Page 71 of Dark Island: Rescue

"Does this mean you forgive me?" Edgar asked hopefully.

"Hell no. You're sleeping on the couch for at least a month." Angelica fell back against the pillows, suddenly looking exhausted. "After you provide me with those amazing orgasms. I'm not giving up on those. But after that, you go back to the couch."

Edgar walked over to the bedside and took her hand. This time, she didn't pull away.

"I am sorry," he said. "Please forgive me."

"I will, but not right away."

"Fair enough." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Get some rest. The transition will continue for many months, but the worst of it is almost over."

"I have so many questions." Her eyes were already starting to close. "So many questions. Starting with whether I can thrall people to get insider trading information."

"Absolutely not."

"I thought so." She yawned. "Edgar?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too. Even though you're an immortal lying liar who lies."

"I'll take it."

24

AREZOO

The phone felt like it was burning a hole in Arezoo's purse, not because she needed to call anyone but because of the book she'd been reading on it. As she climbed the steps to Ruvon's front door, her heart was beating too fast, and her palms were sweating.

It had taken her one night to finish the book Drova had sent—a paranormal romance about wolf shifters who were possessive and protective but also tender and devoted to their mates. The love scenes had been educational, arousing, and addictive. She hadn't been able to put the book down until she was finished, and she wanted to start a new one right away, but she didn't have one, so the next night she'd reread it.

Arezoo had never felt as alive and as aroused as she had while reading that novel. Not even while kissing Ruvon. It was addictive, and she was suffering withdrawal symptoms.

There was only one way she could scratch theitch that book had ignited, and that was doing with Ruvon what she'd read about in the shifter romance.

The realization that she wanted those things with Ruvon, not just the sex but the intimacy, the connection, had hit her somewhere around page two hundred. And once that door had opened in her mind, there was no closing it.

She wanted him.

She was ready. Perhaps not to go all the way, but she was certainly ready for more than kissing.

The bag of takeout from the ready meals section of her mother's store had been a stroke of brilliance. Bringing dinner to the man she loved, to her fiancé, was a perfectly reasonable excuse to visit Ruvon unannounced.

No ulterior motives.

It was just a thoughtful gesture, something that any loving woman would and should do for her man.

Except her motives were anything but innocent.

Arezoo paused outside his door, smoothing down the emerald green dress she'd chosen out of more than a dozen outfits. It was modest by most standards, hugging her curves without being obvious. The dress had quarter sleeves with a hem just below the knee, and a conservative neckline that only hinted at cleavage. She'd also left her hair down instead of pulling it back in a ponytail or a braid, and she'd applied makeup, including foundation and lipstick, which she rarely did. Usually, eyeliner and mascara were enough.

Tonight, though, she wanted to look pretty. She wanted to look sexy.

Taking a deep breath, Arezoo rang the doorbell.

Footsteps approached, and then the door swung open to reveal Ruvon in a pair of jeans and a fitted black button-down shirt that showcased his lean, muscular build. His hair was slightly damp, like he'd recently showered, and the scent of his soap was clean and masculine and somehow intoxicating.

"Arezoo?" Surprise lit his eyes. "I wasn't expecting you."