Cael ran his tongue over his bottom lip and pushed a hand through his tawny waves, the motion bringing Xenia’s attention to the bulging muscles straining against his cotton shirt.
“Oh I’ve made plenty ofconnections, Blondie. Don’t you worry about that.”
A montage of dirty images flooded Xenia’s mind: Cael prowling up her naked body, stopping to suck on a tender nipple; Cael’s lips on her neck as he settled between her thighs; Cael’s tongue gliding into her mouth as he pushed his impressive length inside her.
High Gods, she didn’t know whether to be grateful or ashamed of her overactive imagination.
Cael sniffed, then twisted around to face her. He was so close she could see the glowing flecks of silvery-blue in his flinty gray eyes.
“What areyouthinking about?” Cael smirked.
Your cock.
“Nothing.”
Cael’s low, sexy grunt did nothing to stem the scent of Xenia’s arousal.
Time to change the subject.
“Even if becoming a Vasilikan is out of the question, there’s got to be something else you’re good at. Some other talent besides brooding and fighting and—”
“Fucking?” Cael interrupted with a cocked eyebrow.
Xenia’s face nearly melted off.
“I was going to saysurviving, but sure, I’ll take your word for it. What else though? Come on, pterodactyl,” she mock-whined, “share one of your hidden talents with me.”
Xenia could always tell when Cael’s laughs were genuine. They crinkled the corners of his eyes and brought a joyful energy to his face that intoxicated her.
“Only if you promise to share one of yours. You go first.”
“I can imitate any farm animal you can name,” Xenia said proudly.
“Oh, I am immediately testing this.” Cael turned to face Xenia, sitting cross-legged in the sand. “Duck.”
“That’s the firstfarmanimal you thought of?”
“Humor me.”
Xenia rounded her mouth and made a honking noise at the back of her throat.
Cael bit his quivering lip. “That’s terrifying. Do a rooster.”
Cael nearly doubled over with laughter as Xenia flawlessly imitated the sound of every animal he named: horse, pig, cow, dog, even a llama.
“How do you even know what a llama sounds like?” Cael sputtered, tears gleaming as he clutched his stomach. “And when did you realize you could do this? Do youpractice?”
“High-Gods-given talent, I guess,” Xenia answered, chuckling. “It’s something I’ve always been able to do. I used to try to communicate with the animals on my parents’ farm when I was younger. You’d be surprised by how many full-blown conversations I had.”
Cael wiped at his eyes as his hilarity subsided. “Brilliant, Zee. You continue to surprise me.”
Xenia’s insides warmed. “Alright, your turn. What amazing talent do you have to share with me?”
“I don’t know if I can followthat.Too much pressure.”
“Oh come on. I just completely embarrassed myself in front of you! You need to return the favor.”
“That wasn’t embarrassing, that was genius.”
