Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(10)

“I…they think I have something that belongs to them.”

Truth? Or lie? Cass was betting lie.

She backed up a step. “I don’t, but they won’t believe me. They think I have what they need, and they’re determined to get it back, no matter the cost.”

He advanced on her.

Again, she retreated.

Did she realize that if she took even one more step back, that she’d be bumping into the king bed that dominated that room? He’d gotten them a room at one of the bigger hotels in Biloxi, one with a floor-to-ceiling window that gave them a killer view of the beach. Their hotel was connected to the nearby casino, and the room was usually reserved for high-rollers.

“What do you have?” Cass asked her.

Again, she retreated. Only this time, Amber bumped into the bed. She glanced down, then looked back up, her face utterly horrified.

Right. That was generally the look women got when they found themselves in close proximity to a bed and to the Reaper. He smiled at her. “What do you have, sweets?” Cass asked again, truly curious to hear her answer. “It must be something very powerful.”

She licked her lips. His cock jerked. Down. Fucking down.

“Why?” Amber asked. “Do you want it for yourself?”

His gaze swept over her body. High, round breasts. Long, long legs…And her scent was teasing him. Driving him wild. Cass knew something he wanted all right, but he couldn’t have it.

She cleared her throat. “Look, Reaper—I mean, um, Cass—thanks for getting me away from Leo. I super appreciate that—”

He grunted. He wanted more than her appreciation.

“But, and trust me on this, you don’t want to get in the middle of this war. And coming between Luke and Leo? That will rip you apart. Or they will.” She shook her head. “I’m speaking from experience, okay? You don’t want to mess with them. Be smart. Just walk away. Leave me here and vanish.”

“Luke couldn’t find you.”

Her face immediately became shuttered.

“I asked him why he couldn’t find you on his own, why he needed me and he said it was because you weren’t dark.”

Her hands twisted in front of her.

“You weren’t dark, not completely, and I’m guessing Leo can’t locate you for the same reason, huh? You’re not completely good? You’re hidden from them both, and Leo only discovered you today because he’d been tailing me.”

She wasn’t just twisting her hands any longer. Now, Amber was rubbing her right wrist. Probably trying to rub off that now invisible handcuff. Won’t happen, sweets. You can’t get free of that.

Red stained her cheeks. “No, they can’t find me, not normally. But obviously, Leo can find you. And now because of your handcuff mumbo-jumbo, he’s going to be able to find me, too. Unless you go away. Leave. But do your magic first and unhook us, okay? Then you’ll be safe, and I’ll disappear.”

He stepped toward her. There was nowhere for her to retreat now. Not unless she wanted to fall onto the bed.

Her head tipped back as she stared up at him.

Once more, his gloved hand lifted to stroke her cheek. Why did he like touching her so much?

Because touching has always been forbidden.

But…there was more, with her. Normally, he couldn’t feel when he used the gloves. He had no sensation in his fingers. But when he touched her, it was as if the gloves didn’t exist. He could feel her warmth. Could feel the softness of her skin.

Heaven.

His head lowered over hers. Her lips were so close to his. When he’d been trying to decide if she was human or if she was a paranormal, he’d bent close to inhale her scent. Even though his nose wasn’t nearly as strong as a shifter’s, sometimes, he could pick up the scent of another paranormal.

But then he’d gone a step beyond and he’d put his mouth on her. Not because of some BS about being able to taste whether she was paranormal or human. Just because he’d wanted to put his mouth on her. Staring at her lips right then—that plump lower lip, that sexy-bow-shaped top lip—he wanted to kiss her.

His kiss wouldn’t kill. Despite the stories out there, only his hands held the power to kill. She’d be perfectly safe if he kissed her. Or if he put his mouth on other parts of her luscious body. Oh, the things he could do to her with his mouth.

“Cass?”

Her voice had gone husky. He liked it when she said his name.

“Th-that is what Leo called you, right? Because I’d rather say Cass than Reaper—”

“My name is Cassius. Cassius Garvan.”

Her lips curled. “Cass to your friends?”

“And Reaper to my enemies.”

She stared straight into his eyes. “And to your lovers? What do they get to call you?”

Did she realize how dangerous it was to taunt him? He didn’t answer her.

Amber swallowed, and he saw the delicate movement of her throat. “Cass, look, despite the whole death-touch thing that you have going on, I don’t think you’re a bad person.”

She thought wrong.

“I mean, you helped me get away from Leo. That was solid, and I appreciate what you did.”

Were they back to that? “I don’t want your appreciation.”

A furrow appeared between her eyes. “Then what do you want? I offered to pay you before—”