Page 117 of Fallen Gods

Aric brings me back to the present by leaning down and brushing his fingers along my cheek. “You look like you’re deep in thoughtandyou’re blushing. Are you thinking impure thoughts about belonging in my arms?”

My breath hitches. “First off, I belong to no one except for my cute cat mug. Second, you guys really need to stop themy dick is bigger than your dickcompetition. He’s just…scared for me, I think. Father isn’t going to be thrilled about the idea of a party, and Rowen doesn’t want to bury me. I don’t want to be buried.”

“That, I imagine, is an opinion shared by all living things.”

“True.” Our words hang between us until I shove past him. “You seem happy, despite getting punched in the face today.”

“I heal quick. Besides, it’s part of my charm. Laughter in the face of danger.” He flicks my nose, then leans down like I’m two feet tall. “And just in case you weren’t already aware. Be careful tonight. Especially around…” He swallows. “The staff. Okay? Everything we say or do will be reported to Sigurd.”

“Well, considering we’re always under surveillance in public, I think I can handle it.” In private is a completely different story.

He smirks. “I’m not sure I can handle it, not with you looking at me like that.”

“Like how?” I ask.

“Like you want to kiss me again,” he rasps.

“Maybe that’s the way I look at people I want to kill.”

He lets out a low groan. “You already sleep with me every night…‘on accident.’” He makes fake quotation marks. “And you’re making it harder to stay away while your words and actions point at you doing nothing but retreating.”

I ignore how close he is to the truth. “Accidental would be stumbling drunk into your room. I don’t even remember leavingmy bed for yours that first night.”

His smile’s stunning. “But now you remember it, don’t you? My bed.”

My entire body sizzles with awareness. Oh yes, his bed, his arms, everything forbidden and untouchable wrapped around me like a cocoon. Perfect. Addicting.

There’s a staff member watching us from the corner. I can tell because she’s been dusting the same spot for our entire conversation. Aric picks up on it and backs away slightly. She walks away, only for another one to come in.

He glances over at us. I stare him down in a challenge, and then I lean in closer to Aric, who grins down at me. He leans in closer, too. Unexpected. His smug smile pushes through, and all I can focus on is his lips, his mouth, the way I know it feels on me, and then I start wondering about the things it can do.

Bad thoughts.

Very bad thoughts.

We’re so close, anyone watching would think we’re almost kissing, which: more power to ’em. The staff member makes his way into an adjoining room, checks a cabinet, then types back on his phone like he’s checking a list or something. He’s fooling no one. Well, if he wants a little show of how well we’re getting along…

“Oh, I remember your bed,” I tease. “I remember how all I want to do is sleep there…and nothing else.”

He moves closer to me and shrugs, then leans in and whispers so dangerously close to my mouth, I almost stop breathing. “Maybe that’s all we’ll ever do. But maybe I want to do something to testyourself-control. God knows you’ve been doing it every single night you ‘sleepwalk’ into my room.”

I don’t retreat. I get right in his face. His eyes widen with amusement, with lust, and I can almost see them begin to glow. We still have an audience, and I wonder if they felt the shift inthe room. The conversation has turned real.

I swear, every single ounce of tension that’s built up between us these last few days is about to combust.

I grin. “You’re welcome to try me.”

He leans over, so close it’s almost like he’s kissing my neck. “I think I already have.”

Chapter Sixty

Rey

“God, do you two have to be so annoying all the damn time?” Aric and I practically leap apart from each other at the sound of Reeve’s voice.

“I mean really,” he continues. “You both need to grab a drink and separate. Your intensity is completely ruining the vibe.”

I shoot a glare at Aric, whose eyes flash, but I can see that he’s ready to back down.