Right. That was dumb.
I struggled to keep myself covered as I sat near the fire. When I covered my chest, my ass hung out. When I covered my ass, my nipples threatened to slip free.
“I don’t suppose you have an extra shirt I can sleep in?” I asked.
He joined me at the fire and handed me a shirt, plus a wrapped cloth with bread, cheese, dried meats, and grapes.
“Thanks,” I muttered. “Well?” he prompted.
I frowned. “Well, what?”
“Are you going to put it on?” he asked, mischievous. I scoffed. “I will. Just not in front of you.”
“You’re no fun. I’m going to wash up,” he said.
“Drax—keep an eye on her for me,” he commanded as he headed toward the lake.
Draxxinar lowered his colossal body and curled behind the tents, forming a protective ring around our entire campsite.
I waited until Titus was far enough away, then pulled the linen long-sleeve on over the lingerie. It was soft and lush, and it carried his scent—smoke and pine.
I inhaled it and my eyelids dimmed on their own. It was perfect.
I sat, draped the blanket over my thighs, and nibbled at the food, letting the warmth soothe my aching legs.
After a while Titus had returned and— Oh, sweet Jesus.
I coughed, nearly choking on a grape.
He was shirtless, wet skin glistening in firelight. His damp hair was darker, hanging in tighter waves below his brow. Droplets ran down the deep lines between his chiseled muscles. He wore only a thin gray towel around his waist, wrapped so low I could see the infamous V of muscle peeking above it.
My mouth watered at the thought of tracing my tongue in the lines of those muscles.
He sat beside me and smiled, devilish. “I liked the red better,” he said.
All the blood drained from my face. He’d seen me change— through the damn bonfire!
How could I havebeen so stupid?
I didn’t know he could gaze intoanyfire. I’d thought it was just in the castle.
“You perv,” I scoffed, nudging his shoulder.
It did nothing. He didn’t even budge—like punching a statue.
I wasn’t pleased he’d invaded my privacy, but it was hard to stay mad at a fire god. Especially when he was the sexiest male I’d ever seen, and we were alone.
The forest hummed around us. The fire crackled. The stars hung low and bright.
I wanted to soak in the beauty of the Faerie Realm at night, but Titus was nearly naked beside me and stealing all my focus.
I hated the effect he had on me—how his eerie amber eyes promised both pleasure and danger. Worse, I hated how much that excited me. He was calculated chaos and reckless intelligence, a toxic drug I couldn’t put down.
He made me feel so... fucking... alive.
He lit my world on fire with just three words:You are mine.
They kept replaying in my mind.
