Inevitable Detour (Inevitability Book 1)(13)

Holy crap!

I quickly forget about being afraid.

Oh, my heart still pounds. But this pounding is caused from something entirely different than fear. Haven’s photos and videos did not do her stunning brother justice. In person, Farren Shaw is beyond stunning. He’s male perfection. From his tall, commanding stature to the way his presence fills the room, he makes the space we’re sharing feel small, very small. It’s suddenly just me and him, man and woman. I’ve never felt full-on lust like this before. I mean, I guess that’s what I’m feeling. All I know is that I’m breathless and bothered in a way that urges me to thrust out my chest, open my mouth, and arch my back. My body tells me to make myself available to this man.

Of course, I’m not crazy. My brain cuts in and keeps me from doing any of those nutty things. Still, I can’t fully escape my body’s visceral, raw, and primal reactions to Farren Shaw. Damn, the man personifies sex. No wonder I fantasized about him. But fantasies are nothing compared to the reality before me. My gaze shamelessly travels from his strong, jean-clad legs up to his wide shoulders then down his veiny, muscular arms. Damn, his biceps are bulging, straining at the short sleeves of the snug black T-shirt he’s wearing. Farren is all man, toned and hard. And now, before me, his carnal beauty slays me at his feet. I want more. I wish I could have more. My brain finally gets on board with my body and I imagine what it would feel like to writhe beneath his hard body, begging him to—

“Essalin?”

His smooth words, accompanied with a cock of the head and a knowing smirk, rein in my lust-fueled imaginings.

“Huh?” I so eloquently respond. Glancing up at his face, I find myself staring into the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen. I knew they were stunning, but oh my.

Farren clears his throat, and I quickly avert my gaze.

“I was just saying…” he begins.

Was he talking? Huh, I missed that.

“I’m sorry for letting myself in to the apartment,” he continues. “I should have waited for you to return, but I had no idea how long you’d be gone. In any case, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

My ire goes up a little. That’s right—Farren broke into the apartment. That’s what I tell myself, but, truthfully, I’m embarrassed he has me so flustered. To hide my carnal weakness, I lash out at the source.

“You didn’t just let yourself in,” I say accusingly. “You broke in.”

Farren smiles like he’s up for this game. He’s fully aware I was checking him out two minutes ago. And he surely knows how incredibly handsome he is. He’s blessed, and he knows it. He probably thinks he’ll win this battle, and he may. He’ll most likely trounce my anger with his powers of seduction.

But I raise my chin defiantly. Let the games begin, my expression dares.

Smoothly, he counters, “Technically, I did not break in.” Holding up a key, he adds, all smugly, “Haven sent me a key to this apartment the day you two moved in.”

“Oh.”

I’m fumbling already. Farren knows he has me.

With a smile surely designed to melt panties, he says silkily, “If you had been home, Essalin, I certainly would have knocked first.”

My panties do just about melt, damn him. To save face, I snap, “Quit calling me Essalin. Everyone just calls me Essa.”

Farren replies. “Well, I’m not everyone, now am I, Essalin.”

You sure as hell aren’t, I think. But I don’t dare let him know how much he’s gotten to me. The man is far too cocky already.

Still, I like him. He has a fresh and fun air about him. I have to admit I’m enjoying the banter we’re engaging in. It’s an escape from everything that has happened this weekend.

But reality crashes down on me when Farren says softly, “What happened to my sister, Essalin?”

“You know she’s missing?” I whisper.

“Yes, I know.”

“Who told you?”

He scrubs a hand down his face. “It doesn’t matter how I found out. What matters is that I need to find her. And find her quickly.”

I can’t really argue with that logic. Plus, I’m smart enough to recognize that Farren is my only ally. He believes Haven is missing, just like I do. And, really, that is all that matters. I feel confident this clearly alpha-male man will stop at nothing to find his sister. He has the resources—money, special-ops background. Not to mention, skills obtained in whatever shady business he’s been involved in lately. Yeah, Farren Shaw is my best bet for finding Haven.

Taking a deep breath, I dispense with any further smartass behavior. Instead, I share with him the details of my last night with Haven. I tell Farren how after finals had ended we went out on the town to celebrate. I explain that we got really drunk and met two men who weren’t from around here. Farren raises his hand when I rush through that last part.

“Whoa, wait,” he says. “Back up a little. Give me a description of the man who was with my sister. Leave out nothing. No detail is insignificant, Essalin.”

I blow out a breath. “Okay…”

I proceed to tell Farren everything. I even share with him how we thought businessman Eric looked like True Blood Eric. That particular detail doesn’t seem to amuse Farren in any way, shape, or form.

“Guess you had to be there,” I mumble.