The gargoyle bowed and disappeared.
Az’s focus returned to the courtyard, his mind silent while he indulged in his coffee.
I swallowed the caffeinated heaven while allowing my gaze to travel over his stunning physique. Just because I wasn’t one hundred percent happy with him didn’t mean I couldn’tadmirehim.
And there wasa lotto admire…
He wore a simple pair of black pants, leaving his Black Phoenix tattoo on display—the imprint stretching across his muscular chest. A delectable “V” disappeared into his waistband, tempting my eyes to travel downward.
However, I inspected his unique mark instead.
It wasn’t one made of ink like a traditional tattoo. It was something that represented his beast’s spirit, and it gleamed with power, occasionally twisting with shadows or moving on his skin, just subtle enough for me to question if I had imagined its movement.
I had the absurd urge to trace the mark with my tongue to see if it tasted like his magic—I imagined it to be hot and silky like a stiff drink. My fingers ran over my wrist, feeling the raised bite mark from his beast, as desire licked through me like fire.
I can feel that, little warrior,Az said inside my head, his voice a low sound that reminded me of his Phoenix’s purr.It’s not like Ajax to leave you wanting.
Flames caressed my cheeks. He could probably sense my arousal through our bond. Even if he couldn’t, maybe he couldsmellit.
Fucking Melek,I muttered to myself, careful not to transmit that thought to Az or anyone else. Not that Melek or Ajax appeared to be listening to me right now anyway.
I cleared my throat, my gaze flittering around the balcony, away from the sexy Black Phoenix. I needed a distraction. Something.Anythingto change the topic at hand.
Because no way was I responding to his last line.
A deal, I thought, snagging one from the stack of papers I’d set aside in favor of my coffee mug.
I had no doubt he could feel what I had done with Melek, but he was giving me privacy on that matter. Instead, he seemed intent on remarking on my needy state.
Taking Melek’s lesson to heart, I thrust one of the documents toward Az. “Can you read this?” I asked dumbly.
I had no idea which deal it was, but it didn’t matter. We just needed a diversion. Something to keep me from staring at his too-perfect form.
Your magic is driving me crazy,I thought at Melek.
Hmm,he hummed in return.Enjoy it, little angel. It becomes you.
So you can still hear me,I muttered back at him.Good to know.
Shh, sweet angel. I need to focus on Ajax right now. Be my good girl and play with the Phoenix.
My eyes narrowed.I amnotyour good girl.And what was with all the men in my life suddenly using that phrase? What part of me made them think I wasgoodat all?
You’re absolutely my good girl,Melek replied.You’re just misbehaving right now. And that’s fine. But you should know, Ty is the one who enjoys punishing brats, not me.
I nearly lost my coffee mug, my jaw unhinging.Excuse me?
Melek’s responding chuckle kissed my thoughts, then he disappeared, leaving me wondering exactly what he’d meant by all that.
And how the fuck I was supposed to focus now that… that… imagines of being punished by Typhos were flooding my mind?
Fuck. I pinched the bridge of my nose and forced myself to inhale, my opposite hand shaking around the handle of my coffee mug.
Az cleared his throat, reminding me of his presence.
And of course he was still shirtless. Why would he have bothered putting on clothes?
Where did you get this?he asked me, holding up the document I’d given him, his other hand tightly gripping his coffee mug.
