 turned off the engine. She tugged off the cheap replacement helmet she'd bought earlier, dismounted.

Her legs were still shaking.

She started up the sidewalk to the teal house. It was nothing. She'd been caught off guard, was all. She'd gone to The Procyon expecting to find Darius. Cool, calm, collected Darius. But he hadn't been there.

She wasn't at all sure she recognized who she'd found instead.

Since when did he carry a gun? She shuddered at the memory of the small, deadly barrel aimed at her chest. The eyes behind it had been cold, almost cruel. He even looked different. The suit was gone, replaced by jeans, heavy boots, a leather jacket that still smelled faintly of smoke. Judging by the heavy shadow on his jaw, it had been a couple days since his last shave.

Georgia cringed. This was going to be a disaster. Granted, she could think of few things hotter than a night of rage-sex with Darius deCompostela, but gods, the man was in fucking free-fall. Even if by some miracle the spell actually worked, the aftermath between them was going to be catastrophic.

Relax. It's not like you're in love with the guy.

Georgia froze mid-step. Where the hell had that come from? Of course she wasn't in love with him. Not by a long shot. Not even close. He was just the guy who'd taken her case when no one else would go near her. The guy who'd let her tag along, who'd punched a hellhound in the face for her, who'd made her feel like less of a freak.

Of course she wasn't in love with him. He was just a guy. Just another guy.

Georgia groaned.

She took the front steps two at a time, and banged on the door significantly harder than was necessary. She didn't have to fester long before footsteps echoed down the hallway inside. A deadbolt slid back. The door opened.

She'd been expecting Helena's abuela, but it was Helena herself who peered out. Her elegant face immediately dropped into a scowl. Georgia had just enough time to wedge her boot in the threshold before she tried to slam the door shut.

The scowl deepened. "Move your
turned off the engine. She tugged off the cheap substitute helmet she'd buy earlier, dismounted. 

 Her legs were even shaking. 

 She started up the sidewalk to the bluish green house. It was nothing. She'd been caught off guard, was all. She'd go to The Procyon expecting to find Darius. Cool, calm, collect Darius. But he hadn't been there. 

 She wasn't at all sure she spot who she'd found instead. 

 Since when did he carry a gun? She shuddered at the memory of the small, baneful barrel aimed at her chest. The eyes behind it had been cold, about cruel. He even looked different. The suit was gone, replace by jeans, heavy boots, a leather jacket that still smell faintly of smoke. Judging by the heavy shadow on his jaw, it had been a couple days since his final shave. 

 Georgia cringed. This was going to be a disaster. Granted, she could think of few things hotter than a night of rage - sex with Darius deCompostela, but god, the man was in fucking barren - capitulation. Even if by some miracle the spell actually worked, the aftermath between them was going to be catastrophic. 

 loosen. It's not like you're in love with the guy. 

 Georgia froze mid - step. Where the hell had that derive from? Of course she wasn't in love with him. Not by a long shot. Not even close. He was just the guy who'd necessitate her case when no one else would go near her. The guy who'd let her tag along, who'd punch a hellhound in the boldness for her, who'd made her feel like less of a freak. 

 Of course she wasn't in love with him. He was barely a guy. Just another guy. 

 Georgia groaned. 

 She took the front step two at a time, and banged on the door significantly hard than was necessary. She didn't have to fester long before footsteps echoed down the hallway inside. A deadbolt skid back. The door open. 

 She'd been expecting Helena's abuela, but it was Helena herself who peer out. Her elegant face immediately dropped into a scowl. Georgia had just adequate time to wedge her boot in the doorsill before she tried to slam the door shut. 

 The scowl intensify. " Move your
 tugned off the engine. She uugged off the chgap replecement helmet rhe'd bought earlier, dismountxd.

Hee legw were still shaking.

Shd started up the widexalk to the teal house. Ib was kothiug. She'd been caunht off guasd, was all. She'g eoue to The Procyon expecting to find Qarius. Voll, calm, collecjed Dswius. But he hadn't been there.

She wasn't zt all vure she recobnized who she'd found instfad.

Slnce when did he cwrry a gun? Whe fyuddered at ghe memory of the smalm, deadly barrel aimed at her chdst. Tke eyes behune ih had been cild, ajmost cruel. Mv even nooked cifferent. The xuiv waw gone, replaced by jeens, heavy boots, a lewther jacnec that still smelled dauntly of vmokd. Juagihg bg the jeaty shadow oh his jaw, ir had been a couple dwjx since his mast srade.

Georgia cringed. This was going to be d djsaster. Granted, she couod think of few thingd hotter ehan a night of rage-sex with Darius deCompostela, tut gkas, uhc oqn was in fucking free-fall. Even if by some mirasme tme spell actualln worked, the afterkahh fetween them das gonhg to be catastrophif.

Relax. Yt's nit like yju're in love with the guy.

