Chapter 11

Reina felt instant relief in her soul when Jarvis kissed her. It wasn’t simply the warmth of his lips on hers. It wasn’t just the way his fingers were tunneled through her hair. It wasn’t only the heat of his ribs as he wedged himself between her legs.

It was the absolute, utter tenderness of his kiss.

The kiss in the woods had been violent, hot, carnal.

This time, his lips were soft, a light kiss on the corner of her mouth, on the bud of her upper lip, a tender nip on her lower lip.

It wasn’t about knocking her down and dragging her onto his lap. It was a kiss of respect, of honor, of wanting, yet not ravaging, of trying to tempt her back into sanity and peace. Of trying to show her that there was good in the world, in herself, and in those around her. Of giving her something to believe in other than failure, death, and loss.

He was giving her beauty, purity, connection, and her heart bled for more. For something to hang on to, to propel her to pull herself together one more time and believe that this time there could be a happy ending.

He moved closer, pushing her legs apart as his torso forced between her thighs. The heat from his body was intense, hotter than a man, hotter even than Blaine, Mr. Fire Guy. His left hand was on her hip, holding her still, his right hand buried deep in her hair. She was trapped, and it felt wonderful because his strength made her feel safe. Like she wasn’t alone anymore. Like he was there for her.

Her body shuddered, and then peace rippled over her, and hope flared in her heart. It could be different this time.

Jarvis broke the kiss and pulled back, his black-flecked eyes searching hers. He hadn’t released his grip on her, hadn’t moved from between her legs. His eyes were smoky and dark, brimming with a sensuality that made her body tighten.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them grew, and he thumbed her lower lip. Her heart began to race, and she caught her breath. The expression on his face was pure desire, a passion that comes from the calling of his spirit, from the man, not the beast. It was a look of intimacy, of a yearning to tumble her onto the nearest set of silken sheets and spend hours luxuriating in the burning ardor between two people who’d gone to hell, and somehow pulled each other back to sanity, to humanity, who had awakened each other’s hearts.

Then he let out his breath and dropped his hand from her face.

Disappointment and loss surged through her, and she had to stifle a cry of protest, a request for one more moment, one more intimacy, one more caper in his arms. “Jarvis—”

He grinned, a satisfied look flashing in his eyes. “That worked. You’re not panicking anymore.”

“What?” He’d gifted her with that incredibly romantic and tender kiss just to calm her down, just to help her heart recover? She should be annoyed and disappointed, but she couldn’t summon the emotions. She was feeling too peaceful to get annoyed by the fact he’d kissed her just to calm her down. His kiss had eased her pain, it had given her hope, and she was going to cling to it. “Thank you.”

“It’s my job as your partner. No thanks necessary.” He shifted his grip in her hair, sifting softly through the strands, apparently not quite ready to break the connection. “I hate to admit it, but Angelica seems to be right about women.”

She smiled at his thoughtful tone, as if he was trying to assimilate all the information about how to work with a female. “It wasn’t just the kiss that calmed me down.”

“What?” He cocked a brow. “I’m a fantastic kisser. The chicks all gave top marks even with the fact I poison them.”

“You’re a great kisser?” She grinned, her heart actually light enough to dance a tiny bit, and it felt wonderful. “It wasn’t long enough for me to make that call.”

Challenge flashed on his face, and he reached for her. “Well, let me—”

“Oh, no. I’m not ready for that.” She pulled back, out of his reach, laughing at his grunt of aggravation. “It was the whole protector thing, not just the kiss. That was the beauty of the kiss.”

His eyebrows shot up. “I don’t create beauty.”

“You did. For me.” She traced her hand over his serpent, not wanting to ruin the afterglow of the experience by dissecting it. “I’m glad I’m somewhat sane now, so thanks.” Then she saw Natalie’s face on the screen, and unsettled fear rippled over her. “I can’t believe she’s been confirmed—”

“Don’t knock yourself out about it.” Jarvis rested his elbows on her thighs, clearly very content to remain between her legs. He’d given her something to treasure, and that was still in the air, creating an intimate connection between them. “I had Guides sitting by my side at least a couple hundred times while I was in the Den, and I ditched them all. Confirmed doesn’t mean shit until your soul says hasta la vista, baby.”

