Relief and something else flashes in his eyes. “I want to be by your side,” he admits, his voice hoarse with emotion. Turning to face me, he continues, “The need to kiss you is overwhelming. When I saw you fall with a dagger in your heart, it was like I splintered into a million pieces. My mind comprehended your immortality, but my heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest. Every time I close my eyes to sleep, it replays over and over in my head.” He gives a harsh laugh. “And I can’t breathe anymore.”
Indecision racks me. My first instinct is to say yes, hell yes, and ease his pain. But if I kiss him, am I making a foolish decision I’ll regret later? Is he having a knee-jerk reaction to the situation or real feelings?
“I’m not sure…” The words come out of my mouth before I even realize I’ve said them, but I refuse to take them back.
He shakes his head and gives a harsh laugh. “I’m such a fool. At the battle, I felt such joy when I saw you, and yet I couldn’t find the words to prevent you from walking away. It never occurred to me that leaving you is already an impossibility. I’m ruined for anyone else. It’s you and only you. When I see you with one of the others, I burn, not with envy, but with regret.”
I cup his cheek with my hand and stare into his dark chocolate brown eyes. “I’ve been drawn to you since the moment I met you outside the kitchen. An incredibly sexy and smart man, with a wicked level of power and a delicious dark side? How could I resist?” His incubus flashes in for a second. “But I need you to be absolutely sure, and I need to feel confident it’s real. I won’t kiss you today, but I’ll open the door. It’s up to you to show me how you feel, not just tell me.”
A devilish grin spreads across his face. “Gorgeous, you won’t regret it.” By the look in his eyes, he’s already plotting his next move.
“I hope not,” I reply, “or I may stab you in the heart.” Then I leave him sitting alone in the lounge.
* * *
After spendingan hour on my hair and makeup, I stand in front of my closet chewing my lip, trying to figure out what to wear on my date with Daire. He’s always dressed impeccably in luxurious clothing, and as I assess my options, I realize nothing works. I haven’t had time to replenish my wardrobe after the hotel incident, and I have two, maybe three options and no time to shop. I could create something with magic, but it’s always such a risk.
Hearing a knock on the door, I adjust my towel before I walk over and open it. Theron is standing there, holding a box in his hands. His jaw drops and his eyes turn stormy and wild when he gets a glimpse of me.
He thrusts the box at me. “Daire sent you a present,” he states hoarsely. After I take the gift, his finger drifts up and skates along the tops of my breasts. “The sight of you in a towel tests the limits of my control, but given it’s Daire’s night, I’ll leave without tasting.” Rolling his shoulders, he gives me one of his tiny smirks and gets in the elevator.
Shaking my head, I close the door and put the box on the bed. After lifting the lid, I reach in and pull out a navy-blue jumpsuit. I hold it up to my body and assess the picture in the mirror to make sure it fits. With my height, it’s tough to find clothes, especially pants that reach my ankles, but it looks like it will fit.
Tossing the towel on the bed, I step into underwear and a bra before pulling on the jumpsuit. The pants fit perfectly, from my ankles to my waist, however when I pull the top up, I realize it’s not going to work with a bra. With a deep V in the front and thin straps crisscrossing in the back, I’ll have to go without a bra, so I slip it off and pull the top back up.
It’s perfect. I turn from side to side in front of the mirror, loving how it emphasizes my height. The jumpsuit skims my long body like a dream, and the soft material caressing my almost naked body gives it a decadent feeling I didn’t expect. Slipping on my silver strappy heels, I grab my phone, then start pacing. My nerves are too unsettled to sit.
33
ARDEN
At exactly seven o’clock, there’s a knock on the door. When I open it this time, Daire is standing there in a navy suit, the exact color of my jumpsuit, with an icy blue tie. “Hello, handsome. I’m impressed. Nobody has ever bought me an outfit.” My words are cool and calm, but inside, I’m jittery.
When we enter the elevator, he steps close and takes a deep breath. “You smell incredibly sinful and delicious, as always, and you look beautiful.” The deep timbre of his voice causes shivers to run up my spine.
Mmm, smooth. Too smooth?“This elevator ride is significantly better than our first one,” I toss out. “You know, the one where you were kind of a dick.”
He gives a low whistle and a wicked smile. “I don’t recall being that bad.”
“You were,” I assure him. “I finally get to meet my crush, and with one elevator ride, the picture changed from hero to arrogant jerk with a sneer a mile long.” I sweep my hair back from my shoulder. “I’m not entirely sure how we got from there to here. I suppose once you lost the sneer and the superior attitude, I liked the guy underneath.”
He stares at me in fascination before laughing. “Old habits are not going to work with you, are they?”
“Would you want them to?” I retort, before stepping out into the lobby. “Now if you can be your true self, we can leave. The man I want isn’t the same one Solange dated.”
Sliding a hand behind my back, he steers me to the garage. “I think you’re going to love our date tonight.” With a mysterious and lighthearted grin, he leads me to the luxurious SUV parked in the garage.
Twenty minutes later, we’re seated at a table in the middle of an art gallery. Various paintings grace the white walls, each one showcased perfectly. “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought we could dine and discuss the paintings on the wall. I want to hear your thoughts on whether they will fit with the design in my new room.”
Interesting and entirely unexpected—I like it. “I’ll give you points for originality and catering to my interests,” I tease him. “I didn’t add any art to your walls because it’s such a personal choice. It needs to speak to the person living in the space.”
“I agree. I picked these paintings earlier today because each one appeals to me in a different way, and since I’m hoping you will spend time relaxing in my room in the future, I want your opinion.” He throws this casually into the conversation, but when I stare into his eyes, I realize he’s very serious.
Settling back, I pick up the glass of wine in front of me and take a long drink. If I’m honest, I’d love to relax in his room with him and do other decadent things. Just thinking about the possibilities makes me shiver, and judging by the carnal look in his eyes, he is wondering too.
Looking for a way to ease the tension, I glance down at the table and notice he’s drinking from a different bottle. “Are you not drinking the same wine?”
“No, mine is a rare AB negative, hundred-year vintage, if I’m not mistaken,” he drawls, watching my reaction.
