“Can I be honest?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m trying to ignore the fact that he’s now haunting my place.”
“He’s not really haunting it,” I said. “Think of it as cohabitation.”
Zayne snorted. “I’m almost done.” His hand was on the other side, smoothing the salve up my side. “You should already be starting to feel better.”
“I am.”
And that was true, but as we both fell silent, I could no longer ignore Zayne’s hands on my skin and how they were making me feel. It was like electricity flowed from his fingers over my skin, and when those long fingers brushed the sensitive swell near my ribs, I sucked in a soft breath.
“Sorry.” His voice sounded different, thicker even. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Yes.” I tried to find another distraction. “You know what I’m jealous of the most when it comes to Wardens?”
“What?”
“Your ability to fly. I’m this badass Trueborn, but I don’t have wings. That sucks.”
He chuckled.
“It’s not funny.” I pouted. “I’d love to fly and get close to the stars. I used to try to get Misha to take me up in the sky, but he’d never do it even though you guys could probably carry a car into the air. Such a punk.”
Zayne carefully turned me around and then his hands left me. I looked into his eyes. I was immediately snared, feeling hot and dizzy, like I’d been sitting out, sunning on the sandy white beaches, and even though he wasn’t touching me any longer, I could still feel his palms and fingers. I couldn’t stop wondering what would happen if I dropped the towel.
Every muscle in my body locked up. Drop my towel and be topless in front of Zayne? My God, he’d have a stroke. What was I thinking?
But I wanted to, because I wanted... I wanted to feel his hands on my skin again. I wanted to feel his mouth on mine, and this time I wanted him to kiss me.
Something changed in his expression.
Those pale eyes, usually so chilly, were full of fire, and that jaw was a hard, straight line. His features were both beautiful and brutal, a raw combination.
“We may have to do this again,” he said, and his voice sounded off, deeper and rougher.
I was so looking forward to that.
His lips parted as if he were about to say something else, but his phone rang in the other room. He hesitated, his gaze still latched to mine, and then he put the jar on the counter before pivoting on his heel and walking out.
“God,” I whispered, turning back to the mirror.
Still feeling way too hot, I drew in another shaky breath. I really needed to put my shirt and my bra back on. That was the appropriate thing to do, especially before Zayne returned, but I stood there, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
I didn’t look like myself.
Well, the messy, half-fallen topknot was all me, but the glassy eyes, parted lips and flushed skin looked nothing like me. Another fine shiver danced its way over my skin as heat pooled low in my core. Zayne wasn’t even in the bathroom with me anymore, but I could still feel his hands on the skin of my back, along my sides to where just the tips of his fingers had grazed the sides of my breasts.
A sharp buzz hit my veins as I sucked in air, and a warm, pleasant heaviness settled over me.
It’s normal.
That’s what I kept telling myself. What I was feeling was just my body reacting to the touch of someone I was attracted to, and I was attracted to Zayne, but that was all, just a...a carnal attraction, one that I was positive wasn’t two-sided.
But if it were?
My breath hitched. That would complicate things, wouldn’t it? My body didn’t care about that at all, though. Neither did that primal part of my brain that was suddenly flashing images to accompany the memory of his bare hands, slippery and smooth against my skin, and those images were as clear as reality.
Zayne’s reflection appeared in the mirror, causing me to gasp. His gaze met mine in the mirror. “I thought you’d be dressed,” he said.
“I...” I really had no idea what to say as I turned to him, figuring the towel was more discreet than my bare back. “I, um, I’m still wet.”
Those pale eyes flared with wintry heat as his gaze dipped. “Really?” he said, and I swore it sounded like a purr against my skin.
My face burned as I realized what I’d said and how that could be perceived. “The salve—the salve is still wet and I thought I’d let it dry a little.”
Zayne nodded slowly as he bit down on his lower lip. Those thick lashes lowered, shielding his gaze.
“Who just called?” I asked.
