Chapter Twenty-Four

When her phone rang later that night, she nearly dropped it in the bath water Aeros had drawn for her. He’d also lifted her up like some princess and gently lowered her down until barely her head was above the lush, perfectly heated water.

Samantha rarely called her. When Aeros had found her phone and said it was a call from Sammie, she’d taken it. Now, she rubbed her head, trying to figure out why her best friend would think she had the king of the Lykae on speed dial.

“What? How am I supposed to have that?”

Tabithia tried to clear her head, but sitting in Aeros’ whirlpool tub while he knelt in only his jeans beside her trying to feed her strawberries while he kissed her neck was a bit of a distraction.

“Well, he’s not listed. But I thought you’d know.”

She still wasn’t following why she would have his number but she said, “Uh, sure, but, well, maybe he’s listed?”

Aeros stopped kissing her neck and rose up to frown down at her. His eyebrows drew down sexily, but she didn’t tell him that. Instead she cupped her hand over her cell and grinned.

“Sammie wants to know the number for Alrick,” she said. “Seems she’s found a guy from the wolf clan on her hunt.”

His face softened to that look she thought he saved for her. “Ah, Samantha, your friend who’s searching for her sister?”

She nodded.

“I have his number. Tell her to give me a moment.”

He did? The man knew everyone, could do anything, she thought, watching him stand and walk out to his room. He certainly knew how to make her shiver.

“Hold on, I’ll get it.” Or Aeros would. “What’s up with the guy? Where was he?”

“I can’t get into the deets right now.”

Sammie said something else, but Tabithia lost her when Aeros came back in. His jeans hung low on his waist, and she could see from the bulge he was hard. One look up his big muscled body and into his dark eyes, and she knew bath time was over. He squatted down, handing her his cell with a killer grin.

“Here you go, baby. Time for your bath to be over.”

Oh, yeah. She rattled off the number and hung up, more than ready for fun time to begin.

“Do you like it here?”

“Here?”

She stood up, loving the way Aeros immediately focused on her breasts. He reached up and cupped both warm hands under them, pressing them together to create a little valley he kissed. The bristle on his jaw made her tingle all over. A girl could get pretty sure of herself with him doing that—or melt.

“Damn, out of the bath before I end up in it.”

They shared one more heated look before he helped her out by picking her up. She couldn’t hold in the happy laugh and didn’t want to.

“You’re getting all wet.”

He grinned and would have said something, but they both heard a door opening and closing followed by footsteps down the hall. He’d brought her to the same house where she’d first met him. It was all glam, except his room. His room was practically as empty as her house. She’d almost believed he didn’t live here, and would ask, but hadn’t got around to it. Actually, she’d not got around to much since he’d made love to her so wonderfully.

Aeros set her down and rubbed a hand over his neck, looking uncomfortable.

“What?”

When he didn’t say anything, she reached back and picked up his shirt and pulled it on, suddenly feeling uneasy with her nudity. The cotton stuck to her, but she tugged it to her knees and waited. Something was up.

He grimaced and exhaled wearily. “I need to know how to get Ares in to see Dare, Tabithia.”

She glanced away and down at the table. Dare was staying at Evie’s, and she couldn’t tell Aeros how to ‘get’ to her. The only way to reach Dare was for Ares to do what Dare demanded.

“Aeros, man? I need to talk to you.”

Their gazes met for a brief heartbeat. Aeros clenched his jaw, the muscle rippling along his cheek once before he looked away.

“It’s all right. Go talk to him. I’ll be right here.”

He turned back to her, clearly not expecting her words. She thought maybe she had surprised him, but he nodded and left the room quickly.

She really didn’t want him to find out about her conversation with Ares. When, or if, he did, she was pretty sure he’d be angry. Not completely off his lid as he’d been with the pendant, which she still possessed, but still he’d not be pleased.

Voices carried through the wooden door, but she ignored them and explored the room instead. There wasn’t much to it. A bed. A dresser. A chest or two. A fireplace, two chairs that looked brand new. It seemed Aeros shared more with her than she’d thought. This place almost reminded her of home.

Home. She needed to go home soon. It was nearly morning. They’d been up all night. She felt a twinge between her thighs, but nothing too painful. After making love to her so beautifully, he’d done it again, but refused to do so a third time, shaking his head instead and kissing her all over. He’d worried she’d be too tender. She was a bit tender, but it was a good tenderness. She already knew she’d be addicted to the firm, solid feel of him. Even thinking about sex had her nipples hardening.

