Truth or Demon (31 page)

She opened her eyes as she heard the doorknob to the bathroom rattle and twist. She opened the shower curtain to see Killian standing there, naked. Amazingly, beautifully naked.

“Can I join you?”

She smiled, knowing the gesture was lazy. “Sure.”

He stepped into the water, closing the curtain, shutting out everything but them and the wonderfully hot water.

“I’m so tired,” she murmured, moving right into his arms and resting her head on his chest as if it were the most natural thing to do.

Even now, after all they’d shared today, her comfort level with him still startled her. He was physical perfection. The kind of man who had always made her feel, well, plain. But she didn’t feel that way with him.

His muscular arms came around her, a cocoon of Killian and water. She moaned.

“This feels like Heaven.” She sighed.

He was silent for a moment, then she felt his head nod against the top of hers. “I think you might be right.”

She stood, half-dozing in his embrace. How long she didn’t know, but eventually he released her and reached for the bar of soap. He lathered a washcloth, then began to rub the slick material over her, soft and soothing.

She sagged against him, her back to his chest as he continued to wash her, his touch so gentle and wonderful, she whimpered. The terry cloth stimulated her nipples as he moved over them, around them, then down her belly.

Unbelievably, her body reacted, and when he brought the cloth between her thighs, she spread for him, telling him silently she wanted him again.

She felt him smile against the curve of her neck and shoulder.

“Not this time, baby,” he murmured. “You’re too sleepy and sore. And we’ll never make it out tonight if we do.”

She wanted to argue and say that was fine with her, but instead she just nodded. Then she turned in his arms and again, rested her head on his chest.

“You’re right,” she said. And for the rest of their shower she tried not to want him. A near impossible feat, but one she somehow managed.

Killian released her and stepped out of the shower.

“I’m going to go get some clean clothes, but I’ll be back down here in five.”

She nodded, remaining under the warm spray, too relaxed to move.

“Stay right here and I’ll be back.”

“Okay.” She didn’t have to be asked twice.

Killian toweled off and threw on yesterday’s clothes. Then he snagged Poppy’s keys. He wasn’t leaving her in an unlocked apartment, even for a few minutes.

Then he hurried back to his place—oddly he was actually beginning to think of the fusty apartment that way.

“Vepar!” he yelled as soon as he entered. He yelled again, looking for the cat in the living room, then the bedroom. No sign of it. Or Vepar.

“Damn you.” What was that psychotic demon’s game? He didn’t know. He just knew Vepar seemed intent on something.

Just kill her.

Vepar’s words echoed in his head again.

That couldn’t be his real goal, could it?

C
HAPTER
34

A
s they stepped into the loud, crowded bar, Killian again asked himself why he had turned down Poppy’s sweet shower offer. He could have made love to her, and then let them both fall into a deep, sated sleep. And avoided this outing altogether.

That way she’d be safe. And he wouldn’t have to meet the man she’d wasted so many years mourning.

But here they were.

Maybe he could seduce her and get her back to her place. Then he caught himself. His mission wasn’t about himself. It was about Poppy and her happiness.

But it was getting harder and harder to remember that. All he could think about was being with her himself. It was almost an—obsession.

Why did he want this mortal woman so much?

She shifted by his side, a hint of cinnamon reaching his nose like the warm spices of home. Her heat radiated over him like morning sunlight. Her face was ethereal, pure, lovely.

He paused. What was wrong with him? He was getting all—poetic, flowery—nauseating.

His gaze slid to her again. She looked beautiful—sweet and sexy all at the same time in a pair of jeans, a simple, fitted black top with a crocheted, bright pink scarf and black ballet flats. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, glossy and flyaway.

“You look amazing,” he found himself saying as if the thoughts just couldn’t stay contained in his head.

“Thank you.” She smiled, although he could see in her dark eyes that she was nervous.

Those nerves bothered him. They told him she still cared about this Adam guy. But the bigger question was why did he care that she cared? She was a project—why couldn’t he remember that?

She scanned the crowd, even rising up on her tiptoes to see the stage. Then she shrugged.

