Island of Glass (The Guardians Trilogy #3)(35)

He gripped her shirt at the shoulders, lifted her out of her seat. The movement, completely unexpected, had her falling into him. He had his mouth on hers before she could react.

Then her reaction was elemental, as his mouth was hot, a little frenzied, and stirred needs barely buried. His mouth was rough; so were his hands.

And that was just fine.

He’d snapped, no question, but at least now he had something he wanted. A taste, a release, however they incited more hunger. He’d known, just known, she’d grab on rather than pull away. Known she’d cover him in that wild and earthy scent.

He gripped her hair now, the carelessly sexy chop of it, and took his fill.

Then released her, plopping her back in her seat as abruptly as he’d yanked her out of it.

She’d have sworn her insides sizzled, but kept her voice steady. “Well, that was interesting.”

“I had an itch, and you make it worse because you won’t shut the hell up.”

“Intellectual curiosity isn’t a flaw in my world.” Mildly insulted, she gave his shoulder a sharp poke. “I defy anyone sitting next to a three-hundred-year-old man not to have questions.”

“The others don’t badger me with them.”

“If Annika badgered you, you’d find it charming. And who can blame you? Sawyer, he’s got a way of figuring out what he wants and needs to know with the subtle. If Bran hasn’t asked you some direct questions in a one-to-one, I’m a dancing girl from Tupelo. And Sasha doesn’t have to ask, but when she does, it comes off—I don’t know—next thing to maternal.”

He waited a beat. “Tupelo?”

“They have dancing girls. Hold on.” This time she just opened the window, hitched up, and shot the black, staring bird off the signpost where it perched.

Satisfied, she put her gun away, closed the window, sat back. “Now what?”

Was it any wonder he had this damn itch?

“Now we go pick up some pizza.”

“Sounds right.”

? ? ?

Better to pretend it never happened. That’s what Doyle told himself. They drove into the village in blissful silence—since Riley took out her phone, began scrolling something or other.

It took some doing to maneuver the narrow streets thronged with traffic, with pedestrians swimming over the sidewalks.

He supposed tourists found it charming—the pubs, the shops, the painted walls, the flowers spilling out of baskets.

For himself, he preferred the open.

Still, unlike Annika, Riley didn’t exclaim over every shop window they passed—from the car or on foot once they parked.

She moved briskly, a woman on a mission, a trait he appreciated.

“Should be ready,” she said as they weaved through the pedestrians taking advantage of a pretty day. “I texted our order from the road.”

Something else to appreciate, he admitted. She thought ahead, didn’t waste time.

She’d ordered four large, a variety, and since it was his turn to provide dinner, waited for him to pay. She carried half as they navigated back to the car.

They loaded pizza boxes with the weapons.

“I’ve had a lot of time to acquire funds and what I need.”

She angled her head, tipped down her sunglasses, stared at him.

“I can all but hear the questions rolling around in your head. Where do you get your money, McCleary? What do you do with it? What do you think about the evolution of the tax system?”

“Didn’t ask.” She poked a finger in his chest. “Sir Broody.”

“You will. I may have scared you off for the moment, but you’ll start up again.”

Now she grabbed his shirt, a fast fistful, rose up as she jerked him down. Caught him in a hard, challenging kiss.

“Do I look scared?” Flicking him away, she opened her door, got in.

He’d baited her, Doyle admitted. Deliberately baited her because he’d wanted another taste, another rush of her.

Now let that be enough, he warned himself.

He got in, pushed the start button.

“I don’t badger.”

He maneuvered out of the crowded lot, onto the crowded street. “It’s the word that pisses you off.”

“The insinuation of the term, yeah. I’m wired to learn, and you’ve got centuries of knowledge and experience stored up. But I get there’s knowledge and experience you don’t particularly want to revisit. So it’s a pisser to have what’s natural to me termed as something rude and heartless.”

“You can be rude, I don’t mind that. I’ve never thought heartless.”

He could breathe clear again when they drove out of the crowds, into the hills and fields.

“I admire the Declaration of Independence,” he said, “as a document created from human intellect, courage, and compassion.”

“I agree. Thanks.” Again she tipped down her glasses, gave him a smile with her eyes. “Best era for music.”

“You’re daring me to say the time of Mozart or Beethoven, and it was a time of brilliance and innovation.”

“No argument.”

“But I’m going to say the mid-twentieth century and the birth of rock and roll, because it’s tribal, and it comes from the loins. It’s seeded in rebellion.”