The door opened behind her, and she turned to see him standing there watching her. Her breath left on a small whoosh. She hoped he didn’t notice how easily he took her breath away. Still without a shirt and dressed in low-slung jeans with no shoes, he stunned her.

“Galen has heard from Ares.”

Oh. Yeah. Ares. She scanned his face, but she couldn’t make out what he was thinking. He could turn so stoic. The angles and planes of his features became hard and unreadable until she looked in his eyes. Now, he avoided her gaze while he messed with something on his dresser.

“Do you like this place, Tabithia?”

“It’s nice.”

“I’d like to take you to my home. This is merely a…place we stay. But I have a home. Would you like to see it?”

He had switched topics abruptly, but she gathered he was nervous. So was she. She couldn’t stay with him, as in stay with him. But she wanted…what?

The slow reality of that question threw her. What did she want?

“Tabithia? What is it?”

He’d turned back to face her, and she watched the worry cloud his eyes as he closed the distance between them.

“You’re cold. Should I light the fire? Are you hungry?”

“No, I’m fine. I need to go home, though. Maybe tomorrow we could go to your home. You could show me.” They could date, maybe. Couples dated. Dinner. Drinks. Sex.

From the glower he gave her, a date might not be what he wanted. “I want you to stay with me.”

Suddenly, she found it hard to breathe. “I can’t stay with you. I have a home.”

“I know this. I can come there, if you’d be more comfortable.”

“No.”

No way, José.

No coming to her home. He looked like he was working up to something so she modified her response a bit.

“I just have things to do. But I want to see you again.”

“Tabithia.” He paused and gave her a strange look. “What is it you think we are doing here? This? Between us?”

She swallowed. Really, she really didn’t want to answer that.

“Dare. I heard from her and she’s willing to negotiate with Ares.”

“Tabithia, I couldn’t give a fuck about Ares.”

He threw his hands up and got right in her personal space.

Taking her arm in his hand, he said, “I want you. With me. Us. Together. Not you in your home while I am here. Why? Why would you want this?”

He made it sound ridiculous. Like she was being an idiot for even suggesting they not move in together after having sex once, okay, three times. Before she could even process her response, her phone rang. Samantha.

“Sammie. I have to get that.”

He gave her an angry nod and turned away to stalk to his bathroom. The shower turned on, and she picked up her phone, feeling hollow inside. She’d hurt him, she thought. Maybe disappointed him. She was screwed up. Seriously, for even thinking of dating him, she was insane. They’d had sex. She’d done it. But more? A relationship? Impossible.

“Yep, what’s up?”

“Hey to you too. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, why? I’m good. What’s up? Did you call the king and all?”

“Nope, not me. I gave the number over, though. Are you up for some fun tomorrow? I have a certain demon to train.”

Normally, she’d be all over that, but for some reason, the idea of spending a night at a club felt empty. The years she had spent doing just that felt wasted, useless, bleak. Now she knew there was so much more—much, much more. But she couldn’t have it. Because she was too screwed up to move in with someone, wasn’t she?

“Sure, that sounds great. Tomorrow night? Where?”

“One Eye’s, of course,” Samantha said.

“Sure thing. One Eye’s. Tomorrow.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

She felt Aeros coming up behind her and pushed the bleak emptiness down.

“I’m great. Just great. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“All righty then. Later, dudette.”

“Later, Silver.”

He smoothed his hands up her arms to her shoulders and pulled her back to a hard chest. “Tabithia, I’m sorry for being angry with you. We will go slow, eh? As slow as you need, but you’re not going to some club without me.”

The hardness of those last growled words was completely at odds with the warm, gentle caress of his hands on her flesh.

“Mmm, good. I was hoping you’d say that.”

Truth. She had been hoping he’d say that. She didn’t want to do this any longer. Not alone. Sorrow threatened to spill over, but she lashed it down with the darkness and emptiness. She had him now. For now that would be what she concentrated on. Here. Now.

“I am hungry, though, big guy. Dinner? Or do you plan to starve me after all that fun?”

His rough laugh vibrated between them. “I plan on feeding you, then making more fun.”

“Oh, nice. Very, very nice.”

Aeros was in deep.

He’d not wanted to let her out of his sight, so he’d convinced her to come to Paris with him for dinner.

Just watching her eat her salad was amazing. When she smiled over at him, he had to hold himself still each time when all he wanted was to tug her on his lap and murmur how beautiful she was. She glowed. She made his life glow. Such colour should be illegal, but she brightened everything.

The poor human waiter had nearly tripped over himself getting to their table, but he couldn’t blame the guy. He’d done the same.

