Page 16 of Knight’s Dominion

"I didn’t ask for your help. I sure as shit didn’t need it.”

Gunner’s lips twitched, but he didn’t comment. He thought she was full of it. Underestimated her like most other people. She’d survived this long without the knight’s help, and she’d keep on surviving. That’s what she did.

“You're reckless and goddamn stubborn,” Chaos said. “You'd be fucking dead if I hadn't saved your ass."

“Wow, tell me how you really feel." She was going for light and unaffected but wasn't sure she pulled it off.

“Do you have a death wish, female?”

She rolled her eyes. “I was just about to jump to safety across the alley. In case you missed it—though I’m not sure how since you can’t seem to stay the hell away from me—I’m kinda good at that. But I was hoping to find out why he wanted me dead first.” She glanced at the pile of ash behind them. “Say, why don’t you tell me again how soft and cuddly some demons are.”

He ground his teeth. “Not all demons are created equal.”

“What about that one?”

Chaos wasn’t the only one who’d tried to convince her of the same bullshit. Chaya had once told her what a super awesome guy her and Mia’s demon father was, and Grace was ashamed to admit she’d pretended to agree with her friend to get her to work for her, was still lying to her. But Grace knew the true nature of demons firsthand, and nothing would change her mind.

“I’m wasting my fucking breath with you, aren’t I?” Chaos said and crossed his arms over his wide chest, causing his monster biceps to flex. “From now on, use the sidewalk like everyone else. You're not superwoman, you're not super anything. You're a demi-demon with a hero complex. Stick to stripping and leave the fighting to the trained professionals."

"Chaos..."

Chaos cut Gunner off with a hard look. "She needs to hear this for her own safety.”

Jesus, he really was a giant, egotistical asshole. “I didn't know you cared?”

"The only thing I care about right now is that you're wasting my time."

"Then please, by all means spread your wings and fly…preferably into the sun, but I’m not picky, a concrete wall would be okay as well. I can handle things from here." She shoved past him and stepped over the ashy remains of the creep who’d attacked her. Couldn't get much deader. "I really wish you hadn't killed him. I would’ve liked the chance to question him."

To ask why he’d paused, why it looked like he’d changed his mind and was about to help her back up.

"Did he say anything?” Gunner asked.

“Nothing important.” She picked up the wallet and did a quick search. Nothing. Inwardly cringing, she slid her hand deep into his jeans pocket, then unable to help herself, glanced back at Chaos and winked. "Don't panic, I’m not searching for tips. I can't exactly use my feminine wiles on him in this condition." The male growled, and she shook her head. “You really are a humorless bastard."

"You have no idea," Gunner muttered, lips twitching again.

"How do you live with him?"

"It's not easy, but getting to beat on him during training helps."

A shiver came out of nowhere and traveled over her skin, raising goose bumps. That was some mental image. But instead of Gunner, it was her. She'd love to have a go at him, maybe make him lose some of that tightly held control, get him all sweaty and pissed off. Maybe he’d pin her to the floor.

She quickly shook the images from her head. The very idea had guilt twisting her insides. After what he’d done, how he’d let her people down, he was the last male on earth she should be lusting after.

She spotted something among the ashes and picked it up. A ring with a weird dragon birdlike creature engraved into black stone. The same symbol as the one on the cuff link she found in Tina's apartment.

"What is it?” Chaos moved beside her, and the hum of all that tightly leashed power radiated from his big body, calling to her on a purely instinctive level, making her want to rub against him, to take some of it for herself.

“Not sure." Not a lie. She had no reason to go into Tina's disappearance with the knight, not yet anyway. It could mean nothing, they could be members of the same lonely-hearts club or bought them from the same store.

"Have you seen this before?" she asked anyway.

He shook his head, ran a hand down his beard, then glanced up at her. "You can leave now. We'll clean this up."

She rolled her eyes again. “You sweet talker, you. Admit it. With charm like that, you’re beating the females off with a stick.” Then for some messed-up reason, she held her breath, waiting for his answer.

"I don't have time for females," he said without breaking eye contact. Was he sending her some kind of message? Like she might be desperate to get him between the sheets.