“I’m fine.” His gaze slid to her nipples, pebbling from the cold, and his heated stare lifted to hers. He tossed the towel aside and licked the rain off her cheek. “I could lick every inch of you, but the towel must suffice for now.” He stroked her cheek, and warmth flooded her. Her shivering eased, and her t-shirt, damp around the neck, dried.
“You couldn’t do that earlier?”
“Then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He pressed his mouth to hers, his hair sliding forward to caress her face, no longer wet but bright and shiny.
She looked up and met his tender gaze. He was so big and solid. In a mystical world crawling with enemies who would see them both dead, he’d kept her safe. Her heart squeezed then expanded with tenderness.
Unable to resist him, Leya put her arms around his neck and kissed him again, but he eased back.
“More than anything, I want to take you right here so damn bad, but you’re about to have company,caelimea.”
“What?” She blinked, coming out of the sensual haze he’d trapped her in.
“Heightened senses.” He tapped his temple. “And I heard your name mentioned. She’s still on the street.”
Man, he could make her forget her everything around her whilehewas always alert. “Darn. My sister! I’d forgotten she’s spending the weekend with me.”
She hurried to the kitchen, put the coffee pot on, and glanced back at him. He stopped at the counter separating the kitchen from the living room, sweeping back his striking hair, his gaze still a molten silver, filled with desire and tenderness.
Warmth unfurled in her heart, sweeping through as if it flowed from him into her. God! She was falling for him, a man—anangel—who was thousands of years old.
He cocked an eyebrow in question.
Too overwhelmed to speak, she shook her head. And now she would have to explain him to her straight-laced father.Oh, boy.Leya pressed a hand to her churning belly.
He cocked an eyebrow. “You look like you want to run.”
“You have no idea.” At his frown, she said, “Not from you. My family. The questions!”
“Ah.”
The door flew open. Hana hurtled inside, her ebony hair flying behind her like sheets of black silk, along with her newly acquired, fake streaks of pink and green woven between the inky strands. She rested her wet umbrella against the wall.
“Sorry, can’t stay, Ley!” She shrugged off her parka and hung it, her cheeks flushed pink as she darted off. “Dan’s waiting. We’re going to a club. I need to change—” She faltered near the hallway and swung back, her eyes rounding like saucers as she laid eyes on Aerén.
She couldn’t blame her sister for looking like a deer caught in headlights, when Leya did the same thing the first time she saw him.
“Hey,” she greeted him, then to Leya. “I didn’t know you were dating. I was so sure you had your bags packed for the nunnery.”
Leya huffed. Her sister might be younger than her, but she was a force of nature all on her own.
“So, are you gonna introduce me to the pinup, or should I do so myself?”
Leya choked back her laughter at Hana using the same name she’d first tagged Aerén with. “Aerén, this is my sister, Hana. Hana, Aerén. He’s my-my…”
His eyebrows rose as he waited for her to finish her sentence, and heat flooded her cheeks.
“Good to meet you, Hana,” he said, giving her a moment of reprieve.
“Likewise.” Her sister grinned. “So, how long has this been going on, huh?”
Leya bit her lip, so sure she’d combust, and furtively eyed Aerén. Given the smirk glinting in his silver eyes, the darn man was enjoying himself. Hana noticed and broke out in laughter.
He strolled around the counter to Leya. The moment he turned, Hana shot both her thumbs up.
Wow!she mouthed.He’s freakin’ gorgeous!
If only she knew.