She never noticed. He was learning a great deal about Tabithia. She loved life. She enjoyed the simplest of things. They’d passed a small child with an older gentleman, a grandfather, perhaps, on their walk. She’d hit him on the stomach and laughed, pointing at the child. The little girl had been clapping her hands at her grandfather when he made a coin come from behind her ear. Another block away, Tabithia stopped him to admire an artist painting the flowers blooming along the banks of the Seine.

He never noticed such things. He’d have never seen the child, or the artist. He looked out for death, not life. She looked at everything.

“What?”

He blinked. One perfect cinnamon eyebrow rose, and her pink lips lifted in a smile.

“What? Did I say something?”

“No, but you were simply staring at me, so I thought you might want to share.”

He loved that. How she teased him. He was in deep. Just the thought of her leaving had sent him into a panic. Her not being near him wasn’t what he wanted. Now Dominic’s behaviour with his Beauty made sense. Perfect. Complete sense.

“I want you to move in with me, Tabithia. But if you can’t, then I at least want you to let me stay with you.”

Almost before he had the words out, he wanted to take them back. A look of panic rushed over her happy expression before she hid her face by ducking her head. She’d kept her hair down and now used it to mask the turmoil he knew he’d caused. Patience. He needed patience.

“Think on it. Just think on it. Now, tell me what you meant when you said Ares wants to meet with Dare.”

“What I meant?”

She was playing with her food now, so he took her plate and moved it aside so he could hold her hand. She had the smallest hands. Slender, like she was, with delicate fingers. He smiled at the dark polish because she’d not worn a black shirt. In fact, she’d surprised him by wearing a soft sundress with small little blue and pink flowers sewn into the light fabric. He couldn’t keep his hands off her. He glanced down to her breasts, and held in a growl at the little pearl buttons running down the front. She wasn’t wearing a bra either. He knew it. Could see the soft difference in her curves and wanted to jump across the table like a beast and eat her up.

“Aeros, my eyes are up here.”

“Damn. Sorry, baby. You’re—”

“Beautiful, yes, I know. You said that at least twenty times since I put this on.”

“—not wearing a bra, are you?”

She grinned and winked at him. “No, but you like?”

“I like. I like very much.”

She seemed natural among so much beauty.

“Mmm, I thought you might.”

He more than liked, but she was avoiding his question. “Answer me, Tabithia.”

“Well, I had a little heart-to-heart with Ares.”

Immediately, his jaw clenched as tension shot through his system. He didn’t want her within a mile of Ares. If he’d touched her. Insulted her. Done anything to her.

“It seems Dare loves the jerk, so she’s willing to make some demands and punish him, and I got to tell him.”

Demands. Punish. Love. All those words simply didn’t fit. “Didn’t Ares hold her hostage for—”

“Love. Who knows what happens to people’s brains.” She sipped her wine and lifted a shoulder.

He knew. He knew very well what they’d do. They’d do damn near anything.

“And how did Ares take this?” And when had she gone to Ares? How?

“Well, he wasn’t too happy.”

“Not too happy. When did you…? How did you…?”

“He kinda snuck up on me. It was no big deal, though. He wasn’t too happy, but he is a smug…guy. So he thinks he’s all set. Dare might have the last word, though. I’m buying popcorn.”

“Popcorn?”

“To watch, duh. Like the fight? Movie? Popcorn?”

He nodded. “And he didn’t harm you? Touch you?”

She exhaled, set her wine down and leant forward, crooking her finger at him to come closer. He did, but he knew she was up to some mischief. Her eyes twinkled with it.

“A, no one harms me, keep that in mind. And B, I have this no-touching rule, but you know, instead of sitting here, we could take a walk and have sex in the pretty park right over there.”

“Fuck.” He had her up so fast she laughed. “You’re not serious. Are you?” He wanted her to be. He wanted to have her right here, in the damn restaurant’s outdoor seats.

She tangled her fingers in his hair and attached herself to him like a vine. “I am. Now. I want my dessert. Now.”

He barely breathed as he tore money from his wallet, throwing the bills down and nearly knocking the table back to get to her. Her smile hit him right between the eyes and shot down to his aching cock. All evening he’d wanted her. Each look, a caress. Each smile, a fan on his flaming body. Something dark, dangerous lurked, though, making him slow down, eat his meal, and simply wait. Wait for what, he didn’t know, until her eyes softened and the flush of arousal pinked her cheeks.

