Sex and Trouble (5 page)

At Mari’s gasp and head jerk, he chuckled. “I can see that he did and it was not favorable. I didn’t expect it to be. Your father and I did not part on amicable terms. He was a hard competitor and I was not the most patient person.”

She pounced on the word. “Competitor? My father and you? What…”

Pausing to try to figure out how to phrase her question best, she flipped her hair away from her face. “What were you collecting, Mr. LaPierre?”

“Please. Call me James. Mr. LaPierre was my father.” His wry smirk made her laugh. “I was collecting objects of a…shall we say, unusual nature? The more unique the better. We both wanted things no one else had.”

Mari nodded. “My father did mention your name.”

“I’m sure he did.” His suddenly curt, icy tone shocked her. He sounded offended.

32

Sex and Trouble

“I’m sorry. I thought… Oh I’ve messed up now.”

He took a deep breath. She watched his shoulders relax as he sank back into the chair. “We were fierce competitors on the auction floor and the hunt for those items, but never enemies.”

Mari looked at him. What else did he know about her father? “Is that all?”

The man’s eyes seemed to frost over. “If you mean, do I know other things about your father, yes I do. I would be happy to discuss anything with you. “

Leaning over the arm of the chair, James smiled at her. “Make no mistake, Marielle.

I am here because I want something your father has. I am willing to pay for it. Let me take you out to dinner?”

She shrank back in her chair. Something about his presence seemed vaguely threatening. And he’d swung so suddenly to asking her out. “I am afraid I can’t do that tonight.”

The shrug he gave was quite Gallic but his accent was pure American. “Marielle, there are things about your father’s…collection you should know. I know he probably told you not to trust me. But please, come to dinner with me. We will go to a public place. I promise that no harm will come to you from me tonight.”

The phrasing was almost archaic, but deep down Mari knew he was telling the truth. She’d always been able to tell when people lied to her, something she thought she’d inherited from her mother, but possibly came from her father’s side of the family instead. And she did want to know more about her father, in spite of the fact that James LaPierre might not be the best source for the whole truth. Rosier certainly wasn’t forthcoming with details, though she had to admit, she couldn’t say he’d outright lied to her either.

“Okay. I will. What time?”

As they went over the mundane details, Mari tried to erase the feeling of unease.

Something about this man made her uncomfortable. She would make sure she took her pepper spray with her as well as her cell phone.

33

Marilu Mann

She swept her hair up into a ponytail then let it fall again. His appreciative look made her feel amazingly sensual. Gods. Two men paid her attention and she turned into a sex demon all on her own. Then remembering that she still wore her ancient robe and slippers, she crossed her arms in front of her chest, not believing she’d forgotten her attire.

“Marielle. I’ll pick you up at seven and we can discuss everything over a nice meal.”

What could it hurt to just listen to him? She didn’t have to trust him to have dinner with him. Mari gave a nod. Maybe she could get more information out of James about those keys her father had mentioned. He seemed to know an awful lot about her father’s business. And maybe he could tell her how to get rid of her demon problem.

As if he noticed her hesitancy, James gently touched her knee before withdrawing his hand and rising. He moved to the front door. “Marielle, I know your father probably told you not to trust me. He and I were not enemies. You have to believe that. We were student and teacher and then we were, I am ashamed to admit, rivals. But never enemies. I cared about your father a great deal. I will tell you my side of the story tonight. You can make your decision then.”

The last words were spoken softly but with such intensity. Mari closed the door gently. She turned away then turned back to make sure she slid the deadbolt into place.

It didn’t pay to be stupid. And had he said student and teacher? Could he know more than he was saying about her father’s magickal side as well?

34

Sex and Trouble

Letting water sluice over her body, Mari reviewed her afternoon. If things could have gone more wrong, she wasn’t sure how. Rosier had totally freaked out when she told him who she was meeting for dinner. Her response had been similarly heated.

