take his eyes off my throat as he asked, “Why is your heart beating so fast? Are you nervous?”

His voice sounded like it had scrapped over gravel on the way out of his mouth.

“I should be,” I said. “I’m not convinced I’m safe around you.”

He seized my eyes again with that same drilling intensity I’d come to realize was normal for him. “That so?”

“Yes.”

“That remains to be seen. But, based on how fast your heart is beating,” Dominic lifted his hand to the pulse point in my neck, brushing the back of his hand lightly over my skin and leaving a blazing flush in its wake, “Your instincts are screaming at you to run or fight.”

My heart was about to beat out of my chest. Whatever it was, fear or something else, my resolve was slipping, and fast. Especially when Dominic kept his hand hovering a millimeter over my skin, static heat radiating off him.

His chin dipped a fraction of an inch. I barely caught the motion in my periphery because he kept my eyes locked on his in an arresting stare.

I had the horrible, enticing thought that he might try to kiss me. The moment was ripped away in a second when a loud bang sounded from inside.

“What was that?” We both said at the same time, turning our heads towards the door.

Dominic stepped away from me. “I think it came from the entry.”

He ripped open the door and took a step inside, with me quick on his heels. He turned around and pinned me with a serious expression. “Stay here.”

“No.” I’d been forced to learn to take care of myself and had gotten damn good at it.

Dominic didn’t fight me, but he kept pushing me behind him as we walked down the hall, stopping at each turn to make sure no one had come up and was hiding in the shadows. I only let Dominic lead because he knew a thing or two about that.

We made it to foyer and Dominic froze, shoving me behind him before I could fully catch a glimpse of the man pacing back and forth in our entryway.

“Lukas?” Dominic asked, shock ringing in his voice.

“Hey, man.”

I lifted up on my toes to peer over Dominic’s shoulder and sucked in a breath. Lukas looked like hell. His sea green eyes were dim and his shoulder-length, wavy hair was tied up in a haphazard bun.

“What are you doing here?” Dominic’s voice was concerned. It should have been. One of his best friends showed up unannounced, looking haunted.

“Is Rose home?”

I cringed at how rapidly Dominic’s back tensed in front of me. I knew he wouldn’t like this, but that didn’t matter right now. Not when Lukas looked two seconds away from snapping.

I stepped around Dominic before he could stop me. “Right here.”

Lukas released a sigh and nodded at the floor. “Great.”

He turned and walked out of the entry with purpose. I knew exactly where he was going.

I turned to Dominic. “I’ll be right back.”

He wrapped a large hand around my upper arm, stopping my movements. “Where do you think you are going?”

“We have to talk.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Talk aboutwhat?” His tone was the same threatening command it was when he warned me away from Raiden.

“I’ll explain later.” I wasn’t going to ever, not unless he pressed, but I certainly wasn’t going to explain anything now. He could be pissed all he wanted, my—our—friend needed me.

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