“It’s just not like you, sis.”
“And yet you’re the one constantly telling me to lighten up.”
Malik twisted the ring on his finger. “It’s still up in the air how short my visit shall be.”
Tori ignored the jab and glanced at the clock on the stove. “What are your plans for the day? Do you have to do anything for Rosie?”
“No, her family is handling everything.” Fresh tears ran down her cheeks. “But I have to get to school early. The littles are having their spring concert, so some of us are helping with props and prep.”
Tori saw Malik stiffen. “You’re a schoolteacher?”
Felicia gave a wan smile. “I am. My littles are pre-school age.”
“Pre-school?”
Tori answered before Felicia caught on to his question. “Under the age of five.”
“You don’t know pre-school?”
“He doesn’t have children, Felicia. Why would he?”
Felicia’s cheek wrinkled. “How can you not know—”
“What songs is your class singing?”
The distraction worked, much to Tori’s relief. “The usual. Twinkle, twinkle. Row Your Boat. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
They chatted for a few more minutes before Felicia left. Malik folded his arms across his chest.
“A school teacher for young children, yet she practices the dark arts.”
Tori huffed. “Dabbles, Malik, she dabbles. She doesn’t have the attention span to actually practice seriously.”
“Hmm.”
“Now that you’ve met her, can you just forget this ridiculous idea that you have to kill her? Her students need her.”
His lips hardened. “It changes nothing. I have no desire to go back into that stone.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You had nothing to do with Rosie’s death, right?”
He remained quiet.
“Right?” Panic stabbed her in the back.
Did he? Could he have?
Will I believe him is he says he didn’t?
He finally huffed. “I’m assuming that Rosie’s accident was when they released me?”
Tori gave a curt nod.
“Since this is the first mention of her, it would have been difficult for me to know who to kill. However, on a separate note, what are your plans for the day?”
She studied his face, which showed no signs of deceit. “I don’t really have any. Why?”
He pulled a key from his jean’s pocket. “We need to go on a treasure hunt.”
The antique key resembled some she’d seen in antiquity shops. “What is that for?”
“A chest. A treasure chest, if you will. Speaking of my financial situation made me realize that since I have you, I can recover some of my possessions that Merada and I locked away.”
“What do you mean because you have me?”
He stroked her cheek. She resisted closing her eyes to enjoy the touch. “Because you, my darling Victorianna, are the one who can free me.” He held up his finger. “You know that you are able to remove this chain, and until you do, we cannot reach the treasure.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to play pirate some other day because once that ring is off your finger, nothing will stop you from killing my sister.”
Desire burned its way through her being. She wanted nothing more than to remove the ring from his finger, but she knew she couldn’t until they settled the situation of her sister.
“You don’t know that I’m the one.”
He leaned in and kissed her; a light, butterfly kiss across her lips. One that burned hotter than if he had touched her with an open flame.
“You know it. I know it. Accepting it will come soon enough.”
Chapter Ten
Tori avoided texts and calls from Felicia all day. Her gut rolled with stress about Rosie.
He’s right. He didn’t know who the others were.
He’s a demon. He has demon-y powers.
I don’t want him to be guilty.
After her refusal to remove the ring, Malik spent most of the afternoon watching movies while she worked in her garden. Of all the modern inventions, the television most fascinated him.
After a late dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches and French fries, Tori lounged in the shower and let the warm water relax her muscles. She wrapped herself in a robe and found Malik sprawled on the couch watching an old episode of Stargate Atlantis. As if pulled by a rope, she went straight to him. He pulled her on top of him and kissed her hard.
Desire spiked and coherent thought fled. She ran her hand across his chest and down his abs, and stopped at his jeans. He wrapped his hands in her hair and deepened the kiss. Her robe fell open, and his hand moved to caress her breasts. His hand slid down her belly and across her hip.
Sensations long forgotten left a trail of goosebumps across her skin. She shuddered as a fire ignited between her legs, further turned on as he hardened under her. Her nipples hardened under his fingers, and his kisses continued their drugging effect.
He shifted on the couch, and his jeans dug into her skin.
Stop now or you won’t be able to. With great exertion, she rose from the couch. The timing isn’t right. I don’t know him. We can’t do this. Her voice was throaty. “We can’t. I can’t.”
The expression on Malik’s face was of need and desire. She knew he could press the situation if he wanted. He didn’t move even though the frustration was palpable.
“I’m sorry.” She fled to her room, ashamed, and aggravated. She crawled under the covers, still feeling the sensations of his hands and lips.
Why the hell did you pick now to be a nun?
Tori tossed and turned, then rose and wandered to the open window. She rubbed her arms at the cool night air caressing her naked body. Sleeping nude had always been her thing. A gargoyle in the house hadn’t changed it.
The stars beckoned to her, so she wrapped in her comforter and tiptoed out through the quiet house. She slipped out onto the back desk; her eyes riveted to the sparkling sky. She hiked up the blanket as she strolled. Shoot for the moon and you’ll land among the stars. Not a bad place to be on a night like this.
She backed toward her chair without looking away. She was already sitting back in the chair before she realized it had an occupant.
“Oh, damn.” She squirmed as strong arms surrounded her.
“Sit still. You’re smashing my man parts.”
She stilled. What a pitiful waste.
He gently pulled her back against him, and they watched the sky.
“I didn’t realize you were out here.”
He shifted until they spooned to perfection. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Is he naked? She clutched the comforter. “Me either.”
They reclined together in a comfortable silence. Tori could feel his breath against her ear and willed her body to relax. Enjoy the moment. This is really nice.
Malik leaned in and kissed the side of her neck. His arms tightened as he rested his chin on her shoulder. He snuggled her close, but just held her, his face inches from hers.
She waited for another onslaught of sexual advances, but he didn’t move again. She tilted her head into his, drinking in the sensations of being held. I’m cuddling a gargoyle. Who’d believe me?