They were halfway to the small wooded park before he even knew he’d dragged her along. She kept up, her dainty heels not slowing her as she laughed and ran beside him. Two seconds into the semi-secluded park, and she was tucking her hand down to his belt and tugging the strap open.

He cupped her lush, rounded curves through the fabric of her dress before he started working on the damn little buttons. His hands shook. His body ached. His breath felt like he’d just won a damn war and she was laughing softly, the sound enflaming him. Desire for her, for so much fucking more than her, this moment in time without end, pounded at him. He wanted this, the luxury of running off with her, impatient to be inside her, yet enjoying the rush of lust as they laughed through the need.

“Hurry, hurry.”

“Why did you wear this?”

“I thought you’d like it. Don’t you dare rip it.”

She had his cock out and in her hand, stroking him possessively before he’d even freed one breast. He gritted his jaw to keep in the moan. One of his teeth felt like it cracked. Had anything ever felt so good? Hell, no. Nothing felt as good as Tabithia’s hand on him. There were no experiences in his life to call on, to temper this woman and all she gave him. Magic. She was magic.

The panic at the thought of her leaving his side, even for a night, returned, infecting him. He jerked her closer and meshed their mouths. She gave a surprised sound but he swallowed it, demanding more from her, more than the fun, the teasing, more than the simple fuck. He fuckin’ needed her to see he was hers. All of his existence boiled down to her. And she had no fucking clue.

He hitched her up by her ass. She encircled his waist with her long slender legs, pressing the cradle of her hips tight to his pulsing erection. Damn. Damn.

“Oh, gods, Aeros. Now, now.”

Now? He wanted now, later, forever. She wanted what? To go home.

Anger tried to surface but he fought it viciously. He’d never harm her, never. She needed time. He needed her.

Her panties were in the way. The thought sent him into a downward slide to orgasm. He loved her fucking sexy undergarments. So feminine. Tabithia might have dressed in black most of the time, but he was betting she wore lingerie under every fucking thing she wore. He knew she did now. He’d seen a glimpse of what she’d taken off the rack at the women’s store earlier.

“Get these damn panties off.”

Tipping her back, he cupped her ass feeling a cold sweat break out over his flesh at the brush of her panties along his fingertips. He dropped her, or rather unwound her little legs enough to unglue her. She protested, pouting up at him when she nearly stumbled back.

“Sorry, sorry, baby. Show me.”

A darker flush blossomed on her face, and he kissed her cheek.

Backing up, she half turned and arched a hip and slid her dress slowly up her leg, teasing the hell out of him. His cock hung out, long, thick and heavy, pulsing in time with his rapid heartbeat. He’d never been more aroused in his life as he was in this moment. Unless he counted every other time she’d been near him. The world disappeared. She was all there was. Her and the lust coursing through him. The need to make her his. All his.

The pink confection came into view, and the power of speech left him. Firm, rounded globes of the most luscious ass he’d ever seen decorated with a hot pink matched the heels on her dainty feet. He nearly went to his knees. She’d matched her backless, strappy spike heels perfectly. An image of her in his arms, those heels up around his neck while he made her scream in pleasure had him nearly bending her over the nearest tree.

“Come here.”

He picked her up and she wrapped both legs around his waist, her mouth devouring his. She tasted light and fresh like the whipped cream and strawberries they’d shared. A groan broke free when she lifted both of her hands and reached for his hair, using it to tug him closer. She practically crawled up his body, so hot for him she was as ready as he was. The sound of his shirt ripping sent his body surging up against her wet entrance, making him groan aloud. He tore her panties off and she whimpered against him, digging her heels into his ass.

“Gods, you’re so sexy, baby. I’m going to make you scream.”

“Oh, Aeros, now, now, please.”

‘Aeros, now, please.’ Had he ever heard her so sweet? Fuck. He cupped closer, positioning her for his invasion. His cock found where it wanted to go easily. She began sucking on his neck, her mouth a hot flame reminding him of her soft, wet kisses on his shaft. With a grunt, he bent his knees and tightened his grip as he pushed up inside her wet entrance.

She sucked harder on his skin, whimpering louder the more he pulled her down his body. He recognised the sexy tone and had to have more of her. He sucked a nipple into his mouth, drawing deeply on the hard little bud when she cried out. She curled one hand into his hair, creating bursts of pleasure down his back while her fingers feathered lightly over every inch of him she could reach. She was soft, gentle with her caresses, loving his flesh with each soft touch. But around his shaft she was tight and wet, clenching him hard. The erotic pleasure whipped him into a frenzy to take her harder, mould her to his size and needs, show her now whom she belonged to. Where he fitted her and made her whole.

