‘Get back into your blade,’ I growled. ‘I don’t have time for this.’
He pouted. ‘Aw, come on, Uh Integrity! Where are we?’ He pulled himself up, peered over the edge of the bag and gave a low whistle. ‘Damn, girl! This is seriously posh! High living!’
‘Bob,’ I said through gritted teeth, ‘so help me God, if you don’t get back into your blade and give me some peace I’m going to throw you out the window.’
He stuck out his tongue. ‘I already told you, you can’t get rid of me that easily. Not any more.’
‘Maybe not. But it’ll still hurt when you hit the ground. And keep your voice down.’
‘Why? Are you playing hide and seek? I love hide and seek! I’m so good at it! Let me join in.’ He began jumping up and down, making the bag bounce. ‘Come on. Let me join in!’
I gave him the nastiest look I could muster. He sighed dramatically. ‘You’re really mean.’
‘That’s right,’ I told him. ‘I really am. Now shut the hell up and get into that blade.’
He pulled another face. ‘You didn’t say I wish.’
‘Bob…’
He retreated. ‘Fine, fine. Honestly. Women!’
I covered my eyes as he flashed back in. Relieved that he was doing as he was told, I rummaged around for my lipstick and quickly unscrewed the bottom of the tube. Two small white tablets fell out. I palmed them quickly. Byron might be Sidhe but these babies were enough to knock out an ox. They were harmless enough, though. He’d wake up in the morning with a sore head – by which time I’d be well away.
After flushing the toilet and checking my make-up, I left the bathroom. Byron was gazing out over the night sky, his back turned. Timothy had sent up the champagne and two chilled glasses were sitting on the table top. Perfect. With one fluid movement, I dropped the tablets into the one that was furthest away. The tablets fizzed slightly but dissolved to nothing within moments. I gave myself a mental high five.
I cleared my throat. ‘You’re switching to champagne?’
He turned. ‘Like I said, whisky makes me frisky. And I promised you one drink and one drink alone.’ He reached behind me and grabbed the nearest glass by its stem, handing it to me before taking the other – the spiked one ? for himself.
‘You’re a true gentleman,’ I murmured, raising my glass up to his then taking a sip. ‘Slainte.’
‘Slainte,’ he replied. Then he drained his glass in one gulp. Hurray!
I smiled and took a sip from mine. ‘This really is good.’
‘I’m glad you approve.’ He leaned towards me and I felt a lurch in the pit of my stomach, sure that he was making a move. Instead, he reached around me again and returned his glass to the table top. Then he pulled back. ‘So, Integrity. I know you like hot pink and you hate violence but I don’t know much else. What do you do for a living?’
‘I’m in security. It’s pretty boring.’
‘Security?’ He glanced up and down my body until I was forced to repress a shiver. ‘Forgive me, but you don’t seem built for that kind of position.’
I needed to get him sitting down. The last thing I wanted was the current Steward’s son keeling over in mid-conversation and banging his head. I didn’t need to be accused of attempted regicide, whether Byron claimed he held no actual title or not.
I put down my own glass and met his eyes. ‘What kind of position do you think I’m built for?’ I asked. There was no mistaking my meaning.
He ran his tongue across his top lip. ‘Well, I can tell from your attitude that you enjoy being on top. Being in control.’
He had that right. I smiled, turned and walked over to the large sofa in the centre of the room. ‘You’re right. I do like being on top.’ I sat down, making zero effort to stop my dress from riding up, and leaned back against the cushions.
Byron stayed where he was. ‘The trouble is,’ he muttered, ‘I like being in charge too.’
I tucked one leg underneath me. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it to see the flare in his eyes. Come on, Byron. Get your arse over here and sit down before you fall down. ‘I suppose that makes us incompatible then,’ I said with a tinge of sadness. ‘Nothing more than ships that pass in the night.’
He still didn’t bloody move. ‘Don’t say that, Integrity,’ he said. ‘I have a feeling that we’re going to know each other for much longer than that.’
‘Really?’ I patted the seat next to me. ‘What makes you say that?’
He seemed to make a decision. He strode over and sat next to me, his thigh dangerously close to mine. I could smell his aftershave again. Delicious.
