CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

 

 

My heart racing, I instinctively backed up. He stood in the bright light provided by the hallway fixtures. I remained in the dim light filtering from the kitchen and plastered a fake smile on my face. I hoped Michael wouldn’t realize I was frightened out of my wits. Apparently, I’m a better actress than I would have guessed.

Michael took my retreat as an invitation and stepped into my condo. I viewed my space through his eyes: he quickly appraised the small office space, the dining area with table and four chairs, the kitchen area along the wall opposite floor-to-ceiling windows providing a view of the mountains. His gaze sighted my couch and he headed straight for it. Momma hissed at the incubus from under the dining table when he walked past her.

“Come on in,” I belatedly invited him, following with no small amount of both confusion and fear.

Michael stopped at the backside of the couch and placed his hands on top. He inhaled and turned with a smile. I stood opposite him with the dining table between us. Momma fled the room, heading toward the bed. I’d probably find her underneath when this was all over. I realized I still clutched my phone and wondered if I could be fast enough to call 9-1-1. I set it down to free up my hands. For what, I wasn’t sure. I’d see where this went.

“I hope you don’t mind my showing up like this,” he said with what I imagined he thought was a disarming smile.

Time to disabuse him of that notion. “Actually, it’s more than a little creepy. We shared one dance, you vanished, and then, poof, you’re here. In my home,” I added pointedly.

His face hardened and anger sparked in his eyes. With concerted effort, his face smoothed out like the emotion had never been there. “I apologize. Perhaps I misunderstood at the party.” Now with a wounded puppy dog look, trying to ingratiate himself with me, I found myself watching him from an almost clinical perspective.

He was so calculating. If I didn’t know what I knew, I might fall for it. A truly scary thought.

When I didn’t respond, he continued. “I thought you were interested in me; I didn’t want to make a production of it at the party since it was a business event.”

“How do you know where I live?”

He paused before shrugging. “Google.”

I knew flat out that was a lie. Not just because I could sense it, but because I had hidden all of my online personal information. I decided not to further antagonize him. Really, I just wanted him out of my home. This was not part of the plan.

Michael took several calculatingly uncertain steps toward me, still playing the part. The dining table remained between us and he began to walk around it, talking the entire time.

“You looked so beautiful tonight. I wanted to sweep you off your feet. Since I couldn’t do that at the party, I decided the next best thing would be to surprise you at your home so we could continue the party privately.” He stopped a foot from me and smiled. I saw the predator beneath the façade.

Frozen, I did not back away when he reached out a hand to touch my face. With the skin to skin contact, I felt a rush of sudden heat, not unlike when Alex touched me. Now confusion surged stronger than my fear. Was Michael exerting his incubus control to make me feel this way? If so, did that mean Alex lied to me about my reaction to him? Did he use his abilities on me, even though he swore he didn’t? Or did this mean I found both men attractive?

Michael leaned in for a kiss and this time I did respond. By stepping back. I simultaneously noticed white mist leaving my mouth and an angry, surprised expression on Michael’s face. Clearly, he had not expected this. Though the mist did answer at least one of my questions.

Michael was trying to suck out a part of my soul.

I noticed I wasn’t as angry as that thought seemed like it should make me. In fact, I felt funny. I smoked pot once and it was kind of like this; funny, yet pleasant. I smiled goofily at Michael. He smiled back, oozing self-confidence now, and moved closer to me again. He ran his fingers along my cheek and jawline, his eyes locked on mine. He stepped closer, our heat mingling. He leaned in once more for a kiss and just before his lips touched mine, a loud banging sound erupted.

I barely noticed, but Michael turned his head, breaking contact with me to look toward my door. Anger emanated from him. It didn’t pierce the pleasant fog surrounding me. I heard words from the other side of the door that I did not understand. Michael obviously did. Confusion, anger, and worry flashed across his face. He released me and turned fully toward the door, hands fisted at his sides.

I shook my head to clear the cobwebs. Enough self-awareness returned that I acted on impulse.

“Michael!”

Hearing his name, he turned back toward me. I grabbed him by the shoulders and kneed him in the groin. He cradled himself and fell to his knees in pain. The door to my condo broke open. I stared in shock at the splintered wood surrounding one beautiful, dangerously angry and scared incubus.

Alex’s look of worry vanished when he saw Michael curled on the floor in the fetal position, still holding himself. Alex smirked, “I guess I don’t need to come to the rescue.”