Gaslight (Crossbreed #4)(3)

Niko tilted his head to one side. “Your light’s flickering, Gem. Is there something you want to tell us?”

She bit her lip to hide her growing smile, and her violet eyes flashed up. “I’m going on a date tonight.”

Everyone slowly turned.

She did a twirl. “A real date. I’m taking him to Flavors since I like their food and they have a lot of games.”

“Good for you,” Wyatt said. “How much did you pay him?”

Her look soured. “You’re just mad because I stole your thunder.”

“So who’s the lucky fella?” Christian asked.

“His name is Hooper. He’s a bartender at Nine Circles of Hell.”

Wyatt belted out a laugh that ended with a snort. “That’s a therapy session I ain’t got time for.”

She put her hands on her hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He serves alcohol. You don’t drink.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t go out on a date,” she countered.

“Whatever you say, Rollergirl. That’s like a pimp dating a priest. Or a nun in your case.”

“That’s a terrible analogy.”

Niko folded his arms, a pensive look on his face. “Isn’t he a Sensor?”

“You got a problem with Sensors?” Shepherd growled.

Her shoulders sagged. “You guys are worse than a pack of wolves ripping apart a carcass. He’s a nice guy, and we clicked at Patrick’s party. So what if he’s a Sensor and I’m a Mage? That doesn’t mean we can’t be compatible. We’re both eccentric and artistic individuals.”

Wyatt twirled his pen. “Artistic. Isn’t he the one with designs shaved on his head? And the lip rings? You’ll have to let us know where else on his body he’s decided to be… artistic,” Wyatt said, making quotation marks with his fingers. “He might have a Prince Albert.”

Chin up, she huffed and rolled toward the open doorway. “I don’t even want to know what that means.”

Wyatt raised his voice when she rolled out of the room. “It’s when they have a piercing on their—”

Christian gave him a hard shove. “Leave the lass alone. She’s young and wants to do a little frolicking.”

“She only looks young. Someone who’s been around fifty years can’t be that na?ve.”

I rolled Christian’s chair away from the desk and activated the laptop. After a few keystrokes, I checked my messages. Viktor forbade us from doing extensive research on our phones since that information could easily wind up in the wrong hands if stolen.

“And who might be sending you email?” Christian inquired, his inquisitive tone barely masking his jealousy.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I would. Being that I’m your partner.”

“I’ve had a lot of free time on my hands this past month. Since Viktor wants me to look over cold-case files, it doesn’t hurt to do a little research.”

“You’re not still fiddling around with the Vampire trafficking, are you now?”

“Define fiddling.”

“I used to play the fiddle,” Wyatt said absently. “Wasn’t any good at it.”

Shepherd dropped his cigarette butt into an empty soda can. “I can play the world’s tiniest violin. Want to see?”

Wyatt gave him the finger and strode in front of his vending machine to admire the obscene display of overpriced snacks.

Christian rose to let Shepherd take over the computer. “Does that mean you have to pay for your own sweets?”

Wyatt patted the pocket of his jeans, which were baggy in the back. “I’ve got the master key, and the master doesn’t pay.”

Niko cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, by the hostile flares of energy in the room, I think we’ve been isolating ourselves for too long. I propose we venture out for ale and a game of darts.”

Shepherd turned a sharp eye toward Niko. “You playing, Mage?”

Niko offered a wry smile. “Perhaps with enough persuasion.”

I’d seen Niko throw darts. According to Keystone legend, he’s never once missed the bull’s-eye. That didn’t stop Shepherd from betting against him.

“I’m in,” I said, grateful for the diversion. I didn’t own a car, and the only times I’d gone out were to go relic hunting in the pawnshops.

This might be an insightful outing to see how devoted Christian was to the idea of exclusivity. Could he keep his hands off other women? Would I find him knocking boots with one of his old standbys in the private room? Maybe it would be better to find out sooner rather than later if he was a man of his word—before we got in too deep. I still guarded my heart, another reason I wasn’t eager to jump in the sack with my partner.

Sex complicates things.

Christian peeled off his shirt and rubbed a hand down his bare chest. “I’ll be in the shower. Care to join? I could use someone to loofah my arse.” He gave me a smug look.

Same old Christian.

He was a cocky bastard, and if he didn’t deliver a bad come-on now and again, people would suspect something was up.

I leaned against the doorjamb. “Maybe you should bathe in holy water instead. I’ve always wondered if that was a myth among Vampires.”