Chapter 13
For a man who’d been raised by nine women, he’d been totally unprepared for Antonia Mancinelli. She lay beside him, sleeping the sleep of the sated, and he couldn’t be happier. Her hair was sprawled around her head in a dark, messy halo. Her golden skin glowed against the white sheets. Her lashes were so thick he couldn’t spot the skin beneath them as they lay against her cheek. She looked so soft and vulnerable he wanted to protect her from all of the harshness of all of the worlds combined.
But for all her fragility she was strong, too, stronger than any woman he’d ever met. Even Hel had to admire someone like Toni, a fierce warrior woman who took crap from no one, not even a god. Should he rant and rave about her safety she would stand before him, refusing to bow down to his edicts that she remain safe, secluded in their home while he stood watch over her.
Hell, she ripped him a new asshole if he even tried.
So leaving her behind while he went to Svartalfaheim? He wasn’t sure he’d be able to. For one, she’d never forgive him for investigating on his own. She’d sunk her teeth deep into this case and wasn’t about to let go. Worse, he shuddered to think what she’d try if he left her to her own devices. No doubt Val would do his best to protect her but, damn it, Val wasn’t Nik. Nik’s possessiveness over Toni would not allow another to guard her.
Two, she’d proven herself in battle more than once. She kept a cool head and was damn dangerous when roused. He’d trusted her at his back to keep his enemies off of him. How could he not trust her now, with everything he was?
Toni’s lashes fluttered. Nik sighed contentedly. His decision would be to accept everything she was, just as she was with him. He brushed his hand across her naked shoulder, gently caressing the warm skin. His own pale flesh was such an erotic contrast to her own that he was tempted to make love to her all over again just to watch their bodies slide together from every angle conceivable.
There were times it was good to be a god.
“Nik?”
Nik was brought out of his reverie by the husky sound of his lover’s voice. She was staring at him with…
Silver eyes.
Silver.
Nik wanted to jump for joy, to dance and sing and frolic like a fucking maiden. She’d gotten the best part of him, the part he was proudest of and had been forced to hide for far too long. There was no way he’d be able to hide his affection from her right now, so he didn’t even try. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Her brows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He lifted her hand off the sheet and kissed her knuckles, loving the slight blush that crossed her cheeks, cheeks that grew paler by the minute. “Nothing at all.”
Her brows rose in disbelief. “Uh-huh.” She sat up, the sheet falling to her waist, exposing her glorious bare breasts. She stretched, completely at ease in her nudity, thrusting her breasts out.
Damn. Double damn. He had things he wanted to do today and no time for naked fun. Nik put the pillow over his face and screamed, but he could still observe every inch of her perfectly.
Fucking god powers.
“Nik?” She sounded amused this time as she lifted the pillow from his face.
He whined when her taut nipple brushed against his arm. “We have to go out.”
She started to laugh. “Could you pout any more adorably?”
Adorable?
Him?
He’d show her adorable. Nik pulled her down for a kiss, ignoring morning breath and naked flesh both. He devoured her, and after a startled moment she devoured him back. He buried his hands in her hair, tugging and pulling, mauling her into submission.
When he finally let her go they were both panting and breathless, and he was cursing up a storm. His dick was going to kill him for what he was about to say. “Get dressed.”
She blinked, looking confused. “Huh?”
He wanted to whimper, he really did, but he’d had his moment of unmanliness and it was time to get to business. “I think I’ve figured out how Frederica is blocking my sight.”
Her eyes went wide as she jumped out of bed, scrambling around the floor for her clothes. “When did you get the answer?”
He put his arms behind his head and enjoyed the show, every jiggly, naked second of it. “Um, answer to what?”
She gave him the stink-eye. “How Freddie is blocking you.”
“Oh. That.” He sat up, smiling as she began muttering about a shower. “Have I mentioned I like your underwear?”
She sniffed her pits and winced. “If Playtex floats your boat, good for you. Just don’t expect me to put on that lacy, flowery shit. It itches. I don’t like it.”
He shook his head. “I prefer naked, so we’re fine.” He got out of bed as she began pulling clean clothes out of the drawers. “I’m going to use the bathroom first.” Her eyes were glued to his ass as he entered the bathroom. “Sweetheart?”
“Hmm?”
He turned to find her red-faced and looking at his chest. “My eyes are up here.”
When her gaze met his he smirked and shut the door.
She threw her sneaker at it, and he laughed. She was the one who was adorable, and she was all his.
“So where are we going?” Toni yelled through the door.
“Svartalfaheim.” Nik finished his business and washed his hands, then brushed his teeth. He’d have to suffer through a shower with her. The faster they moved the better. He didn’t want Nadine or Frederica figuring out his plan.
As soon as he stepped out of the bathroom a T-shirt landed on his head. “Get dressed, lawyer-man.”
“Nope. We’re going to shower together.”
She glared at him as she turned the water on. “By the way, how did my clothes make it to your condo?”
He whistled tunelessly while she brushed her teeth.
“Guilty as charged?” She pointed her toothbrush at him, the foam from her toothpaste around her mouth.
