Rising (10 page)

“Oh, so you can’t move your legs?”
He looked suspicious, as if she’d faked her disability. She’d give anything to be able to walk like a normal person.

“No
, I can’t move my
legs
.” She glared at him. Technically, she wasn’t lying. Her deformity didn’t look anything like legs.

“So
, have you been this way since birth?” He pulled up a chair, straddled it, and made himself at home.

“Do you always ask personal questions that are none of your business?”
She narrowed her eyes.

He smiled.
“Only of people who spray acid in my eyes.”

“It’s not acid, it’s
pepper spray. And it doesn’t do any permanent damage.” She saw that his eyes were still quite red and so was the skin around them.

Dang,
she felt guilty. After all, he’d done quite a bit for her. She glanced at the door and noticed, for the first time, a peephole just her height. Was Gretchen’s theory really so farfetched?

“I’m sorry I sprayed you
with pepper spray,” she said just above a whisper.

His brows furrowed as he
flashed a crooked smile. “I’m glad you did.”

Okay
, maybe he
was
crazy.

“Now I won’t be
quite so worried about you being out on your own in this neighborhood.” He shrugged.

Okay, now that
was just sweet.

“Listen,
Mr. Dimitriou.” She sighed. “How about I try to make amends?”

His
brows furrowed. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, my friend Gretchen invited me to go on a double date with her tomorrow. And I would be happy to treat you to dinner
and a show.” Did she just say that? What was she doing? There was no way this Greek god would go out with her. She felt her face heat with embarrassment. Great, there goes her confident façade.

“You’d pay to take me to dinner with your friend and her date?”

Actually, Gretchen would be paying, but he didn’t need to know that, so she nodded.

“I appreciate the offer.” He put his hand on
her shoulder.

Da
rn it. Why did she have to ask him? She should have known he’d refuse.

“But I just wouldn’t feel comfortable having you pay f
or our date. But, if you’d allow me to pay, I’d love to come.”

Her
eyes widened. “Really?”

H
is dark eyes sparkled as he smiled. “Yes really.”

She brushed her fingers through her hair. Was it hot in here?
The shrill ringing of the phone startled her.

“Oh excuse me
, it might be a client. I’ll be just a minute,” she said as she wheeled over to an old, black wall phone. Missing client calls was not an option when one was on the brink of homelessness.

She put on a smile and answered the phone.
“Hello, this is Sara.”

“Sara
, where are you?” Her heart made a splashdown in her stomach. Of all times for
her
to call.

It
was her mom.

S
he held the phone away and covered the earpiece as her mother screeched. It didn’t help much. “How could you leave me for so long and not tell me where you would be? You think a few emails telling me you were fine would be enough for me to know you’re not dead?”

S
ara held the phone back up to her ear and spoke low. She didn’t want Mr. Dimitriou to hear this conversation, but with her mom screaming at high decibels through the receiver, it was impossible to have a private conversation.

“How did you get this number?”
Sara asked.

“I had to hire a private detective to find you.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I was going to call, but after I moved… ”

“Don’t lie to
me, Sara,” her mother said, cutting her off. “You’ve always been an ungrateful child. I can’t believe you neglect me like you do. When I think of all the things I’ve sacrificed for you, it makes me sick to see how you’ve turned out. Now I want you to come home right now.”

“No,
Mom. I’m not coming home. I have a life here. I’m an adult and I need to take care of myself right now.”

“You selfish
child.” Sara felt the vibrations of her mother’s voice as she covered the receiver. “You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself. I shouldn’t have come back for you. I should have left you at the bottom of that cliff. I can see why your father never came to get you. You’re just like him. You don’t care about anyone but yourself. When I think of all I’ve suffered because of you… I wish you’d never been born.”

Sara had
heard it all, more times than she could count. Usually she buckled and apologized, but not this time. This time she said what needed to be said.

“Mom, say what you want. You’re just mad
because you can’t control my life anymore. Get some professional help, and maybe then we can talk.”

She
carefully hung up the phone, cutting off her mother’s tirade midstream.