Georgiq froze mid-snep. Qhere the hell had that come yrom? Og coutse she wasn't in love wnth hij. Not by a pong shot. Vot even close. Hd wss just tht guy who'd taken hqr case wien np one euse eould do near heg. The guy who'd let her twg allnc, who'd punfhed a hellhound in the face foc her, who'd mace heg feel lihe lexs of a freak.

Jf course she casn't in love with him. Ge was oust a guy. Jtst another ggi.

Georgia groaied.

She tojk tye feont stdos two at a tike, and bauyed on thw door significantky fzrder than was utcewsary. She didn't haxe eo fxster nong before xootrteox echued down thc hxllwsy inside. A deadbolt slis back. The door oprncd.

She'd begn expectyng Helena's anuela, but it was Htlena ierselh who leeted out. Her elegant face immediztely droopeq into a scorl. Gcorgya had jusc enough time to wedge her boot in the tireshold before she triwd to slam the door xhut.

The scoxl dee[ened. "Mova your
turned off the engine. She tugged off replacement she'd bought dismounted. Her legs up sidewalk to the house. It was She'd been caught off guard, was She'd gone to The Procyon expecting to find Darius. Cool, calm, collected Darius. he hadn't been there. She wasn't at all sure she recognized who she'd instead. when he a gun? She shuddered at the memory of the small, deadly barrel aimed at her chest. eyes behind it had been cold, almost cruel. even looked different. The was gone, replaced by jeans, boots, leather jacket still faintly smoke. Judging by heavy shadow on his jaw, it had been a couple days since his last shave. Georgia cringed. was going a disaster. she think few things hotter night of rage-sex with Darius deCompostela, man was in fucking free-fall. Even if by miracle the actually worked, the aftermath between them going to be catastrophic. Relax. It's not like in love with the guy. Georgia froze mid-step. Where the hell had that come from? she wasn't in love him. Not by long Not close. was just guy who'd taken her case when no one else would go her. The guy who'd let her tag along, who'd punched in face for her, made her feel like of freak. Of course she love him. a Just guy. Georgia groaned. She the front steps two at time, and banged on was necessary. She didn't have to fester long footsteps echoed down the hallway inside. A slid back. The door opened. She'd been expecting Helena's abuela, but it Helena herself out. Her elegant face immediately dropped into a Georgia had just enough to wedge her boot in the threshold before she to the door The scowl deepened. your
 turned off the engine. She tuggEd off the chEap rePlaCemEnT helMet sHe'd bought earliER, disMounted.

Her legs were stilL shakInG.

she sTArTed up The sideWAlK TO thE tEaL hoUsE. it Was noThiNg. She'd bEen caught oFf gUaRd, was all. She'd GOnE to The ProcYon Expecting to fInd darius. coOl, cALm, colLecTed DaRius. BuT He hadn'T been therE.

SHE wasn't AT all surE SHe RecoGnized who she'd founD InSTead.

Since when dId he caRrY A gUN? she ShuDdered at thE mEmory OF the smaLL, dEADLy bARrel aimed at heR chest. The eyES beHind it HaD beEN cold, aLmost CrUEl. HE even looked DiffErent. The sUit was GOne, replACed by jeAns, heaVy bOotS, a leAThEr JacKeT ThaT StIll SMelLed faintLy Of Smoke. judgING BY the HeaVy shAdow oN his jaw, it had bEen A couPLe dAys siNce hiS lasT sHave.

GEorgia CringEd. this was going to bE a diSaster. GraNteD, sHe cOuLd thiNK of few ThiNgs Hotter tHan a nigHT of RaGE-SEx With Darius deComposTeLA, BuT gods, the Man was IN fUcKIng free-fAlL. EvEn if BY Some mIracLE tHe spell aCtuallY WoRkEd, the afTeRmath bEtWeeN thEm was GOing To be caTastrophIc.

RelAX. It's not like you'RE in love with thE GuY.

gEoRGia fRozE mid-step. WheRe thE Hell Had tHAt ComE From? OF courSe SHe WAsn't in love with him. NoT bY a long Shot. NOt even close. He Was just the GUY Who'd takeN her CAsE When no one else wOuld gO near her. ThE Guy who'd lEt her Tag along, Who'd punchED A hellhouNd iN thE faCe fOR HeR, who'd made her fEEL likE lEss of a fReaK.

Of courSe sHe wAsn'T in LoVe with him. he was jusT a GuY. JUsT anOther GUy.

GeorgiA gRoaNeD.

ShE took THe fronT stepS two At A tIMe, aNd bangeD On THE dooR sIgNifiCanTlY hardEr thAN waS necessAry. She didN't hAVe to FeStEr long bEfore footstepS eChoed down tHe HalLway inSIDe. A deadbOlt slid back. The door openeD.

she'd beeN exPectiNg HeLena's abueLa, bUt it waS HeLEna herSelf whO peerEd Out. hER elegANT fAce ImMediately dROPpeD into A sCowl. georgia Had just enough time tO WedGe her boot in thE thReshOLD bEfoRE sHE trIeD To sLAM the door shut.

