Slayer's Kiss: Shadow Slayer, Book 1 (3 page)

She froze, glancing at his hand as a small current ran between them. She desperately wanted to say something cool, flippant even, but she’d never met anyone like Gavin. Having him touch her like this… She couldn’t form words.

When the silence stretched too long, she pulled away. The other bartender at the far end of the bar was filling twice as many orders as Kara, and if she didn’t step it up, he’d be taking home twice the money. “Don’t you drink?” She pointed to Gavin’s untouched tequila.

“Sometimes.” He smiled and leaned forward on his stool. “Why, are you trying to get me drunk?”

Kara snickered, flushing from her cheeks to the roots of her hair. “Is that what it takes to loosen you up?” Just to taunt him, she put another shot next to the first.

“I can’t afford to be too loose. I’m on call tonight.” He met her eyes and threw back one shot followed by the other.

Kara took a written order from a server and got to work mixing the drinks. She raised her voice over the sound of ice sloshing against the side of the cocktail shaker. “You’re on call tonight? What do you do?”

He picked up his shot glass and rolled it in his fingers, watching as one drop trailed around the bottom of the glass. “I have a private security company.”

“Why do you have to go in tonight?”

“I can’t discuss my clients,” he said, then he grinned. “You’ll have to give me a lot more tequila if you want to know my secrets.”

A couple sat in the two remaining stools at Kara’s end of the bar. She took their orders, but her eyes never left Gavin as he rested his chin in his hand. “Hmm. This stuff isn’t cheap.” She slapped a third drink down and cleared away his empty glasses. “Are your secrets worth it?”

He gulped the third shot and chuckled. “I bet I have stories you’d like to hear, princess. I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

She smiled, leaning her elbows on the dark wood surface across from him. “Princess, huh? Are you sure you aren’t feeling those drinks yet, big guy?”

He reached out and cupped her elbows in his thick hands. “I’m feeling something, but I think it has less to do with the alcohol and more to do with you.” He wasn’t slurring, but the tension had melted from his shoulders and he looked quite content just to stare into her eyes.

Her pulse beat in all the wrong places. “Is that right?”

“I didn’t expect you to be so disarming.”

The sounds of the bar swallowed up her burst of laughter. “You don’t have high expectations of apartment managers in general, or are you talking about me, specifically?”

“You, specifically, are a beautiful woman, Kara Reed.”

She rolled her eyes at the irony and shook her head. “Thanks. I’ve been told I get prettier with every shot.”

“That’s not what I meant.” He released her elbows to rub his fingers over his eyes. “I don’t seem to be holding my liquor as well as I used to. Your turn to talk now, princess. How long have you worked here?”

She snorted at his change in subject and lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Not long enough to get regular hours, but I’m working on it. And that’s all you’re getting out of me.”

“You owe me a secret.” He narrowed his eyes, but they still sparkled in the dim light. “What does it take to make you talk? Name your poison.”

She bent over to put the grenadine in the fridge, giving him a nice shot of her ass, then turned back to him. “Nothing you can find in a bottle. But I have my weaknesses.”
Like tall blonds whose bodies deserve small countries named after them.

With a groan, Gavin tugged at his collar and unfastened another button. His cheeks were flushed from the tequila. “I need some fresh air.”

She frowned. “Are you okay, Gavin? If you’re really not used to drinking, I shouldn’t have given you that third shot.” She didn’t figure he’d feel it so fast.

Burying his face in his hands, he laughed, deep in his belly, then scrubbed his palms across his cheeks. “You’re right. It must be the tequila.” But the way his gaze raked over her body said otherwise.

He threw a fifty-dollar bill on the counter then rose from the stool, the jacket in the crook of his elbow covering his middle. “I’ll see you when you get off, princess. I may still wring some secrets from you yet.”

It was hard to get through even a short shift knowing she would see Gavin again soon. She’d simply never felt so instantly attracted to a man as she did to Gavin Cross. It wasn’t just his height or the thick muscles flexing under his suit, it was more than that. She’d even say it was his essence itself, if that didn’t sound so cheesy.

She walked out of Hoolecha Inn and onto the street, scanning the sidewalks, her gaze flitting past the couples out for a night on the town. She couldn’t miss Gavin leaning against the wall of the boutique across the street with his jacket draped across his shoulder. He lifted a hand in greeting. Kara waved back, then made a quick check for cars and crazy pedi-cabs before crossing the street.

