I peer at the tightrope, placing my hands on my hips. “I never have.”
“Something tells me you’ll be a natural, doll,” Gemini replies nonchalantly.
When my gaze lands back on him, I’m struck by his change in demeanor. His eyes have turned dark, watching me from under hooded lids. Something about his wide stance and slow breathing reminds me of a predator in wait.
Weeks ago, my initial—andonly—reaction would have been to flee, but tonight, I find myself taking an unconscious step forward, a steady throb of heat pulsing low in my stomach.
We don’t move as we stare at each other with intensity. I could pluck the tension between us like a stringed cord. I bet it would create the most alluring of melodies. Something I’d yearn to record and capture forever so I could listen to it over and over again.
Finally, Gemini breaks eye contact and lifts his head up to the tightrope. My gaze falls on his parted lips. My throat goes dry.
“Ready, beloved?”
My body breaks out into goose bumps.
I nod.
He smirks and then points to the ladder. “Take that side; I’ll take the other,” he says, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb.
“What if I fall?” The words rush out as my stomach flutters with nerves.
His smile widens, and his eyes sparkle. “I’ll be there to catch you.”
I shoot him an incredulous look. “You’ll be all the way on the other side.”
“Don’t you trust me?” Then he adds quickly, “Don’t answer that.”
Not waiting for my response, he walks to the ladder and begins to climb. I follow suit, heading to my side and grabbing on to the first few rungs.
At the top, I step onto the small platform on shaky legs, audibly gulping when I look down. I’ve never had a fear of heights, but the thought of falling through the air into a large net isn’t really soothing my nerves either.
Gemini stands on the other side, watching me intently. There’s an ease to his stance that makes me think he lied to me earlier and that he’s done this a lot more than justa few times.
His voice floats across the tightrope. “Mirror my movements, pet.” He flashes me a smile as he stretches out his toned arms on either side of his body, using them to balance. “You’ll be fine.”
My words stick to the roof of my mouth, so I nod instead and dutifully mirror his pose. I watch him take a slow step onto the tightrope, then another.
He’s mesmerizing. The muscles of his abdomen contracting as he uses his core to maintain his balance. His smile is arrogant as he keeps his gaze pinned to mine, chin straight.
“Your turn, Veil Vulturine.”
I push out a long, anxious breath and look down, chewing on my inner cheek. After tense deliberation, wondering if I should take the cowardly way out, I take my first step. But my left foot is still firmly on the platform, and I squeeze my eyes shut for half a second before taking the final step onto the tightrope. My stomach leaps up into my throat as I try to gain balance, my arms swinging on either side of me.
“Steady,” Gemini says.
His command irritates me, but unexpectedly grounds me into focusing on the art of staying balanced on the tightrope. After a few seconds, I gain my composure and straighten back up.
I giggle in shock, beaming at Gemini. There’s a proud look in his eyes, which spurs me to take another tentative step and then another. Until finally, we are only within arm’s reach of each other. I can’t stop smiling, an intoxicating adrenaline thrumming inside of me as I stare into Gemini’s darkening eyes.
“Look at you, love. I knew you could do it,” he says, his voice low and seductive.
My smile fades, and my mood shifts to something a lot more carnal as Gemini watches me with blatant hunger. He takes another step forward, swallowing the space between us. His skin glistens with proof of his exertion, his chest rising slowly and steadily.
“How did you know?” I ask softly, my tone meaning to convey a lot more than just that one question.
He stays silent for a long, tense beat.
“I see your potential just as clearly as I see your destiny, my beloved. I’ve never doubted you.”
