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And now my heart was back to pattering along in my chest because he wanted to learn more about me. Helikedme—hehelluva lot more thanliked me.

“If you want to get to know me,” I breathed, “maybe we should stop talking about the primus.”

The corner of Asher’s mouth curled upwards. “Fair enough. What do you do for fun?”

It was such a benign question, it had me smiling. “I make dinner with strange human men. Next question.”

That caused his eyes to crinkle. “What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?” Now he wore a wry grin, something I’d only seen once or twice.

A laugh escaped me. “Asher, these are terrible questions.”

Please keep asking me them.

“Favorite flavor,” he pressed.

I popped one of the Mardi Gras necklaces in my mouth, running the beads between my teeth. “I haven’t tried enough ice cream to know,” I said, letting the necklace fall back down. “Maybe the white one? Vanilla?”

He was shaking his head. “Rainbow sherbet. I’m positive that one would be your favorite.”

I laughed again. “Then you shouldn’t be asking me the question.”

Asher’s eyes twinkled, and Mother above, there might not be anything more breathtaking than him happy.

“If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only bring one thing with you, what would it be?” he asked.

“I’ve already been stranded, and so far, you’ve managed to keep me alive. I’d say bringing you with me would be a good idea.”

The twinkle in his eyes deepened, becoming something else, something that made my skin flush. “Would you like to go up to the balcony to see the sunset with me, Lana?”

I couldn’t tell if there was more to the question than that, but I didn’t care. I wanted more. I welcomed it. The gods couldn’t keep me away.

“I would love to.”

Chapter 19

Asher

The villa’s balconyoverlooked a densely jungled river valley. Beyond it, Pico de Orizaba rose into the heavens, high above the clouds that were still smoldering purple and violet from sunset.

They were the color of Lana’s eyes.

Next to me, she shivered, the night air too cool for her.

I pulled her into me, letting my body heat keep her warm. I was done fighting this attraction to her.

Her back pressed against my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her midsection.

Tentatively she laid her hands over mine. “Is this something else humans do?” she asked.

I breathed in her ashy scent. “It is.”

She leaned into me more, and I could tell she was trying to relax. Feeling this small, delicate body stiff with nervousness had me tightening my grip.

I thought I’d be rusty at this... I thought the guilt, the betrayal, of doing this with someone other than my wife would be impossible. But Lana was poles apart from anyone else I’d ever met. She knew loneliness like I did, and she had a past with just as much baggage as mine.

“You’re different from when you captured me,” she said. “Do you feel different?”

“Toward you, yes.” Toward the rest of her kind... I wouldn’t ruin the moment by mentioning what I thought of them.