Triton leaned against a tree lining Battery Street, and to the casual observer he looked just like another tourist enjoying the early morning sun. But under his half-closed lids nothing escaped his observation. Like a hawk, he’d been watching the entry door to Sophia’s house since sunrise.
He let his eyes sweep over the impressive antebellum home which rivaled his parents’ underwater home in size. It boasted three stories of living space. The second and third stories were adorned with large porches on one side of the house and small Juliet balconies on the other sides. The rooms on the first floor had French doors opening to the large private garden hidden behind a massive wrought iron fence. Alongside it, bushes and young trees provided privacy to the large lot.
He was surprised that a young woman like Sophia lived in a large house like this. From his observations during the night—he hadn’t been able to sleep—he’d figured out that she lived there alone.
Half an hour ago, Triton had seen workers enter the property, and he could now hear the construction noise from the third floor. That and the large dump truck outside the property told him the house was undergoing major renovations.
So far, he hadn’t seen anybody else exit or enter the home.
With his foot, Triton kicked Dionysus who sat at the base of the tree. “Are you sleeping?”
His friend snorted, but didn’t get up. “You’re right, I am. Nobody gets up at such an ungodly hour. We could have had breakfast first.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Dionysus let out a huff. “Typical. When do you ever think of anybody but yourself? I’m hungry. I know this place that makes the best grits with bacon and—”
“What is it with you and grits?” The night before, Dionysus had dragged him to a restaurant and insisted he try grits.
His friend pulled himself to his feet and dusted off his pants. “It’s good stuff. Plus, when you drink as much as I do, you need a good food base to keep your strength up.”
“Ever thought of curbing your drinking instead?” Triton taunted him and braced himself for his friend’s reaction.
“Why on Olympus would I do such a thing? Are you feeling quite all right? Obviously not, otherwise you’d not come up with such a stupid idea. Not that you’ve had any brilliant ideas lately.”
Triton dismissed the insult with a shrug. “My plan is brilliant, and you’re just jealous because it wasn’t your idea, and you won’t be able to take credit for it.”
“You’re an ass, and it was my idea.”
“Love you too,” Triton retorted. “So you know what to do?”
Dionysus nodded, bored. “When the nurse gets here, I’ll distract her, use my considerable charm and whisk her away. Yada, yada, yada. I’ll distort her feeling of time so she won’t know how long I’m keeping her, and you’ve got free reign. You’d better be using the time well—I’m not used to hanging out with the same woman for too long.”
Dionysus’s annoyed look made Triton chuckle. His friend would just have to suck it up for a week or two. How hard could it be? And with some luck, the nurse would prove to be a nice distraction for Dionysus, and maybe even teach him a thing or two.
“Even your one-night-only rule is there to be broken. Enjoy,” Triton said.
“Says Mr. No Commitment. I wonder what you’d say if you were in my shoes.”
Triton gave a dry laugh. “Put a sock in it. I’m going to have to romance this woman for a week or even two and get her to fall in love with me. It’s going to be pure torture.”
Pure torture, indeed. Already now, he could barely banish her from his mind. Last night, the anticipation of being with her today had made mincemeat of his efforts to get a good night’s sleep. His body had throbbed with need just thinking of her lush curves, her smooth skin, and her intoxicating scent. And inside his chest a longing to be near her emerged, but he ignored the strange feeling and concentrated on his desire for her instead.
If he didn’t get his hands on her soon, and his hard staff submerged in her heat, he’d burst into flames hotter than Hades. The lust that gripped him whenever he thought of her had put his cock into a permanent state of semi-hardness only to surge fully erect whenever his mind lingered on her for longer than five seconds. Well, his five seconds were up—again.
“There.”
Triton followed Dionysus’s outstretched arm which was pointing at a person walking toward Sophia’s house.
“Showtime,” Triton announced and moved.
Dionysus held him back by his arm. “All bets are off.”
“You can’t back out now. You promised.”
Dionysus gave him a disgusted look. “I know what I promised. But that didn’t include this.” He gestured toward the person, who now stood at the door and rang the bell. “That, that is a man.”
Triton shrugged. “So? Use your imagination.”
“And do what?”
“What you do best.”
Dionysus shook his head. “No way. I’m not going there, not even for you.”
Triton grabbed his friend’s arm and dragged him toward the house. “Just take him drinking, how hard is that?”
A nervous laugh left his friend’s chest. “Drinking? Sure, yeah, of course, you’re right.”
Triton gave him an inquisitive stare. “What were you thinking?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
A moment later they reached the door, and Dionysus patted the man on the shoulder. When he turned, Triton looked into the face of a man in his early thirties, attractive, but not overly handsome. His skin was the color of milk chocolate and his eyes were a mixture of grey and blue.
“Excuse us,” Triton started, “are you here to see Sophia Baker?”
The man nodded. “Yes, the agency sent me.”
“Ah, yes, there’s been a slight change of plans,” Dionysus took over the conversation.
Triton watched how his friend looked into the healthcare worker’s eyes and used his hypnotic powers. A few seconds later, he put his hand on the man’s shoulder and led him away.
Triton had no time to collect his thoughts when the door suddenly opened.
The short man wiping his paint-stained hands on his equally dirty pants glanced up at him.
“I s’pose you’re not the electrician,” he stated matter-of-factly.
Triton cleared his throat, glad to have a few more minutes before he’d see Sophia again. He needed a few moments longer to get his thumping heart under control. Why it beat like a jackhammer was anybody’s guess.
“I’m here to see Miss Baker, Sophia Baker?”
The worker jerked his thumb toward the stairs behind him. “Saw her in the kitchen.”
Triton started past the man.
“Wouldn’t go up there right now, though,” the painter drawled behind him. “She’s not in a good mood.”
Triton raised an eyebrow but didn’t let this information deter him from his intention. However, it wouldn’t hurt to have the entire information. “What’s wrong with her?”
The man grinned. “Stubborn filly—doesn’t like it when a man tells her what’s best for her.”
“As if that’s a surprise,” Triton murmured.
He’d already formed his opinion of Sophia the night at the club. The woman was headstrong and opinionated as much as she was beautiful and sexy. And if it weren’t for the latter, well, he wouldn’t even be standing here, would he?
At least he’d eventually get his just reward for putting up with her. And while he knew in his head that his reward was to go home, his body was seeking an entirely different reward—one he was ready to collect instantly if he listened to the stiffness of his shaft.
“I think I might just have what she needs,” he told the worker.
And if she’d let him use it on her, they would get on splendidly.