He tore his mouth from her pearled flesh, suddenly needing more.

“What do you want, baby? More? Harder? Do you want to scream while you ride my cock?”

The rough growl broke free and, instead of holding the dark desire in, he twisted so he could tangle his hand in her silky hair and tip her head back to see her face under the light of the half moon. She dug her heels in and squeezed his hips with her thighs, riding him with a rhythm that tore at his control. Her eyes were mesmerising, the thick dark lashes framing emeralds saturated in sexual hunger.

“Yes, yes, Aeros. Now.”

“Now what, baby? Give you this, and then what? Let you leave? Go to your home, while I go to mine?”

Again the words ripped from him before he could stop the flow. He didn’t let her answer, wouldn’t let her deny she felt this, this bond between them. He took her mouth, demanding her to hold on to him with each luscious stroke of his tongue along hers while he angled his hips up, entering her inch by fucking inch until he was buried to the hilt.

She went wild. Wet, hot, silky, her embrace gripped his body so fucking tight he was sweating from holding back his climax. Her sheath flexed around him almost painfully. He gritted his teeth and held himself still when all he wanted was friction, wet sucking friction. Instead, he ran his hands up and down her ass and back, kissing her flushed cheeks and neck as he held her motionless. She needed more—wanted more. He wanted it all—all of her. Not the best sex of his life and her going home after.

“No, no, more, more, Aeros, please. Move, move.”

He breathed in roughly at her cries. Never had he had such a hard time restraining himself, keeping himself under tight control. With Tabithia he felt like his entire body wanted to break free. She gave him such pleasure it burned through his senses like a storm. The need to move ripped along his nerves, but he held her still, cupping her tiny waist hard to keep her hips tight with his.

“More? You want more, then you’ll walk away? Leave until you need this again?” He flexed his hips and pulled out slowly, dragging every inch of his thick, heavy length along her sucking tightness until only the crest remained before slowly working her open again, feeling her body squeeze his cock as her cries became dazed. Two more retreats and slow strokes and she was crying out, louder and louder, demanding her due.

He closed his eyes and buried his face in her neck, licking her skin and driving them both higher. Her nipples were hard buds against his chest. They stroked along his flesh with each bounce of her plump breasts, nearly forcing him into increasing the pace. She sobbed in his ear, her voice stroking him just like her hands on his shoulders and back.

“Tell me, tell me you want more, baby. Us. Say it. Say it, and I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll come for me like you never have before.”

Aeros shook his head and ignored the harsh, heavy beat of his heart when her eyes fastened on his.

“More, more. Always want more, Aeros. Always.”

He couldn’t tell if she meant sex or a life, but he took it, her. His mouth closed on hers and he rewarded her with a harder, deeper thrust, driving her body up his.

She dug her nails in his shoulders lightly, so lightly he growled against her lip, wanting more, wanting her out of her mind with pleasure. She nearly was, but she held back, keeping her touches light, soft, gentle.

He slowly pulled her up his rock-hard cock then shoved her down while he shafted up so deep they both cried out.

“Again, say it again. Say you want more. More.”

“More, oh, Aeros, more. Always more. More, please, please.”

Her channel ripped around him, flexed, and milked his flesh as the blood soared up and swelled his erection. She was so tight and wet he swore he couldn’t hold back, the reasons as to why he wanted to becoming dim in the face of her tight, sucking heat.

“Oh, too deep, too deep.”

He shuddered and pulled back, edging in carefully, but nearly out of his mind with the need to fuck hard. He’d not felt like this before with her. The urge was hard to resist, the need.

“Oh, harder, harder, Aeros.”

“Baby, you’re killing me, sweet. I can’t do hard and not go deep.”

“Deep, deep. Hard. Now.” She added force to the demand by wiggling up and down in his arms, impaling herself with disastrous results.

Something rose up inside him, a need to possess, to drive himself so deep he groaned at the pressure. She tore open his control when she whispered his name in his ear, the sound of it so full of need his balls drew up swirling in agonising need to fill his shaft. To come. Climax. He felt it building, tearing him apart. He balanced on an edge, her body so perfect against him he could barely breathe.

“Aeros, please, never stop, never want to lose this. You.”

The heated words, barely coherent, ripped away his remaining willpower. He plunged into her, holding her by her ass as he pinned her in place and fucked her. He lost his mind to the pleasure, but managed to release one cheek to tunnel his hand between them to find her clit. Once he did, he pressed his thumb over it and began thrusting into her in earnest.

