Herearring? A quick look on her dresser and she found its twin still there. Frowning, she ran her finger around the almost-prefect loop. She was so sure she’d lost this at the club.
Guess she was mistaken. She hung Reynner’s pants back on the armchair. He’d already showered and gone off to the kitchen to get started on coffee. Heat spread across her face when she recalled how he’d awakened her earlier. The man was way too inventive.
Heck, she’d gladly wake up like that every day. A smile curved her mouth. But reality forced her to focus. Before that could happen, she had to find a way to leave without Reynner today and go see the oracle.
She rubbed her earring with her thumb and worried over her dilemma. There was no way he’d allow her to go out on her own. She could ask North to accompany her, but he’d probably tell Reynner where she’d been, and chances were, Reynner would know why and that would ruin everything. The man was far too canny and way too protective.
And Aerén, friendly as he was, he would flat-out refuse.
She paced to the door and looped back to the window, recounting the knots on the wooden floors while she tried to figure out the least suspicious way of leaving.
Crap, this was so damn difficult…unless, she told him she wanted to spend some time with her friends before they headed out to look for the artifact this evening, and that she needed to relax after her showing.
She cringed at the pathetic lie. She really didn't want to leave him.
“Why are you hiding in here?”
Her heart jumped and her head snapped to him.
Reynner leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. The heat in his eyes as he ran his gaze over her just about made her melt. Warmth spread across her cheeks. He was such a predatory male. He liked to take charge when they made love. She should have known when he’d first told her to undress in Exilum.
Smiling, he straightened and strolled over to her, his hands sliding into his jeans pockets. He halted, his brow furrowing as he searched in them. Picking up his leathers from the armchair, he rifled through those, too.
“What’s wrong?”
He shook his head as he hunted in his back pockets.
Eve grabbed him, stopping his frantic search. “Reynner, what is it?”
He went still. His gaze dropped to her hand on his arm. He loosened her hold and gently removed the earring she clutched. Then he simply stared at the small piece of metal.
Puzzled, she searched his face. “You want my earring?”
His gaze lifting to hers, he rubbed the back of his neck. For the first time, Eve saw him look uncomfortable. Almost sheepish.
“This was what kept me together,” he said softly, his thumb stroking the metal. “When darkness took me under, when I thought I couldn’t hold my shit together, this piece of metal was all I had to hold onto. A piece of you that kept me sane.”
Eve simply stared at him, his words touching a visceral part of her. He dropped the small hoop back in his pocket and stroked her face with a gentleness she’d never thought possible from such a hard man.
“At the club, when I crashed into you, your earring caught on my shirt. The moment I touched it, I could sense your spirit, your very essence. It drew me and I couldn’t let go. Now that I have you, I don’t really need it, but I want to keep that piece of you…”
Her heart swelled with tenderness.
“It’s my reminder of what I nearly lost with my…” he broke off, searching for a word.
“Pigheadedness?” she teased, trying to get her shaky emotions under control. If she didn’t, she’d start blubbering like an idiot.
Amusement lightened his eyes. Lowering his head, he kissed her. “I prefer inflexibility.”
He swung her into his arms and crossed to the bed. Then he dropped her. A startled shriek escaped her as she fell. Before she got her breath back, he’d settled between her parted legs and caged her with his big body. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
His eyes warm and tender, he brushed away the stray strands of hair spilling over her face. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
Hiding her grin, she moved her hand down between their bodies to his groin and the delicious bulge there. She stroked him over his jeans. “I think I do.”
“Urias—”
“So you want me naked, huh?”