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, oh Mad Dog.”
She glanced at herself in the mirror, then spit out the toothpaste. “Yuk it up while you can. I will have my vengeance.”
He shuddered as her eyes turned silver, but it wasn’t from fear. Far from it. He liked the dominant streak she had, because he was the only one she’d ever bow her head to.
“C’mon, let’s get clean then get out of here.”
Unfortunately for his libido, it really was a quick shower. She wouldn’t even let him play with her breasts, and they were right there. He got out of the shower and dressed, pouting like a little boy.
Toni wrapped her hair in a messy bun, the strands still damp. “Get over it, buddy. You can play with the twins later. We’ve got work to do.”
Nik eyed her hair. He’d tug that bun out later, freeing her hair to lay across her shoulders just as he liked it. Right now he needed to obey her edict and get dressed.
She wore striking biker boots, tight jeans and a long-sleeved burgundy T-shirt. Her makeup routine was quick, just a swipe of lip gloss, some mascara, and blush. She took much less time than any of his mothers did, but as she said, they had work to do and Toni wasn’t a woman to mess around when she was on the hunt. “Huh. That’s weird. My foundation is oxidizing. I’d better hit the store and get some more.” She chucked the bottle in the trash with a disgruntled sound.
Nik didn’t say a word. Another thing he’d have to do—take her to someone in Svartalfaheim for makeup. He didn’t want his love looking like an Oompa-Loompa just because her skin tone had changed from warm tan to porcelain goddess. Maybe one of the Nine could help her.
Nik had tugged on some leather pants, his own biker boots, a sleeveless leather vest made for him in Svartalfaheim by an incredible leather artist, and a leather jacket made to go with the vest. He looked almost Goth compared to her, but that was all right. This outfit was a fighting one. He had no idea what they were walking into, but he wanted to be prepared for anything.
She leaned against the doorjamb, her arms crossed over her chest. “Why Svartalfaheim?”
“Because that’s where the best toys are made.” He stood up and reached in the closet for his favorite leather jacket. “Once we find out who made whatever it is for Frederica we can figure out how to counteract it.”
“You mean make the maker make a new toy just for us?”
“Exactly. Now say that three times fast.” He glanced at her, grinning as she chuckled. “Do you need anything from your place?”
“Not sure. I don’t think my badge will carry much weight where we’re going.” She straightened, her arms dropping to her sides. “But if you’re wearing a jacket I might need one, too. Besides, if this is going to be a long trip I might want my toiletries.”
“Good idea.” He glanced in the bathroom, thinking of one or two things he should probably take. “Pack enough for a weekend, no more. We want to go light.”
“Gotcha.” She strode toward him and kissed his cheek, surprising him. “Thanks for taking me with you.”
He shot her a disbelieving look. “Like you would have stayed behind and been a good girl while I was gone.”
She winked at him as she sauntered out. “As long as we’re on the same page, sweetheart.”
Nik shook his head. Cheeky little thing. It was a good thing he was in love with her. No one else could handle her.
He finished his packing in record time. He had some things stored in Svartalfaheim he could retrieve if necessary, and some place he could take Toni to for clothing if they found the time. He’d have to recruit some people to look into things for him once he was there. He intended to go to the palace and make his presence known, taking the throne back from Frey once and for all. He’d make sure none of Frey’s people survived contact with him.
“You ready?”
He turned to find Toni standing there, a small bag slung crosswise over her body over a leather biker jacket.
“I am.” He held out his arm. “We won’t need to make a huge amount of magical noise when we cross over to the Bridge. It’s one of the perks of being the Guardian. I can come and go as I please without sound.”
She frowned. “I still don’t understand that part, and I’m not sure I want you to explain it.”
“Better hope you never get magical powers then, or you’ll get the crash course in them.” In all actuality, he hoped she would get shadow powers. In fact she probably would, as he was the strongest Dökk Alfar to have ever lived. “We’ll leave once we’re out of the garage and in shadow.”
She nodded and followed him out of the apartment to the elevator. “You told the others where we’re going?”
“Yes, while you were resting.” He could have gone through the wards without setting them off, but with Toni in tow he didn’t want to take the chance that this time they’d go off and give Logan a heart attack. Besides, Grimm was more than likely having someone watch the building for any signs of weakness. Nik wasn’t about to chance giving him his way by accidentally punching a hole through the wards.
He had no idea why Grimm was currently in Tokyo. He’d have to let Kir know once he had a moment to breathe.
She relaxed and followed him onto the elevator. “I hope Slade is all right while we’re gone.”
“Sylvia and Magnus will take good care of him.” Toni had a huge heart. It was what made her such a good detective but at the same time left her open to so much pain. “I promise, we’ll check on him when we get back.”
“Good.” She watched the numbers descend, ignoring his quiet scrutiny.
What was she thinking? She intrigued him at all turns, leaving him guessing what she was going to come up with next.
“Man, I want Starbucks right now.”
Nik rolled his eyes. Never mind. “We can stop on the way, but no littering on the Bridge.”
Her smile was smug as she stepped off the elevator. This time he was the one following her.