Page 34 of Queen of Tempests and Sin

I raised my eyes and gave a small nod. ‘All true. Guinn and I volunteer at an animal shelter when time allows. She’s always wanted a dog. And yes, I’ve read more books than I can count. Romance, mostly. Or fantasy romance.’ I hesitated, then smirked just a little. ‘The touch her and die trope is a favourite.’

His brows furrowed slightly. ‘Trope?’

That drew a small laugh from me. ‘Yes. It’s book language for common themes. “Touch her and die” is like a possessive Alpha male being super protective and jealous over his woman.’ I gave a half-shrug and licked my too-dry lips. He watched me intently, and when his gaze dropped to my mouth, his eyes flashed with hunger.

And… I’m pretty sure my ovaries vibrated.

I tried to ignore the flare of liquid heat throbbing low in my belly. Instead, I carried on talking, my words coming out in a messy heap.

‘I’m a black belt in everything… Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Krav Maga, and Master level in most disciplines, including armed combat.’ He just stared at me—like I was some kind of enigma he hadn’t decided whether to protect or devour.

I squirmed. ‘More coffee?’ I squeaked.

He seemed to come out of his trancelike state. He blinked once and shook his head. Then he leaned forward, mere inches away from me—so close I could feel his breath on my cheek. He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, causing my breath to hitch, and as his fingers grazed my face, an electrical current rippled through me.

‘You belong to me, Little Red,’ he whisper-snarled. His scent wrapped around me… delicious, comforting, and sexy. I needed to get away from his suffocating proximity; it was throwing me for a loop.

I gave him a glacial stare, torn between wanting to scream and punching him in the face. The latter would be a major mistake.

Funny, really. The obsessive alpha male—that kind of possessive devotion always sounded romantic on paper.

But in real life? Possession felt a lot like a cage, and I wasn’t a thing to be coveted and claimed. Not anymore.

I stood with slow precision. ‘I think I’ll go freshen up and sleep, if that’s okay?’

‘Of course.’ His voice was velvet and blades, and I felt his eyes drilling into my back as I walked away, causing delicious shivers to trickle down my spine.

Holy Hades… resisting this man is going to be a painstaking, soul-twisting challenge.

* * *

I took a quick ten-minute shower, washing my hair and scrubbing away the grime of the past two days. After drying off, I lathered my skin with body lotion—Rituals Cherry Blossom & Rice Milk, soft and grounding. After brushing my hair, I tied it into a messy topknot, then wrapped in a huge, luxurious towel, wandered into the small hallway, and back into the bedroom.

Turning to the wardrobe to grab a robe, I froze.

‘Cordelia.’ His voice—low, velvet-rich, and dangerous—came from directly behind me, so close I could feel the heat of his body radiating against my bare back.

Poseidon.

My spine went rigid.

He moved like a shadow, silent and smooth, a predator wrapped in mortal skin.

‘You smell delicious.’ The low rumble of his voice vibrated against my damp flesh and poured over me like warm caramel, soaking my body with decadence and lust. Tingling sensations rippled through me, dancing along every nerve ending. I clenched my teeth… and my thighs.

Do not cave. Do not let this breathtakingly beautiful god get under your skin. Nope. He wants to control you.

No one owned me. Especially not him. The arrogant, smug, maddeningly gorgeous god of the sea could go take a long, hard swim.

‘Every breath you take makes it harder not to touch you.’ At his words, I drew in a shaky breath, feeling unreasonably hot for a whole slew of reasons. Fuckety dammit. His effect on me had me behaving like a sexually frustrated, lovesick teenager instead of a lethal assassin.

For fuck’s sake, get it together, Cordelia.

‘It’s only fair I give you what you need, Little Red…’ he said in a low rasp. ‘We were so rudely interrupted, after all. And considering you’ve already seen me naked and orgasming…’

His lips grazed my ear. ‘It’s my turn.’ The well-executed reasoning for denying him dove from the window as my nipples peaked beneath the thick terry cloth, and an avalanche of molten lust crashed through me, obliterating all logic and resistance.

Oh, gods help me… I am so, so screwed.