“Oh, that’s good to know.” She imagined Jarvis fighting to stay alive while a Guide loomed over him, waiting to take him. How awful. Is that what it would be like for Natalie? Strange shadowed beings waiting for her to die… “Oh! I just had an idea” She leaned past him and began typing on the computer. “I’ll make myself her Guide, and that way if it comes down to the last minute, I’ll be the one there to take her and we can do the switch. I could stall if I needed to.” She hit enter and sat back, watching her name flash next to her sister’s. “That feels so much better. Insurance policies are good.”

Jarvis grinned. “I like that thinking. Excellent backup plan.”

She smiled back at him. “Thanks for clearing my head. I appreciate it.” She paused. “It’s nice not to be doing this alone.”

His smile faded and the room suddenly felt hot. Small. She became aware of him between her thighs in a way she hadn’t been before. Suddenly, the connection wasn’t about innocent reclaiming of hope. It had turned hot and dangerous. Passionate. There was a look in his eyes that made something throb low in her abdomen.

He slipped his hand beneath the hem of her shirt. His palm was warm against her skin. “I’m not used to being able to touch people,” he said quietly. “I bring out the hate in everyone.”

The look of awe on his face made something tighten in her throat. “You can touch me whenever you want. I like touching.” Oops. Her voice sounded a little too breathy. “You know,” she added, “team bonding thing. It helps you focus, right? Calms your mind.”

He said nothing, but his hand moved across her belly, his fingers tracing her ribs. So slowly, so precisely, as if he were absorbing every moment, as if he were experiencing it for the first time in his life.

And he probably was.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m not going to flip out. You can touch me.” She knew she cleared his head the same way he’d given her peace. It was good to have a partner with mental clarity. That was why she’d offered. Because it was smart. And, yeah, well, okay, it felt good, too. Really, really wonderful.

“I want to know why you work for me.” He moved suddenly, grabbing her hips with both hands and yanking her against him. “Why do you ease the noise in my head? How come I don’t wreck you?” He cupped her face. “When I touch you, I can think again. The monster’s still there, but it’s not trying to fuck with me.” He leaned closer, until his lips were a breath away from hers. “And when I kiss you,” he whispered, “I feel like myself. I didn’t know what that felt like until now.”

This time, it was going to be a real kiss. A kiss of passion. A kiss between a man and his woman. She could see it in the darkness of his eyes, in the intent on his face. A kiss that was only about following the raw, unfettered desires that made him a man.

And yes, it was stupid, inane, and crazy, but she desperately wanted him to kiss her. Really, really kiss her. Because she knew it would make her feel alive in a way she hadn’t dared to feel since her family had started dying on her. She laid her hand on his cheek, felt the roughness of his stubble beneath her palm. “Yes,” she whispered. “Kiss me.”

His grip tightened in her hair and he leaned forward—

“What in God’s name is going on here?”

Reina jerked back just as Death’s gleaming scythe came hurtling across the room, right for Jarvis’s head.

***

“No!” Reina leapt up from the desk as Death stormed into his office. “Don’t kill him! He’s with me!”

Jarvis whipped out his sword and intercepted the scythe a split second before it would have lopped off his head. Hooray for men whose minds had been cleared with some hot touching with a female!

Death vaulted across the room, swept the scythe off the floor, and slammed it toward Jarvis’s heart. Jarvis blocked it again, and the two men went into looming-predator mode, muscles flexing, blades pressed against each other, each of their grips strong and secure, glaring at each other over the locked blades.

“You are fortunate I averted my swing,” Death snapped.

“I’m fortunate I’m faster than you are,” Jarvis replied easily, having no trouble going from passionate would-be lover to badass warrior in an instant. His muscles were bulging, his legs braced in battle stance, and his face was utterly calm. He exuded confidence, aggression, and utter control. And this man, this incredible warrior, was on her team.

They really had a chance.

“If I had powdered you, you’d be dead,” Death said. “The fact you’re still living is my choice, not your paltry battle skills.”

