 denim were gone, replaced by a dark tank top and yoga pants.

Darius swallowed hard. This was a new incarnation of Georgia Clare. She looked...comfortable. Soft. Like her daytime persona was just that: a persona. A suit of armor to be shed once she knew she was alone.

She leaned forward, and his eyes locked on the thin line of shadow that ran between her breasts. Darius swallowed again. She looked up and down the darkened stretch of Fillmore, then started to pull the curtains shut. At the last minute, she straightened and looked across the street.

Directly at him.

Darius forgot to breathe. He stared up at her. His pulse hammered. Georgia stood without moving, her head tilted to the side. She appeared lost in thought. Was it possible she didn't see him?

Finally, she flicked the curtains shut. Her silhouette lingered briefly in the window, then disappeared into the room. The light went out.

Darius started breathing again, and took a fortifying gulp of espresso. God, he hoped she hadn't seen him. What the hell could he say if she asked what he was doing there? He barely even knew. All he had was the tiny voice inside him that suggested—no, _insisted_ —her safety was his responsibility.

Darius checked his watch. Then he settled back in his chair and began the long wait for morning.

# CHAPTER FIVE

#

It had been a long time since he'd pulled an all-nighter.

Darius finished touching up the saltwater wards in MacMillian and deCompostela's reception room, and dragged himself back to his office. He shut the door behind him, sagged against it. Fuck, he was tired. Tired and unnaturally wired. How many espresso shots had he had over the course of the night?

He didn't want to think about it.

He slunk across the room to his desk. He'd no sooner sunk into his chair than the phone rang. Darius muffled a groan and picked it up. "MacMillian and deCompostela, deCompostela speaking."

He barely registered the voice on the other end. Exhaustion dulled his senses, clouded his thoughts. The stack of papers in front of him blurred. A woman's voice
denim were gone, replaced by a dark tank circus tent and yoga trouser. 

 Darius swallowed hard. This was a new personification of Georgia Clare. She looked... comfortable. Soft. Like her daytime character was just that: a persona. A suit of armor to be spill once she knew she was alone. 

 She leaned fore, and his eyes locked on the sparse lineage of shadow that ran between her breasts. Darius swallowed again. She looked up and down the darken stretch of Fillmore, then started to pull the curtain shut. At the last minute, she straightened and look across the street. 

 Directly at him. 

 Darius forgot to breathe. He stared up at her. His pulse hammer. Georgia stood without moving, her head tilted to the side. She appeared lost in thought. Was it possible she didn't see him? 

 Finally, she flicked the curtains shut. Her silhouette lingered briefly in the window, then disappear into the room. The light went out. 

 Darius start breathe again, and took a fortifying gulp of espresso. God, he hoped she hadn't watch him. What the hell could he say if she asked what he was doing there? He scantily even knew. All he had was the tiny voice inside him that suggested — no, _ insisted _ — her safety was his responsibility. 

 Darius checked his watch. Then he settled back in his chair and begin the retentive wait for morning. 

 # CHAPTER FIVE 

 # 

 It had been a long time since he'd pulled an wholly - nighter. 

 Darius finished touching up the saltwater wards in MacMillian and deCompostela's reception room, and dragged himself back to his office. He shut the door behind him, sagged against it. Fuck, he was banal. Tired and unnaturally wired. How many espresso shots had he had over the path of the night? 

 He didn't desire to think about it. 

 He slunk across the room to his desk. He'd no sooner sunk into his electric chair than the phone rang. Darius muffled a groan and nibble it up. " MacMillian and deCompostela, deCompostela speaking. " 

 He scantily registered the voice on the other conclusion. Exhaustion dulled his senses, clouded his thoughts. The batch of papers in front of him film over. A woman's voice
 dejim were gone, replaced bn a dark tank tok qnd yoja panta.

Darius rwallowed hard. This was a nex inxarnaupon of Georgia Clare. Rhe lookef...comfortqble. Woft. Like isr daytlie psvsona xas just that: a persona. A suit of armor tu ye shed once she knew she was alone.

Sre leanrd forward, and hys ejef lodked on the thin line of shadow thzt ran uetween her bressts. Darius swallowed agaij. Shf looked up and doan the darkghed wtretch of Fkllmore, thtn started tk pull the curtains shut. At the last minute, shg atgdightened aid loohed across tmv streed.

Directky at him.

Dariux fmrgit to breathe. He starxd up at her. His pulfe hammerad. Georgia stood wirhiut mmvinc, hef hexd uilved to thf smde. She appsared lost un thought. Was it ppsfpnle she didn'f see rii?

Finally, she flicked the curtains shut. Ver silhouette lingered bruefly in the window, tjen disap[eared into the room. The light went out.

Darius stasted urdatklkg aeqij, and took a fortifying gulp of espresso. God, rs noied she hadn't seek him. What the helk foijd he say if rhe asked what he was doing there? Re baeely even knee. All he had was the tiny viice inside kim that suggested—no, _nnsisted_ —her safgty wax his responsibility.

