Free Mr. Muse by Kelly Ethan

to leave now.”
    “All right, whatever you say.” She grabbed Eric’s arm and helped him to his feet. When he swayed, she wrapped her arm about his waist and urged him toward the elevator. This wasn’t the right time to tell him one other person knew she’d be here. By the time they exited the building, he was able to take his own weight, although she still kept her arm about him.
    “Where’s your car?”
    He pointed a little farther up the road and Missy followed his direction. Reaching the vehicle, she shoved him against it and searched his pockets for the key.
    Eric groaned.
    Please don’t let me hurt him. Her worry faded when she noticed the flush across his cheekbones and the decidedly firming lump under her hands. Well, hurt he was not. Dragging her hands away from his pocket, she frowned and waggled her finger at him. “Weren’t you the one telling me we have to get out of here quick? Besides, I still hate you for the whole locked room thing.”
    “I’m a man. We can be terminally ill and still get a hard-on.” He shrugged and snagged the keys out of his other pocket. “I’m fine now so I’m driving. Hop in.”
    “Okay, where are we going now?”
    “There’s a guesthouse out the back of the casino. We’ll go there. It’s right next to Kyla’s compound. They’ll be able to protect you and I can have a powwow with Kyla.”
    That damn bitch Kyla . “No way, no how am I going near the psycho bitch.” She crossed her arms and scowled at him. Missy didn’t care if Kyla was a cousin. They were way too close for her liking. Even if Eric pissed Missy off, he was still hers…at least for now.
    “We need Kyla’s help and her men won’t let anyone hurt you. And she’s a bitch, not a psycho.”
    “Fine, but the minute she touches you, she’s toast. Okay?”
    “You jealous?”
    “Nope, but I have a policy of not touching second-hand goods. I mean it, buster. One wrong touch or one evil word and I’m out of there, got it?” Missy stared straight ahead. Suddenly Eric meant more to her than research and it was scary. What sort of future could they have together?
    Eric pulled into the casino grounds and drove around the back until he reached a fence and a guard box. He wound the window down and peered out. The guard waved him through and they pulled up next to a group of buildings.
    Missy climbed out and slammed the door behind her. She sure as heck wasn’t making this easy for anyone.
    “Well, well. Look what the Demi-God dragged in.”
    Kyla’s syrupy tones oozed over her like slime from a toilet bowl. She’d hated this woman on first glance and second glance wasn’t any better. Eric grabbed her arm. He must be worried she’d bolt. He shouldn’t be. Before Missy went anywhere, she’d take a bite out of Miss Bitch here.
    “Kyla, we need help. I got ambushed at Missy’s agent’s office. They thought I was Missy and tried to kill her.”
    Kyla’s expression hardened and her eyes grew cold. Missy shivered at the transformation. Suddenly she didn’t look just like a bitch, but a predator too.
    “Stay in the cottage. We’ll check the suite and the office then get back to you. Meanwhile don’t go off the compound. I’m leaving guards here to protect you. If you need anything, ask them.”
    “Thanks, Kyla.”
    She grinned and blew Eric a kiss. “Now, now, that’s what kissing cousins are for. Don’t forget to warn her about the puppies, a school of them just came in. Ta-ta and kissy kissy.” Kyla waggled her fingers and strode off.
    “Now, Missy…” Eric turned to grab the hand rising to punch him in the gut.
    “Don’t you Missy me. You lying bastard. What’s with this kissing cousin bit?”
    “It’s nothing, she breeds with her own kind. A Muse relative of mine mated with Kyla’s line centuries ago, so we call ourselves cousins. Besides, we were kids and curious and it was just a kiss. Our respective parents would have kicked us if it went any further. That’s