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What the hell is wrong with me this morning?

My breath catches when he goes down on one knee and takes my left foot in his large hand.Our eyes meet as he brushes his palm up my calf.My heart beats so loudly I’m sure he can hear it.His touch is light, but he’s lingering longer than necessary.

Holding my gaze, he gently frees one of the boots from the death grip in which I’m clutching them.I haven’t noticed how I’ve tightened my hold on the boots or how I’ve clamped my knees together until he cups one knee and parts my legs.

A gasp forms in my throat.Only sheer willpower prevents the sound from making it to my lips.I stop breathing, watching him watching me as he carefully pulls the boot over my foot and ties the laces.

By the time he’s fastened the second boot, my pulse is all over the place.Pulling on boots shouldn’t be so sensual, but the way he kneels in front of me while doing something so simple yet so thoughtful sets my heart racing.I could’ve easily pulled on the boots myself, but how he’s taking care of me warms my belly.And other parts of me too.

Yet this isn’t about sex.This is about something else, and it scares me.Just as much as falling for him scares me.Maybe more.We may be destined mates, whatever that means, but being physically compatible doesn’t make him the right man for me.He’s overbearing and overprotective.He’ll smother me without even trying.Not to mention, melt anyone for looking the wrong way at me and cause the sun to explode if I’m in danger of getting hurt.

Yeah, my mind refuses to wrap itself around that last one.

Regardless, I don’t see how this can work.

I hop off the bed, standing over him where he’s still kneeling on the floor with the hand he had curled around my calf now empty and poised in the air.

My voice comes out squeaky.“I’d better get going.Sandy and the others must be going out of their minds.”

He straightens unhurriedly with a knowing smile on his lips.“We’ll eat first.”

Taking my hand, he leads me to the adjoining room.He seats me at the table and then disappears, returning a short while later with servants carrying trays loaded with food.

While the servants set dishes and jars on the table, he watches me quietly.Being the focus of so much undivided attention has me squirming in my seat.

“You promised to let me visit the sacred site today,” I say to break the intense spell.

“I remember,” he drawls.

“What’s your schedule like?”

He arches a thick, black brow.

“When will you have time?”I clarify, knowing he must be busy with his official duties.

The servants retreat.

He serves generous helpings of the food I like on my plate.“I have an engagement this morning.I can make time in the afternoon.”

“Great.”Not wanting to sit there with my hands folded while he does all the serving, I take the jug of juice and fill two glasses.“That will give me the morning to spend with the humans.”

At the approval that burns in his gaze when I offer him a glass, heat creeps into my cheeks.He’s making it clear that he appreciates the gesture of me serving him like he’s serving me.Why does his appraisal make me so self-conscious?And why does it make me feel good?

Ducking my head, I pretend to be absorbed with the task of eating.Though I have to admit that after yesterday’s activities and another night of mind-blowing sex, I’m starving.Somewhere between giving me multiple orgasms and soaking in the pool, Aruan woke me up to feed me a snack in bed, but it wasn’t enough to replenish the energy I spent.

The juice is spicy but surprisingly refreshing.I help myself to seconds and eat another one of those deliciousthoskacakes, minus the snake egg topping.

Aruan’s appetite is astounding.He polishes off the food on almost every platter and finishes the enormous jug of juice.

When breakfast is over, he comes around the table and offers me a hand.I place my fingers in his and let him help me to my feet.The touch sends a jolt through my body, my awareness of him always like a live wire ready to catch fire with a single spark.However, this morning, the all-consuming heat isn’t the same.Beneath the scorching flames, something fragile is smoldering, something that warms me in a different, deeper way.

I pause for a moment, trying to get a read on what’s changing.The bond between us is still vague, so it can’t be that.

“The waterfall that gives access to the Sky Bridge is sealed for security reasons,” he says, pulling me from my thoughts.“If you’re going to take the humans to the outlook point, you’ll have to ask Gaia or one of my cousins to open the archways and the waterfall.I’ll let them know I authorized it, and I’ll leave the archway to my quarters open for you.”

He’s making sure I take a chaperone.He’s not taking the risk that I may use the opportunity to run away.“You forgot your brothers.Can’t they open the waterfall too?”

His jaw hardens.“Ask Vitai if you can’t find Gaia.”