“I don’t see him.”

A feeling altogether too much like relief spread through his chest. He pushed the feeling aside and gestured to the bar. “Let’s get a drink.”

She nodded, still scanning the room.

He weaved his way through the crowd, a mixture of younger and older patrons. The area around the bar was packed, but he caught Poppy’s hand and edged his way through, need for a drink making him more determined.

“Well, he still draws in a big crowd,” Poppy said, as she squeezed through a group of thirty-something women.

Killian nodded, not pleased by that comment either.

He made it to the bar, waving to a bustling bartender who ignored him.

Wait on me now.

The bartender stopped in mid-order and walked over to Killian.

“Hey,” the patron the bartender been helping yelled down that bar at him.

Go away.

The man promptly left the bar, drinkless, rejoining his group of friends, who were none too happy that he returned empty-handed.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked Killian, who looked at Poppy.

“Pinot noir, please.”

“A double of Glenfiddich.”

Not the year and the quality of the whisky he had at home, but tonight it would suffice.

Beside him, Poppy still searched the crowd.

Oh, yeah, it would do for tonight.

The bartender returned with the drinks, and Killian opened a tab. He took a long draught before handing the wine to Poppy.

“See him?”

She shook her head. “Maybe he didn’t end up playing here tonight after all.”

Could they be that lucky? He took another gulp of the scotch whisky.

Killian gritted his teeth more at his own stupidity than the burn of the liquor. Why was he being so ridiculous about this? He wasn’t seriously involved with this woman. They were hanging out and having sex. He had no ties to her, and it wasn’t as if he could have more with her anyway.

“You’re a fuckin’ demon,” he muttered to himself, but Poppy frowned at him, her dark eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“What did you say?”

But he was saved from having to answer as a man jostled into her. Both turned to apologize, but then neither said a word.

The man spoke first. “Poppy.”

“Adam,” Poppy said.

The man—Adam—hugged her then. Poppy remained stiff in his embrace for a second, then returned the hug, her arms going around his shoulders.

Killian watched, his jaw aching from how tightly he was clenching his teeth. He took a sip of his whisky, but even that didn’t stem his desire to gnash his teeth.

Finally they parted.

“Eric told me you might come,” Adam said, his gaze roaming over her, eating up the sight of her.

Poppy smiled, her eyes actually alight with some emotion that looked far too much like happiness for Killian’s taste.

“Yes. I was so surprised to see him.”

“I’m so surprised to see you,” Adam said, touching her arm. Then he gestured across the bar. “Come sit with us. Eric and his wife are over there. And a couple of my friends.”

“Okay.” Poppy started to follow him, then stopped, suddenly remembering Killian was there.

“Oh Adam, this is my fr—”

Before she could finish, Killian moved forward to extend his hand. “Fiancé. I’m Poppy’s fiancé. Killian.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Killian could see Poppy’s shocked expression, but he ignored her, offering Adam his most charming smile.

She’s mine.

Adam blinked, some of his joy at seeing Poppy evaporating. “Killian. Nice to meet you.”

Damn right, buddy, she’s mine.

Killian waited for his conscience to tell him he was behaving idiotically, but it didn’t.

“Over here,” Adam said as he led them to a less crowded part of the bar to the right of the stage.

When they reached the table, Eric greeted them too, then introduced them to his wife, Karen, and the two other women at the table, Nancy and Gina.

Killian noticed Poppy blanch, just a bit, as Gina was introduced. Adam pulled up chairs and the two of them joined the others.

“So Poppy”—Karen leaned to be heard over the buzz of the bar—“you went to college with Adam and Eric?”

Poppy nodded. “Yes.”

“We actually dated for what …” Adam looked at Poppy for the answer. Then at Killian a bit more warily.

“Almost three years,” Poppy said with a polite, social smile.

Killian took another sip of his drink. Hell, even he knew that. As he set down his drink, he noticed that Gina was watching Poppy through narrowed eyes. But when she realized Killian was watching her, she smiled. The animosity he’d seen there switched to something that looked remarkably like interest.

