Players (Lessons by Loki) by Aubrey Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

record, I have a closet full of fancy dresses upstairs and I’m fully capable of doing my own hair and makeup.”
    That brought up a whole barrage of questions. Why did she have a closet full of “fancy” clothes if she never wore them and why did she never bother with makeup or a more flattering hairstyle? It was as if she didn’t want anyone to realize how attractive she was, or she just didn’t give a damn. He wanted to understand what—or more likely who—had caused her to retreat into indifference.
    Rather than start a conversation she wasn’t ready for, he simply asked, “Then you’ll do it? I’d owe you big time.”
    Her stance relaxed but she didn’t immediately relent. “ Where’s the party?”
    “They’ve leased one of the clubs in LoDo for the night.”
    “All right. You have me for two hours, no longer. I really do hate parties.”
    “Two hours at the party. That doesn’t include travel time.”
    She chuckled and moved away from the door. “Fine. Two hours at the party. What time should I be ready?”
    “We need to be there by eight.”
    “Then I’ll see you at seven thirty.”
    “Thank you.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
    * * * * *
    Katie closed the door with a heavy sigh then reached down and rotated the deadbolt. Damn it . Loki was right. Josiah had served and Chase volleyed. The game was definitely on.
    She could tell Chase she’d changed her mind and then duck their advance until they chose another target. But that wouldn’t be fair to whomever they chose. No. They needed to find out what it felt like to have someone screw with them.
    A smile teased the corners of her mouth. If she enjoyed their attention along the way, no one needed to know. She’d be that much more convincing if she allowed herself to indulge some of her… Who was she kidding? If she tried to do this alone, the only person who’d end up hurt would be her.
    She walked over to the recliner and sat. Was Loki here? Had he watched her with Chase, waiting for her to realize the futility of a solo mission? The possibility was annoying, but it didn’t change the facts. She was not equipped to deal with Chase and Josiah.
    “You win,” she said to the room at large. “I can’t do this by myself.”
    He gradually appeared, his half-smile confirming her suspicion that he’d never really left. “I was hoping you’d come around.”
    “We’ll do this together, but you can never lie to me again.”
    After offering her a regal bow, he resumed his sprawling pose on the couch. “You have my word. No more lies.”
    “ Then start at the beginning,” she suggested. “I need to understand exactly what you are and why you want this so badly.” She cringed. “I know that sounds rude, but surely you understand my confusion.”
    “I do, and I’ll try to answer all your questions.”
    “Are you an alien?” The question sounded so strange. She lifted one hand and fiddled with a strand of her hair.
    “My kind is not indigenous to Earth, so I suppose that makes me an alien.”
    Despite his easy answer, the situation still felt surreal. “Are Odin and Thor still around or are you the only one left?”
    “The others still exist; they’re just no longer in this dimension.”
    He patiently waited for her next question, but her mind suddenly went blank. This couldn’t be happening. She had to have slipped into some sort of a delusion, but why had she chosen Norse mythology? She was a huge fan of the Avengers franchise, yet this Loki didn’t look anything like Hollywood’s portrayal of— Something pressed against her shoulder and she cried out, twisting away from the light contact.
    “I’m real and you’re not losing your mind.” She lowered her hand to her lap and looked at him. He stood beside her now, compassion warming his gaze. “Slow down your breathing or you’re going to pass out.”
    Again he was right. She was hyperventilating. She turned her head and