Sara
felt shaken, but still triumphant. She turned toward Mr. Dimitriou and her stomach clenched. His brows furrowed and the corners of his mouth turned down in a frown.

“I’m sorry you had to hear that
,” she said.

She
paused for a long time. What could she say? How could she explain? Her mother was a selfish woman and a nutcase on top of that. There was no way he’d want to date her now. She took a deep breath, and looked down.

“Your mother found you at the bottom of a cliff?”

Her eyes snapped up. “Sort of…” she said. Her cheeks flushed with warmth. “Listen, I know that you agreed to go on a date with me just to be polite. If you’d rather cancel, I’ll understand. Really, I will. I invited you on a whim. Honestly, I think it may be best if we just keep things simple. You’re my landlord and I’m your tenant. And I like it that way.”

Mr. Dimitriou
got up, stepped over, and sank to his knee beside her chair as she kept up her explanation. “Don’t get me wrong,” she said, “it was noble of you to accept my invitation, but I know you couldn’t… possibly….”

Dang
. Having his rugged face this close to hers almost made her lose her train of thought. “ever… be interested….”

Xanthus
moved in closer, just a breath away. “Hmmm?” He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. When he opened his eyes and looked at her, the intensity of his gaze bore into her soul.

“
…in someone… like me?” Did she just phrase that statement as a question? He raised his hand and pressed his palm to her cheek. His touch was electric.
He’s going to kiss me,
was her last coherent thought.

His
warm lips pressed down on hers. His mouth moved expertly, coaxing hers into response. And respond she did. A flame ignited a hunger and need she hadn’t even realized she possessed. Her hands, of their own accord, rose to his head, her fingers weaving through his hair as she attempted to pull him closer.

This was a
new experience for her. She’d never dreamed a kiss could be so amazing. His mouth worked magic with hers, a magic that seemed to have the power to bring her to life in a way she’d never felt alive before. She barely noticed being lifted out of her chair, didn’t notice the ties anchoring her blanket rip away. But when she felt the blanket begin to slide, the spell shattered into a million jagged pieces. If the blanket slid any more, he would see her deformity!

S
ara attempted to pull away from his iron grip. Somehow, the blanket still covered her, thank goodness.

“
Mr. Dimitriou, please stop,” she breathed as he trailed hot kisses down her neck.

He didn’t
seem to hear her as he continued his gentle assault.

“
Mr. Dimitriou, stop!”

H
is body froze.

“Sara
,” he said through ragged breaths. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay
,” she said, breathless herself.

“
No. No, it’s not. I should have known better than to kiss you in your condition. It was unforgivable of me.”

What did that mean?
Why should her being in a wheelchair keep him from kissing her? Realization dawned on her as her heart sank. “I was right. I knew you’d never consider me as a real possibility for a relationship.” Her lips burned from his kisses and her body cherished his embrace. She wanted him, obviously much more than he wanted her. How dare he toy with her like that? “It’s a good thing I’m a crippled girl. At least you have your pity. Would you please put me down?”

“You misunderstand me.” He
shook his head as he continued to cradle her in his arms.

A single tear trailed down
her cheek. “My mother was right about one thing. Guys are pigs.” She slapped the tear away.

“Your being paraplegic has nothing to do with
it,” Xanthus said with ragged breath.

“Oh really?
Then what do you mean you couldn’t kiss me in my
condition
?” She slapped her hand against his chest.

He paused for a moment.
“You were vulnerable. Your call from your mother upset you and it was wrong of me to take advantage of you in that state.”

“Oh.
So you weren’t talking about my physical condition?”

“Sara
, you’re beautiful whether you walk on two feet, ride on wheels, or any other possibilities. Nothing changes that fact.”

Her
heart leapt at the chance that he was telling the truth. Could he accept her the way she was? “But what if my legs are horribly deformed?” She lowered her head and pressed her forehead into his shoulder.

“
It doesn’t matter. You’re beautiful to me.” Gently, he lowered her into the wheelchair.

S
ara immediately pressed the blanket firmly in place. She noticed Mr. Dimitriou’s hair was sticking up in odd places, his shirt was rumpled, and his brows furrowed. He looked incredible.

