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“I’m a mage.”
“Not just a mage.” He tugged on her curls, tilting her head to the side to offer him unfettered access to her vulnerable flesh. “Such power. It’s unique.You’reunique.”
Peri knew she should put a stop to his lethal seduction. Not only because it was suicidal to put herself in such a vulnerable position; she also couldn’t risk allowing anyone to slip beneath her defensive layers. She knew what was possible if she lost control. Sex was one thing. This…
This was something else.
But even as she commanded her hands to push him away, her fingers were curving into the cashmere sweater, as if she wanted to yank him closer.
“I’ve been told that I’m stubborn, opinionated, and destined for an early grave,” she argued. “Never unique.”
He kissed the vein that throbbed at the base of her neck. “Weak men feel compelled to make others small. Especially women. And you could never be small.”
The tips of his fangs pressed against her tender skin, and Peri curved her spine in silent invitation. She wanted those massive teeth sinking deep into her flesh, she reluctantly acknowledged. And to feel the suck of her blood as he drank deep from her vein. She wanted…Valen.
The terrifying realization was still forming in her mind when she felt a buzzing against her hip. Pulling back, she studied him in confusion. What was happening?
It wasn’t until Valen reached into the front pocket of his slacks to pull out a phone that she realized she’d felt the vibration from an incoming text. Saved by the bell. Or in this case, saved by the timely buzzing, she wryly told herself.
“Damn.” His exquisite features tightened as he glanced at the screen. “It’s Gabriel.”
Peri tried to inch away, but she was trapped by the quilt pulled tight over her legs. She swallowed a sigh. It was like fate was doing everything in its power to keep her disturbingly close to Valen.
With an effort, she forced herself to remember why she was in Denver. And the cost of failure.
“Is something wrong?” she inquired.
“He has information he thinks we should see.”
“‘Information’ is kind of vague. I suppose we won’t know if it’s good news or bad until we talk to him.” She sent him a frown. “But first I need to shower.”
Cool power swirled over her like a caress. “Alone?”
Did he plant the vision of the two of them entangled in the shower as water cascaded over their naked bodies in her brain? If he didn’t, she had a remarkable ability to imagine every solid, perfect inch of him. Including the proud thrust of his erection.
She cleared the lump from her throat. “I don’t suppose Gabriel has some clothes I could borrow?”
He leaned back, his expression unreadable as he nodded toward a chair on the other side of the bed where a stack of laundry was neatly folded.
“Yours were cleaned while you slept.”
“A full service hotel.” She managed a teasing smile. “Nice.”
His gaze locked on her lips. “It could be as full service as you desire.”
A sharp, unexpected yearning bloomed in the center of her being. She wanted this male. She’d wanted him from the first time she caught sight of him nine years ago. But what she needed was an uncomplicated relationship between a man and woman. The sort you watched on television during the holidays where the ending was always happy.
Unfortunately, there was nothing uncomplicated about Valen. Or her. And they were more likely to end in a fiery collision that would destroy them both than a happily ever after.
“I’m not as courageous as you seem to believe,” she whispered.
He stilled, forgetting to look human as he studied her with an unnerving intensity. Did he realize she was hiding something? Probably. Thankfully, he accepted she wasn’t yet ready to share. Brushing his fingers lightly down her cheek, he rose to his feet.
“You will be,” he murmured with an assurance that bordered on arrogance.
Then, with a wicked smile, he turned to disappear into the shadows of the room. Peri held her breath until she heard the soft click of the door shutting behind his retreating form before she jumped out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Stepping into the shower, she turned on the cold water. Full blast.
She’d obviously lost her mind. Maybe the frigid spray would shock some sense into her.