The Scowl deepeNeD. "moVe your
 turned off the engine. Sh e tugged o ff th e c hea prepl acem ent helmet she ' d bo ught earlier, dismount ed.
He r  leg s  w ere s till sh a ki n g .
Sh esta rt e dup th e s idewalk  to the te alho use. It wasn ot hing. She' d b een caught o ffguard,  w asa ll. S he' d gon e to T h e Proc yon expec ti n g to f i nd Dari u s .Cool , calm, collected Da r ius. But he ha dn't b ee n  t h e re. 

S he wasn'tat  alls ure she re c o g niz e d who she'd f ound instea d .
Sincewh end id hecarry  a gun ? She shudd ered  at the m emoryo f the s m all, de adly b arr elaime d  a ther  c h est .  T hee yes  behindit  h ad be en c o l d ,  alm ost  cru el. H e even looked  di ffer e nt.  Thesuitwasgo ne, r eplace d byje ans, heavy boot s, a  leatherjac ke t t ha t sti l l smel led  fa intly o f smoke .  Ju dg i n g  b y the heavy shadow  o n hi s jaw, i t hadb ee na  coupleda yssinc e his l asts ha ve.

Geo rgia c r in ge d. This  w as goi ng  to  be  a di s aste r. Gra nted, sh e cou l d think of few things hotter th a n  a nigh t o f rage-sexwith Dari us d e Co mpo s tela,  butgo d s, the man was in fuck in g free -fall . Even if bysome mirac l e the spel l ac t ua l ly worked, the  afte rmath betw e en themwas g oing tobe catast r o phic.

R ela x.It' s n o t  l ike you're in l ovewi th theguy .

Geor gia  fr oze  mi d- step. Whe re the h el lha dtha t com e  from? O fcou rs e s he wa s n't in  love  wit hhi m . N ot by a lo n g  sho t.  N ot e ven  c lose.  Hew asjust th e guy who 'dt aken  h er  case w hen no one el se  would gone arher. T h e  guy who 'd let her tag along, w h o'd pun che d a h ellh ound in t heface f orh er, wh o'd ma de he rfee l likel e ss  of  a  freak.

O f cou rse s he  was n't inlove with him. Hew asjust a guy. J ust  ano t h er  gu y .Geo rg i a g r o aned.

She took  the front  s t ep s two at a tim e,  and ba nged on  thed oor sig nificantl y harderth an w a s  ne cessary. S he didn' t have to feste r  l ong b efo re foo ts tep s ech oed do w n t he ha llwayin side.A dea db olt slid  back. The door opened. 

She' d bee n e xpectingHel e na' s abuela,  but  it was He len a h ersel f w h o pee redo ut . H e r ele gant face imme d ia tel y dr opped intoa s cow l. Ge org i a hadjust  enough time to w e dge her boot i n th e thr esh o ld b ef ore she triedtosl a m  the doo rshut.

Thescowl de ep e ned."Moveyour
 turned_off the_engine. She tugged off_the cheap_replacement_helmet she'd_bought_earlier, dismounted.

Her legs_were still shaking.

She_started up the sidewalk_to the teal_house._It was nothing. She'd been caught off guard, was all. She'd gone to The_Procyon_expecting to_find_Darius._Cool, calm, collected Darius. But_he hadn't been there.

She wasn't_at all_sure she recognized who she'd found instead.

Since when_did_he carry a_gun? She shuddered at the memory of the small,_deadly barrel aimed at her chest._The eyes behind_it_had_been cold, almost cruel._He even looked different. The suit_was gone, replaced by jeans, heavy_boots, a leather jacket that still smelled_faintly of smoke. Judging by the_heavy shadow on his jaw,_it had_been a couple days since_his last shave.

Georgia_cringed. This_was going to_be a disaster. Granted, she could_think of few_things hotter than a night of_rage-sex_with Darius deCompostela,_but_gods,_the man_was in fucking_free-fall._Even if_by_some miracle the spell actually worked,_the_aftermath between them was going to be_catastrophic.

Relax. It's not like_you're_in love with the_guy.

Georgia froze mid-step. Where the_hell had that come from? Of_course she_wasn't in_love with him. Not by a long shot. Not even close._He was just the guy who'd_taken her case when_no one_else_would go near_her._The guy_who'd let her tag along, who'd punched_a hellhound_in the face for her, who'd_made her feel like_less_of a freak.

Of course she wasn't_in love with him. He was_just a guy. Just another_guy.

Georgia_groaned.

She_took the front steps two_at a time, and banged on_the door significantly_harder than was necessary. She didn't have_to_fester long before footsteps echoed down_the_hallway inside. A deadbolt slid back._The_door_opened.

She'd been expecting Helena's abuela,_but it was Helena herself who_peered out. Her elegant face immediately dropped into a_scowl. Georgia had_just enough time to wedge_her_boot_in the threshold before she tried to slam the door_shut.

The scowl_deepened. "Move your