Page 37 of Knight’s Salvation

Her apartment building was just up ahead and she sprinted the last few yards then punched in the security code.

The door didn’t open.

She tried to concentrate on keying in the correct numbers as well as fighting to breathe, while her fingers shook, and those footsteps got closer. It was probably just the drunk guy from the bar. She could deal with him. Couldn’t she?

She yanked the door again, but it didn’t budge. She was half demon, for Christ’s sake, but unless the guy needed a light for his cigarette, she was useless—defenseless. A sob tore from her throat and she spun around to face whoever was behind her.

Nothing.

Shit. She searched the street, but it was deserted. She slumped against the door. Now she was hearing things?

The scrape of a boot had her whipping around to face the other direction.

Zenon stood there, looking pissed. His huge leathery wings were extended like he’d just landed and when he tucked them in tight to his back they disappeared completely.

Her hand flew to her chest. “Jesus. Don’t do that. You scared the crap out of me.”

“What happened?” he barked.

Mia stared at him. She hadn’t seen him since she’d run out on him after he’d humiliated her and used her body against her. But did she get an apology or a measly, “Hello, how are you?”

Nope, he barked and scowled at her like she was the biggest pain in the ass for daring to draw breath, and how dare she encroach on his demon-killing time by fearing for her pitiful life? Which was why she wanted to slap herself silly for still being affected by him.

But dammit, she was.

“Mia.” He let out a long breath, like dealing with her was one huge irritation. “Why were you running?”

His voice was low, threatening, and his obvious anger knocked her out of her stunned silence. “I scared myself, that’s all. Some guy grabbed onto me when I was leaving work and I thought for a minute he was following me.”

“He touched you?”

What the hell was his problem? “I handled it. I’ve worked in lots of bars, Zenon. I know how to deal with drunks.”

He watched her for several painstaking minutes, in which time his jaw clenched so tight she thought she heard his bones groan in protest. “You’re okay?”

She looked back down the street. It was completely deserted besides her and Zenon. No. “Yes.”

He took a step forward. “Mia…”

She turned her back on him and tried to key in the code a third time, but the damn door still wouldn’t open. In frustration, she yanked on it, desperate to get the hell away from him and the effect he had on her—on her body. A condition he did not suffer in return.

During her fourth attempt, he moved in behind her. He didn’t touch her, of course, but she could feel his heat through her coat.

“Let me.” He placed one hand on the glass door in front of them and reached around her with the other, effectively trapping her between his massive arms.

God, she couldn’t bear it.

When his breath grazed her temple, she wanted to scream. After the callous way he’d treated her, her body still betrayed her, responding almost violently. The door released with a whoosh and she released the breath she’d been holding.

He didn’t move.

“Why are you here?” she asked. But what she wanted to say was “Why are you doing this to me? Why are you torturing me like this?”

More silence. “I was on my way home. I saw you.”

“Right.” Why did she keep doing this to herself? What did she want him to say? I couldn’t stay away?

“I’ll make sure someone’s here to walk you home from now on.”