Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
ROWAN
Something was wrong with Evie. She was twitchier than normal, a little more prone to temper, and…
she wanted to jump my bones but was resisting with the willpower of a godsdamned monk.
I could smell her desire and felt her eyes on me when she thought I wasn’t looking.
While good for the ego, the way she was looking at me made concentrating on anything way more difficult than usual.
I swore I would give her the time she needed, and I’d been extremely careful not to push boundaries. My touches were those of a close friend, sometimes straying into deeper intimacy when she encouraged such. But there had been no more trapped in the hole serious make-out sessions.
Much to my regret.
She watched me now, her heated gaze burning against my back as I chopped lettuce. If she didn’t stop, I wasn’t going to be able to turn around for a while, for fear she’d see exactly what those looks were doing to me.
“Need some help?” Her voice was huskier than usual.
My grip tightened on the knife. “Lettuce is the last thing we need. If you want to get the tea and some glasses out, that would be helpful.”
Evie rose and passed by me, reaching to open the cupboard. Her hair swayed, exposing the pale line of her neck. The sweater she wore lifted, revealing the curve of her waist.
Gods above.
Her mysterious and ever-changing scent teased my nose. Sometimes she smelled of jasmine and honeysuckle, other times of dirt and green things, and when she used her Chimera magic, she smelled of ancient power and violence, mixed with a tinge of floral. Today, she smelled like peonies and snow.
I didn’t realize I’d stopped chopping until she slowly turned to me. Her rose-colored lips parted. “Everything alright?”
Evie’s eyes were azure pools, her cheekbones high, her jawline sharp. A pulse beat in her throat, and a hint of desire entwined in her scent.
I was dying a slow death as I drowned in the possibility of pleasure. “I’m fine.” If she wanted to continue playing this maddening game, I’d play it with her. We’d see who broke first.
I was nothing if not completely focused on seeing this thing to its inevitable conclusion.
Evie would be mine, come hell or high water.
But this felt more than that. This felt a little dangerous, and I wasn’t sure why.
Not in the way that I thought she’d harm me; more in the way of us barreling toward something we could never extricate ourselves from, and even more serious than a mating bond.
If there was something more serious than that bond. I’d never heard of something trumping a shifter’s mate bond, but I’d be a fool not to believe there were more things in heaven and earth than were dreamt of in my philosophy. Or whatever the hell that Horatio guy said.
“You’re still not chopping,” Evie said.
“You’re staring at me,” I responded.
Her lips twitched. “And you’re staring at me,” she countered.
“Hmm. I suppose we were staring at each other. Is there anything you want to discuss?” My gaze dropped to her lips.
That sexy pulse in her neck sped up. More desire entangled in her scent.
Yep. She wanted me. Bad.
Fuck. Yeah.
“Why would there be?” Her face was innocent, but two spots of color rose in her cheeks.
“I don’t know,” I said, “but you can always talk to me if you need to.” I leaned closer, so close I buried my nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent. “About anything. If you want anything from me,” I said with a long pause, “anything at all, I’m always happy to oblige.”
Evie’s breath caught. “What could I possibly want?” Her voice held a tinge of panic.
I smiled against her skin. “I wouldn’t know. I’m many things, but I’ve never been psychic.”
That place in my chest where Evie lived warmed like molten metal.
“I’m fine,” she insisted and pulled away, holding two glasses in her hand. Evie’s smile was shaky as she turned and hurried to the table.
I hid my smile and started chopping again. “Alright,” I said amiably. “The offer’s always open. No matter what time of day or night. I’m always ready and willing to offer any services you desire.”
A soft choking noise cut off.
I swallowed my laugh and kept chopping.