How dare he tell her who she could and could not see? His superior “I know him better than you” had truly gotten her goat. She’d admitted to herself that she didn’t truly trust the man, but she also didn’t need Ros making decisions for her. For too long, she’d let men dictate her actions. Her lovers, her bosses, her older brother. There was no way she’d let a demon do the same! She yanked the shower handle to the off position with a frustrated curse.

“I won’t be told what to do by a demon! Who does he think he is?” Toweling the moisture from her hair, she bent over to put hair gel in.

As she combed her hair into shape, Mari ran over what she wanted to ask James at dinner. About Rosier. About her father. About witches. About stupid damn demons who thought they had a right to tell anyone anything. She’d have to glean as much of the truth as she could out of whatever he told her in order to figure out what she could truly believe.

She got dressed then headed back to the bathroom to finish her makeup. Rosier burst into her room just as she was applying the final coat of mascara.

“Dammit! Are you trying to make me lose an eye? I don’t want you in my room.

What are you doing here anyway?”

His eyes swirled with colors. “Trying to make you see reason, Mari. James LaPierre is dangerous. He will tell you anything to get what he wants. You cannot listen to him.”

Desperation tinged his clipped words. She looked at him in the mirror. She shrieked when she saw the blue woman from before gazing past her, looking at Rosier.

35

Marilu Mann

“Issia, now is not a good time.”

Hurt shimmered in his sister’s eyes, but she simply bowed her head and blurred into a teal mist that wafted away into the darkness. Mari put her fingertips to her temple, pressing her face into her own palm. “I will never get used to that.”

Rosier knelt beside her. “If you will give me your release, you will never have to get used to it. Mari, please. Please do not go out with this man. He is not what he seems.”

“Rosier, I know what you said. But there are three sides to every story. Yours, his and the truth somewhere in the middle.” She stopped his outraged response. “I know.

You say you don’t lie about this, and I believe you, odd as that sounds. I have only known about you, my father and all of this for what? Two days? I need another perspective, skewed though it may be. James LaPierre can give me that. I need to know so I can make my own decisions.”

The sigh he gave her nearly melted her resolve.

“Okay. Tell me this. Is James LaPierre a danger to my personal safety?”

Ros grimaced when she added, “I command you to tell me the truth.”

He sounded pained but he just shook his head. “I do not believe that LaPierre will physically hurt you. But he will lie. I know he will lie. Just promise me you will call me if you need me?”

“Sure. What’s your number?” She was reaching for her cell phone when he grabbed her gently by the wrists. Heat seared until she was sure he would leave blisters behind.

Jerking away from him, she blew on her wrists.

“Ow! Ow! That hurt, dammit. Why did you do that?”

When she focused on him, she had a fleeting wish for a camera. He looked almost lost. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I lost control I guess. Miss Greenlea, you don’t need my number. You have only to call me and I will be there. I am your servant and I am as bound to you as I am to this damn house. Though I can’t physically leave this house, I can travel on another plane to reach you if you need me. I can, for lack of a better term, 36

Sex and Trouble

possess someone else for a short period. Just long enough to give you aid if you need me. I can only do this for someone of your bloodline.”

Leveraging himself off his knees, Rosier moved back to the hallway. The tight black tee he seemed to favor hugged his muscles. Mari wished she could run her hands down his arms just to feel those bulges herself. He stopped in the doorway. “Please be careful, Miss Greenlea.”

Resisting the urge to throw sharp pointed things at his back for reverting to the formality of her last name, Mari sighed her disappointment at his retreat. She would go out. She would have dinner. She would get James’ side of the story. And, by God, she would find a way to get rid of that damn demon before he turned her into a pool of molten lust if it was the last thing she did.

The chime of the front door released her from her dark daydreams filled with Rosier looming over her body. His hand was just about to stroke her pussy when she jerked back to the here and now. Great. She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to discourage the hard arousal of her nipples. One subsided but the other gave proof to the lie. Grumbling under her breath, she trudged down the stairs and took a deep breath before unlocking and opening the door.

