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Not so brazen after all, she tugged the hem of her shirt over her legs, squirming beneath his heated stare.

He jerked his gaze to a spot just over her left shoulder, his fierce scowl cooling the warmth in his eyes. “In the future, you should dress before coming down.” His voice rumbled with disapproval.

Damn him. This was all his fault. She curled her bare toes against the stone tiles. If he hadn’t lured her here, she wouldn’t have floated into the kitchen in an uncaffeinated fog, and Jericho wouldn’t have beenoffendedby her bony legs.

She straightened, fists clenching. “Know what? I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I don’t need my keeper preparing my meals for me like I’m some kind of pet,” she seethed, ignoring the ticking muscle in his jaw. “I’ve been making my own breakfast since I was five years old. I sure as heck don’t need a vampire frying my eggs.”

Her subconscious elbowed her in the ribs.Wow, Alex, irrational much? You sound like the lady in the PMS commercial.Her cheeks burned with heat while a cold sweat broke out across her skin.God, what is wrong with me?It had to be the lack of sleep.

She stomped to the coffee pot and flung open the cabinet. Jericho folded his arms, studying her with a predator’s stillness she found infuriating. Why the hell wasn’t he saying anything? While she was itching for a fight, he seemed to be evaluating the battlefield.

Even up on her toes, she was two inches short of grasping a mug. Before she could utter a complaint, Jericho stretched over her head, reaching for a cup.

The heat of his chest branded her back, and his powerful body crowded hers. She sucked in a breath of his clean, woodsy scent. Tension coiled deep in her gut. She gripped the edge of the counter, surrounded by his masculine presence. He placed the mug in front of her, lean muscle rippling in his forearm.

Her lungs burned, and spots swam in her vision.

Breathe, you fool!She released the breath she’d held, stunned at her reaction.

Swooning at his feet because he’d passed her a coffee mug? Wow, she was pathetic. She snatched the cup from the counter. The coffee pot rattled against the rim while she poured. “You know, I’m only five-foot-six. Would it kill you to put things on the lower shelf?” She grabbed the steaming mug and spun.

Liquid splashed over the rim, scalding her legs. “Shit!” she yelped, jolting.

Firm hands took the cup and scooped her up, placing her on the countertop next to the sink. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palms, grinding back tears. Grinding back frustration. Grinding back the need to raise her head and scream.

Calm and methodical, Jericho placed a wet towel on her leg, soothing the burn.Ugh!How dare he be so controlled while she was a sniveling mess? If he would just give her the fight she wanted, she wouldn’t have to feel guilty for being such a shrew.

After caring for her leg, he stood in front of her, trapping her on the counter. “Alex, look at me,” he said in a soft command.

She kept her head down, hiding her expression behind a curtain of hair. He gripped her chin with a touch that was firm yet gentle, forcing her to meet his eyes. Zero of what he was feeling leaked into the connection. He was shielding perfectly.Asshole.

He smoothed her sleep-tangled mane back from her face, brushing her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

His stroking fingers drew her in, and she resisted the humiliating urge to rub her cheek into his palm. She didn’t need him to soothe her. She didn’t need him to make her breakfast. She didn’tneedhim at all, and the faster he got that through his thick skull, the better.

“Nothing’s wrong.” She firmed her chin. “Nothing you need to worry about. After all, I wouldn’t want to be aburden.”

He furrowed his brow. “You spied on me?”

“Of course. It’s what we manipulative faeries do, after all.” She jerked free of his grip and shoved the bangs out of her eyes with trembling fingers.

He locked his gaze on her shaking hand and tensed. “Alex, how often did Liam feed from you?” Gone was his gentle concern.

Heat prickled her cheeks. “What does that have to do with anything?” she hedged—just to be difficult.

“Dammit, Alex, answer me.” He smacked the countertop beside her, making her jump.

“Every other day,” she snapped.

He groaned and closed his eyes as though pained.

She poked a finger into his chest. “Not that it’s any of your business. What happens between Liam and me is priv—”

“Enough,” Jericho cut her off. He gripped the back of her neck, steering her head to the side.

“Hey,” she protested. “What are you—”

“Trust me.” He dipped his mouth to her ear, his voice deliciously husky. “Everything will make sense in a moment.”