She’d been so blind, not recognizing the difference in the way the people spoke about him and to him, and there was his aloofness to others. While on Earth, it hadn’t been that apparent. Here, it was glaringly obvious.
No wonder the enforcers had asked her to keep silent about herself, and likely why the staff looked at her as if she belonged with the riffraff and not in this castle. Even Jisele, who worked as a chef, housekeeper, whatever, had a quiet elegance to her tall, curvy figure.
Leya lowered her attention to her chipped nails and clenched her fingers, hiding them.
“Leya?”
She froze at the sound of his voice. No, no! She needed time, time to build up her defenses. Her gaze darted about, looking for a hole to disappear into, but there wasn’t any place to hide, with thick shrubs cordoning off the small seating area.
Her heart in her throat, Leya spun around as Aerén entered the little place, blocking her only escape, she blurted, “I really think I should go home. If you can’t, then ask one of your enforcers to take me.”
His eyes narrowed. “Did someone mistreat you?”
“No, no. I…I don’t belong here.”
“You seem to forget the threat to you.”
He stopped a foot from her, and she couldn't move back, with the bench behind her, causing her edginess to grow.
“Oh, you mean the rebel?” She waved it off. “He won’t care since I’m not the one you want.”
“While we hope they have no idea about the Chosen existing, either way, he will come after you just to get even,” he reminded her. “Youdistracted him in the cave with the snowball hit, and I hurt him. They are a vindictive sort.”
She opened her mouth, and her breath caught as he gently ran a fingertip down her sore cheek.
“It’s healing,” she rasped, not even caring it wasn’t true. She inhaled a sharp breath, and his head-spinning scent had desire stirring. God…now her damn libido, which lay dormant for so long, yawned awake. It always did when he was around. The traitor!
“It should have been healed the moment it happened.”
“I’m not immortal, so I must wait…” more words flowed. She had no idea what she said, but it must have made sense because he answered.
“I am…” He slid his hand to her nape and tipped her head up, his thumb sliding gently over her cheek. Warmth coalesced into her skin, sweeping away the ache. In her peripheral view, a silvery blue light caught her eye.
Startled, she grasped his wrist. “What is that?”
“My healing abilities.” His thumb continued to stroke her cheek, scattering what little brain cells she possessed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do this before, but with my power unstable, I didn’t dare risk hurting you, until I expended most of it.”
“Oh.” She swallowed, knew she had to keep talking, or else she’d be kissing him. “So, what do I call you?”
“Whatever you want. Not dick.”
She bit her lip, hiding her smile. So, he’d heard her during their trek through the forest.
His head lowered, and his tongue slowly licked her bruised skin, causing the throbbing to ease and fade. Then his warm lips trailed along her cheekbone to the corner of her mouth, trapping her air in her chest.
“What are you doing now?”
“Making sure you’re all healed.”
“I don’t think my mouth’s hurt,” she breathed, struggling to drag air into her burning lungs.
“You never know.” His lips caressed hers.
God…she shut her eyes. With each sensual touch, he was slowly but determinedly decimating every barrier she’d erected around herself for years. She gripped his shirt so she didn’t embarrass herself by sliding to his feet like goo.
Then his tongue traced the seam of her mouth, and her eyelids snapped open. Caught in his searing silver stare, she felt as if she were drowning.
“You want to stop me, then say so now, Leya.”