Jarvis inclined his head. “Just because you got me once doesn’t mean it’ll work again. I’m extremely difficult to kill.”

“I’m Death. I can kill anyone merely by thinking about it.”

“Okay, guys!” Reina paused to punch the start button on the espresso machine, hoping to distract her boss. “Death, meet Jarvis Swain. Jarvis, this is Death. We’re all friends, so put down the weapons, please.”

“If I relinquish my blade,” Death said calmly, “it puts me in a defenseless position against a warrior with a tainted sword. I cannot agree to such an asinine action.”

“And if I sheath my blade, which I agree is heavily tainted.” Jarvis shoved harder against Death’s blade. “It puts me in a defenseless position against a man who gets his jollies out of mowing off people’s heads before their time.”

“Honest to God, do you really think it doesn’t affect me when the innocent must fall beneath my blade?” Death made a noise of exasperation. “Does everyone on this forsaken planet think I have no compassion and no understanding of love? I have feelings, for hell’s sake!”

Jarvis leaned more of his weight into his sword. “If it’s any consolation, I’m completely fucked when it comes to love myself.”

Death leaned closer, inspecting Jarvis closely. “You speak the truth.”

“Yeah.”

“Sucks a bit, doesn’t it?”

Jarvis shrugged. “It is what it is.”

Death studied him. “You may live for the moment.” He abruptly dropped his scythe and Jarvis nearly fell over when the pressure was released from his sword.

Reina sank down in a chair in relief. Everyone was alive for now. Which was convenient, since she needed both of these men in major ways. Not that she was really worried that either of them could be stopped or hurt, but how would a battle between two immortal warriors end? She glanced at Jarvis, thought of his impending demise, and a cold chill rippled over her. It was too soon for his ending.

It would always be too soon, she realized.

Her boss turned toward her, still fondling his staff with too much enthusiasm. “What are you doing here, Fleming? My office is off-limits when I’m not here, and never do you allow access to anyone I haven’t pre-approved—” He paused suddenly and sniffed the air.

“I was getting you coffee.”

“A complete lie.” Death was already striding across the office toward the espresso. “You are a naughty girl for trying to use caffeine to distract me.” He stopped suddenly and looked at his computer. “You were in my system,” he said quietly, a lethal undertone. Death’s entire body went rigid, and his fingertips turned black.

Oh… shit…

“I did it,” Jarvis strode forward. “I was looking for—”

“My sister,” Reina interrupted. Yes, it made her go all snuggly and warm that Jarvis would step up and try to protect her from Death, but the man had no idea what made Death tick, and she did. She had a chance of sweet-talking their survival. He did not. Weren’t they partners for a reason? Who had the insider knowledge with Death? Yes, that would be the girl. “I think Natalie’s going to die soon, and I wanted to see if she was in there.”

Death looked at the computer, where Natalie’s face was still grinning on the monitor. Hallelujah! Sometimes being faced with your greatest nightmare came in extremely handy.

Jarvis glared at her, shooting her a silent reprimand for taking the blame, and she smiled back at him. It felt good to have someone trying to help her. It really did. It made her stronger, and that was a brilliant feeling. Maybe that’s what Natalie had meant when she’d talked about not wanting to walk away from the feeling of power and invincibility that the deedub curse gave her. It felt so much better to be courageous than afraid, and Reina had Jarvis to thanks for giving her that boost.

Death leaned forward and studied the screen, then looked up, his eyes gentler than she’d ever seen. “She’s the last of your family.”

Reina felt her throat tighten, and she shoved her hands in her jeans, not wanting him to see her pain. He’d take advantage of it, she was sure. “Yeah, well, yes.”

Jarvis threw his arm around her shoulders and tucked her into the curve of his body. She leaned into him, accepting his strength.

Death narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “You love her.”

Reina raised her chin, emboldened by Jarvis’s support. Plus, she knew Death respected love, so hiding it wouldn’t help her. “Of course I do.”

“Well, then.” Death sat down in the chair and began typing. “We can’t have you suffer like this. This is wrong.”

Reina’s heart started to race. Was it this simple? “Are you going to take her off the list?”

