I shifted my attention to Amari, his stoic profile illuminated by the firelight. His expression gave nothing away, but he seemed to take in everything, even made of stone. What did he see when he looked at me now? Could he read the confusion written across my face? Did he notice how my fingertips wouldn’t leave my lips?
Did he want to murder me?
I scooted closer and put my arm around him. “Thank you for saving me today.” I leaned my head against him, the hard, cool surface providing some relief from the heat that had spread across my cheeks after kissing Val. “I’m sorry for kissing your boyfriend.”
I stroked the smooth stone of his back and continued talking. “When I was younger, I wanted to be queen. My father didn’t think I had it in me because I was a girl.” I laughed softly and looked over at the two men sleeping on the sand. “And maybe I didn’t have what it took, and maybe I still don’t, but I needed someone to believe I was more than just a princess or at least pretend to. Val believed in me.”
It seemed weird talking to a statue, but it was comfortingthat I could say anything I wanted, and he couldn’t say anything back.
“I heard some demons went to Earth. What do you think it’s like there? Do you think it’s better than here? It has to be, right? That’s why Lilith did what she did.” A few tears escaped, and I swiped them away. “I lost my entire family. I lost Val. I know he’s yours now, but I wonder what my life would be like if Lilith hadn’t happened.”
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, I was falling sideways as the hard stone moved. As soon as my ass landed in the sand, I jumped up.
Amari stood there, staring at his arms in disbelief. Then his wide eyes found mine. The green shone so brightly that I backed up a step.
I looked over my shoulder. Nico and Val were still asleep. If I screamed, they’d come to my rescue in a heartbeat, but I didn’t want them to.
“So, you kissed my boyfriend?” Amari stepped forward, and I continued to back up. That answered whether he could see and hear while stone.
How was he not in gargoyle form anymore?
As he got closer, the answer became abundantly clear. His skin had a very faint purple glow to it. It was fading by the second, but it was definitely there. “You’re a witch… but you’re something else too.”
My back hit a tree, and my hands found the wide trunk behind me. He put his hands on either side of my head, and I felt trapped like prey.
“I’m sorry.” Why was I apologizing? Val was the one who had started the kiss, not me. If anyone should apologize, it was him.
Amari rarely showed his emotions from what I had seen, but there was something lurking deep behind the expanse of his emerald eyes.
I gulped.
He brought his hand to my cheek in the same gesture Val had, his hand softer than expected. There was something about him being dominant that excited me, and I whimpered.
“You changed me back.” He slid his hand down to my shoulder and ran a single finger along my collarbone.
He had seen and heard everything.
“I don’t know how I did it. I was asleep.” The words came out in a rush, and I trembled under his touch. “Don’t hurt me.”
This was so stupid. He would’ve hurt me already, and I wasn’t exactly screaming for help. I had an ache inside of me, and maybe he could ease it.
“I can smell your desire.” He traced the edge of my bra with his fingers. The touch was light, and I couldn’t move away. I didn’t want to move away.
“I’m not sure if that’s a great pickup line.” My voice had dropped lower.
A smile played at the corner of his lips. I wanted to see him smile. “You have a beautiful body.” His fingertips still explored my chest, never going exactly where I wanted them to go.
His other hand dropped from the tree and went to my hip, where he squeezed firmly. I could imagine him gripping me from behind.
“What would Val say if he knew I was doing this right now?” He lowered his lips to my ear, kissing there and sending tingles down my spine. “I don’t think he’d be mad. I think he would be jealous and want to watch.”
My knees trembled, and I pushed myself back into the tree to keep myself from falling. “Are you two... monogamous?”
No answer.
I groaned as he trailed his lips across my collarbone. “I don’t think this is the best time for this. As much as it pains me to stop.”
He pulled away. “What do you want me to do? Go wake him up and ask permission first?”
