Then Eve smiled and pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m happy to help.”
Reynner didn’t care for the easy smile she gave North, or that the warrior was here because of her safety. But the reality was, even though Reynner could protect Eve well enough on his own, his life wasn’t his. With Inanna on his back, shit always fell when he least expected it.
“Eve.”
At the sound of Lucan’s voice, she inhaled sharply and her soft mouth tightened. Straightening her spine, she made her way over and knelt in front of the low table. Reynner followed and stood opposite her. Hopefully, the magic had settled and wouldn’t affect Eve again now that she’d touched it.
She reached into the box and lifted the lead cylinder. Her slender, scarred fingers trembled. Like a foggy cloud, her trepidation settled over her. She slowly uncapped the tube and eased out the scroll. Setting the container aside, she unrolled and flattened the ancient parchment on the wooden table. A low whoosh of breath left her. Her fists relaxed. Loose-limbed, she sat back on her heels.
Eve lifted her head. Green eyes smoldered, slumberous in their intensity and fixed on him. The light, intoxicating musk of female arousal drifted through the room.
Reynner froze.Oh, shit, no, no, no!
Across the room, North stiffened. His gaze swung to Eve then dropped to study his boots. Aerén stared at her in surprise. He shifted in his seat and leaned forward, bracing his arms on his thighs. Lucan went robot still beside her.
Dammit! Naturally, they would react to Eve’s tempting scent of arousal.
Reynner’s teeth gnashed down, knowing he was stuck because he couldn’t take her away until she revealed the Stone’s location.
Fury, utter possessiveness surging through him, he grasped Eve’s hand, pulled her to her feet, and headed for the open doorway. It was either that or toss all the bastards over the balcony.
He stopped just past the entrance, not prepared to risk her out on the railless terrace until he put in some damn barriers.
She slid her hands up his chest, bunching the fabric of his shirt.
“Eve,” he said in a sharp voice, trying to ignore his aroused body. “Look at me.”
She raised those limp green pools, and her sultry stare whacked him in the gut. A red tinge rode her tanned skin. Being this close to her, his cock hardened painfully.
“Breathe, Eve,” he rasped. “Slow and deep—come on, do it,fiyae.” He clasped both of her hands, stroked her skin with his thumbs, aware of the others watching them. The sound of someone cracking their knuckles echoed like a gunshot in the tense silence. A shudder racked Eve’s body. She sucked in a deep breath, then several more. She shook her head, and he saw her panic beneath the arousal. Her fear.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this would happen again.”
She snatched her hands back as if scalded, wrapped them around her waist, and gave him a bitter look then walked back inside.
His mouth tight, he followed her.
Why the hell would the scroll affect her this way when it never had with anyone before?
***
God, she hated Reynner right then. Her arousal hiked and tightened her body. The longer she remained near the scroll, the worse it got. And the jerk would leave her to suffer.
Eve made her way back to the table, rubbing her arms when she wanted to tear off the clothes abrading her too sensitive skin. Her lips compressed, she kept her gaze focused on the scroll and dropped to her knees in front of the table. With shaking hands, she smoothed out the parchment again. The hum grew sharper.
Oh, God in Heaven.Why would you do this to me?She tried desperately to shut off the needs tormenting her.
She could never have a relationship with anyone because of her abilities, and now this artifact would torture her. As if she hadn’t suffered enough.
A stronger tingle zipped through her. Desire lit like a fuse and heated her blood, gathering at her core—the throbbing there so intense. Clamping down on her sensitized, inner muscles only made her anguish worse.
Eve squeezed her eyes shut in despair.
You must fight for what you want.The light, almost musical notes floated through her mind and warmed her.
Her eyes flashed open to stare into troubled indigo ones. Reynner had taken the spot across the wide tree-trunk coffee table again.
Fight for what I want?Right. A bitter laugh strangled in her throat. She might as well scale the Himalayas. She’d have more success than breaking through the walls of the man crouched opposite her. After that devastating kiss yesterday, he’d reverted back to his cold aloof self, enclosed in his fortress.
