Mr. Muse by Kelly Ethan

again.
     
    * * * *
     
    “It wasn’t there.” Didn’t a writer’s life revolve around computers? Would Missy break down into hysterics? He peered at her, waiting for the first sign of female blubbering. Except she just grimaced, preoccupied with the casino’s laptop.
    “What wasn’t there?”
    “Your laptop was gone when I got there, that part of the house wasn’t even damaged.”
    This time he got a reaction.
    Missy shot up. “It’s gone? Shit, I had ideas for this book and the next few on it. Damn it. Who would have taken it?”
    She paced in front of him and every time she turned, her skirt would tighten on the globes of her ass. “I don’t know who’d take it, but I didn’t sense anyone out of the ordinary.”
    She snorted. “I don’t know anyone strange, except for you. But what if they aren’t after you but me? That’d explain the kidnap attempt and why you only sense ordinary people and none of the Gods First people?”
    Right, the kidnap attempt. He’d left her here in the casino thinking there was no safer place, and two humans try to snatch her under their very noses. Hermes had explained the whole incident to him when he’d returned. Why the hell would they want to take Missy, unless she was bait to draw him out?
    He shook his head. What Missy must have gone through and seen… He didn’t know how to handle it. He was a teacher, not a counselor. He was completely out of his comfort zone. Not to mention she was hardly fazed about anything that had happened—the attack or her house blowing up, even his naked invisible body rescuing her. Everything seemed to make her rub her hands in glee, not angst. His sister had more experience with writers than he did. Maybe this was normal?
    He ran his hand through his hair, trying to pick the right words to make her feel secure. “Missy, no offense, but you write romances. Why on earth would anyone want to blow you up or run you over? A dark car and a bomb are the sort of things those drama queen Demi-God fanatics would think up. They have a beef with Olympus and the rest of the Gods. I’m sure you aren’t the target. I know you think you have all the answers, but I don’t agree. Just listen to me and stay here. You’ll be fine. You understand?”
    “You said that last time, and someone tried to snatch me.”
    “I know. It won’t happen again. Kyla and Hermes have upped patrols and security has drawn a net around the hotel. No one is getting in without the proper clearances.”
    Missy gripped the side of the desk hard, keeping quiet, but Eric’s mood changed when she kept shaking her head stubbornly. Maybe he could distract her with the Muse business. He stalked toward her computer, curious to see what she’d been engrossed in earlier. She moved quickly in front of the screen.
    “Ah, I don’t let anyone see a work in process. Why don’t you relax in the lounge room?”
    He smiled wolfishly and gently moved her out the way. His eyes widened as he read the words ‘scarf’ and ‘tied to the bed’. The thought of Missy and scarves made his cock harden. “Well, you do come up with interesting ideas. But where’s the rest?”
    He bit the inside of his mouth to stop laughing. He watched her move from foot to foot like a sheepish child. This woman had him on edge. One minute sexy siren, the next a modest child. Which woman was she?
    “I have writer’s block. But don’t worry about it, the scene probably wouldn’t work anyway.”
    Oh, it would work all right. Probably kill him, but it would work. A burst of heat settled low in his gut and the blood coursed through his veins. Oh, the possibilities were endless. He placed the laptop down and reached behind her. She gasped when his arm grazed hers. Her nipples puckered and he could clearly see the outline of them pushing against the fabric of her top.
    His own body reacted, his cock growing even harder and tenting the front of his trousers. His throat dried and his hands trembled slightly as he