The boutique was closed, but Gavin was so handsome standing there with his blond hair making a soft halo around his head and his easy smile, he looked as if he belonged in the window with the elegantly dressed mannequins. Kara’s heart squirmed like a worm in a raven’s beak. “Did you wait here the whole time?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry, Gavin. It’s not much of a first night in the Gaslamp for you.”

He cocked a brow. “Beautiful weather. Beautiful woman. How can I complain?”

“Oh great. I see you’re still under the effects of the tequila I shoved down your throat.”

He laughed softly. “That is the assessment of a completely sober man.”

“Huh,” she grunted. He melted her. His essence, like morning on the shore when the sun burst over the horizon, filled Kara’s body with an ache she’d never known. Her bones felt disjointed, like maybe she should just lie down and rest on the sidewalk—and pull Gavin down with her. What the hell was wrong with her? “We’d better get going.”

They walked in silence the short way to the apartment. Kara would never admit how good it felt when he opened the lobby door for her like a gentleman.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

They passed the offices on the bottom floor that were closed for the night and headed for the elevator. She punched the button and the doors opened. Gavin waited for her to go in first.

She’d thought riding up with him earlier tonight had been interesting, but when the doors closed this time, they weren’t two seconds in the enclosed space before his masculine energy swamped her senses with an almost tangible weight. Her nipples tightened painfully, and her skin flushed. Gavin’s breathing was shallow, but he didn’t say a word as the elevator door opened onto the tenth floor.

He followed her to her door, and she knew she had to risk it again. She didn’t want to seem desperate, but that was how he made her feel—desperate to touch him and explore what made him so different. “I’m sure I have a drink in the fridge that won’t make your head spin. It’s the least I can do.”

He shrugged, as though her entire world didn’t hang on his answer. “You must be exhausted after working all day. Maybe I’ll take a rain check.”

“Gavin, I won’t be able to sleep tonight if you don’t let me make this up to you.”

He peered at her from behind his green-flecked irises. “I wouldn’t want to be the cause of your sleepless night.”

“It’s settled then.” She pushed open the door. He ducked his head as he stepped through her doorway. “How tall are you?” she asked, amused and aroused. There wasn’t a small thing about him.

He cringed. “Six-seven. I probably don’t have to duck, it’s just a habit in these old buildings.”

Kara closed the door behind him and flipped on a light. “I would too if I were your height.”

Her tallest boots only brought her eye-level with Gavin’s lips. She’d always had a sturdy build with full hips, softly rounded thighs and heavy breasts, but she’d discovered once she started showing her body off instead of hiding it under loose-fitting clothing, men didn’t seem to mind that she was no waif. It seemed to foster their inner fantasies of healthy, fertile women, whether they realized they were yielding to their inner caveman or not.

As soon as they stepped into the room, Mr. Pibb bounded out of the shadows and came straight for Gavin, winding his fluffy white self around the big man’s legs as he meowed in greeting.

Gavin reached down and scratched Pibb behind the ears. “You have a cat. Good.”

Kara set her purse on the table, giving it a quick glance to ensure its contents were still hidden. “Good? You like cats?” She grabbed her battered tool belt from the kitchen counter and quickly stashed it under the sink.

He rubbed the tip of one white ear until Pibby purred. “Good, because cats keep an eye on things better than watchdogs. These apartments are unique with balconies off two rooms, but you have to admit that the building isn’t in the safest neighborhood. It’s a good thing you have a
tough little cat like this
.” He cooed the last part, smoothing a finger over Pibb’s whiskery face. Lucky cat.

“Yeah, he is pretty tough.” Too bad the only person he’d ever beaten up was
her
, earlier that morning. She glanced at her hand to see every scratch and gouge completely healed, as she’d known they would be.

She popped open a can of cola, then walked to where Gavin stood and handed it to him. He took a long drink and set it on the kitchen counter. “Thank you.”

When Kara reached down to pet Mr. Pibb, the little traitor lifted his rump and stalked away. “Fine. Be a brat. See if you get canned food with that attitude.”

