There are his riddles again,I thought dizzily.
But as his mouth finally touched mine, I couldn’t focus enough to decipher his meaning. I was too lost to the energy spilling across my skin from his nearness, his potent magic drowning me in his sinful aroma.
I parted my lips, longing to taste that luscious purity from his very mouth, and he eagerly fed it to me with his tongue. I moaned, relishing the intensity, losing myself to his touch, his power, hiskiss.
It was slow and purposeful. A thorough introduction to what he had to offer me—erotic ecstasy.Melek wouldn’t be gentle, but he wouldn’t be cruel either. He’d be masterful. Knowing.Deliciously meticulous.I could feel it in each stroke of his tongue against mine, his unspoken promise of what he would do to my body, how he would unravel my pleasure with delicate twists and meaningful binds.
His fingers danced along the sash of my robe, making me wonder if he planned to take this further.
But when he paused near the knot, I realized he was trying to convey another message entirely. Something only he seemed to understand. Something Iwantedhim to explain.
Because it felt very much like a licentious pledge, a way of telling me the future without actually speaking any words.
Soon, that touch said.When you’re ready.
He pulled away, his eyes having darkened to a deep golden hue. “Powerful indeed,” he murmured. “Read the book, Camillia. Trust me.”
I shuddered, incapable of a response.
Then his eyes went over my shoulder, causing me to freeze.
Oh God. Is Lucifer behind me? Please… please don’t be Lucifer.
“Ah, Warden,” Melek said, his greeting causing my shoulders to droop with relief.
Until I realized that theWardenhad just witnessed me kissing Melek.
Fuck.
“I have a training suggestion for you,” Melek went on, his hands leaving me as he produced a folded paper within his palm. “Based on what I’ve seen so far, Cami is in dire need of training on this topic.” He walked around me, presumably to hand Ajax the letter.
I turned slowly, afraid of what I would see on the Warden’s face, but he was merely looking at the paper with interest.
“Also, Vita has the knowledge Cami is going to need to pass Ty’s tests,” Melek went on. “Not those dusty old books. So don’t waste precious time on something that won’t help her in the end.”
Tests?I thought.What tests?
“She might not be a part of the bride trials anymore,” Melek continued, his knowing eyes meeting mine, the color still burning with gold flames. “But I suspect she is undergoing Ty’s version of a trial, as are you.”
With those cryptic words, he vanished in proper Melek fashion.
Ajax frowned at the space he’d just occupied, then focused on me, his gaze instantly widening. “Did Melek spell that for you?” he asked, his attention shifting down to my attire.
I blinked, the abrupt change in topic leaving me a little bewildered.
And maybe Melek’s kiss had something to do with that, too. “I, uh, no.” I cleared my throat as I attempted to find my misplaced sanity. “He… I mean,Ichose this. I assumed I should just make myself comfortable for a while. And it’s not like my closet is packed with sweats to wear.”
It sounded much lamer than I’d desired. After all, I’d hoped to use this to seduce Ajax, or to garner some sort of a reaction. But now my brain was too fried to focus.
“I like it,” Ajax said, surprising me. But then he seemed to pull himself out of his trance and looked down at the paper in his hand. He unfolded it, which made his eyes widen more than before. “Right.” He balled up the paper and lined it up with a nearby container, ready to throw it.
A container that would burn it into ash if it passed the rim, just like the laundry hampers did around here.
Acting on instinct, I dove and caught it, needing to know what Melek had suggested for training.
“Don’t,” Ajax growled. “It’s just Melek being Melek.”
Ajax’s insistence that I not look at the page only made me more inclined todefinitelylook at it.
