Damian's Oracle

"When can I go outside?" she asked again.

"Soon."

They gazed at each other again, and she tried her damndest not to look away. A slow, languid smile crossed his features, one that made her body flush and ache for him. The vision of him on top of her protruded into her thoughts again. She looked away.

"I'll always win that game," he warned.

You have no idea, she mused. There were a great many things she'd let him do to her to win the game in her head.

"Like what?"

"You really can read minds," she whispered, stricken.

"Damn straight. And I'm willing if you're willing," he said with a smile that set her blood alight. He clasped his hands behind his head, giving her an unobstructed view of his body.

"I'm not some sort of floozy," she snapped, though she couldn't help wishing she was. "I don't sleep with random men, especially those who aren't … you're not even human, are you?"

"Nope."

"What are you?"

"I guess you could say I'm a divine spirit of sorts," he said, guarded once more.

"A ghost?"

"Not that kind of spirit." He didn't expand, and she was too afraid to ask. "I'm going out for a meeting in about an hour. I'll probably be gone until noon or so. Han will be here if you need anything. Or, I can cancel, and we can live out the-"

"No, thanks," she said, standing and all but bolting out of his suite. Her head hurt again, this time from trying to digest what he was telling her. She could see the future and he was a … what the hell was he?

He could read minds.

It made no sense, but neither did the sudden craving for peanut butter that dragged her to the kitchen, where yet another man she wanted to avoid was lounging. She snagged a jar of Jif and a spoon, retreating to her library. Jake followed, and Han was already waiting for her.

"What are you doing?" Jake asked.

"Transforming. Can't you tell?" Irritated he continued to disturb her peace, she leveled a glare on him.

He stalked off, and Han glanced down from his bored stare at the ceiling. She didn't care if he was miserable or not-she hadn't ordered him to babysit her. A few minutes later, Jake returned with a jug of water, appearing less than excited.

"Your shift," Han said and rose.

Sofia retreated to her room, not wanting to fight more with Jake. She left the door cracked until she heard Jake greet Damian as the leader passed her room. After another half an hour, she gathered up a small backpack she'd found in a closet. The day before, she'd found quite a few treasures, to include the backpack, a flashlight, the key locker for the cars in the garage, and Jake's wallet, which happened to have a credit card, which she had secretly used to book a flight from Tucson to Virginia.