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Argonauts was housed in a towering building of glass and chrome, and as Grace rode the elevator up to the forty-third floor, she brooded, thinking the coreed

Did Jason Graves actually think he could lock her brother away and go unpunished? Her hands fisted at her sides Underneath her anger, however, were tendrils of fear that refused to leave She remembered how cold and sick Alex had looked

"I&039;m scared, Darius," she whispered

He remained curiously silent Soleh some color had returned to his cheeks, the lines around his lips were taut, and there was a new hollowness to his cheeks She didn&039;t like to see this hard, strong, extraordinarily capable man weakened in any way Not because it made him less able to help her, but because she cared about his thathi it herself

The realization rocked her because it meant Oh, God She didn&039;t just care about hilance She offered his to do To fall in love with this hty warrior like a ju mat Just splat

When she&039;d told Darius she wasn&039;t ready for him, she&039;d meant it He was too intense Too stubborn TooSo how could this have happened?

Don&039;t worry about that right now Just feed hi in her purse and pulled out a tin ofher focus away fro-she reached down and grasped his hand His palh

He jerked away fro out and stiffly relinking their fingers "Don&039;t doher hand away She&039;d just realized she loved him, and he didn&039;t want her to touch him "Just so you know, I didn&039;t want to hold your hand I wanted to give you ato speak with her

"Let go of-"

"Close your mouth, or I will close it for you With my own"

Eyes narrowed, she lifted her free hand and stuffed severalhim up Close her rip on her hand strengthened

So briefcases and files were in the elevator, as well She darted a gaze to theave each one a quick, forced s, she whispered to hi I don&039;t want anyone to know that we knohat&039;s going on"

He frowned "I will allow you to do the talking, since these are your people," he said loudly, uncaring about their audience "If they do not answer to my satisfaction, however, I will be forced to act"

"You can&039;t threaten everyone who refuses to answer your questions," she told hi her sense of quiet "Or you&039;ll end up in jail-or a dungeon-or whatever you call it"

"Sometimes, sweet Grace, your innocence amuses me As if I could be held in a prison" His frown deepened "Will this contraption go no faster? We have wasted enough tier into the wall of buttons

The elevator stopped on the next floor As well as the next and the next

"The stairs would have been faster," one of the businessmen muttered, his voice laced with irritation

Grace flashed hilared at her, as if it were all her fault As if she could control a six foot five hulk of a warrior who-Oh, ain, this time at the poor, innocent businessain, the two scurried out with fearful gasps-but at least they were alive

"Did you see that?" one of the her and Darius alone, silence gripped theht fist Over and over the elevator halted When soave theiven the businessmen and every one of them retreated and waved the stop, Grace&039;s stoed Darius from the elevator and onto the floor Twenty-nine, she realized with dread

"Excuse me," she said to the first person she saw, an older woman who carried a tray of vanilla scented cappuccinos "Where are the stairs?"

"Down the hall Last door on your right"

"Thank you" Only when they were inside the eood tion peculiarities," she said, chewing her lip nervously Her voice echoed from the drab walls "I need to be prepared just in case"

As they climbed, she retained a firm hold on his hand

He didn&039;t ask her to release him, and she allowed herself to think it was because he needed the contact as ible way and the physical contact strengthened that bond

"Dragons can fly," he said on a sigh

"With wings?"

"Is there any other way?"

"There&039;s no reason to be snide There&039;s no bulge in the back of your shirt to indicate the presence of wings or any other type of " She searched herapparatus"

"They are hidden in long slits of skin When the wings ee, the skin is retracted Perhaps I will show you Later When we are alone"

There was a pro hot and wild and erotically wicked, and she pictured hi down the es of his back She shivered His scent chose thather to a deeper level of need

She had to change the subject before she did sonore the outside world and her responsibilities and drag him home "Are there huods brought hu after their appearance, the vampires ate h the shield of her lashes, then quickly refocused on the stairs before she tripped "Have you, well, have you ever dated a hu one now," she rushed on "I just ht to the heart of the matter "By dated do you mean bedded?"

"If the question doesn&039;t offend you, then yes"

"Are you sure you wish to hear the answer?"

Yes No She sighed She really wanted to know "Yes"

"There&039;s only one huly bed, Grace, and I have plans to do so" One of his fingers heatedly caressed her palm

Oh Ribbons of pleasure wound around her, and her lips lifted in a soft smile she couldn&039;t stop

By the tiha perfect size six, but the torture required for such a task was getting to be tooto loathe the word It was a thing

Darius held open the door, and she swept past hionauts, the carpet beneath her feet a plush burgundy wool Her gaze scanned the offices On the wall hung Picasso, Monet and Renoir Guards manned several corners, and security cameras roamed in every direction A s area, and an expensive, exotic perfu like clouds over the sun on a perfect spring day Both were peaceful, and both mocked her

That bastard! There was no doubt in her e boiled deep inside her When Alex had first begun working for Argonauts, he&039;d barely h money to pay the rent on a little efficiency in Brooklyn The past few ht home substantially more and had moved to his decadent new apartonauts, too, had moved from their small offices in Brooklyn to here

Yesterday, or even an hour ago, she had thought this success was because of recent ical discoveries Now she knew the truth Jason Graves afforded these luxuries through the rape of Atlantis

She stalked to the reception desk Three women manned phones and computers The first, the one Grace approached, had short black hair and heavily but perfectly made up features She wasn&039;t pretty in the traditional sense, but attractive all the same She froith impatience at Grace, then dropped her jaw in ahen she saw Darius That damn sex appeal of his!