Hard. Powerful. Deep thrusts as he slammed into her.

“Yes. Yes. Never letting you go. Mine. You’re mine, Tabithia. Mine.”

His furious thrusts matched the hardness of his demand as he took her over the edge with him, her body trembling on his as he felt his shaft fill with cum, his climax barrelling down on him as she came apart in his arms. His mouth found hers and he groaned, driving up with his hips. His body flexed deep within her tight heat. Her legs trembled, her wet channel rippling along his cock as he spurted his release as deep as he could manage. Each spurt tore through him, throwing him into liquid, heated sensations that drew the dark, pulsing pleasure around him. His legs practically gave out as he tried to tunnel his entire body inside her tight embrace. In his arms Tabithia cried out again, another climax quivering up his sensitive flesh as she dug her nails in deep and her mouth broke from his.

Still shuddering, he managed to pull her close and murmur the travel spell he’d purchased from a witch when he’d been searching for the one in his arms. She sucked in a breath and shivered around him. The knowledge that she still climaxed while he held her impaled on his cock and moved them to safety had him kneading her ass in a flood of pure possessive pleasure.

“Oh, gods, don’t…don’t move.” Her voice sounded drenched in pleasure.

He rumbled a soft sound against her head, rubbing his face against her hair as he pulled her closer. The warmth of his home surrounded them now, and a sense of peace settled over him.

“No, no, baby, I won’t.” He wanted to hold her forever, but took the few steps to his bed and pressed her down on the high edge.

Eyes bright with passion, she reached up and tugged at his heart with the emotions he saw in her eyes.

“Aeros, we just had sex in public.”

She sounded thrilled.

His body surged hot and needy inside her. She blinked, and a smile lifted her swollen lips.

“Yes, we did. Did I mention how hot you make me?”

“Mmm, no. But go ahead. I’m listening.”

“Gods, you make me hot. I wanted to drag that dress up your thighs and feast on you at the restaurant.”

Her eyes rounded but she looked intrigued.

“Mmmm, who knew? Next time, try it, big boy.” When she tightened her inner sheath on his cock with the words ‘big boy’ his eyes crossed. “Get out of these clothes, Aeros. And where are we? When did you get a travel spell?”

He laughed. What else could he do? His little general. Instead of answering her, he obeyed her orders and kissed her while he toed his shoes off and kicked his dress slacks out of the way an instant later.

* * * *

Aeros had brought her home. How would she survive this? His home. Not the empty house in LA. But his home. It fitted him. Rich, deep, dark, filled with small items of his immortal life.

He lived in a castle—like, in a castle on a hill castle. She sensed powerful protections layered around the walls and further, over the hills she could see in the pre-dawn light.

Beautiful tapestries covered the walls. A dark crimson one stitched heavily with gold battle scenes hung near his bed, adding a layer of warmth with its earthy colours.

Bedroom? She dropped the lush silk curtain and turned to stare at the room behind her. One scan and her senses went into overload. The place could hold her entire house. A fireplace big enough to roast a pig filled up one side of the room, an extra-large king-size bed stood at an angle in the far corner. Bookshelves covered two walls with floor to ceiling leather volumes. He even had a huge table next to the enormous windows. She could picture him, head bent over some book, sitting at this table, working on something.

Basically, his home felt like it belonged to him—fit him. Everywhere she looked simply reflected what she knew of the warrior who was stealing his way into her heart. She felt like she was sinking into quicksand while he stood and watched her, unable to even see the slime sucking her down.

Rubbing her hands over her face, she exhaled and shook her head. She didn’t really have anything like this, and when he saw what she did have, he’d think her one screwed-up witch. He’d think her pretty messed up. Maybe she could skip home, order furniture and make it look like his?

The thought had merit. For like a heartbeat. Then reality nipped that thought in the bud.

She’d never be able to make her place look like this—warm and welcoming.

She’d just not let him come over. She couldn’t. He’d realise just how screwed up she was in about two seconds flat. Not that he wouldn’t figure that out eventually, but, Jeez, she wanted a bit more time with him.

Panic seized her throat in a fist. She was going to lose him. One look at her messed-up life and her Spartan wouldn’t look at her like he did now—possessively.

They had so many secrets between them. What if he found out she’d gone with him to have sex to save his life? It wouldn’t matter that he’d given her…what? What had he given her?

