Henodded.
“Wish someone had taught methat.”
The look of seriousness that invaded his face made me worry I’d said the wrong thing. “The world was an immensely drab place to live in before you burst through my doors, so full of light andcolor.”
“Color, huh? Are you talking about my hair? I’ve always hated how colorful it was,” I addedmournfully.
“I’d say your hair’s the sexiest part about you, but I’d be doing the rest of your stunning body a great deal ofinjustice.”
The heat in my cheeks made its way toward the juncture of my thighs. “No one’s ever called me sexybefore.”
“Only because they’re better-mannered than I am.” He tugged on my hair, tipping my head back at an almost painful angle. “And just so we’re clear, no one besides me gets to call you that from nowon.”
The heat of him, the growl of him, the feel of him threatened to make my heart jump right through my parted lips. I licked them, and his eyes flared. “You’re smoldering,Feather.”
“Seems to happen a lot in your presence.” I moistened my lips again. “Are you going to just look at me or do something aboutit?”
His lips curved into a smile so satisfied it rubbed my nerves raw. “What is it you want me todo,Feather?”
“You could kiss me for starters,” I suggested, my voice barelyaudible.
His dark eyes absorbed the glowing mess I’d become. “Where?”
I sucked in abreath.
Jarod pressed his mouth to my collarbone. “Here?” he whispered huskily, and I shivered. “Or . . .” He tugged on the collar of my T-shirt, and his mouth bore down on my shoulder. “Here? Or . . .” When he dragged his tongue in a straight line up the slope of my neck and tugged my earlobe inside his mouth, I worried for my ribs’ safety. He pulled away to inspect the effect of hiskisses.
“Anywhere, Jarod. Just—don’t stop,” Ibegged.
“Careful what you wish for, Feather. I’m an extremely creative person.” He let go of my hair, and his hands tracked down the pebbled skin of myarms.
Not that my mind was at its most lucid, but what the heck did creativity have to do with—oh!
Jarod dropped down to his knees, his palms skating down the sides of my legs. When his hands swirled around my calves, and he kissed the inside of one knee, then the other, I all but choked on a gasp. Or was it a moan? The next kiss fell just below the hemline of my T-shirt.
I scrambled to grab some part of him, managing a handful of hair. “Wait! Stop—” My heartbeats tasted like metal. “I—” If Jarod took this any farther, my wings were going to go up insmoke.
Ophan Greer had taught us it was improper to have relations of a romantic nature outside of wedlock, yet my earlier orgasm hadn’t cost me anything. Was it because Jarod wasn’t completely human? Or because wings weren’tsexualorgans?
Jarod rose, then cradled my face. “I’msorry.”
A mad chuckle leaped out of me and made his brow crease. I sobered up, not wanting him to think I was laughing at his apology. “Oh, Jarod. Please don’t besorry.”
Hefrowned.
“I’m just scared the Ishim are going to cremate what’s left of my feathers.” I shrugged, and my back stung again. Latching on to the hem of my T-shirt, I explained, “I grew up being told that sex out of wedlock was a carnal sin that would send me straight toAbaddon.”
His eyebrows knitted, but at least, his nostrils stopped flaring in anguish. “So, without completed wings, you could be taken to Abaddon but not toElysium?”
The dissonance of his conclusion struck me. “You’re right . . . it makes little sense.” Why hadn’t I considered asking Ophan Greerthis?
“You didn’t lose any feathers for what I did to youearlier.”
“Iknow.”
“Have you ever wondered if the rules you were given were simply a way to keep you inline?”
“Not before I metyou.”