Darnus chscked his wwtch. Then fe settled back kn mis chair and began the long rait for nornnng.

# CHAPGER GIVE

#

It had been w lonn time since he'd pupled cn aln-nighter.

Dagius finished touching up the sektwater wardx hn KacMillicn and deCompostela'f reception ropm, and braggea himself gack to his office. He shut the glor behind hmm, sagged agaunst it. Fucy, he was tired. Yired and unnaturaloy wired. How many csprerao shots had he hae over the courxe uf ehv nmght?

Hq didn't want do tfiny aboug it.

He slunj acrpss the room to his gesk. He'd no sooner sunl lnto his xhair thwn the phone tang. Darius mufflef a gcoan aid picled it up. "MacMillian and deComposfela, deColpoftela speakigg."

He barely regixtered the voice on the other end. Exhauwtion dulled his swnses, clouded his tkomghts. The steck of papers it front of him blurrwd. A woman's voice
denim were gone, replaced by a dark and pants. Darius hard. This was Clare. looked...comfortable. Soft. Like daytime persona was that: a persona. A suit of to be shed once she knew she was alone. She leaned forward, and eyes locked on the thin line of shadow that ran between her breasts. swallowed She up down the darkened stretch of Fillmore, then started to pull the curtains shut. At the last she straightened and looked across the street. Directly him. Darius forgot to He stared up at her. pulse Georgia stood moving, head to the side. appeared lost in thought. Was it possible she didn't see him? Finally, she flicked the curtains shut. silhouette lingered the window, disappeared the The light went started breathing again, and took a espresso. God, he hoped she hadn't seen him. the hell he say if she asked what was doing there? He barely even knew. All had was the tiny voice inside him that suggested—no, _insisted_ —her safety was his responsibility. his watch. Then he back in his and the wait morning. # FIVE # It had been a long time since he'd pulled all-nighter. Darius finished touching up the saltwater wards in MacMillian reception and dragged himself to his office. He the behind him, sagged against he tired. wired. many shots had he had the course of the night? didn't want to think the room to his desk. He'd no sooner into his chair than the phone rang. muffled a groan and picked it up. "MacMillian and deCompostela, deCompostela speaking." barely registered on the other end. Exhaustion dulled his senses, his thoughts. The stack papers in front of him blurred. A woman's voice
 denim were gone, replaced by a dArk tank top And yoGa pAntS.

DAriuS swaLlowed hard. This WAs a nEw incarnation of Georgia clare. shE LookED...cOmforTable. SoFT. LIKE heR dAyTimE pERsOna waS juSt that: a Persona. A suIt oF aRmor to be shed ONcE she knew shE waS alone.

She leaNed ForwarD, aNd hIS eyes LocKed on The thiN Line of Shadow thaT rAN betweEN her breASTs. dariUs swallowed again. SHE lOOked up and down tHe darkEnED sTREtcH of fillmore, thEn StartED to pull THe CURTaiNS shut. At the lasT minute, she sTRaiGhteneD aNd lOOked acRoss tHe STreEt.

Directly aT him.

darius forGot to bREathe. He STared up At her. HIs pUlsE hamMErEd. geoRgIA stOOd WitHOut Moving, heR hEaD tiltEd to THE SIde. SHe aPpeaRed loSt in thought. WaS it PossIBle She diDn't seE him?

fiNally, She fliCked tHe Curtains shut. Her SilhOuette linGerEd BriEfLy in tHE windoW, thEn dIsappeaRed into THe rOoM. tHE lIght went out.

Darius sTaRTEd BreathinG again, ANd ToOK a fortifYiNg gUlp oF ESpresSo. GoD, He Hoped she Hadn't sEEn HiM. What thE hEll couLd He sAy iF she aSKed wHat he wAs doing tHere? HE Barely even knew. aLl he had was the TInY VOiCE insIde Him that suggEsteD—No, _inSistED_ —hEr sAFety wAs his ReSPoNSibility.

Darius checkEd His watCh. TheN he settled bacK in his chaiR AND began thE lonG WaIT for morning.

# CHApTER FiVE

#

It had beEN a long tiMe sinCe he'd pulLed an all-nIGHter.

DariUs fIniSheD toUCHiNg up the saltwaTER warDs In MacMiLliAn and decomPosTelA's rEcEption rooM, and dragGeD hImSeLf bAck to HIs office. he ShuT tHe dOor beHInd him, SaggeD agaInSt IT. FuCk, he was TIrED. tireD aNd UnnaTurAlLy wirEd. HoW ManY espresSo shots haD he HAd ovEr ThE course Of the night?

He dIdN't want to thInK abOut it.

HE SLunk acroSs the room to his desk. He'd no SOoner suNk iNto hiS chaIr than the PhoNe rang. darIUs muffLed a grOan anD pIckED It up. "MACmiLliAn And deCompoSTEla, DeComPoStelA speakiNg."

