on Lucien’s shoulder, talons digging in deeper until Lucien grimaced.
“You had no business bringing him here alone,” Hoot said. “And look at you. Just look at you. Soaking wet. What did he do to you? Did he hurt you? Are you bleeding anywhere? Have you been bruised? Damaged?”
Unable to answer Hoot’s questions without sounding like a loon, Evee said sternly, “No! Let go of him right this minute or I’ll put you in your cage.”
With a shrill shriek of anger, Hoot finally released Lucien’s shoulder and took flight, leaving the kitchen and heading for the foyer.
“That’s some pet you have there,” Lucien said, rubbing the shoulder that Hoot had dug into.
Evee sighed. “He’s my familiar and overprotective.”
“What exactly does a familiar do? Does every witch have one?”
“Most of the witches I know do. Familiars are supposed to be our eyes and ears when we’re not around. Their purpose is mostly to warn us of pending danger. Hoot does that for me, but he’s also bossy and gets carried away at times.”
Lucien gave her a small smile. “It’s nice to know you have someone looking after you.”
Their eyes locked for a moment, and Evee felt her knees grow weak. Not from exhaustion this time, but from desire. It felt like desire, anyway, but could have been the aftermath of shock from the Cartesian attack and near drowning. She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her thoughts. It was then she noticed that she and Lucien were both soaking wet and dripping water all over the floor.
“There’s a shower down here if you’d like to use it,” Evee said. She pointed past the kitchen toward the front of the house. “Just past the foyer and living area is a hallway. Take a left there and you’ll find a bathroom. Last door on the right. I’ll use the one on the second floor.” As an afterthought she put a finger to her lips, then said, “I’m sorry I don’t have any dry clothes to offer you. House full of women, you know. But there’s a robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door that you’re welcome to use. And back here...” Evee led him to a small room located at the far end of the kitchen near the back door. The room held a washer and dryer, utility sink and folding table. “You can just toss your clothes in the dryer while you shower.”
“Thanks,” Lucien said. “Dry sounds like a great plan. I’ll wait to shower when I go back to the hotel.”
“Y-you’re going back to the hotel?” Evee asked, then mentally admonished herself for sounding so needy.
They stood so close together in the small room that she felt Lucien’s breath as he spoke. Just being this close to him calmed her. She forgot about the wet clothes on her own body and the chill that had her shaking since Lucien pulled her from the river. His presence sent heat radiating through her body, chasing away any semblance of cold.
“If you don’t mind,” Lucien said, “I’ll dry my shirt first so you can direct me on the dryer settings.” He grinned. “Too many buttons and gadgets on that machine. Left to myself, I’d probably shrink my shirt down two sizes or nuke it into ashes.”
“No problem,” Evee said, then held her breath as Lucien reached behind his head with both hands, grabbed the back of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head.
Seeing him bare-chested with rippled abs and sculpted, muscular arms stole what little breath Evee had left. She gasped to refill her lungs. An embarrassing sound at such a wrong time.
“Are you okay?” Lucien asked, his brow knitting.
“Huh?” Evee had been so absorbed with the sight and scent of Lucien so close to her, she hadn’t heard what he’d said.
He handed her his wet shirt. “I asked if you were okay. You gasped. I was concerned it might have come from residual water from the river in your lungs.”
“No, no, I’m fine.” She took his shirt, threw it into the dryer and set the dryer on its gentle cycle so the T wouldn’t shrink, then pressed the start button.
Evee glanced back at Lucien, trying not to focus on his chest. “Your jeans are heavier material, so set the dryer on time-dry for them.” She pointed to the appropriate knob. “Both shirt and jeans will be dry before you know it.” Evee didn’t tell him what cycle would be best for his underwear. For all she knew, Lucien might be flying commando. Either way, she felt confident he’d figure it out.
Since the incident with the Cartesians and the near drowning, Evee felt out of sorts and confused. She found herself wanting, aching to feel the safety of Lucien. Just like when he’d carried her home.
She felt heat radiating from Lucien’s chest, which was lightly matted with dark brown and black hair that formed a narrow path to the top of his jeans.
Evee felt awkward as she watched him remove his watch and set it on the washer. She had no business standing here. She had to shower and dress, as well, yet felt glued to where she stood. Unable to take her eyes off him.
Lucien turned to her, and she studied his strong, chiseled face, his eyes greener than the depths of the Pacific Ocean. An unspoken question flickered across his face, and Evee fumbled for something to say.
As Lucien stared at her, his eyes soft yet piercing, she said, “I—I’m sorry about earlier.”
“Sorry about what? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Evee glanced down for a few seconds before looking back up at him. “I forgot to say thank-you.”
“For?”
“Saving my life. You know, from the Cartesian, from drowning.”
“My pleasure, I assure you.” Lucien tilted his head slightly. “If you don’t mind me asking, don’t you control the element of water?”
Evee nodded.
“Yet it frightens you. Why is that?”
She shook her head. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know what the water thing is all about. I never did get it. I’m supposed to control the element of water, and I can, but from a distance. I don’t know why I have such a fear of it. All I think about is drowning. Maybe it’s a former life thing. Maybe I drowned in some other life and hold repressed memories about it. Then again, it could just be a weird phobia.” She shrugged, feeling all the more uncomfortable. She was rambling like an idiot. She felt her cheeks grow warm. “I think not understanding it frightens me most of all.”
“Life has a lot of unanswered questions,” Lucien said, his voice low and husky.
She nodded and watched as his amazing eyes turned to a smoldering forest green.
“Whatever the reason,” Evee said, trying to get her wits about her, “please accept my gratitude for your help.”
“Accepted,” Lucien said with a soft smile.
Something inside Evee told her to move on. To go upstairs and shower as she’d proposed earlier. Instead, she stood staring at him. Neither of them said a word.
Before she knew it, Evee sensed what almost felt like human hands push her closer to Lucien,
