Out loud, I said, “I’m five-eleven, Cadmus. I’m not little. I’m an independent woman and used to making me own decisions in this world.”
“Then I’m doubly glad you gifted me with your body not so long ago. The memories keep me more than warm at night.” He leaned closer, subtly working me with his nearness, with his earthy scent that made me want to melt. His lips touched the rim of my ear when he whispered, “Do your dreams haunt you as much as mine haunt me? I can’t stop seeing you naked, over me, taking me into your body.”
“That’s enough.” To my horror, I found myself breathing hard. I glanced at him and felt marginally better to find him in the same state.
The rigid evidence of his desire pressed against his blue jeans.
That’s right, baby. I want you. I’d take you right here, right now, if you’d only say the word.
My lips parted before I thought the better of it. “But I thought you wanted me to beg.”
His gaze caught and stayed on my mouth. I licked my lips, and he groaned. “Ellie, with little effort, you could have me begging you.”
The thought brought forth the wicked streak I’d been suppressing since he’d shown at my door. “Is that right?”
I projected a vivid recollection of the last time I’d trailed my lips down his frame, licking at the tantalizing skin on his perfect body. Nibbling my way toward that most impressive part of him.
“Stop,” he rasped. “I swear, if you’ll teleport us to your home, I’ll get down on my knees and apologize for anything you want me to.”
I started to smile when his words penetrated. “Teleport us to my home?”
The idea he still thought of me more as a Djinn than a regular woman stopped me in my tracks. Despite my desire for the royal idiot, I resolved to avoid going down that road with Cadmus again. This time, we’d start our relationship on a fresh, platonic slate.
Swallowing around a dry mouth, I forced myself to grin. “Look, Cadmus, I was just teasing. We have more errands to run. Let’s get started, okay?”
Deliberately keeping space between us, I invited him to accompany me downtown with a polite smile and friendly chatter, my mind a careful blank. I could feel his will trying to force its way through, but I remained firm.
The sexual tension between us was as thick as Seattle fog in October, and even the cabbie who dropped us off on Pine Street gave us a second glance before leaving.
“I really have my work cut out for me.” Cadmus sighed. “Fine. Show me your world, Ellie. All I know of Seattle is Outpour, Green Lake, and Mt. Rainier. If I don’t see it now, I may not get a chance before Tanselm beckons me home.”
The realization Cadmus had been away from his homeworld, was in fact hiding from a powerful enemy made up of more than a few Djinn, gave me a moment’s compassion.
A pretty woman eyeballed him as she walked by, and Cadmus openly returned her smile.
My compassionate moment passed.
“Great, Cadmus. I’m so glad we can at least be friends.” I smiled with as much fake sincerity as I could muster. “Today is going to be so much fun.”
Shoe shopping, clothes shopping, and more shoe shopping. I’d teach him to ogle strange women during an argument.
Four hours later, my feet hurt, and I knew the heels I’d spent two hundred dollars on would never see more than the inside of their box.
Cadmus’ upbeat mood should have soured. Unfortunately, he’d behaved wonderfully all day. He’d bought me sweets at the market, the chocolate-covered cherries I loved so much. He’d taken part in finding me clothes to try on, unerringly finding the correct sizes. And he’d been pleasantly polite to the saleswomen throughout town.
If he said one more nice thing to me today, I just might lose it.
“Really, Ellie. Your eyes were the first thing I noticed when I saw you enter Outpour for the first time.”
I groaned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just hunger pangs.”
“You should have said something.” He frowned and immediately guided me to the nearest restaurant.
And that was another thing. He kept taking care of me, as if I were the one hiding out from the bad guys and he my protector.
