“Circe,” he finally said, numbing my thoughts.
“No.” There was nothing he could say to dilute this moment.
Stone’s face contorted at my response, and he drove his fist into the wall. The wall crumbled under his fist, and his knuckles pulled back bloody and battered.
“Look at what you’ve done!” he roared.
I flinched in place and wanted to look around the room, but I also didn’t want to take my eyes off him. There was no telling how fast he could snap back into insanity.
He had been out of his mind. He had been something else entirely.
Stone flipped the couch off the floor, slamming it back into the wall. Beneath it lay a book, and he reached down and grabbed it. My gaze followed him to the fireplace.
The muscles in his back moved as he snatched a lantern from the mantle, his shoulder blades flexing like wings each time he tried to catch his breath. He turned on the lantern, igniting the gas flame, and pitched it into the fireplace.
A fire exploded, and he tossed the book into its flames.
I watched from behind his statue-like stance as the fire leaped up the chimney, growing teeth and scorching the curling pages before eating away at the charred leather.
A sound filled the room. It didn’t make sense, but it was as if the book was laughing, and its laugh shriveled into a scream until it died away.
Whatever it was, was gone. We were alone at last.
Stone turned his head.
His side profile was a painting of ruby and snow. “You should go.”
I should have gathered what was left of my dress from the ground.
I should have run.
I wasn’t thinking. Not at all.
I was walking toward him on impulsive feet, my chest heaving. I didn’t stop until I was standing behind him, an ache pumping under my skin, a craving rushing through my veins, my sex pulsing for relief, the gentle memory replaying even though it was over. I kissed his shoulder blade.
“Do you still want me, Stone?” I asked.
Because despite the lies wrapped around us, this secret was the most honest thing I’d ever had. I could see the despair in his eyes and hear the crying out for me in his touch. Stone’s starvation called upon mine. So, I grabbed his hand and turned him until he was facing me.
I can do this,I thought.Just once to know what it’s like.
“Now that it’s over and she’s gone, do you still wantme,in the same way, right now, without a second to think?”
There was a tortured look in his eyes as they swung between mine.
There was also a shock.
“Yes,” he exhaled, relief raining down his features. “I fear if not now, then nevermore.”
Those words chained themselves to me. They tossed an anchor to the bottom of my heart, and I wondered what it would have been like if things were different.
I kissed his mouth that was hung open, sliding my tongue across his just once. “Then take me,” I whispered, inching back.
And Stone leaned in, chasing my lips.
CHAPTER 19
ADORA
