Coveted - Book 3 in the Gwen Sparks Series by Stephanie Nelson Page A

was hiding? Thanks for telling me.”
    Dorian spared him a glance before looking back at me. I ignored the indignation on his handsome face and instead brought my attention to the ever-complaining ghost.
    “You cheated,” I accused.
    “Wha—did not,” Eddie shot back.
    “You’re supposed to find a spot and stay there,” I told him.
    “I found a better spot,” he shrugged and I shook my head.
    “Who the hell are you talking to?” Lauren asked, her eyes still volleying around the shadowed landscape.
    I looked at Dorian and rolled my eyes. Hadn’t Lauren been debriefed on who she was protecting?
    “We’re in a cemetery,” I told her with a bit of sarcasm.
    “Yeah?”
    “And I’m a spirit walker.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Add it up, Barbie.”
    “So you really can speak and control ghosts?”
    I shot another you-have-to-be-kidding-me look to Dorian. “For a vampire assassin you’re a little slow.”
    You would think a bunch of supernaturals wouldn’t fear much, and you would be wrong. For some reason, spirits put them on edge. Maybe it was because a lot of supeswere over confident with their super powers. Vampires are quick, lethal and fast healers. However, they can’t fight what they can’t see or touch. If a ghost were evil enough, it could hurt them and they wouldn’t be able to protect themselves. Vampires didn’t like feeling vulnerable—hence the fear. As for the other supes, it was pretty much the same—the idea of not being able to see what was around them. Hell, I had just gotten use to the idea of seeing them.
    I didn’t wait for either one of their responses. I shoved past Dorian and headed back down the path that would lead to the exit, releasing my control of the spirits as I went. Lately I had been very agitated: a ball of angry nerves threatening to go over the edge. I had done a good job at keeping my emotions under control, but I could almost feel the damn walls tremble under the pressure of putting on a fake smile. I hated it, hated feeling so unsure of myself.
    “Gwen,” Dorian called behind me. I looked over my shoulder but I kept walking. When he caught up to me, his hand closed around my arm, yanking me to a stop. I was furious with him and that confused me. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but looking at him made my insides burn, and not in a good way.
    “If I didn’t know better I would say you’re jealous.”
    I snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t trust her. And you shouldn’t let that head,” I pointed to his crotch, “think for you. Something’s up with her.”
    He stepped closer, his hand still on my arm. With his free hand he brushed my hair back and tucked a strand behind my ear. His soft fingertips caressed the sensitive skin, leaving tingles in their wake. My shoulders shook as a shiver skirted up my spine, and I hoped it appeared that I was cold rather than affected by his touch. I still wasn’t sure how much I could trust Dorian.
    “The only person that head is thinking of is a stubborn brunette with azure eyes.”
    I stared up at him, wondering if I should be offended or turned on by his statement. Dorian might have been an angel but there was nothing holy about him. He did what he wanted, took what he desired and raised his middle finger to the world—all while charming it with that damned smirk.
    “Appealing as always,” I mumbled, tugging out of his grasp. A small smile ghosted across my lips. I began walking again and was tugged backwards. Dorian’s large hands encompassed my face, his fingers slipping beneath my hair. He leaned forward and before I could put two and two together his mouth was on mine. Out of shock my body wanted to fight, until his tongue slipped through my lips and weakened my knees.
    My insides relaxed and my body slumped against Dorian’s hard frame. My veins hummed with a strange buzz as his tongue did clever circles around mine. He smelled like lavender and some sort of spicy wood, cedar maybe. It was divine. The