Soul Possession - Maya Banks Page 0,2

secrets hid behind the T-shirts and jeans he wore.

Between the two of them, they’d fueled some serious bad-girl fantasies. She could be bad. She could totally be bad given the right provocation, and damn if they didn’t provoke some serious desire to be really, really naughty.

She sighed. One day. Maybe. But then why not tonight?

She grabbed a few bottles and made her way through the crowd, trying to smile despite wanting to cry. She hated looking for a job. She hated walking into a place and asking for an application. She hated being conspicuous in these situations, and she always felt like everyone in the world was watching her and judging.

And now she’d have to start that process all over again and she didn’t have any days to spare to be off work. Money was tight and she couldn’t miss her classes. Not when the semester was almost up.

Halfway across the floor, someone backed into her and all her weight came down on her bad knee. It buckled and she hit the floor, but she managed to keep the beer bottles held high, a fact she was absurdly happy about.

Pain shot through her leg and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. The guy who knocked her down quickly bent over, his expression one of genuine regret. But before he could offer to help her up, Truitt and Rick were both bending down, concern bright in their eyes.

“Jessie, you okay?” Truitt demanded.

Embarrassed to be the center of attention in the crowded pub, she nodded, her cheeks hot.

“Let me help you up, sweetheart,” Rick said as he gently guided her to her feet.

Her knee gave way immediately and Truitt hauled her to his side until she was steady. She offered a shaky smile and then held out the beers.

“At least I didn’t spill your beer,” she joked.

“I don’t give a damn about the beer,” Truitt growled. “Come sit down. You’re hurt.”

They helped her to their table and eased her down into one of the chairs. Rick bent down on one knee and slid his hands up her bare leg. He frowned when he got to one of the scars around her knee.

“What happened here?”

She tried to pull her leg away, but he kept a firm hold. His fingers were gentle, but he didn’t allow her to escape.

“Car accident,” she mumbled. “My knee still gives me trouble sometimes.”

“What the hell are you doing working a job that requires you to be on your feet all the time if you’ve got a bum knee?” Truitt demanded.

This time Rick relinquished his grip when she tried to pull away. She tucked both legs under the table and glanced quickly around, relieved to note that everyone had gone on about their business and quickly forgotten about her.

“Are you hurting, sweetheart?” Rick asked in a voice that made her melt. He had a flirty way with words that hit her in the right spot every time. Only this time he was less flirty and more concerned, and she loved that even more.

“I’ll be fine,” she said, managing a reassuring smile. “Just put too much weight on it too quickly.”

“Not to worry. Rick and I are planning to take you home with us after you get off work. We’ll pamper you until you’ve forgotten all about that knee,” Truitt said in a low, husky voice.

Her legs trembled and she thrust her hands into her lap under the table so they wouldn’t see how nervous she was. Which was ridiculous because they flirted, she flirted, and nothing ever came of it. But tonight…well tonight was just a different night all the way around. She kept looking at him, expecting him to tease or wink, but he seemed dead serious, and that sent another flutter of awareness winging through her body.

The truth was she could use some pampering and whatever else they chose to do after the night she’d had. She couldn’t think of a single, solitary reason to turn them down.

Provided they were serious. And there was only one way to find out. If she made a fool of herself, it wasn’t as if she’d ever see them again.

“As it happens, I can leave anytime,” she said. “Does all that pampering you’re promising come with a foot rub?”

Rick’s eyes suddenly gleamed dark, making her all shivery inside. Truitt went quiet and the tats on his arms rippled as his muscles jumped and flexed.

“It comes with a hell of a lot more,” Truitt said. “Did you just say