Killian looked away, to chat with the other woman, Nancy, a music teacher at a local high school. And also with Eric, who overall seemed like a pretty decent guy. Killian definitely liked him better now than the last time he’d met him.

“Well, Eric and I need to get back to work here,” Adam announced to the table, but Killian noticed his look lingered on Poppy.

The two men went to the stage and began tuning up. With Adam’s attention otherwise engaged, Killian had the liberty of studying the guy. And in truth, he found it hard to understand why Poppy had held a torch for him.

Adam was pretty much average. Average height, maybe 5′10″ or 5′11″. He had brown hair and similarly colored eyes. His build wasn’t particularly muscular, but not heavy.

He was pretty much like any guy anywhere.

But hadn’t he kind of thought the same thing about Poppy when he first met her? Killian glanced at her. She was chatting with Eric’s wife, her features animated, her charming dimple showing. She pushed her hair away from her face. He noticed the way her hand looked as she did so, and the flow and shimmer of her chestnut hair.

She was so far from average, he just couldn’t recall how he could have ever come to that conclusion.

Poppy stopped talking to the other woman as Adam began to play. Her eyes fastened on the man.

Did she see someone beyond average right now too? Then she looked at Killian and smiled. A happy smile. Her attention returned to the man on the stage.

Yeah, she did.

Did she see her soul mate?

Poppy had to admit this was the kind of night a scorned woman fantasized about. She was sitting at a table with her ex, with the woman her ex had left her for, and Poppy had a totally hunky, utterly charming new boyfriend. Strike that, fiancé.

Yeah, this was pretty sweet, and she didn’t really care if she was being petty.

Of course, as she watched Adam up on the stage, she couldn’t quite imagine why she’d let him affect her life for so long. He was a good-looking guy with thick hair and a nice smile. But somehow he seemed like a faded memory of the person she’d loved all those years ago.

She glanced at Killian. Of course, any man would seem pretty washed out when compared with Killian. Beautiful, golden Killian. Even now her body hummed with the recollection of all the amazing things the man beside her had done to her in the last twenty-four hours.

She took a sip of her wine, smiling that secret smile again. Then she noticed Gina watching her, a frown tugging at the woman’s full lips.

Poppy wanted to giggle at her annoyed expression. Poppy’s secret smile wasn’t a secret to Gina. And Gina was jealous.

Good, Poppy thought. She didn’t want Adam back from Gina, but she was glad the other woman was envious of her. That made up for the hurt Poppy had suffered, knowing Adam was in Gina’s bed. That while Poppy struggled alone, heartbroken, Gina and Adam had had each other.

“Darling,” she said, leaning against Killian as she spoke. “Would you mind getting me another wine?”

“Sure.”

She smiled, then kissed him. He seemed a little startled by the gesture, but quickly rallied, kissing her back, quite thoroughly.

“Can I get anyone else another drink?”

“I’ll take a dirty martini,” Gina said, smiling at Killian. The other two women declined.

After he left the table, Karen and Nancy let out appreciative sighs. Gina just shot her another resentful glare.

“Where on earth did you find him, Poppy?” Nancy watched Killian cross the room toward the bar. She shook her head, impressed at the sight.

“I met him through one of my sister’s friend’s parents. He is her cousin.”

“If only my sister’s friend’s parents had cousins like that,” Nancy said with a smile.

Poppy laughed.

“And you can just see he’s mad about you,” Karen said. “I can’t think of the last time Eric looked at me the way Killian looks at you.”

Poppy’s smile slipped just a bit. If only those looks were real. If only …

She shoved the thought aside. She was going to enjoy this for what it was.

“Killian would probably tell you that I had him falling at my feet the very first night we met.”

Karen and Nancy sighed again, and Gina looked as if she wanted to be ill.

Yes, tonight was pretty sweet.

Killian would like to say that he was enjoying the evening as much as Poppy seemed to be. She chatted with the other women. Well, not so much Gina. But something about Gina’s clear animosity toward her seemed almost to please Poppy.

Even though Poppy had never said anything about Adam’s leaving her and getting involved with another woman right away, he deduced Gina was that person.