Her gaze landed on him. He was shaving. She watched him tilt his head and run the straight edge of the blade over his shadowy jaw. Lust tingled along her breasts and her nipples beaded. His hands were so steady. Steady. He wore a towel around his lean hips, but she knew he wore that for her. She’d probably blushed all kinds of red when he’d walked in the room after his shower, his body hard and corded but for the semi-softness of his manhood. One look and she’d felt her face burning. She’d also noticed his immediate reaction. His cock had thickened as she’d stood there watching.

He’d chuckled and pulled her close, kissing her neck, and teasing her about how her blushes made him hard as rock.

He made things so easy. Instead of being embarrassed and self-conscious she’d laughed and bitten him on his big pectoral and caressed her hands down his firm body all the way to his tight ass. His response? A hot and heated kiss that still had her stomach flip-flopping around in excitement.

He simply made her feel at ease. Watching him shave, she realised that she’d never felt at ease before. Never felt comfortable with herself. He did this for her. Just by being Aeros.

What would she do if she lost him?

But how could she keep him? Goddess help her, she was a mess. And he had no idea.

If Ares told him anything, she’d simply explain.

Aeros listened. More than anyone in her life, Aeros listened to her. He wanted to know everything about her. The pendant had freed her to experience this with him, but, if she were honest, she’d not cared about the stupid pendant in the jungle, and she’d not even remembered it at Evie’s. Truth was, the words he’d forced from her weren’t really forced, she’d wanted him from the first moment she’d met him.

He made her feel…safe. Complete. Complete? Something more. More…at peace? At ease. Happy to be herself—or at least the person she was with him. He made her feel hot…but more than hot, maybe confident?

Maybe all of that.

But only when he was near. Just thinking of him leaving her side and the doubts rose up like that quicksand threatening to swallow her whole.

Logic said she was screwed—so screwed. She had to leave. What the hell else could she do? She should. She should send him a text and explain that they had had fun but there could be nothing more.

Even thinking such a lie made her heart clench. Her throat hurt.

She was in so deep, could she leave him now? Could she stand for him to leave her and discover all the things she’d hidden from him? Then come back and be repulsed by her?

She shut her eyes to the beautiful image of his perfect back and glorious muscles. She could still see him, though, in her mind. The image of his face, softened after their passion, would always remain with her.

Oh, man, she was screwed. She opened her eyes and he glanced at her. His gaze flickered over her as if assuring himself she was still there. His jaw was still covered in white shaving cream, but he winked and smiled at her.

Her stomach did a backflip.

Ah, goddess, what was she supposed to do with that sexy, confident look?

The darkness swept up, knocking her happiness down where it belonged.

He’d not want her if he knew how fucked up she was.

She was too. Even now, he was merely shaving and she wanted his attention. His hands. His focus. On her.

She left the window and walked over to the bed to sprawl on her stomach. She dropped her head down on the silky sheets and blinked away the tears that wanted to flow. She was so screwed up.

She couldn’t stay here.

She couldn’t.

She couldn’t have him over to her place.

She couldn’t date him.

She couldn’t let him fill her with his long, thick, wonderful erection ever again.

Ah, goddess, what were you thinking, Bridget? He’d jump-started her, but for what reason? To kill her with all the things she couldn’t do?

No. No more. She needed to go. She’d saved his life. He’d done so much more for her. But she’d give him much more when she simply walked away. She’d make him miserable. Once she was gone, he’d forget about her. Find someone else. Go on with his warrior ways. Live to serve Ares and all that.

“Tabithia, what are you doing? Are you tired?”

She should be. A rush of energy flooded her from panic, but he didn’t need to know that. He was leaving. He had to meet up with Ares, he said. The jerk wanted her to take Aeros to Dare, but first he’d called to tell Aeros to hoof it up to wherever he called home for a pow-wow.

They’d not shared where Dare was with Ares yet, but they’d talked and agreed that he should.

Aeros had been angry. She’d sensed it when she’d explained a bit more about Dare’s demands, but he’d kept a tight lid on it. Ares still had no idea, but he would soon. They planned to tell Ares where Dare was. Her involvement could pretty much be at an end then. No need to negotiate Dare’s terms. Because of Evie’s protections, Ares would have to abide by Dare’s wishes.

She almost wished she could see that, but if it meant seeing Aeros again—she couldn’t. She sat up and rubbed her hair off her face. Aeros watched her closely, so closely she almost felt like he knew her inner turmoil—almost. She smiled over at him and sighed, acting as tired as she could.

“I am a bit tired. Maybe I’ll take a nap.”

“You can sleep here. I’ll only be gone for a little while.” He folded his arms over his chest and watched her so closely she felt a shiver lift the tiny hairs on the back of her neck. “When I return we can sleep together.”