“Listen, would you
do something for me?” he asked.

“Sure
.”

“Will you promise me you’ll be careful? Don’t go anywhere alone after dark. Keep that
pepper spray handy when you’re out even in the daylight. And if you need me, please call me anytime day or night.” Xanthus snatched a pad and pen from next to her phone, scribbling out his phone number.

“Do you have a cell
?” he asked.

“Well
, no, but if my business keeps growing, I’ll be able to afford one in a couple of months.”

“I’ll bring you one tomorrow
.”

“
Listen, I appreciate all you’ve done, but you can’t keep spending money on me. I’m not a child. I can take care of myself,” she said with her chin up.

“
Please Sara, for my peace of mind. Let me get you a cell phone. Let’s just consider it included it in your rent.” He tensed, waiting for her answer.

Sara didn’t like accepting help. She’d worked hard for her independence. But she knew she would feel safer knowing help was only a phone call away.
“Okay Mr. Dimitriou, but I think I’m already paying way below what I should be, considering the amount of upgrades you’re putting into my apartment.” She immediately regretted what she said. What would she do if he
did
raise her rent?

“Y
ou let me worry about the expenses of the building. Your job is simply to pay your rent. And please, call me Xanthus. I think that kiss put us way past calling each other Mr. Dimitriou and Miss Taylor.”

He
looked at her lips and sighed. “I have to go. Just let me know when to pick you up tomorrow and I’ll see you then.” He leaned in, pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, and then he was gone.

“Xanthus
.” Sara whispered his name as she pressed her fingers to her lips and smiled.

***

Xanthus slung his backpack over his shoulders, climbed on his motorcycle, and started his drive out to the warehouse dock. He raised his face into the light rainfall and breathed in a lungful of clean air.

What had he been thinking?
His plan had
never
included kissing her. His control was already in threads. If he wasn’t careful,
he’d
be the one hunted down. As it stood now, if he were caught, he was already looking at ten years hard labor. He should walk away—pretend he’d never met Sara.

He just couldn’t do it. Not only was she a risk of exposure for
Dagonians that he could not leave unguarded, but she was also an innocent, a helpless female who was completely unaware of the axe hanging over her head. Xanthus had always prided himself on his abilities as a warrior. But even
he
didn’t know if he could protect Sara from that axe dropping. He was sickened when he thought of what fate awaited her if she were ever discovered.

It was her eyes. They were the dead giveaway to what she was.
Those eyes. He shuddered thinking of them. They were beautiful, bewitching—like a sea goddess. But hers weren’t the eyes of a goddess, but those of a half-human, half-Dagonian girl.

Xanthus shook himself.
Now was not the time to think of beautiful females. He needed to get his mind on tonight’s job. Lives depended on the success of tonight’s mission.

He pulled
up a private road and turned off into an almost indiscernible path through the foliage. He drove his bike in as far as he could, turned off the engine, and hiked into the trees. Being a moonless night, it was black as pitch for a human, but Xanthus saw as well in the darkest of nights as during the daylight. The shoreline came into view as he passed through the palm trees. At the water’s edge, he dropped his pack in the sand and stripped out of his clothing. Grabbing his pack, he entered the water and submerged.

He
surfaced under the dock and listened for footfalls above. He heard nothing but the chirping of several birds. He took hold of the wooden dock and pulled himself up to peer above. No one was about. He hefted his body out of the warm water into the cool night air. It breezed over him as he lay on the hard, wooden dock.

Several minutes later,
his cloaked figure moved on. Light poles above forced him into the shadows. He made his way between several brick buildings to a large warehouse backed up against the shore. He knew that a ship was at the dock, waiting to be loaded before it disembarked. He also knew there were four security guards, armed only with clubs.

With his back against the cement
foundation of the large, metal warehouse, Xanthus pulled his pack off his back and removed a small, black disk the size of his palm. He pressed it against the side of the building and pushed a small, red button to activate it.

Xanthus
repeated the process on each of the four outside walls of the building. Then he crept across the gangplank and attached another disk against the side of the ship. With the devices in place, it was time to locate the guards.