James leaned against the doorframe, but straightened as she stepped outside. To his credit, his eyes never dropped below her neckline. Mari took his offered hand, hoping Ros was lurking somewhere to see how a real gentleman acted. She’d dressed carefully in a pair of silk midnight-blue trousers with a paler blue top. Not wanting to seem too forward, Mari had chosen a shirt that buttoned to the top. James gave her an appreciative look.

The ride to the restaurant was in a sleek sedan that mirrored James’ elegant lines.

She enjoyed the ride, letting his choice of opera overtures soothe her. Wasn’t it nice that he loved Puccini as much as she did? The pleasure increased when he pulled up to a small restaurant bearing the name La Sorcierie. The slightly wicked woman on the sign held a wineglass and a bowl of spaghetti. Her witch’s hat made Mari laugh.

37

Marilu Mann

“I don’t remember any Italian restaurants in this part of Austin when I lived here before.”

He answered her with a chuckle. “I think you will be bewitched by the food. We can speak freely here as well. Our kind own this place.”

He might as well have sprouted a second head. “Our kind? So when you said you were my father’s student, you meant?”

He nodded then flicked a finger. Mari jumped at the sharp snick of the car locks opening at the gesture. “Yes, Marielle. I was your father’s student in the magickal arts.”

“You knew my father was a warlock but didn’t tell me earlier? Why?” She narrowed her eyes at him but did not get out of the car.

The air stilled in the car as LaPierre frowned at her. “Warlock? No!”

He took a deep breath as if he were trying to control some anger. “I must apologize.

I forget that this is all new to you. Marielle, again—your father was never my enemy.

He was a witch and quite a powerful one at that. That word—warlock—well, it is an offensive term in our community. I would ask that you not use it again.”

She nodded. Good to know what was PC and not in this new crazy world. At least that felt normal. Assuming, of course, that he told the truth. Ros’ warning echoed in her head. The moment she remembered Ros’ words, she felt some of her good mood fade.

“My father was your teacher. Do you know about what he left me?” For some reason she did not want to say Rosier’s name. She needed to probe to see how much her dinner companion knew.

“Yes. I know about the demon who is bound to your family. So now you know about your father. I argued with him that your mother was doing you a disservice keeping you and your brother from the truth. What will you do with the house and all that goes with it?” She watched the skin on his knuckles whiten as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. He seemed to be nearly vibrating with some need. Mari wondered if it was about Ros or her.

38

Sex and Trouble

If he had been her father’s student, then he might know another way to let Rosier go back to his family. Still, his seeming anticipation surprised her a bit. Her skin tingled.

She paid attention to that sensation. It was her early warning system when someone was not on the level. Leaning slightly toward him, she took a deep breath and plunged in.

“I don’t know. I want to release Rosier. I can’t stand the thought of him being trapped in my house. What do you think? Since you were my father’s student, surely you know why Dad was holding him against his will?” Mari went with the “flattery will get you everywhere” school of thought.

A full-bodied laugh erupted from James. “Against his will? Is that what he’s told you? My dear, you simply cannot trust a demon. Why do you think we call them that?

They are fiendishly, if you will pardon the pun, clever. Why, he would tell you anything to get out of his contract. Don’t you let him. Your father wouldn’t want that.”

Rocking back, Mari crinkled her forehead in thought. Contract? Ros hadn’t said anything about a contract. Then again, she hadn’t asked him about one either. Her father had said not to trust LaPierre. So had Ros. Who was right? Before she bought that contract story, she would command Ros to tell her the truth. For now, she decided to redirect.

She gave him a controlled smile. “Shall we go in? I’m starving and I want to learn more about my father—about all of this.”

Now that James had revealed his own abilities to her, he seemed to want to show off. Her door opened at the wave of his hand. He conjured a beautiful white rose for her just before handing her out of the car.

“Will I be able to do things like that?” Mari could see herself living a life like this.

James made the use of magick seem so effortless.

Instead of answering, he asked if she’d found her first key. Mari thought she’d mistaken the look of disappointment when she’d told him no. But she filed away the 39