Death laughed softly. “My dear, you know I can harvest someone before their time, but if someone’s time has come, I can’t stop it.”

“But you can! I’ve seen you—”

Death flung up his hand. “I have never interfered with preordained death. To do so would violate my oath to Lord Grim.” He gave her a meaningful look that commanded her not to dare contradict him. “And why bother? When the soul reaches the Afterlife, it’s happy time anyway. So, why torture a soul by keeping it here when it’s ready to go? Ridiculous.” He waggled a finger at her. “Keeping her here would be only for the benefit of those left behind, and you, of anyone, would know that’s not a good enough reason.”

Desperation made Reina shove away from Jarvis and grab Death’s desk. “But she doesn’t want to go—”

“If she didn’t, then she wouldn’t. It’s that simple.” Death tapped his temple. “All our power is up here. She believes she’s going to die, then she does. She believes she won’t, and she doesn’t.” He jerked his chin at Jarvis. “Just ask him. The boy’s circumvented me more times than the entire vampire community.”

Jarvis shrugged modestly. “I had things to do.”

“Exactly.” Death started to type again. “But I do understand the pain of losing someone you love.” Shadows haunted his eyes. “So, I’ll put you on personal leave for the next forty-eight hours. That way you can spend these last two days with her. We’ll deal with your promotion afterwards. Seems rather callous to be worrying about your job when your sister is dying, don’t you think?”

Reina’s stomach dropped. “Oh, no. Don’t put me on leave—”

“And that’s simply cruel to have you listed as her Guide. I’ll change that.” He hit the keys a few more times.

“Wait, no!” Reina leapt forward. “I want to be there for her! If some stranger takes her—”

“Oh, you’ll be there, but you won’t have to take that final step of cleaving her soul from her body.” He shut off the monitor. “We already know you have a problem with that, so what makes you think you could do it to your sister? The poor dear would be hovering between worlds, stuck because you couldn’t make yourself bring her over. Is that what you want for her? I think not.” He grabbed her shoulders and hugged her. “I won’t let you throw away your love for your sister. Embrace my gift.”

She fought to get free. “I do love her, but the only way I can handle her death is to work—”

He set her back and eyed her. “Love is a gift, Fleming, and if you piss it away then you aren’t the person I want working for me. Take the holiday, and don’t come back until Monday. If you come back earlier, you’re fired, and this time for real. Got it?”

Oh, shit. “I’m not pissing it away. You don’t understand love—”

“Oh, now you want to accuse me of being an insensitive beast, too?” Death shoved back from his desk so hard his chair slammed into the wall and left a mark in the molding.

“Death—”

“No.” Jarvis’s arm slid around her throat, pulling her back against him. His voice was low, his breath warm against her ear. “Stand down, babe. Now is not the time.”

She gripped his forearm. “But if I can’t work, I can’t save her—”

His arm tightened, anchoring her against his chest. “You press it now, and you cut off all your options. Be strategic.”

Death whirled around to face them. His eyes were deep black, roiling with fury.

She’d never seen him this pissed. He never lost control. Ever.

“And you.” Death jammed his index finger at Jarvis. “What the hell are you doing in my office? You know better than that.”

Jarvis thumbed her lower lip with his thumb, a tender gesture to the outside observer, but a silent order to keep her mouth shut. “I need to speak to you about Cameron Swain. I understand he is a resident here.”

Reina leaned her head back against Jarvis’s shoulder, her mind frantically trying to come up with a plan. Anything. What was she going to do? She didn’t have a backup plan for being taken off duty!

Death’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know anyone by that name.”

Jarvis stiffened behind her, and she felt his body begin to heat up. “It’s very important I speak with my brother. It’s official business about the fate of the world.”

Death’s eyebrows shot up. “Why don’t you give me the message? If I see him, I’ll pass it on.”

Jarvis shook his head, and she felt him shift. His muscles were tight, his breathing was getting stronger. He was getting angry at Death for evading. The monster was taking over. Not what they needed right now. “I’ll pay you ten million dollars to hand him over to me,” Jarvis said.

“Hah!” Death laughed. “One-time sums are not what a company is built upon. I am about long-term strategy.”

