“Look, I know it’s stupid, okay? But no, I’ve never kissed anyone. Let the mockery commence.”
He traced the outline of her cupid’s bow lips with his thumb, his smile fading. In that moment, he almost wished he and Jacinda didn’t hate each other. “It’s not stupid, Jacinda. It’s—”
“Stay with me,” she whispered urgently, loosening another button on his shirt. “Just a little longer. One more time, then we’ll call it a night.”
Her hips arched toward him, enticing him with her heat. Her scent. He stared at her soft mouth, marveling at the fact that no one had tasted it.
Never kissed anyone… Let the mockery commence…
When he finally met her gaze again, the crack of vulnerability in her eyes widened into a fissure, and he knew if he stayed any longer, he’d fall right into it.
One and done, you knob. Remember?
Before she could ensnare him with another of her deadly spells, Gabriel batted her hand away from the buttons and rose from the bed, taking his belt with him. For some inexplicable reason, he didn’t bother with the pants.
It was his building, after all. If anyone had a damned thing to say about it, he’d tear their bloody hearts out.
“Goodnight, Jacinda.” It was all he could spare before he turned away and stalked off, leaving her to bathe in the eerie winter moonlight alone.
He was out of her bedroom and nearly to the front door when he heard the siren call of her voice again. If she was bothered by his abrupt dismissal, she didn’t reveal it. Instead, she laughed—at him, near him, fuckingsurroundinghim—and called out, “Does this mean you’re not interested in what the Chernikov demon told me about Renault Duchanes?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tea. That’s what the situation called for. It gave Jaci something to focus on, something to keep her hands occupied when all she really wanted to do was grab that infuriating vampire, shove him against the wall, and climb him like a fucking tree.
At the same time, she also wanted to hex him and punch him in the nuts.
The contradiction was inconvenient, to say the least.
Frustration bubbled up inside, making her tremble. She did her best to steady herself, pouring two steaming mugs of vanilla mint tea, the leaves harvested from the plants he’d bought for her on Obsidian’s opening night.
She’d kept one for her apartment. Every time she saw it or caught a whiff of its bright, invigorating scent, she thought of Gabriel and smiled, even when she was pissed at him.
She wondered if he even remembered.
“I hope you like mint.” She carried the mugs to the dining table, where he sat waiting patiently. Silently. Maddeningly.
“It’s fine, Jacinda.” He reached for his tea just as she handed it over, the brush of his fingers sending a little zap of pleasure across Jaci’s skin. She drew back, hating that little zap. Hating the vampire who’d caused it.
It was good she was dressed now. In layers. With a hood and zipper that went all the way up to her chin. Layers meant fewer chances of spontaneous loss of wardrobe resulting in hot kisses on bare skin and smooth, velvet-soft strokes of his—
Nope. Not going there again.
One and done, just like she’d wanted.
“Tell me about the demon, Jacinda,” Gabriel said now, his icy veneer firmly back in place.
Seven hells.How was it even possible that not half an hour ago, she was having the most intense, incredible, life-altering sex with the guy? Had she imagined it?
She closed her eyes. Let out a slow breath. A dull ache pulsed between her thighs, flooding her with heat and memories and desperation…
Are you thinking of me now? Remembering how hard you came on my tongue?
“Jacinda?”
“Yes!” she breathed. “I mean…” She opened her eyes. Cleared her throat. Took the chair across from him and buried her face in her mug, cursing herself for letting him so thoroughly invade her mind.
Cursing herself for wanting him to so thoroughly invade the rest of her.
