“Like what?” Could Ellie feel the powerful emotions roiling within my heart?
“Like the cat that ate the canary.”
I lay next to her and propped myself up on an elbow. “So I’m the cat and you’re the canary?” I had “eaten” her a little while ago. I grinned.
She blushed. “Very funny. But maybe I’m the cat. I have given you blowjobs.”
“Oh ho. Nice mouth, Ellie.”
She stuck out her tongue at me, and I’d swear I heard her purring.
“What’s that noise?” Her eyes widened. “Are you purring?”
“I thought that was you.”
She shook her head. “No. But now that you mention it, I’m surprised you heard it. It’s the same sort of sound I hear before Jonas shows, when he’s courteous enough to give me a little warning.”
“Likes to pop in unannounced, hmm?”
“Sometimes.”
I planned to put a stop to that. Then recalling what I’d done to Jonas earlier, my good mood promptly vanished. “Shit.”
“Excuse me?” She leaned up and looked for her clothes. “I’m going to take that as an ‘I wish we had more time to spend together’ shit.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “I’m a real pain in your ass, aren’t I?”
When I wiggled my brows, she blushed. “Yes, you are, you pervert.” She let me clean her before she quickly dressed. “I can’t believe I let you do that to me.”
“Come on, Ellie.” I lazily dressed and stepped into my boots, wanting to take her all over again. Something about Ellie called to me on a purely visceral level. “You know you liked it. I guess that makes you the perfect pervert for me.”
She smiled at me, but I saw a flash of caution in her gaze as well, reminding me of how I’d hurt her in the past. I had no way to right that wrong, but I could pave the way to a joyous future.
Rejuvenated, I smiled with all the charm I had in me. “Mother of all that’s Light, I never feel as good as I do when I’m around you, Ellie.” I took her in my arms and kissed the breath out of her. “I’d be a fool not to admit how we fit. You make my head spin.” I paused. “You are all right, aren’t you? I didn’t hurt you?”
“No.” She looked down with a becoming shyness so at odds with the strong woman I’d come to know. “As much as I’d like to tell your ego to pound sand, I have to admit I never would have agreed to what we did if I didn’t…”
She trailed off, and I knew it was too soon for her to admit what I prayed she was growing to feel. She needed time—and wooing, my conscience added—to tell me what I suspected she might feel for me.
I looked deeply into her eyes, caught by the fierce yearning I didn’t think she knew showed.
She cupped my cheek and brushed her fingers over my stubbled cheeks. “It was wonderful, Cadmus. You’re a very giving lover. And you’ve shown me Light in so many new and wonderful ways.”
My heart stuttered under her touch, and I reveled in her praise. I wryly likened myself to a beast brought to heel by a beautiful maiden. She had well and truly snared me, and I knew I’d give my last breath to make sure she had every happiness she deserved.
“Cadmus, I need to tell you something.”
“Anything, Ellie. I’m yours.” I meant that wholeheartedly.
“It’s hard for me to say. You see, I think I —”
I froze as a familiar spread of Darkness enveloped us.
Chapter 15
Cadmus
“Hell. Not now.” I threw up a protective shield around us both and pushed Ellie behind me.