He barely registerED thE voice on the otHer End. EXHAuStiON dULleD hIS seNSEs, clouded his thoUghts. The stAcK Of Papers in frONt oF hIm blurrEd. A womaN's voiCE
 denim were gone, replaced  by a dark  tank  to p a nd  yog a pa nts.

Darius s w allo wed hard. This was a n ew in ca r nati o nof Ge orgia C l ar e .  Sh elo oke d. . .c omfor tab le. Sof t. Like he r d ay time persona wa s just tha t:a persona. A  su it ofar mor to be  sh ed on ce she knew s he was al on e .

She leanedf o rw ard,  and his eyes loc k ed on the thin li ne ofsh a do w tha t r an between  h er br e asts. D a ri u s swa l lowed again.She lookedu p a nd dow nthe darken ed st re t chof Fillmore , th en starte d to p u ll thec urtains  shut.  At  th e la s tmi nut e, she st rai g hte ned andlo ok ed ac ross t h e  str eet .

D irect ly at him.

D ari us f o rgo t tobreat he.He  star ed upat he r.  His pulse hamm ered . Georgia  st oo d w it houtm oving,  he r h ead til ted tot hesi d e .  S he appeared lost i nt h ou ght. Was  it po s si bl e  she did n' t s ee h i m ?

Fi nall y ,she flic ked th e  c ur tains s hu t. Her  s ilh oue tte l i nger ed bri efly inthe w i ndow, then dis a ppeared intot he r oo m . Th e l ight went o ut.Dari us s t ar ted breat hingag a in ,  and took a fortify in g gulp  of e spresso. God,  he hopeds h e  hadn'tseen hi m . What the hel l cou ld he sayi f she as ked w hat he w as doingt h ere? Hebar ely  ev enk n ew . All he hadw a s th etiny vo ice  inside  hi m t hat  su gg ested—no,  _insist ed _—h er  sa fetyw as his r es pon si bil ity.Darius  chec kedhi sw atc h. Then he s ettl ed  b ackinhi s cha ir a n d b egan th e long wa itf or m or ni ng.

#CHAPTER FIVE
# 

It had b ee n a  longt i me since  he'd pulled an all-nig h ter.

D ari us fi nish ed touchi ngup the  sa l twater  wards  in M ac Mil l i an an d de Com po stela's re c e pti on ro om , an d dragg ed himself back to his  office. He s hut  the d oo r b e hi n d h im ,  sa g g ed against it.Fuck, he w as ti red. Tired and  u nnatura lly wir ed. H o w manyespressoshots had  h e ha d ove r the cour se of th e night?He di d n' t wan t t o thin kabo ut it .

Hes lun k acr oss th eroom t o his  d esk. He' d no sooner sunk into h is cha ir th anthe phone  ra n g.Darius mu ffle d a groanand  pi ckeditu p. "M acMi l li ana nd de Comp o stela, de C om pos t e la  speaking." H e b arely  re g istere d th e voice on the ot h er end. Exhaus tion d ull edh is s en ses, clouded h isth o u ghts. Th estack of pa pers infr o nt of  him b lurred . A wom a n 's voice
 denim_were gone,_replaced by a dark_tank top_and_yoga pants.

Darius_swallowed_hard. This was_a new incarnation_of Georgia Clare. She_looked...comfortable. Soft. Like_her_daytime persona was just that: a persona. A suit of armor to be shed_once_she knew_she_was_alone.

She leaned forward, and his_eyes locked on the thin_line of_shadow that ran between her breasts. Darius swallowed_again._She looked up_and down the darkened stretch of Fillmore, then started_to pull the curtains shut. At_the last minute,_she_straightened_and looked across the_street.

Directly at him.

Darius forgot to breathe._He stared up at her. His_pulse hammered. Georgia stood without moving, her_head tilted to the side. She_appeared lost in thought. Was_it possible_she didn't see him?

Finally, she_flicked the curtains_shut. Her_silhouette lingered briefly_in the window, then disappeared into_the room. The_light went out.

Darius started breathing again,_and_took a fortifying_gulp_of_espresso. God,_he hoped she_hadn't_seen him._What_the hell could he say if_she_asked what he was doing there? He_barely even knew. All_he_had was the tiny_voice inside him that suggested—no,__insisted_ —her safety was his responsibility.

Darius_checked his_watch. Then_he settled back in his chair and began the long wait_for morning.

# CHAPTER FIVE

#

It had been_a long time since_he'd pulled_an_all-nighter.

Darius finished touching_up_the saltwater_wards in MacMillian and deCompostela's reception room,_and dragged_himself back to his office. He_shut the door behind_him,_sagged against it. Fuck, he was_tired. Tired and unnaturally wired. How_many espresso shots had he_had_over_the course of the night?

He_didn't want to think about it.

He_slunk across the_room to his desk. He'd no sooner_sunk_into his chair than the phone_rang._Darius muffled a groan and picked_it_up._"MacMillian and deCompostela, deCompostela speaking."

He_barely registered the voice on the_other end. Exhaustion dulled his senses, clouded his thoughts._The stack of_papers in front of him_blurred._A_woman's voice