“Roth,” he answered, and my skin immediately chilled. “He wants to meet with us. Tonight.”
25
The place we were meeting Roth turned out to be a restaurant called Zeke’s. We had to park in a garage down the street, and it was a little weird walking beside Zayne, wondering if any of the people we were passing on the street had any idea what he was.
I liked the restaurant from the moment we walked in. Softly lit, the interior was a mixture of exposed wood and steel. The booths looked comfortable with thick cushions and lush pillows. It had a rustic-modern feel that reminded me of mountains and Colorado.
Which was weird, because I’d never been to Colorado, but for some dumb reason, I imagined there were a lot of places like this in Colorado.
The hostess appeared to recognize Zayne. With a genuine smile and lingering gaze I couldn’t blame her for, she seated us in a surprisingly private booth near a large stone fireplace. There was a romantic vibe to the place that made me overly aware of Zayne and made me feel like I should be wearing something...cuter than jeans and a T-shirt.
Whatever.
I was comfortable and that was all that mattered.
The moment the waitress left after placing our drinks on the table—a Coke for me and a water for Zayne—I asked, “Is it okay for us to meet here?”
The candlelight from the center of the table flickered over his face as he nodded. “People that come here mind their own business.”
“Oh.” I toyed with the napkin as I glanced around. “Do they know what you are?”
“They know I’m a Warden, but they don’t know what Roth is,” he explained. “How’s your back feeling?”
“Perfect.” And it really was. It didn’t ache or throb at all when I made sharp movements. Pulling my hands into my lap, I glanced around the restaurant before my gaze found its way back to his. “Thank you for doing that.”
His chin dipped, causing a strand of hair to slip against his cheek. “It was my pleasure.”
A humming warmth traveled through my veins. “I’m sure there’re better things you could be doing than rubbing gunk all over my back.”
“You’re right. I could be doing better things with my time,” he replied.
Ouch.
The warmth vanished.
“But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t enjoying myself,” he added, and my gaze shot to his. A half grin played at his lips.
Before I could come up with a response, I felt the sudden increase in my shoulders. “I think he’s here,” I said. “Or another demon is here.”
A moment later, Zayne said, “I feel it now. Crazy how you can feel it before me.”
Zayne rose and moved to my side of the table. He sat beside me, thigh pressed against thigh. “What does it feel like to you?” he asked.
“Like a hot breath on the nape of my neck,” I told him, voice low. “And a heaviness in the shoulders. Same for you?”
He nodded.
Roth arrived, dressed very much like he’d been the first time I saw him. All black. He wasn’t alone. The icy blond demon was with him, his hair braided in pigtails, which looked weirdly good on him.
“I hope we kept you guys waiting.” Roth slid into the booth across from us, followed by Cayman. “And yes, I meant that just the way it came out.”
“We just got here,” Zayne answered, stretching his arm along the back of the booth. “We weren’t waiting long.”
“That’s disappointing,” Roth replied, his bright amber gaze fixed on me as he got himself situated. “So weird.”
“What?”
He tipped forward. “I still want to touch you.”
My eyes widened. “You’re an odd, creepy demon prince.”
Roth grinned.
“Well, you still creep me out,” Cayman announced as Roth leaned farther toward me, one hand sliding across the table.
“No touching,” Zayne warned.
The demon prince pouted as he pulled his hand back. “That’s no fun.”
“Where’s Layla?” I asked, changing the subject from the whole touching-me thing.
Roth smiled tightly. “She decided it would be best if she sat this one out.”
I glanced at Zayne. There wasn’t even a hint of emotion on his face.
“Don’t you two look supercozy and cute.” Cayman eyed us intently.
“Do we?” Zayne murmured.
“You do,” Roth answered. “I like it. A lot.”
Zayne’s finger began tapping along the back of the booth. “I’m so glad to hear that, as I’ve been waiting on bated breath for your thoughts and feelings.”
Roth smirked.
“Did you guys order anything?” Cayman asked, scanning the menu. “I’m starving.”