He scoffed. “They can believe whatever they wish. The human realm’s opinion of me bears no matter.”
He leaned closer, one hand on the canopy bedpost, which I was grateful for. Otherwise, he might have fallen. His eyes were so dilated that they were almost entirely black. His chest was rising and falling unevenly.
“Why did you come to the party?” he purred. “Didn’t I warn you?”
He was close enough that I felt the brush of his breath against my cheeks, smelling of something herbal. On impulse, he reached out and brushed back a loose strand of my hair, tucking it behind my ear. He didn’t let his hand fall away. Instead, his fingers moved the back of my neck, twisting into the hair there at my nape, holding me in an almost possessive way.
I very nearly couldn’t breathe from desire. The way he touched my neck made my head arch back just slightly. If he leaned down just a few inches, we’d kiss.
“Locke invited me,” I whispered.
A growl slipped out of Severn’s throat. He muttered, “Never believe a word my brother says. These parties aren’t for ones like you. You don’t know the kind of things that happen here.” He squeezed his fist tighter in my hair, drawing me closer until he could lean down and whisper in my ear, “I’d tear you apart if you were in this bed with me.”
I sucked in a breath. I couldn’t believe that he had said something so bold and blunt. He was clearly intoxicated with some fae elixir.I should leave.Yet every time I tried to remind myself that he was my boss, I only found myself turned on more. It was all I could do not to run my hands over his chest. I wanted to press my lips against every part of him, taste him to see if he had the flavor of that herb I could never name.
“Is that…” I swallowed, shocked at my own boldness. “An invitation?”
He growled low in his throat. His dark eyes flashed with something dangerous. In the next instant, we both pressed together. Our lips met with a clash of desire. I told myself this was just to get back at Briar and Bramble. To prove them wrong. But soon, Briar and Bramble and everyone else in the world were totally out of mind. All I could think of was Severn. His silver hair, as soft as silk that brushed against my cheeks, tickled me, driving me mad. The tang of sweat and wine on his skin. The sound of lips brushing lips as he deepened the kiss.
I leaned into him, letting my hands trail down his massive arms. His muscles were impossibly smooth and rock hard. I wanted to dig my fingernails into his skin to hold on to him as hard as he was holding on to me.
His lips dropped down to my neck, to the sensitive place where he’d kissed me for the confidentiality spell. His teeth teased the thin skin there, nipping at me. I was growing so hot I felt feverish. My groin ached with need.
He returned to my lips, cupping my jaw in his hands, kissing me deeply as a moan slipped out from his mouth. We parted for air, both of us breathing hard, and he pressed his forehead against mine.
“Willow,” he breathed and then seemed to think better of whatever he was about to say. He shook his head. “You should go. Now.”
I nodded shakily. He was right. The kiss had been so passionate that it scared me.
I stumbled out of the bedroom like I was moving underwater. Part of me wanted to rush back and beg for him to kiss me again, but I kept putting one foot after the other, pushing past the fae in the long hallway, back into the living room.
I spotted Mia in the kitchen, holding Puck, while a werewolf woman scratched him behind the ears and told him how adorable he was.
“Willow, there you are! Look who I found!” Mia’s face fell. “Are you okay?”
“Mm-hmm,” I said, very aware that I probably looked like I’d just run a marathon by how hard I was breathing.
I took Puck and hurried back to my own apartment, catching Locke’s eye on the way out. He gave me a long knowing look, and I had the feeling he had guessed exactly where I’d disappeared to.
ChapterFifteen
I avoided Severn for the next few days, which wasn’t difficult. Technically, I was supposed to be confined to my apartment anyway, so the paparazzi wouldn’t be able to snap any more photos and keep the ridiculous marriage story running.
Azalea and Mia took turns walking Puck for me, and Henry and May and I found plenty to do, though we were going a little stir-crazy trapped in the tower. By the time I finally got a summons at my door in the form of a crow with a maple leaf in its beak—which transformed into a paper note when I accepted it—I was praying it was a reason to get out of the apartment.
Which, it was.
Meet me on the 13th floor. Now. S.
“What is it?” May asked, jumping up to try to read the note over my shoulder.
“Severn wants to talk to me,” I said evenly, trying not to hide my mixed emotions. “You guys will be okay here for a few minutes, right? If you need anything, ask Azalea. Henry, you’re in charge.”
My mind found all sorts of things to worry about as I rode the elevator down to the thirteenth floor. I’d had plenty of time to think about our kiss at the party and realize what a colossal mistake it had been. Making out with my shirtless boss! What had I been thinking? Well, clearly, Ihadn’tbeen thinking. I’d let other body parts besides my brain make the decisions that night.
Whenever I thought about it, a rush of desire swept over me again, but I was determined to stop that kind of thinking.There lies danger. I’d sworn never to let a man in a powerful position take advantage of me again, and look what had happened. Though, if I was being honest,Severnhad been intoxicated that night, not me. So maybe it was me taking advantage ofhim. The thought made me blanch.
“What exactly is on the thirteenth floor?” I asked Azalea nervously.
