~*~
The plane was on time for once, for which Desi was thankful. At least she’d get some rest on the way home to New York. She closed her eyes and let out a weary sigh, falling asleep almost instantly, waking only when the plane landed. She waited for five minutes longer than eternity before she was able to claim her luggage. After that, she took a taxi to her small apartment that seemed less like home than ever.
She changed into a long, straight dress that always reminded her of Greece with its soft flowing lines and the dark blue material that whispered against her bare legs as she walked. Humming, she went into her kitchen to make some tea. Just as the put the kettle on, the doorbell rang.
Thinking it was Aphrodite come to check on her, or at least fuss about her leaving the rest of Turn Me On’s stock back in Vegas, she opened the door and started back to the kitchen. “Come on in. If you’re hear to bitch, I’d rather have a drink first, if you don’t mind.” When her boss didn’t say anything, she turned and almost fell down at the sight of Lucian.
He looked too damn good, shirtless, wearing just his jeans. He stood in the doorway with one hand in his pocket and the other behind his back. When she just kept staring at him, he smiled and brought out a bouquet of dark red roses.
She reached out and automatically took them, still staring at him. “Do you like them?” She managed a nod. “They remind me of your perfume.”
“Oh.” Oh? What was wrong with her?
“Can I come in, Desi?”
She managed another nod and stepped back, allowing him inside. He looked around the room, his gaze homing in on the suitcases. “Why did you leave? The Expo isn’t over for another few days.”
She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I thought it best that I just go quietly.”
“I didn’t.” He walked in and took the flowers out of her hands, laying them on the little table by the door.
She had trouble following his words when he kept staring at her like someone on a diet looking at a piece of chocolate cake. It didn’t help matters that he put his hands on her shoulders, stroking the skin of her neck. He made matters worse when he leaned down and brushed his mouth across hers, barely touching her lips. Before she could respond, he pulled back.
She put her fingers to his lips, running them across his jaw, the stubble of his whiskers tickling her. “Why did you come here?”
He kissed her palm before she could move her hand, and she closed her eyes and shuddered. “To convince you come back.” His voice vibrated up her arm straight to her heart.
“You said I was a monster.” She tried to get her hand free of his but he refused to let go.
He looked shocked. “I said the demon was a monster. Desi, I was so scared when I saw you in there with that thing. If anything had happened to you, I would have never forgiven myself.”
She wanted to believe him, but there were other things that didn’t add up. “Why did you call for help?”
The tips of his ears turned red. “Well, you know when you were sucking my um…” He stopped and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up. “It happened when you and I were together and I promise I didn’t mean to let anyone hear me.”
She clapped her hands over her mouth to smother her laugh, but it burst free anyway. “Oh, no! Do you mean all your psycho friends heard us having sex?”
He gritted his teeth. “That’s psychic, Desi, and we didn’t have sex, I did.”
Waving her hand around airily, she walked into the kitchen to turn off the kettle. “Same thing.”
“No, it’s not,” he grumbled, following her into the kitchen. “That’s part of the reason I’m here. We’ve got unfinished business.”
“You want me to come back to Vegas for that?” She turned away from the stove and put her hand on her hip.
With an apologetic smile, he answered, “Actually, honey, you’re still in Vegas.”
Panic clawed up Desi’s throat, threatening to choke her. It must have shown on her face, because he stepped towards her. “It’s okay. I just needed to stall you so I could have time to catch up. I couldn’t let you leave.” He put his hands up when she backed away. “Don’t be scared of me.”
“How are you doing this?” She gazed at her surroundings for a clue that hinted they weren’t real, but they were flawless. It looked exactly like her tiny apartment in New York.
“Friends in high places?” His mouth twisted. “Well, I don’t have any, but you do.”
She narrowed her eyes, her thoughts running around in her head; finally, it dawned on her who he meant. “Aphrodite.”
“Smart and beautiful.” He gave her a heart-stopping grin. “Yeah, your boss set the whole thing up, from the tip that got me to watch you, sent through Harry, the snotty werewolf, down to this little dream episode.”
She refused to listen to any more. Instead she ran past him to the door, pulling on it. Of course, it wouldn’t open. “What do I have to do to get out of here?”
He spread his arms wide and grinned. “Me.”
“Ooh!” When she screeched, he grabbed her arms, turning her around to face him. “Desi, I’m joking. I just wanted you to listen.”
“To what? You just want sex, like all the others.”
“Well, yeah. But I want something else.”
“What’s that?”
“I want you, the real you. Not some fantasy fix or even some Desi clone that you throw at me to keep me at a distance.” His words hit her and she stopped struggling to get away. “What did you want from me those times you visited?”
“Energy.”
“Why me and not some other lucky dreamer?”
“You were,” she may as well admit it, “lonely, like me.”
“Well, there you go.” He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Wake up, Desi.”