Page 77

Evolet, quick to catch on, says, “Oh, I see.”

I don’t take my eyes off of Aruan.“It seems I still have a lot to learn about Zerra.”

“Well.”Evolet clears her throat.“Take your time to clean up.”She wrinkles her nose.“You have a distinct odor of Slitheax.I’ll wait for you outside.”

I prop my hands on my hips when she’s gone and the archway is sealed.“You deliberately made me walk around naked under my clothes.”

“What can I say?”Aruan crosses his arms.“I like you naked under your clothes.”

I saunter over.“Now that I know, I’m going to get a trunk full of underwear.”

“That could be one way of taking revenge.”

“Oh, absolutely.”I stop toe to toe with him.“Have you ever seen a woman in underwear, Aruan?”

His gaze darkens, predatory intention sparking in his eyes.“There’s only one woman I’m interested in seeing, and that’s you.”He closes the hairbreadth of distance between us, putting our bodies flush together.“Preferably without clothes.”

My growing arousal makes me brave.“There’s a reason underwear is considered sexy.”

He rolls the word off his tongue.“Sexy?”

“Sometimes, hinting at something that’s just out of reach is a more powerful magnet than outright flaunting it.”

“Do you think if you hide your perfect body, I’ll want it more?”

“Maybe,” I tease.

He grips my chin and tilts back my head.“Then you don’t know me very well, mate.”

“Is that so?”

“I always want you.Nothing can make me desire you more.”

“Right answer,” I whisper, going on tiptoes and locking my arms around his neck.

His mouth is on mine before I have time to breathe.I give in to the kiss, just for a moment, and then I pull away, inviting a growl that tears from his chest.

“My aunt is right outside.”

He aims for my lips again, whispering a promise over them.“I’ll be quick.”

“I smell like snake spit.”

“I don’t give a dragon.”

“Aruan,” I exclaim when he grabs my shirt and rips it down the middle.

With one swoop, he lifts me into his arms.“I’ll fix your clothes.”

“That’s not what I meant.”I wrap my legs around his waist.“I do mind.”

“What?This?”He flicks his tongue over my nipple before sucking it into his mouth.

I throw my head back as pleasure coils through my core.

“See?”Wickedly, he nips my contracted nipple before moving to the other one.“There are advantages to not wearing underwear.”

“Wait.”He’s distracting me, making me forget what I wanted to say.“I do need a shower.”