Chapter 32 Temptation #2
“What? I’m not patronizing you. I do.”
“Yeah, but does it turn you on?”
Her jaw dropped, and my mouth gaped in horror as the implications of my words sank in. I hadn’t intended to admit it.
“So it’s like that,” she said, voice soft. “That’s fine too. I think with the right person, I’d probably feel the same.” She took my hand and squeezed. There wasn’t an ounce of judgment in her tone. “I don’t think badly of you for that.”
“No?”
“Not at all.”
“I mean, fighting with Cyn the other night made me—” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“No.” I squeezed her hand like she’d squeezed mine. “Tell me?”
“I’m not sure you wanna hear this.”
“I know you both had sex.”
Her brows lifted in surprise. “You do?”
“I overheard you two arguing this morning.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, Zeke. It just… happened.”
“Why should you be sorry?”
“Uh…” She let go of my hand. “Well, we did it here while you were sleeping, for one.”
“I know. It’s fine, really. I’m a heavy sleeper.”
I didn’t ask her what else there was. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable after she seemed hesitant to confide in me, even though she encouraged me earlier to do the same.
“So what about fighting with Cyn?”
“Last night… I mean, he was already touching me, but we argued, and for some reason, it felt good to fight with him like that.”
I nodded, listening to her intently, the tightness of my jeans a growing distraction.
“I didn’t think I’d enjoy something like that. But I don’t usually fight with people like we do.” Her cheeks darkened. “So yeah, maybe there’s a part of me that likes that too.”
Made sense. People liked different things, and they didn’t always enjoy doing the same things from different people. She said she liked praise—and what happened with Cyn. I doubted she’d like him praising her if fighting with him turned her on.
I paused when I realized she’d described something turning her on, even though I’d been thinking about it the whole time.
“So you’re attracted to Cyn? I mean, I guess you are. You had sex with him.”
“He’s an asshole, but he’s a hot one.” She sighed as if she hated to admit it, her fingers brushing the side of her neck over a faint dark spot.
Did she have makeup on her neck? I shook the thought.
“Think you’ll do it again?” Why did I ask that? Stupid.
“What? No! No way.” She drew her knees to her chest and hugged her shins.
“He said it’d never happen again, anyway.
I think he wouldn’t have touched me if he hadn’t been asleep.
” She rested her cheek on her knees to look at me.
“I don’t wanna have sex with someone who hates me, no matter how good it is. ”
I tried not to imagine her and Cyn having sex. I tried really hard.
She yawned, sitting upright. “I need to start dinner.”
“Cyn’s making chicken Alfredo.”
“Oh.”
“Why don’t you take a nap or something until it’s ready?”
“I’m not”—she yawned—“sleepy.” She laughed when I raised a brow. “Okay, maybe a little. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Want some help?”
“What do you mean?”
I lifted a hand and wiggled my fingers. “Quick way to fall asleep.”
“Sure. Why not?” She pointed at me. “You stay out of my head.”
I crossed my heart. “I’ll just put you to sleep. Nothing else. Promise.” I refused to violate the trust she placed in me by misusing my magic while she was vulnerable.
She climbed off the bed. “Hang on.” Reaching for the button on her jeans, she said, “I am not sleeping in clothes again. It’s too hot in this room, even with the air conditioner. I’ve considered installing a ceiling fan.”
I glanced away to give her privacy when she unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. I looked back at her after she climbed into bed and turned off the lamp.
The soft hues of the setting sun filtering through her blinds and the nightlight in her bathroom made it easy for me to see her. Pink straps peeked out from the top of the covers; she’d taken her shirt off too.
“Ready?”
She nodded. “Work your magic, dream boy.”
I laughed as I brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead before gently covering her eyes with my hand. The softness of her skin made my fingers tingle.
It took no time at all for her to slip into unconsciousness.
Sitting up, I watched her peaceful face, the flutter of her eyelids hinting at the dreams already forming behind them.
Vithrelas magic lulled targets into a state bordering on REM sleep where dreams took root, making it easier to dreamwalk. But I promised her I wouldn’t step into her dreams.
I turned, ready to leave her to a peaceful nap, but her breathing changed, and a soft moan slipped past her lips, stealing my attention. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the urge to peek in on her dream. I promised.
I inhaled through my nose to calm myself, shuddering when her sweet scent edged with a buttery tart aroma overwhelmed me. The same note I thought I’d caught last night.
I looked at her, my heart pounding. My hands shook as I reached out to touch her forehead. When she moaned at my touch and her perfume bloomed, I staggered back from the bed.
My chest heaved with every breath I took as her emotions slammed into me.
I wasn’t in her head; I hadn’t breached her trust.
I didn’t know who or what she dreamt about, but I could sense her arousal even without the moan and scent.
My knees buckled, her desperation a palpable wave washing over me, leaving me breathless and weak.
She said something, but I couldn’t hear her over the rush of blood in my ears.
I stumbled toward the door. I needed to get away from her.
With a final, lingering look over my shoulder, I fled.