The evening breeze shifted, pushing against her back. Mal lifted his head. She smiled. Had he picked up her scent? He might not be able to hear her heartbeat over the incessant buzz of the generators.
Eager to be with him, she cut around the square so she could come in toward him with the cameras at her back. Even with her signum masked with foundation, she had no desire to show her face on television, no desire to do anything that might find its way back to Tatiana and give her new reason to return to Paradise City.
“Chrysabelle?”
She paused near the bumper of a camera truck. Luke Havoc stood just beyond the circle of light. She pulled off the sunglasses and nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”
He came toward her, squinting a little. “If not for your scent, I wouldn’t have recognized you.”
“Good. I’m hoping no one else will either.”
He nodded. “I understand. I’m here to get you through security. In case they give you a hard time.”
“Shouldn’t you be guarding the mayor?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m the head of the team, not the whole team. Besides, that place is like Fort Knox. No one’s getting in there.”
“I don’t know how you can work for her given the circumstances.”
He glanced away, his jaw tightening. “It’s a job.”
“Sorry, not my business.” The last thing she wanted to do was alienate the man helping her. “And I appreciate your assistance with this. Can we?” She tipped her head toward the square. Mal had to know she was here by now.
“Sure. Let me lead.”
As they came out from between two camera trucks, a pair of cops approached them. Luke showed his ID and filled them in on the situation. “And she’s allowed to stay until six a.m. when he’s released.”
“I’m taking him home,” she added. But not to the freighter, back to her house, where she’d already told Fi and Velimai to hire a company to helioglaze every window she had. Mal needed to be safe there. Especially since he might be spending a lot more time with her in the future. If things went well. Nervous energy tightened her belly. It would go well, wouldn’t it?
“We’ll make sure the other patrols know,” the older cop said. He moved aside. “Go on through.”
She touched Luke’s arm. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem.”
With that, she navigated the maze of camera equipment, scaffolding, and power lines. The stench of gasoline and exhaust coming off the generators nearly choked her. Mal’s sensitive nose must be overloaded.
As she approached, he lifted his head and squinted. With the harsh lights behind her, he probably couldn’t see her glow or make out who she was. Could he even smell her over the reek of the generators?
A few more feet and his expression told her he’d recognized her. “You came.”
Despite the circumstance, she couldn’t help but smile. She wrapped her arms around him and tipped her head back to see him better. “Of course I did. Did you think I’d let you go through this alone? I know you did this to even the debt the pride wants paid.”
He nodded. “I got a few words to Doc as we passed. He’d better make this work.”
“He will. I’m sure. The pride has to appreciate what you did for him tonight.”
Mal’s gaze pored over her face, his expression softening. “You look so different. Like the night we first met.” He laughed a little. “You’re not going to stab me again, are you?”
She tightened her embrace. “Ever? Or just right now?”
He laughed harder. “I’m really glad you came. It’s easier with you here.”
She let go of him long enough to pull her hood down a little more; then she cupped his face, went up on her tiptoes, and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “We’re a team now, right? We stick together.”
“I like you in black.” He leaned as far forward as he could, causing the chains to creak, and kissed her again. “It makes you much more agreeable.”
She swatted him lightly. “I see public humiliation has done nothing for your attitude.”
“Did you expect it to?”
She flattened her hand against his chest, feeling the intensity of the moment very strongly. She peered into his dark, silver-speckled eyes. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?” The chains were enormous. Like something they’d use on a circus elephant, back when circuses had been legal. “Your shoulders and arms must be killing you.”
He shrugged, or tried to, making the chains sway. “Another hour and I’m done.”
She checked the watch she’d found in her mother’s jewelry box. “Forty minutes and counting.” Keeping her hood low, she moved behind him and began massaging his shoulders and biceps.
He moaned so softly she knew she alone had heard it. “Am I hurting you?”
“No. Feels good.”
“Remind you of New Orleans?” The memory of his hands on her swept through her like a wildfire.
“Mmm, yes. I wouldn’t mind doing that again.”
She kneaded the heavy muscles of his shoulders. “Finding the city a new guardian?”
“Being alone in a hotel room with you.”
“Wicked creature.” She massaged his arms a little while longer, then came back around the front of him. His eyes were heavy-lidded with pleasure but sparked with a silvery desire she’d come to recognize long ago. “I’ve been thinking…”