Jacklyn recognized the Venetian by the scent instantly. Her body relaxed under his weight, quicker than she liked.
"You?" he said. "What are you doing here?"
"Veronica dropped me off for safe keeping or something."
"She could have told me."
"You think? I didn't think there was anybody here."
His head was close to hers. She could sense him trying to smile, but stopping with a grunt.
"You think we could close the door?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said.
He didn't move.
"I can do it," she said. "If you get off me."
He still didn't move.
One part of her was fine with this. He smelled great, all nice and clean. He was warm, she was tired. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't mind being squeezed like this, even if he was a thief. Truth be told, she'd probably volunteer.
Still.
"It's been a long day," she said. "You think maybe you could move? Today?"
He sighed.
"Just remember, I believed you came to kill me," he said. "There was no time, okay?"
Silence fell. She realized he was waiting for an answer.
"Okay," she muttered.
The Venetian got up. He closed the door. There was a whisper of moonlight before the door shut.
"Oh," she said.
He shot her a glance that she felt more than saw in the darkness. Then he walked past her, leading the way into the dark house. Naked.
* * *
She sat by the small kitchen table and tried not watch the guy called the Venetian make tea.
Small kitchen. Not enough room to let one's gaze wander. It didn't matter where she looked. He kept getting in her sight. She tried to tell her eyes to act like he had clothes on. It wasn't easy. He was built like a mountain climber or a dancer. Plenty of strength in tight, lean muscles, but no bulk. There hadn't been a blond guy in her life and she stole little glimpses to store away for later. The hairs on his arms, legs and chest gleamed like he'd been sprinkled in gold dust. The hair in the nape of his neck was two shades darker, same as the trail that started below his bellybutton. Jacklyn turned her head away from the full display of back to backside muscles, but not before she had established just how far that tan stretched.
The next moment she felt awful for ogling him. It wasn't just his face that was hurt. He had bruises everywhere. A big one above his hip was shaped just like the sole of a boot. It dawned on her that maybe he was moving because it hurt too much to be still.
YOU ARE READING
Shifting Life
Paranormal[COMPLETE] Magic is all about the rules. You mess up, you fix it. Or pay the price. Not that Jacklyn Morse has a choice. She's a new shape shifter paying the price for saving a notorious thief who is as hot as the supernatural loot he's stolen. To J...