"Oneto a caller To Darius, she said, "May I help you?" Her voice was cultured, ritzy

Grace fisted her hands to keep fro her claws

"We will see Jason Graves now," he said

So h

"What&039;s your naers flew over her keyboard, her long, oval nails tapping away Without glancing up, she asked, "Which company are you with?"

"I co, read over the computer screen, then leveled him with a stare "Mr Graves isn&039;t in today He&039;s out on business"

Grace rubbed a hand down her face She was tired of delays and was completely out of patience "When do you expect him back?" she asked more sharply than she&039;d intended

"End of the week Possibly beginning of next If you&039;ll leave your name and number, I&039;ll make sure he receives the infor, Grace said, "What about his assistant? Is he in?"

"That would be Mitch Pierce," the woman said She propped her elbows on the desk, linked her delicate, tapered fingers, and perched her chin in the cradle her hands provided "And yes, he is"

Mitch another Argonaut who had helped her in the jungle She contained a scowl "We&039;d like to see him Today"

Arched brows and a superior smile met her words "Do you have an appointment?"

Grace opened hershe didn&039;t have an appointet shown to the door However, she&039;d be caught in a lie if she said yes Not knohat else to do, she traced her bottoertip and pretended to mull the question in her mind I probably look like an idiot

Thankfully the receptionist grew tired of waiting and said, exasperated, "I&039;ll see if he can fit you in What&039;s your name?"

"Grace Carlyle"

One hand rapped at her computer while the other punched a series of nu Mr Pierce&039;s schedule, she hung up and glanced at Grace "He&039;ll see you within the hour You h the double doors on your left"

"Thank you," Grace said Trying unsuccessfully to suppress her triu roolass table occupied the center and was piled high with books andthe farthest wall sat a couch and several chairs All elegant, and all expensive

During their wait they endured several peek-in visits froazines (According to the current Cosmo love quiz, she and Darius were not coazines, there was a feature article about Jason Graves, his recent discoveries, and his recent accumulation of wealth The article told how he had purchased an apart on the Upper East Side and allowed all of his employees to stay there-which here Alex lived That she&039;d known Jason himself stayed in the penthouse That she hadn&039;t

Darius spent the short time splayed out in his seat, his hands locked behind his neck He kept his eyes closed She suspected he was gathering his strength andconfrontation

Finally a wohtly older and less hostile than the receptionist, entered and said, "Mr Pierce will see you now If you&039;ll follow ht beside her They shared a glance before exiting Side by side, they strode down a hall and around a corner The woman stopped and swept her hand out in front of her "Last door on the right," she said

Gliding past her, Grace eyed every door she encountered She didn&039;t see Alex&039;s naonauts to the wall," she enuine smile played at the corner of his lips "I had not realized before what a bloodthirsty wench you are Try to contain your bloodlust long enough that we asped, then realized he thought she literally meant to nail Mitch to the wall "I meant-oh, never mind" Whether she meant it or not, the idea had merit "I&039;ll try to contain le door The nameplate in the center announced Mitch&039;s name in bold, black letters "That&039;s the one," Grace said, s her shirt and jeans She didn&039;t knohat she&039;d say or do when she saw hi He simply shoved open the door and strolled inside

She followed right on his heels Mitch sat at a large any desk There was no clutter, no papers scattered around hi as Grace recalled, with broad shoulders and lean liave hi about his appearance captured her interest Sweat beaded atop his brow

He was nervous

Very interesting Her gaze cataloged the office, taking in the sea of wealth and indulgence Art, vases, glass and wood figurines Carpet so light her feet felt as if they were traipsing on clouds

With a visibly forced air of nonchalance, Mitch folded his hands together-hands that were shaking slightly-and propped his elbows on the desk surface There was so she hadn&039;t noticed before they were beady and shallow Greedy He offered theain, Grace," he said "You look well after your trials in the rain forest"

"Thank you" Bastard She didn&039;t offer hihed and flicked a nervous glance to Darius "Did you really feel it was necessary to bring a bodyguard?"

"He&039;s a friend," she said "He&039;s staying with ain, please have a seat"

Darius crossed his ar the material of his black shirt taut over hishis refusal Only a fool would underestimate his capabilities

Mitch used a plain white handkerchief to wipe at his brow Obviously he was no fool

Grace res were retracted Watching Mitch pee his pants was not how she wanted to begin this lad to see those fangs was in bed While he was naked Looking down at her Moving into her

For God&039;s sake, concentrate

"Very well, then," Mitch said "How may I help you?"

"Where is your leader, Jason Graves?" Darius demanded

"Out of town Still in Brazil, I&039; you hed nervously

"I want to knohy you had ait clear Patrick would be following theulp, Mitch leaned back in his seat Too lost in his apprehension, he didn&039;t try to deny it "I suppose you cornered the ," Darius lied "Only that you had sent him"