Page 161

“No talking like that now, or things are bound to get really messy.”

She shifted upright, trembling the air, the room dictated by her atmosphere, then she slid the rest of the way off the bed.

Standing so close that I was breathing her essence all over again.

A tiny temptress as she sent me a flirty smirk. “I think I prefer things messy.”

Then she dipped out around me and headed for the door, grinning back as she said, “I bet you’re really famished now. Clean up, Heathen, and I’ll feed you.”

The scent of steaks grilling wafted down the hall. I followed it like a man just discovering the sustenance of life.

I was a little afraid that’s what this felt like.

Finding Elena out on the little covered balcony on the right side of the kitchen and feeling like she was my only reason for breathing.

Hot as fuck.

Still wearing that skirt and those boots like nothing had happened when I was pretty sure the earth’s axis had been shifted.

Gravity rearranged.

Or maybe the sun had been right there all along, a magnet luring me in one direction, and in all my resisting, I’d been bent.

Stumbling through the nothingness.

Lost.

Slanting my fingers through my damp hair, I bashed the dangerous thoughts back into submission and schooled myself into self-control.

I’d done it for years.

Nothing had changed.

The air shivered when I stepped out onto the stoop behind Elena.

Liar.

Motherfucking liar.

Even the oxygen was different.

The color of the trees.

The way my heart beat an extra, possessive beat.

“Smells good.”

There.

Play it easy.

Nonchalant.

She peeked at me from over her shoulder, stunning face painted in a soft, welcoming smile.

Lips so damned plump and pink.

“There you are. It’s almost ready.”