“He can be rigid, but he is my brother. And you made sure to antagonize him,” she reminded him.
“It’s in my blood.”
“That doesn’t bode well for our future,” she teased, reiterating his earlier words.
Something dark shifted in his eyes, reminding her of who orwhatelse made up that future. No, they could never forget his beast side. Then his mouth tipped in a smile and he shook his head.
Exhaling softly, trying to ignore her own problem, Ely leaned her forearms on the counter, her thumb stroking the metal toy.
“So, what color was your car?” she asked, striving to keep things light, wanting this time to be just about them, without the beast and all the other problems weighing them down.
He glanced up as he worked and smirked. “Why? Plan on giving me yours?”
She laughed. Then what he said connected, and her eyes widened. “It was blue?”
“Yeah.” He cracked an egg on the side of the pan and dropped it in. The sizzle of butter released a mouthwatering fragrance. He added a few more eggs, then tossed the shells in a bowl. “It seems like ages ago now, but I still recall the color.” He shrugged. “My sire bought me more after I lost my first one. Apparently, I was inconsolable,” he said dryly.
Another punishing surge of heat gushed through her to coalesce into her core.
For hell’s sake! Ely crossed her legs, tightening her inner muscles, but it didn’t help. Her skin damp with sweat, she dropped the car on the counter, hurried to the fridge, and opened it, and the blast of cool air barely soothed her. Ugh. She got a soda and rolled the frosty can over her cheek, then the other side.Goddds, she groaned. The refreshing iciness felt so good—she slid the can down her throat and sighed. Could she tuck the damn can between her thighs next?
To take her mind off her discomfort, she rasped, “So, how long have you lived on Earth?”
She tugged the neckline of her tee lower and rolled the soda can over her chest. At the continued silence, she glanced back and found Nate watching her with a heated stare.
“You keep doing that, and I won’t be responsible for what happens.”
And he wasn’t even teasing.
Aware he was on edge and too dangerous to taunt, even if it hadn’t been her intention, she hastily lowered her arm and shut the fridge. His expression darkened, and he turned away.
Gods, she hated that they couldn’t make love, and she desperately wanted him touching her again, wanted a repeat of the unrestrained passion she experienced so briefly with him. But if he lost control, his beast could break free and likely cause havoc on this realm. Then her fellow Guardians would hunt him down—
Finding it hard to swallow past the lump of fear and despair forming in her throat, and to keep him safe, she set the can on the counter, crossed to the couch, grabbed her clothes, and hurried to the bathroom.
* * *
Fuck! Nate stabbed his fingers against his skull, pain splintering his mind and unfulfilled desire constricting his body. He shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t her fault. For all her coolness and hardass ways, Ely didn’t set out to seduce him. It was the damn fever that must have taken hold of her again.
The cursed stars knew he wanted her. And making love to her appeared to ease her much longer than swimming in the icy river had. Well, he’d give her another day, then he would seduce the hell out of that stubborn female of his—and give her the relief she desperately needed—no matter how much the damn beast tortured him.
His jaw hard with resolve, Nate finished the fried egg sandwiches, plated them, and got out the sodas, including a fresh one for Ely. Since he’d spectacularly broken the dining table, he put their meal on the island counter.
Soft footsteps sounded, and he glanced up as Ely padded barefoot to the kitchen. Her long hair, unbound and damp, hung down her back.
She’d showered and changed back into her jeans and sleeveless top. Damp tendrils of pale hair framed her somewhat subdued features, but her cheeks remained flushed, and it set him on edge again.
“Eat…” He couldn’t help his gruff tone as he pushed the plate to her.
She cast him a little smile before sitting on one of the two stools. “Thank you. The shower helped.”
No, it didn’t.
She’s trying to keep things normal, you asshat!
For both their sakes, he remained on the other side of the isle—so he wouldn’t kiss the hell out of her, lick every inch of her to ease her—and took a bite of his sandwich. The food tasted like fucking sawdust. He dumped hot sauce on his egg.
She popped her soda tab, and the hiss echoed in the quiet. “Nate…?”
