Page 61 of Queen of Tempests and Sin

‘You really don’t know when to stop, do you?’ I asked, aiming for calm and missing by a mile.

He leaned in closer, his voice a low murmur at my ear. ‘I’m going to spank your pert ass and suck on your throbbing clit. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’ A heated curl twisted low in my belly, and goosebumps prickled my flesh.

‘Let’s stop with the sex talk, shall we?’ I said tightly. ‘I liked you better when you wanted to throttle me.’

‘That’s fear talking,’ he whispered, his breath ghosting over my skin.

‘Soon it’ll be violence,’ I snapped. ‘So button it, or I’ll make your immortal life hell.’

He chuckled, completely unbothered. ‘You already do… but I like it.’ His voice dipped. ‘You want me, Cordelia. I can taste it when you're near. Sweet and sharp—like cherries in the rain.’ His voice was like sin and smoke. ‘Would you like me to fuck that warm cunt, Cordelia?’ I blinked several times, at a loss for words, but carried on walking. He was a walking storm cloud of temptation and chaos, and worse—he knew it.

‘If you weren’t such a volatile god, I’d dick-punch you.’

‘Ah, foreplay.’

‘Ugh. No. Just… no.’

We stepped through massive bifold doors into a wide, open space. ‘You can’t fight it forever. Your greedy pussy wants my cock.’

That did it—my pulse jumped, traitorous and loud in my ears. He knew exactly what he was doing, and worse, so did I.

Anger flared, hot and immediate—not just at him, but at myself. At how easily he could slip past my walls with a look, a word, a tone that slid under my skin like silk and saltwater.

I’d built myself out of steel and spite, and somehow he was the only one who made it feel like armour could melt.

I hated that. Hated him for knowing it.

I didn’t stop moving, but I did lift the hem of my dress, pull my blade from its thigh strap, and, without missing a beat, drove it into his side.

He barely flinched; his side would be healed within minutes, but his expensive shirt was toast. I wiped the blood on his shirt and slid the knife back into its sheath.

‘Your shirt’s ruined,’ I said coolly.

He glanced down and chuckled darkly. ‘Worth it.’ His stormy blue-green eyes shone with amusement. Damn him.

I spotted Sephy waving and made my way towards her as Si went to chat to Hades and a group of men.

‘Did you just stab him?’ Sephy asked as I stopped in front of her, eyes wide with a mix of horror and glee.

Damn, I didn’t think anybody had seen my lapse in composure. She snorted, then laughed—actually looking pleased… weirdly enough.

‘He makes me so furious,’ I whispered through gritted teeth. ‘I think I need to go home and lock myself up. I may have a rage problem. A big rage problem.’ I blew out a ragged breath. ‘Maybe the cure is meditation. I should enrol in a class or two. I might need something peaceful and less stabby.’

Sephy pressed her lips together, fighting a smile.

‘He deserves it,’ she said, and I squinted at her, but she continued unbidden, tilting her head, eyebrows lifted. ‘So… any particular reason Ixion hired you to assassinate the king of the sea?’

I gave a half-shrug. ‘I’m the best in the world. I learned from the best and have had a crap ton of experience.’

A grin almost split her face. ‘I’ve wanted to kill that man more times than you can imagine.’ She raised a hand for a high-five. I squinted at her again, unsure, but she gave me an encouraging nod, so I slapped her hand lightly.

‘Why?’ I asked under my breath.

‘Because he’s an egocentric dickface… And his temper? Oh man! He’s even worse than Hades, before I kicked his ass into shape.’ I spurted a laugh. ‘With you, though, he’s different.’ She regarded me with a frown, her tone turning thoughtful. ‘Anyhoo, I have a feeling we’re gonna become besties.’ She winked and handed me a glass of wine. ‘Cheers.’

We clinked glasses just as a beautiful woman with a radiant, terracotta-brown complexion and flowing black hair materialised out of thin air, making me yelp.

‘Bronte!’ Sephy squealed, flinging her arms around the stranger.