He made that sound like he wanted that more than anything.

“If I had my way, I’d not leave. You know that, don’t you?”

She lifted a shoulder. “It’s no big deal, Aeros. We have to do this. Dare needs to stick up for herself at some point. When you tell Ares where she is and he can’t do much about it, well, he’ll have to do what she says, right?”

“One can only hope. He is a god, though, Tabithia. It might not be so simple.”

“Sometimes the simplest plans are the best.”

Her plan was pretty simple. Leave and never see Aeros again.

Her heart tightened, squeezing so hard in her chest it throbbed painfully. Just the thought did that, what would she do when she left him?

They’d been together for three days now. Three perfect, wonderful days. And nights. Her body craved him. Sammie had called, changing the meet to tonight. Aeros had listened and grinned when she’d suggested she go home again. Then he’d occupied her so thoroughly that all thoughts of leaving had left her head.

Now? He was leaving.

Somehow that panicked her. Not that he’d get hurt. But that maybe Ares, the big mouth, would tell him about why she’d first gone with him. Had sex with him. Or worse, tell him about how screwed up she was. How she lived. What she did to herself when these black feelings rose too high to handle.

He interrupted her self-pity party with a laugh. Walking over, he sat next to her and caressed his hand from her shoulder to her butt.

“Ah, yes, simple plans, I can see why you like them, Tabithia, but sometimes you have to strategise to win a bigger battle.”

His light teasing didn’t match the serious expression he wore. She tilted her head and watched him.

“Mmm, I think my strategies worked pretty well last night.” She lifted her hips and rubbed into his hand. Jeez, she was worse than a cat needing to be petted.

Aeros leant down and kissed her shoulder and sighed. “I’m not going to argue that point, sweet.”

With another sexy look, he stood up and began to gather his clothes. She watched him tug on a pair of jeans commando-style with a grimace as he adjusted himself. She knew she was blushing from the heat hitting her face, but she watched anyway. She wanted to remember this mundane, so simple thing, so that when the darkness dissipated, she would have this bright memory of him. He pulled a T-shirt on and ran a hand through his short hair, tousling the little length he’d grown into something altogether too rumpled and sexy-looking.

Her heart broke a little more.

“So, we will go meet your friend this evening?”

She groaned at that. Meeting friends. That was what couples did. Couples.

“Tabithia?”

The bed dipped, and his sexy smell, some Aeros thing, soap lightly spiced with his own warm heat, filled her nose. He smelt like happiness.

Gods, she needed out of this. Panicked, trapped, she took a moment to gather her turmoil into something she could deal with before lifting her head and trying a smile on. It felt wooden.

“Tired. Just tired. I guess I’ll take that nap.” She prayed he couldn’t tell when she was lying, because she was. She was leaving as soon as he did. She’d not spelled in days, so her power level was bigger than the Hoover Dam. She’d spell home and then… Well, then she’d see. First, get home. Then deal. A rush of panic hit her at the thought of him not nearby, but she shoved it aside.

Numb, she met his dark gaze firmly.

“I will be quick. I want to come home to you sleeping in my bed, Tabithia.”

The way he said her name, as if he couldn’t get enough of it, tore and ripped deep. Doubts assailed her, but she refused to think and clung to instinct.

“Mmm, well, it would be a first.” The bed was a mess, tangled sheets and tumbled blankets everywhere. Clothing littered the floor where they’d not wasted time on getting to each other’s bodies. Empty plates and half-filled wine glasses lay on the thick fur rug by the fireplace where they’d made love under the warm glow of the fire. The place looked well used. They’d used the bed, but not for sleeping.

“Yes, I know.” How did he make that sound sexy? “Behave, I’ll be back soon. And Tabithia?”

She paused, halfway to getting off the bed. Hell, had he found out she was leaving? He pressed his thigh between her legs, making her practically mount his thick leg, and pulled her tight to his body. He was fully erect again. The shiver that spiked down her spine made her body turn liquid against him.

“Ares is many things, but my boss is not one of them. I answer to him, but I think it’s time I settled a few things between he and I.”

With that, he pulled her up and in his arms, enveloping her with his hot, hard body. His temperature wasn’t as scalding as before when she’d first noticed his heat, but he was still warmer than she was. Especially right now, when desperation ripped through her and she wanted leaving him to be easier. How would she ever feel warm again? How would she ever let him go?

His kisses were gentle, tender, as if he sought to tame her all over again.

Inside, he shattered her heart.