She scowled. “What do you want from me, Reynner?”
Everything!I want every damn thing—to be the very air you breathe.
Except, he could offer her nothing, but danger. And a damaged, ruined mate.
***
“You’re not paying attention,” Eve heard Reynner growl as he called out instructions. Something about how to evade an attack, but she couldn’t get her mind focused on his coaching.
“I thought you wanted to learn to defend yourself?”
She didn't answer. Recalling a move Eric had taught her, she picked up her knee and would have gotten Reynner in the crotch if he hadn’t leaped back. She ignored the warning glitter in his dark gaze.
His comment about her using him had stung. She’d only said that because a man like him would not want forever, especially not with a mortal. But the uneasy feeling continued to plague her.
Wherever he’d disappeared to until this afternoon had set off his mood. A familiar scent drifted off him…one she’d smelled before. And then she knew. He’d come back reeking of the same exotic perfume as the night in her apartment not so long ago. Now it clung to his clothes, and it made something inside of her shrivel up.
“What’s that smell on you?” she asked in a tight voice, keeping away from him until she had her answer.
“Sweat.”
“No.” She tried to clamp down on her jealousy and the possessiveness that grew in spades. “It has the aroma of…” In her mind, she ran through all the fragrances she was familiar with.
Distracted, she saw him come at her a second too late. He moved in low and grabbed her by the waist. She tripped, he twisted, took the brunt of the fall, and she landed on him instead.
“That’s why you always,alwayspay attention.”
Scowling, she pushed up and sat astride his belly, trying not to be aware of his hard, warm body between her legs. His hands settled on her hips. He looked so tempting lying there, his pale hair a sharp contrast against the gray training mat.
“You smell of spice, musk—like Opium perfume. Who is she?”
Being this close, she saw the way his eyes darkened at her question. A nerve pulsed hard on his jaw. Well, she didn’t care if she was trespassing in his personal space since he was all but camping in hers.
His grip on her hips loosened. “Why would you think it’s ashe?”
“Don’t. It’s the same smell I got that night you suddenly left my apartment and came back late.”
He shifted her off his stomach and rose to his feet. “We’re leaving for New York in a few minutes.” He stalked for the door then stopped. A hand on the frame, he glanced back to where she still sat on the floor, said in a voice so low it chilled her to her soul, “She is my penance for my stupidity to trust a woman.”
Chapter 19
Eve disappeared into her bedroom soon after they arrived, leaving a curious Aerén to explore her home, while North pit-stopped at her bookshelf.
Reynner stood there in the living room, all tight-lipped and filled with hard-eyed cynicism. Doubtless, he was still mad at her. But his comment about the spicy woman hurt.
Did he thinkshewas trying to trap him, too?
Her lips compressing, she yanked on a loose white shorts that ended mid-thigh. Then pulled on a light blue, strappy top, before twisting her hair into a loose topknot.
Inhaling deeply and striving for calm, she shoved her feet into flip-flops and made her way to the living room.
The spicy aroma of peppers and soy wafted through the small apartment as Aerén and North sat down for their Chinese takeout dinner.
“Reyn, you joining us?” Aerén asked.
“In a minute—” Reynner turned as she approached. His gaze swept down her and up again to linger on her face.
At that utterly male look, he almost destroyed her composure. But she could do little to stop her cheeks from heating up like a damn furnace. Hastily, she sank into the chair he held out.
