“Thank you,” I toldJarod.
He placed the back of his hand on the table, offering me his palm. Without hesitation, I fed my fingers through his. Perhaps, I should’ve hesitated. By holding hands in front of Tristan, we were revealing a new alliance that didn’t includehim.
Although his face remained smooth, there was a new gleam in Tristan’s eyes that hadn’t been there the night he’d introduced me to hisboss.
Chapter 47
Even though thefood had been delicious, I’d had trouble appreciating the meal fully because of the tension that stretched like a rope between Tristan and me. How could I make him see I wasn’t trying to steal his place but make my own beside Jarod? A heart-to-heart without Jarod was in order. When they returned from their trip . . . or the followingday.
“You’ve been unusually quiet tonight,” Jarod said, leading me up the stairs to his bedroom after Tristan had taken hisleave.
“Justthinking.”
“Aboutwhat?”
“I’m thinking Tristan’s afraid I’ll dethronehim.”
“Dethrone him?” Jarod’s eyebrows jolted. “No. He’s afraid you’ll hurt me. And I can’t blame him, because I’m afraid you’ll hurtme.”
“Hurt you?” I twirled toward him when we reached the landing. “I’dnever.”
He tendered me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Hereallybelieved I would hurthim. . .
“Jarod, Ipromise—”
He kissed me to quietme.
Had my sinner been burned so often by empty promises he no longer believed in them? I decided then and there that I would have to prove my loyalty and affection with actions instead ofwords.
I clasped his neck as he backed me into his bedroom and kicked the door closed, his hands traveling over the black spandex compressing my form. Instrumental music played softly, and I assumed it was in my head since there’d been no music when I’d left earlier. This should’ve preoccupied me, but Jarod’s kisses were so intoxicating I wasn’t surprised they filled my ears with beautiful harmonies. When our lips unsealed and the music kept playing, I realized it wasn’t in myhead.
Slowly, Ispun.
The darkness glittered, candles burning on every surface, casting miniature pools of light on the scattering of crimson rose petals sprinkled over Jarod’s rug andbed.
His arms came around my waist and pulled my back into his front. “Is this romantic enough foryou?”
My throat tightened with emotion. “Who—how—”
“Didn’t notice Muriel was missing throughout most of themeal?”
My embarrassment was on par with my enchantment as I took in her handiwork. I orbited back in the cage of his arms and covered his jaw in kisses, my heart puffing like a soufflé. He chuckled at my enthusiasm but then stopped chuckling when his face came away wet with mytears.
This man.“Will you ever cease to amaze me, JarodAdler?”
He kissed my lids with such tenderness that my pulse turned molten and my skin began to gleam. “I’ll never cease to amaze you if you never cease to glitter forme.”
I nodded again, my hair rushing around myface.
“Fuck, if you’re not the most magnificent being I’ve ever laid eyeson.”
“I’m just a woman. Withwings.”
He cradled my face. “Mywoman with wings.Myangel.Ma plume.”Hisfeather.
He crushed his mouth to mine, and then his hands slid down my neck, shoulders, and arms, coming to rest on my hips. Slowly, he started to tug on the fabric of my dress, sliding it up my thighs. When his fingers grazed my bare skin, he broke the kiss. “You weren’t wearingunderwear?”
“I ran out of clean ones,” I said, watching his pupilsdilate.
