“Naked, wet, and all over me—” he broke off, his gaze on her charm bracelet.
Grasping her wrist, he studied the ornaments then fingered the heart.
“It was a present from my friends,” she said. “That day we crashed in the club? It was my birthday.”
After a moment of silence, he asked, “Who was there?”
“Hmmm, Eric, Bren, Kat and…”Crap!
“The artist,” he added, his eyes flickering to hers. She bit her lip. His gaze shuttered, his mouth setting in a tight line.
“Reynner, it meant nothing to me.”
“Yet you wore it?”
One minute he was touching the heart and the next it was in his palm. The thing melted into a tiny blob.
Not wanting to start their life with a quarrel over a piece of jewelry she didn't want in the first place, Eve didn't comment on what he’d done. She simply grasped his hair, wound it around her hand, pulled him close and kissed him.
It took a moment and a little persuasion. Yep, her man possessed that inflexible will.
Meeting his cool blue gaze thankfully still edged with lust, she bit him. With a low growl, he tossed the piece of gold aside and kissed her deeply. Possessively. “You’re mine, Eve. Mine.”
He deftly freed the buttons of her blouse. His head dipping lower, he suckled her nipple through her bra. Her breath caught. Desire spread like wildfire. She unfastened and slid her hand into his jeans—grasped his erection when reality knocked her sideways.
If she gave in now, then she would never be able to find a way to free Reynner. Today was all she had. Michael had said the oracle would be away for a while. No, she couldn’t risk waiting. If the horrid goddess came back and found out the truth about their relationship, there was no telling what she’d do to Reynner.
It got her moving. “Let me up.” She pushed at him, despite her body rebelling at being denied his.
“No.” He sucked on her other nipple.
She grabbed his head to stop his sensual torment before she became lost in him. “Reynner, please.”
Instantly, he stilled. Lifting his head, his gaze dark with need, he searched her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I can't, not right now. I promised my friends I’d spend the morning with them.” Even to her ears it sounded like the flimsy excuse it was. “Kat’s not in a good place with Jake away. I said I’d stop by…”
For a long moment, he stared at her. Without a word, he rolled off her to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling.
“I'm sorry.” She sat up. “More than anything I want to be here with you.”
“There’s no need to apologize, Eve. I'm your mate, not your jailor.” Cool words.
Guilt gnawed at her. She lowered her gaze to her unfastened top, saw the wet patch on her bra where he’d sucked her. Slowly, Eve redid her buttons. She hated that she’d hurt him, but if she stayed, then Inanna would win.
“Reynner, it’s just for a few hours.”
He sat up and zipped himself. Arms braced on his thighs, he turned to her. “Eve, I don’t like you being on your own.”
“I won't be alone. I’ll be with Kataya. And Brenna’s staying the weekend with her. Besides, you said immortals cannot enter human homes if not invited.”
“I know what I said.” He cut her a terse look. Then he exhaled heavily. “All right. I’ll take you there. But under no circumstances do you leave her apartment. Understand?”
Eve nodded and fiddled with a button on her shirt, unable to look at him.
How could she? She was going to break her word the moment she got to Kat’s place.
Chapter 23
