seen in the old movies she loved so much. Something about himâ¦
âAre you very old?â she blurted out.
Straightening, he grinned, then raised an eyebrow. âThat depends. Do you like older men?â
She rolled her eyes. âNice. Always with the lines, right? You must have women falling all over you.â
He abruptly turned away from her, saying something under his breath that she didnât catch.
âWhat was that?â
âCoffee. I said coffee now, talking later.â
Filing away his odd reaction to be considered at another time, Erin retrieved the bag of pastries and followed him out of the room, casting a last look at the Duesy on the way.
Iâll get him for you, Dad. For all of us. And Iâll save Deirdre, too.
Â
Ven gritted his teeth over the highly freaking inappropriate sensations sweeping through every inch of him. The second heâd reached out to touch the tear falling off her cheek, heâd known he should pull his finger back. But, somehow, he hadnât been able to do it. Now he battled the urge to touch that same slightly damp finger to his lips, but clenched his hand more tightly around the edge of the coffee tray instead.
Control. Command. Confidence. His watchwords for nearly half a millennium; suddenly in peril from the mere sight of one small human female sorrowing over her lost father.
How did she manage to look so damned sexy in blue jeans, boots, and a sweater, anyway? It was even a thick, bulky sweater that hid the curves heâd seen on display in that silky thing sheâd worn the night before. But the pale blue of the wool and the sunlit-sky blue of her eyesâall that blond hair, even tied back in a ponytailâoh. Hells. He was in big trouble.
Just agreeing to let Alexios and Denal shadow her on her short trip here this morning, instead of going himself, had nearly caused him to growl like a wounded bear at the emotionless warrior and the youngling. Theyâd been right. Heâd needed at least an hour of sleep. But logic didnât resonate with his fierce and growing need to protect Erin.
To protect her personally . Hells, maybe coffee would help.
He finally reached the restaurant-sized kitchen at the end of the hall and blew out a sigh of relief. Safety in numbers. Ignoring the curious looks from the three warriors who waited there to meet Erin, he strode over to the red formica-topped table in the center of the room and put the tray of coffee down with more force than necessary. The sloshing coffee splashed up through the drink spouts on the cups and splattered on the table, bringing dark metaphors to Venâs mind of his control splattering up against the charms of one gem singer of a witch.
Yeah, so I suck at metaphors.
âVen?â Erinâs voice came from the doorway, where sheâd stopped and stood, frozen, staring at Denal, Justice, and Alexios.
âCome in, Erin, I need to introduce you to the Three Stooges here. Larry, Moe, and Curly,â he said, grabbing his shirt from the back of a chair and shrugging into it. Then he took one of the cups out of the holder, wiped the side with a napkin, and took a healthy gulp.
âWho?â said Denal, looking confused. Hells, confused was Denalâs default expression, especially when it came to pop culture. He really ought to give the kid a break.
âThree letters for you, Denal. D. V. D. Itâs never too late for an education in truly classic television.â Ven walked back to where Erin still stood in the doorway, her eyes wide, and gently took the bag of pastries from her. âErin, more officially, may I introduce three of my fellow warriors: Justice, with the fancy blue hair; Alexios, leaning against the wall; and Denal, the youngling of the bunch. All three serve Poseidon in the protection of humanity, as do I.â
Erin turned those beautiful blue eyes toward Justice, nearest to her, and Ven fought the urge to step between them, as
âAre you very old?â she blurted out.
Straightening, he grinned, then raised an eyebrow. âThat depends. Do you like older men?â
She rolled her eyes. âNice. Always with the lines, right? You must have women falling all over you.â
He abruptly turned away from her, saying something under his breath that she didnât catch.
âWhat was that?â
âCoffee. I said coffee now, talking later.â
Filing away his odd reaction to be considered at another time, Erin retrieved the bag of pastries and followed him out of the room, casting a last look at the Duesy on the way.
Iâll get him for you, Dad. For all of us. And Iâll save Deirdre, too.
Â
Ven gritted his teeth over the highly freaking inappropriate sensations sweeping through every inch of him. The second heâd reached out to touch the tear falling off her cheek, heâd known he should pull his finger back. But, somehow, he hadnât been able to do it. Now he battled the urge to touch that same slightly damp finger to his lips, but clenched his hand more tightly around the edge of the coffee tray instead.
Control. Command. Confidence. His watchwords for nearly half a millennium; suddenly in peril from the mere sight of one small human female sorrowing over her lost father.
How did she manage to look so damned sexy in blue jeans, boots, and a sweater, anyway? It was even a thick, bulky sweater that hid the curves heâd seen on display in that silky thing sheâd worn the night before. But the pale blue of the wool and the sunlit-sky blue of her eyesâall that blond hair, even tied back in a ponytailâoh. Hells. He was in big trouble.
Just agreeing to let Alexios and Denal shadow her on her short trip here this morning, instead of going himself, had nearly caused him to growl like a wounded bear at the emotionless warrior and the youngling. Theyâd been right. Heâd needed at least an hour of sleep. But logic didnât resonate with his fierce and growing need to protect Erin.
To protect her personally . Hells, maybe coffee would help.
He finally reached the restaurant-sized kitchen at the end of the hall and blew out a sigh of relief. Safety in numbers. Ignoring the curious looks from the three warriors who waited there to meet Erin, he strode over to the red formica-topped table in the center of the room and put the tray of coffee down with more force than necessary. The sloshing coffee splashed up through the drink spouts on the cups and splattered on the table, bringing dark metaphors to Venâs mind of his control splattering up against the charms of one gem singer of a witch.
Yeah, so I suck at metaphors.
âVen?â Erinâs voice came from the doorway, where sheâd stopped and stood, frozen, staring at Denal, Justice, and Alexios.
âCome in, Erin, I need to introduce you to the Three Stooges here. Larry, Moe, and Curly,â he said, grabbing his shirt from the back of a chair and shrugging into it. Then he took one of the cups out of the holder, wiped the side with a napkin, and took a healthy gulp.
âWho?â said Denal, looking confused. Hells, confused was Denalâs default expression, especially when it came to pop culture. He really ought to give the kid a break.
âThree letters for you, Denal. D. V. D. Itâs never too late for an education in truly classic television.â Ven walked back to where Erin still stood in the doorway, her eyes wide, and gently took the bag of pastries from her. âErin, more officially, may I introduce three of my fellow warriors: Justice, with the fancy blue hair; Alexios, leaning against the wall; and Denal, the youngling of the bunch. All three serve Poseidon in the protection of humanity, as do I.â
Erin turned those beautiful blue eyes toward Justice, nearest to her, and Ven fought the urge to step between them, as
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