Maybe Pibb was one of those morally superior felines that didn’t believe in a little self-pleasuring like she’d indulged in earlier that morning after her scorching dream. If her cat could read her mind and see what fantasies that dream had inspired—all the things she wanted Gavin to do to her with a black feather duster—Pibb’s snowy kitty fur would turn scarlet.

Kara’s phone lit up, belting out Abbey’s personal ringtone. She pulled the phone from the tight pocket of her leather skirt and touched her finger to the screen. “Hello?”

“Where are you?” Abbey’s voice was as worried as it was irritated. “I thought you were coming straight from work and you’d be to Pyro’s by now.”

Kara glanced apologetically at Gavin. “I’m giving a new tenant his keys. I’ll be a little late.”

“How late? They’re already starting to charge for cover.”

Kara frowned, trying not to get caught drooling over Gavin’s ass as he inspected the view from the living-room balcony. “Yeah, it’s only like, what…fifteen dollars?”

Abbey gasped. “Okay, who is he? If he’s worth fifteen dollars to you, I’m coming over. Does he have a friend? Can we share him?”

“Stop!” Kara laughed. “I’ll call you later.” She hung up and turned the ringer to vibrate before Abbey could call her back. “Sorry about that.”

Gavin turned around and to her surprise, the jacket he held in the crook of his arm was tenting away from his groin. If he’d been using it to mask his reaction to her, then maybe this night was looking up after all. She had to work hard to hold back her toothy grin.

“Was your boyfriend upset? I can grab the keys and let you get on your way,” he said.

She shook her head. “I don’t have a boyfriend. That was Abbey, my best friend. Seeing as we’re going to be next-door neighbors, I’m sure you’ll meet her soon enough.”

“Good.” Gavin’s hazel eyes caught the light from across the room. “That I’ll get to meet your friend, I mean. Not good you don’t have a boyfriend.”

“How about you? Anyone waiting around for you tonight after you finish with your super-secret security job?”

“No.” Gavin walked to the shelf off the dining room where a long, black cloth was draped over small, bulgy shapes. He lifted just the edge of the cloth, then looked to Kara and smiled. “May I?”

“Go for it.”

Gavin pulled back the fabric to reveal Kara’s clay sculpture collection. “Figurines? These are really good.” He paused, considering. “This one…” He picked up a white blob with blue patches that didn’t look dissimilar to a large hunk of blue cheese. “I’m not so sure.”

Kara laughed. “A girl’s gotta have a hobby.”

He slid his finger along the sculpted wings of a raven. She’d painted the entire thing black but was planning to go back through and do more intricate details on the feathers. “Amazing,” he said. “This one looks real. You’re a true artist.”

“An artist? Not quite.” She regarded the raven. “But I guess I’m getting a little better.”

On a slow day around the apartments, she was grateful for time to work on her clay sculptures. It sucked to be an artist with no talent. In fact, most people had trouble seeing Kara as the “artsy” type at all. She thought of it more as a compulsion, a need to shape and mold the images that came to her in visions.

“You could sell these.” He squinted at the blue cheese and put it back on the shelf. “Well, maybe not that one.”

“Yeah, if I could learn to do dolphins frolicking in the waves and put
San Diego
in glitter at the bottom, I’d be in business.” But her dolphins looked like mutant mermaids…so, yeah, money was tight. If it weren’t for having her rent covered in exchange for managing the old apartment building, Kara would have long since resorted to the worst possible fate—a desk job. The Hoolecha Inn helped. But not much.

Gavin tucked the shroud over the sculptures and reached for his drink. With rapt attention, Kara watched his throat work as he swallowed. When he was finished, he set the can on the counter. “Thank you, Kara. I’d better be going.”

“Oh! I almost forgot. I’ve been saving your
Union Tribune
for you.” She walked quickly to the coffee table and assembled the piles of crinkled newsprint, trying to fold them neatly on her way back to Gavin. She hoped he didn’t notice that some of the sections were currently lining her shelves under the drying clay. “Here you go.”

He eyed the disheveled stack. “How kind of you.”

Kara was an expert at pretending to be interested in a man to get what she wanted, but she didn’t have the slightest clue how to seduce someone for real. “Gavin…do you want to stay?” She tried to make her voice alluring, but it came out as a strained croak.