“Looks like I’m not the only one who can’t stop thinking about it,” he murmured against my skin. “I suggest I take you on the tour unless you’d rather spend your day here with me.”
“Tour. Now,” I said, swallowing hard.
Gray let me go and we both stood. He straightened out his clothes and caught me looking at him again.
“You can change your mind,” he teased, grinning wolfishly.
“Shut up and get moving.”
He spent the entire day taking me around upper Elysia, the highest heaven. Everything took my breath away, and my resolve was wavering. It was hard not to want to give them my devotion when I walked among their homes and all they held dear.
We sat down to dinner at a restaurant. Food was a luxury here, something to do rather than a necessity. The plates were intricate and mouth-watering, and I wasn’t sure how I was meant to go back to my limited repertoire in the kitchen.
I watched the way people acknowledged Gray. More than once, we’d been interrupted until he told a server he wanted no more disturbances.
“I’m not sure Holden would approve of me taking you to dinner,” Gray commented from across the table.
“It’s just work.”
“He doesn’t like me very much.”
“You’re a difficult being to like.”
“You have no problems.”
“I tolerate you.”
“For the sex?”
“For the sex.”
“I feel used.”
I laughed, and Gray joined in. Low and husky, the sound lit a fire deep in my stomach.
I wanted to stay away from him and every cell in my body knew I should, but Gray was like a drug. Everything about him drew me in. He was quick-witted and sharp and charming and undeniably good looking. He fought me at every step, but I enjoyed it and I know he did too. It was as if we were evenly matched, although he’d deny it.
“What happens tomorrow?” I asked, trying to keep us on the straight and narrow.
He leaned back in his chair.
“We meet with Erik and Sloan, and they gift Cato his responsibility?” I guessed.
“Not quite. We gather at the reflecting pool. Erik and Sloan have an idea of what they’d like to gift him, but it’s not really in our hands. Most of the time, we’re in line with the pool, but now and then, it has ideas of its own.”
“What about the aura colour?”
“You’ll watch the pool change colour when Cato is given his gift. As he grows older, he’ll learn how to summon and control it.”
Desserts were placed in front of us.
“Then I’ll host the gifting ball,” Gray continued when we were left alone. “Actually, we’ll need to find you something to wear for that —”
There was a forkful of cake halfway to my mouth, but I stopped. “I don’t trust you with my outfit choice. Plus, I have a dress.”
“I told you I’d give you the full story from now on.”
I thought back to that night we laid in bed together when he didn’t seem like his usual self. He was quieter, less aggressive, and the words held more weight.
