“Do you always talk this formally? I assumed it was just in the presence of mortals. To show off.”
An amusing gleam floated in his eyes, the corners of his mouth rising. “That is my style of speech. I have no intention of impressing anyone.” His gaze traveled past my body before returning to my face. “Perhaps,someone.”
My days, he was such a flirt. I was almost envious of how effortlessly he did it.
I feigned a blush, averting my attention from him. The room was vast, with towering columns that touched the ceiling. A cold marble table, polished to a mirror sheen, dominated the center of the space, surrounded by extravagant red chairs that were upholstered in rich velvet and carved with gold accents. Tall crimson draperies hid large windows on the wall, accompanied by a few nude portraits of himself.
He appeared next to me, his shoulder bumping superficially against mine. “Admiring the scenery?”
My gaze snapped away from the paintings, but not before taking in the sight of his penis. Did its size reflect reality or had the artist been compensated to exaggerate it?
“If you distrust the paintings, you may examine it yourself.” My mouth dropped, capturing the playful curve of his lips and the twitch of his eyebrows before he erupted in laughter.
I remained still and unblinking. The cockiness of this man was unbelievable.
After he was done laughing at his own words, he returned his eyes to me, slowly easing into a steady expression. “I was jesting, but the offer remains valid.”
How could I possibly pretend to be in love with him? I sighed as my fingers reached up to press on my temples. “Thank you, but I’ll have to pass on the offer.”
He cleared his throat, placing his palms inside the front pockets of his linen pants. Perhaps he sensed my mood, because the mirth had disappeared from his face.
“Did you find the gift to your liking?”
“Yes, my wounds are gone.” I gritted my teeth, meeting his gaze. “Thank you.”
The God of Love nodded. “I am curious as to the reason for your visit.”
My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth as I pondered the most suitable answer. Confront him or lie? I squinted at him. Men were gratified when women sought their help, getting pleasure from helping a woman in a difficult situation. I decided to use pity as my approach for now.
I moved theatrically, my hands beside my body, while letting out a huff. “I might die tomorrow, and as foolish as it sounds, I don’t want to be alone.”
“It is not foolish. Perhaps you could’ve requested the company of one of the contestants.”
Think. Think. Think.
I arched a brow. “You mean the people I’ll eventually have to fight against?”
He pursed his lips. “Understandable. Shall I offer a tour of my home?”
The question took me off guard. I inhaled a deep breath, drawing out a smile. “That would be nice.”
The God of Love pressed a hand on the small of my back, and I flinched at the sensation, resisting the urge to pull away. “After you.”
I sank my teeth into my lip, walking in tandem with him. “Do you have portraits with you in every room of the house? Because I might reconsider the tour if that’s the case.”
He laughed, his head falling back as the joyous sound escaped, revealing his brilliant white teeth.
His shoulders still shook when he spoke. “I will arrange for their removal if they are causing you distress.”
“So there are more?”
The God of Love wiped at the corner of his eyes. “No, I’m afraid not.”
We walked past the entrance, and our footsteps reverberated in the stillness of the house. He came to a halt, extending a hand toward the kitchen. Light marble counters were veined with subtle streaks of gold and against a backdrop of deep, red walls, shelves were meticulously arranged and filled with a vibrant collection of jars.
“This is my kitchen. I enjoy cooking when my schedule permits.”
“I’ve been here for twenty minutes, and I already learned two things about you,” I began.
