Crowed (Team Zero #2) by Rina Kent

And why am I... laughing? It’s been forever since I last laughed.

“Glad this is all too funny for you.” Crow’s icy gaze falls on me as he tries to dry his wet T-shirt with a towel. Judging from his murderous expression, it isn’t working. Good. The view is too nice to be dried.

Hell. Where did that thought come from?

“And here I thought you only smile to Dr Curly.” The ice is still there. If anything, he’s glaring full on now.

“Dr Curly?” I continue drying Charlotte, and she woofs softly in my arms. “Ah. You mean Xavier?”

He huffs. “Of course he has a pussy name that fits his hair style.”

“Hey!” I start to yell then stop. “Wait. You saw me last night?”

“Yes, I saw you.” He’s still glaring. What is wrong with him?

“Why are you roaming in town? Aren’t you afraid the police will find you?”

His expression softens a little and he appears taken aback. “Would you care?”

“Why would I?” But even as I say that, something tugs inside me.

“Good choice,” he says in a neutral voice that bothers me. Does he or doesn’t he want people to care about him?

Charlotte barks at him. He narrows his intense blue eyes at her. “Don’t be ungrateful. I just went through all the trouble of bathing you.”

I smile. “Who told you to bathe her?”

“Let me see, perhaps it has to do with the dust that turned her fur white instead of grey.”

I wince. It couldn’t be more than two weeks since I last bathed her, right?

Since Maman’s death, time has blended together. I can’t be entirely sure of what I did or didn’t do.

“Thanks,” I murmur, ruffling Charlotte’s hair back. I’ve been such a shitty owner to my dog.

“I didn’t hear that.” I catch the smirk in Crow’s voice even without looking up.

Connard.

“I said thank you...” What starts like a shout drifts into a whisper as I lift my head and stare at him. He’s discarded the wet T-shirt, remaining in black trousers.

I swallow, my hold faltering on both Charlotte and the towel. I don’t even notice when my dog jumps from my arms.

The wound is still angry against his skin, but it doesn’t hide the hardened muscles. The tattoos shine under the morning light, casting a shadow on the little birds escaping from the biggest raven’s beak. My fingers itch to trace those tattoos and find out the meaning behind them. With all those scars marring his taut muscles, he appears like a warrior.

A strong, massive warrior.

He’s a bastard indeed, but a beautiful one at that.

“Like what you see? I sure do.”

His amused, wicked tone rips me back to reality.

I almost slap myself. Oh la la. Ogling?

Real classy, Eloise.

When I finally meet his gaze, it isn’t focused on mine. I follow his field of vision, and heat smothers my face. The front of my white shirt is soaking wet, outlining my bra and half-naked breasts.

I jerk to my feet, covering myself with Charlotte’s towel. If my cheeks could explode, they probably would right now. “Pervert!”

He raises an eyebrow, not even trying to hide what he’s been doing. “So you’re allowed to look, but I’m not? What type of double standard is that?”

“That’s not what I’ve been doing. I was... was...” Shut up! Shut up! You’ll make it worse. “I was checking on the wound!”

Ugh. Why couldn’t I just shut the hell up?

“Oh?” He advances towards me, and it takes all my willpower to keep my ground and not step back. “How about you check it up close then?”

He’s towering over me now, invading my space, and if I don’t get myself together, I’ll be reduced to that wobbly mess from the other day.

I focus on the ground. “The wound looks fine.”

“You’re not even looking at it.”

“I don’t need to.”

“Are you sure?” He advances more until my towel-covered chest grazes his. Leather and his distinctive scent envelop me in a halo. My heart pounds. I feel myself cracking, wanting to get close.

Needing to get close.

This man, this stranger, this killer, is crossing limits that should remain intact. This isn’t right.

Never should be.

My palms plant on his chest, and I push him back with all my might. He barely budges. “Just leave me alone. Why can’t you do that?”

“Is that what you really want, Eloise?” His voice drops an octave, chilling me to the bone.

I meet his eyes, and it’s such a horrible idea. The iciness of his gaze traps me in an intimate hold. And like a freaking idiot, I stutter. “Y-yes.”

“Think again. The other time you wanted me to kill you and now, you want me to leave you alone? Do you think you can toy with death without paying the price?”

“Then kill me!” An angry energy pushes through my veins. He’s not the only one who’s able to push. I can push back as well. “What other price do I have to pay?”

He traps my chin between his fingers until my air is filled with him. His eyes darken and the lines of his face contort into that inhuman version I witnessed when he almost killed me. The killer version.

I have no doubt that this man can end a life as easily as he takes his next breath.