“I’ll take the first watch.” Val’s eyes hadn’t left Amari. He ran his hand over the statue’s head and sighed.
We stripped down to our underwear and laid our clothes on the rocks to dry. Val tried to keep his attention on the lake and Amari, but I caught flashes of blue as he looked over at me a few times.
I lay down next to Nico, and he pulled me into the crook of his arm so my head was on his chest. “I don’t like the way the vampire looks at you.”
I moved my finger on his chest in small circles. Goosebumps broke out on his skin. “You have no right to be jealous.”
“I know that, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He covered my hand with his, and we drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
SAMARA
There was a soft touch on my shoulder, and my eyes fluttered open to find Val staring down at me. “It’s your turn.”
I carefully slid out of Nico’s arms as Val held out a hand to help me up. He pulled me up with too much force, and I stumbled into him, planting both hands on his pecs. He smirked at me and lifted his hand to brush a strand of hair out of my face.
My breath caught in my throat as I gazed into his blue eyes. I used to stare into them for hours. Now, when I stared into them, there was hurt there.
“I’m sure Nico won’t mind if you cuddle with him.” The corner of my mouth lifted as a look of shock and horror crossed his face. “You do like men now, don’t you? He doesn’t like men in that way, but he certainly doesn’t like women all too much either.”
“What is he to you?” Val always had the ability to know when something was bothering me. He brushed another lock of hair away. The damn thing kept falling into my face, giving him an excuse to touch me.
“He’s my best friend. He found me shortly after I left, and he and his mate took me in…” I wasn’t about to tell him Nico’s business. Val was a smart man. He could fill in the blanks about why Nico’s mate wasn’t with us.
“Do you love him?”
I bit my tongue. What kind of question was that? Clearly, if I’d been around someone for centuries, I loved them. But I knew what he meant, and it stung.
“Do you love Amari?”
“Yes.” He searched my eyes and brought a hand to my cheek, running his thumb over my bottom lip. “But there have been no women since you.”
My eyes widened at his confession. “What do you mean?”
“Amari and I have shared women for sexual purposes a time or two. But I haven’t been inside one or romantically involved.”
My heart thudded at his words, but not because he’d just admitted he hadn’t been with another woman since me—because I wondered what it would be like to be held between him and Amari. The thought alone sent a dangerous heat spiraling through me.
My imagination betrayed me with vivid scenarios I had no business considering. I shifted my weight uncomfortably, suddenly very aware of Val still standing too close.
“Can I ask you something?” I shivered, and Val pulled me closer.
He traced my collarbone with a finger and looked at my lips. “Anything.”
I took a deep breath. “Did you love me? I mean, like, really love me?”
I looked down, afraid of his answer. Given that we had an arranged agreement, I wasn’t sure if it was all an act.
It certainly hadn’t been for me.
He tilted my chin up so I was looking at him again. “I’mstillin love with you, Samara.” His voice was a whisper, and his eyes landed on my lips again.
I wanted to kiss him so badly. We leaned toward each other tentatively, and our lips brushed. They were as soft as I remembered them. I suddenly wanted them all over me. I wanted them on my neck, my shoulders, my breasts, and between my legs.
Val stepped away. “I should get some sleep. Goodnight, Samara.”
And just like that, the spell was broken. He lay down a couple of feet away from Nico, and I went over to the log and sat down next to Amari. I brought my fingers to my lips, tracing where Val’s kiss still lingered.
