Personal Demon (Otherworld 8)

As the meeting broke up, he rocked on his heels, a greyhound at the starting gate.

Guy looked up from a conversation with Bianca to call, "Jaz, Sonny, over here. Got an errand for you."

Jaz leaned against me, hand brushing my rear. "Shit. That's not what I wanted to hear."

His fingers toyed with the hem of my miniskirt, eyes glittering, mouth coming down to mine, once again forgetting everything around us. A throat clearing from me stopped him.

"It's your fault." His gaze met mine, those sexy hooded eyes dark with desire. "If you were a witch, I'd think you'd cast a spell on me."

Coming from anyone else, a corny pickup line. From Jaz, it made my heart skip. When he got close to me, the world vanished, lost in that swirl of his aura, that chaos vibe, and I suddenly knew where it came from--that childlike part of him that saw what it wanted, and grabbed for it, free of guilt and self-doubt.

I tilted my head back, lips parting as he--

"Jaz," Guy barked. "Are you listening to me? Get down here."

A flicker of anger, but it evaporated before I caught more than a spark. Propelling me forward, he headed toward Guy.

"Sorry, boss. I thought you were still talking to Bee. Got a job for us, you said."

"For you and Sonny. I need Faith here."

"Damn." He turned to me. "I'll call you as soon as I'm done. We'll meet up for--"

"For nothing. This is work time, Jaz, not social time. You seem to be having some trouble distinguishing the two lately."

Not an unwarranted accusation, but from the way Jaz stiffened, I could tell he didn't like being reprimanded.

"We're fine," I said. "When you called, we had to leave lunch, so we'd planned to grab something to eat together later, but obviously that's not going to work, which is understandable under the circumstances."

"All right then. I'll make sure you get fed before tonight, but a tete-a-tete is out of the question. This is going to be a delicate operation and I need you both on task. Completely on task."

"We will be."

"Good. Take five minutes, Faith, while Bianca and I talk to these guys, then I want you back here."

"Yes, sir."

I WAS COMING back from the restroom when I saw Jaz pacing outside Guy's door.

"All done?" I said. "Then it must be my turn."

He reached for me before I could pass. "Don't worry. I'm not going to spirit you off into a corner. Guy's already miffed, so I won't make it worse. I just wanted to say..." He looked around, then pulled me closer. "I just wanted to say I'll make it up to you."

I grinned. "I'm counting on it."

I expected him to grin back, but his face stayed serious, eyes meeting mine. "I mean it, Faith. I've screwed up, and I know that. Getting ahead of myself. I...do that a lot. I can't help it. But when this is over, I'll make it up to you." He paused. "Ever heard of Nikki Beach?"

I shook my head.

"It's a bar on a private beach with beds and teepees. When this is done, that's where I'm taking you. Dinner, dancing, relaxing on the beach, then off to the best damned hotel I can find. No more making out on a bar stool or a restaurant floor. I'm going to do it right. Make it special."

I shivered, lifted onto my tiptoes and brushed my lips across his. "I can't wait."

HOPE

DILEMMA

Guy wanted to discuss the job. He and Bianca would be doing most of the searching, but as long as I was there, I would help, meaning I needed to know what they were looking for. So I thought I'd at least find out the target's address, maybe his name.