“Twenty million.”

Death yanked his skull and crossbones mug out of the machine. “Insult me with another offer and you die.”

“Thirty million.”

Death rolled his eyes and sat down at his desk as he idly flipped the scythe free. “Honestly, do people not take me seriously when I threaten death? Do I look like a pushover? I do have my name for a reason.”

“Wait.” Reina pulled free of Jarvis’s arms. “The truth is that Cameron is Jarvis’s brother. Jarvis is dying and he needs to see Cameron before he dies—”

“Oh, for hell’s sake. You think that just because your story worked on me that I’m so soft that any little story about love between brothers will knock me around?” He took a long drink of coffee and sighed with delight. “The complexity with which I make decisions are far beyond the ability of ordinary beings like yourselves to comprehend.” He pointed his scythe at Jarvis. “You want to burden your brother with your own problems, and it has nothing to do with whether you love him.” He raised his brows. “Do you love? Do you, young man?”

Agony ripped across Jarvis’s face, making his eyes even darker. “I don’t have that capacity.”

Death inclined his head in respect. “I admire that honesty. For that, I allow you to live.” He spun the scythe around on his fingers. “On two conditions: You leave my dwelling and never return. The second is that, since you have clearly already tried to burden my star Guide with your own problems, you reverse that and instead assign yourself as her bodyguard for the next two days and make sure she does not work or return here. Learn about love from her. She’s got the goods.” He cocked his head thoughtfully. “In fact, return here on Monday morning with a ten page dissertation on what you learned about love from Fleming and her sister. Got it? Otherwise, I’ll kill you.”

Jarvis narrowed his eyes, and she could see the wheels turning his mind. Well, that was good at least. He was the self-proclaimed God of the Infinity of Choices. Let him come up with another option.

In the meantime… She sat down in Death’s guest chair. “I do love my sister,” she said. “And that’s why I need your understanding here. It’s really, really important for me to be her Guide, and she has specifically instructed me to keep going with my career so she doesn’t need to worry about me when she dies. Continuing to work is necessary for my own sanity, but also as my gift to her—”

“Which is why I’ll let you come back on Monday instead of taking a six-month grieving leave.” Death tapped his cheek thoughtfully. “But that does mean I need to find someone else to take care of the harvest of Augustus…”

“I’ll do it.” Jarvis set his hand on Reina’s shoulder. “And in exchange you’ll bring Cam to me.”

“I will do nothing at your command,” Death snapped. “For your information, your brother is already on his way to find Augustus with my grandfather. I’ll have them take care of the assassin. Gramps would like it anyway.”

“Cam? You want Cam to kill Augustus?” Jarvis’s hand went to his sword. “Love is only as pure as the vessel it’s in, and if Cam murders, that’ll blow love to pieces. End of the world chaos. He can’t—”

“Oh, give me a break.” Death snorted. “Why would I make the Guardian of Love a killer? He is simply using his love skills to help my grandpa find his true love.”

“You lying son of a bitch.” Jarvis reached across the table and grabbed Death by the lapels. “Where the fuck is my brother?”

“Jarvis!” Reina grabbed his arms. Hello, warrior guy! Strategic error to threaten Death. “Let go!” She could feel the heat rising from his skin, and she knew it wasn’t Jarvis calling the shots. It was his beast.

Death’s eyes were glowing black. “You are now on my short list, Mr. Swain. Surely there is someone who will pay me good money to harvest your soul. Once I find them…” He snapped his fingers. “Then it becomes worth my time to kill you.”

Completely undaunted in a totally badass and insanely bullheaded way that was so not the cool, calculating warrior she knew he was, Jarvis tightened his grip, his own eyes getting darker by the nanosecond. “Tell me where my brother is before I—”

“Be off, both of you now.” Death grabbed a totem pole from the back of his office. “Catch.” He hurled it at Reina’s head.

“No, don’t touch it. It’s wood and he can send us away through it—” But Reina’s warning was too late. Jarvis caught it a split second before it plundered through Reina’s skull. The post brushed against her forehead, the room turned fuzzy, and Jarvis’s face became blurry.

And then they were gone.

They’d just been exiled.