“No more lying,” he said softly. Way too softly.
A tremble shook her that had nothing to do with fear. Her nerves flashed to fully alive, and her skin sensitized. What the hell was happening to her? Her clothes were suddenly too restrictive. She licked her lips.
His gaze tracked her tongue. Tension exploded around them, rolling through the room.
She wanted to retreat a step, but her legs wouldn’t cooperate. “Theo—”
Pressing his thumb and forefinger beneath where her jaw met her neck, he drew her toward him. “You don’t speak unless it’s the truth. Got it?”
Fury speared through her. “Think you can stop me?” She lost any hint of helplessness.
“Yes.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Try me.”
God. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Her mind fuzzed. No. This couldn’t happen. She knew. Shejust knewthat being kissed by Theo Reese would change her world. Considering her world was full of intrigue, pain, and lies right now…that might not be so bad. But getting involved with him would be a disaster. Especially right now. “Release me because this is a very bad idea,” she whispered.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “That wasn’t a lie.”
“No.” It wasn’t.
“Where’s the Benjamin file?” His gaze traveled up from her lips to her eyes.
All Saints, she could get lost in those midnight black eyes. This close, she could see different shades. Were there different shades of black? She hadn’t thought so before. Now, she could see them. Ah. Vampire eyes. Wait a minute. The vamps had tertiary eye colors that came out in times of stress or great emotion or supposedly during sex. Jared’s were just a darker black, which she’d seen once when he’d been in a fight as a kid. Chalton, the middle brother, had a deep blue that was almost black and didn’t look much different from his normal color. She only knew that because of a background file she’d read on him. There was no such background file on Theo. Unfortunately.
Theo leaned closer. “Ginny?”
“What other color are your eyes?” she blurted.
He blinked. Once and then twice. “The only way you’ll ever know that is if you’re naked.”
Naked. He saidnaked. She gulped down a swallow. Images of Theo sans clothing, over her, slid through her mind, down her body, and landed hard between her legs. Was it possible to faint from desire? Oh, she was a master at pretending to faint. But now, her knees actually wobbled. “How improper,” she said, fighting her hardest to keep her voice mild.
“The last thing in the world you need is proper.” His voice was even milder.
He wanted to play? Fine. She could play. “What do I need, Theo?” she asked in her flirtiest voice, trying to toss her head at the same time. His firm hand made it difficult, but she gave it a good effort, sending her thick hair tumbling down her back.
A growl rumbled up his chest and heated the air between them. “Not something you’d enjoy,” he said, his hold tightening just enough to give warning. “Why the hell aren’t you burning me? Are you that desperate to appear weak?”
The words slapped her in the face. Only training kept her from reacting. “You’re not worth the effort.”
His head tilted just slightly, in a curiously dangerous way. “That hurt you. What I said. Why?”
Was he a damn mind reader? Bollocks. Witches used quantum physics, among other sciences, to create plasma fire out of the air around them. It was an excellent weapon, and if she had the ability to use it, she would’ve already burned off every hair on his head. “You didn’t hurt me.”
“Lie.” He said the last softly—thoughtfully. His brows drew down. “I’m not releasing you until you give me an answer.”
“To which question?” she snapped.
He drew her even closer. “Both. Where’s my file, and why can’t you create fire?”
“I don’t have your file, and I can create fire,” she said.
He breathed out. “Kind of true and kind of false. Interesting. So you don’t have the file right now, which makes sense. A smart thief would’ve hidden it elsewhere. And you can create fire, but you’re unable to do so right now. Why is that?”
“You’re crazy.”
“Maybe. But we’re not moving until you give me the truth.”
She had no choice. Shoving both arms up, she broke his hold, and then just as quickly punched him in the eye.
