“Good. You’ve got a visitor.”
I frowned. “Who?”
Gavin stepped beside her and grinned. “Me.”
Nana arched a brow at me.
I shrugged—I wasn’t sure why he was here—then nodded to let her know I’d be okay with him.
For a moment, she wrestled with indecision. And I think if the situation had been any different—if I hadn’t been a slayer, used to taking care of myself, if I hadn’t been dealing with Z.A., fearing for my life—she would have forced us to go into the living room.
“You have ten minutes,” she finally said, and walked away.
Gavin stepped inside and I was grateful he didn’t shut the door. Curious, I motioned for him to sit at the desk, then eased onto the side of the bed, across from him.
He laughed. “Afraid the vision will come true?”
Yes. No. Maybe. “What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d drive you to school today.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“Well, I’m a nice guy.”
“I guess that depends who you ask,” I said drily, and he grinned.
“Funny girl.” He sobered. “I heard about the crash and explosion and wanted to check on you. You okay?”
“I’m sore and upset a man was killed in front of me, but yeah. I’m dealing.”
“I’m sorry.”
I nodded to acknowledge the words. My nose wrinkled as I caught a peculiar scent, distracting me. “What is it I’m smelling?”
“My manliness?”
I crossed my arms. “Seriously. What?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like you couldn’t decide on an air freshener, so you decided to use them all.”
He gave another exuberant laugh. “Maybe that’s exactly what happened.”
“Or...you were with another girl or six last night? Oh, my gosh. That’s it!”
He shrugged, unabashed.
“How do you get the girls to flock to you like that?”
“Besides this beautiful face?” he said, rubbing his jaw. “I can speak French, and they like it.”
I gaped. “You speak French?”
His eyelids dipped to half-mast, as if they were too heavy to hold up. “Je peux casser trois briques avec ma main.”
Grinning, I fanned myself.
He wiggled his brows. “Sexy, right?”
“Not going to answer that. So, what’d you say?”
“I can break three bricks with my hand.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed.
He stood, drawing my gaze to the band of skin revealed as the hem of his shirt lifted from his jeans. Tanned muscles underneath. Beautiful. But I was happy to note I still felt nothing romantic for him.
“We should go.” He held out his hand, waved his fingers.
His scent wafted to me once again. This time, hunger pangs followed.
Feed.
I moaned. Not again. Not here, not now. Not with him.
Fight this.
“Ali?” Concerned, he closed the distance.
Even though I told myself not to, I gripped him by the forearms. I rose to my tiptoes and put my nose at his neck, breathing deeply. So. Good.
“Ali?” Curiosity this time.
“You should run.” Even as I warned him, I swung him around and pushed, sending him to the bed, on his back. As he bounced, I climbed on top of him. “Don’t run. I need you,” I said, only I wasn’t speaking this time. She was.
She’d used my voice, putting everything she had into taking me over.
Gavin’s brows furrowed with confusion, but he didn’t protest as I leaned down...down...and pressed my lips against his neck. One of his hands actually tangled in my hair, holding me close, helping her.
“Let me shut the door,” he whispered.
Stop! I inwardly screamed. Please, stop.
She laughed with glee. “No.” Gripping his chin, she forced his head to the side for better access. He allowed it, his lower body arching into mine. He ran his fingers down my spine, cupped my butt.
She ran my tongue up the length of his throat.
He shuddered. “Yeah. I like that, but one of us really should shut the door.”
“Forget the stupid door.” She bared my teeth.