Chapter 14
Inez woke the next morning sore and tender between her legs and thighs quivering as she climbed from the bed. Most of the night she’d spent trying to keep up with Varyk. It wasn’t in her Dracol nature to be timid, yet nothing could have prepared her for their vigorous sessions. She’d begged and screamed until her voice went hoarse.
In the end, Inez wanted to plead exhaustion, but eventually Varyk sprawled to one side of the bed and drifted off with a last caress to her upper thigh. The hot shower she’d taken before she joined him in mindless sleep hadn’t done much to soothe her aching parts.
“You’re up.”
Inez spun toward the deep, rumbling voice. Leaning against the wall next to a partially opened door stood Varyk. He was dressed in a green tunic cinched at the waist with black pants, arms folded over his chest and head cocked to the side as he stared at her.
“Yes.” Inez cleared her throat and spied her clothing from the night before neatly folded on a chair. She crossed to it, hating her mincing steps and picked up the bundle. A fresh cleansing scent rose from the material, hinting they’d been laundered.
She turned toward Varyk. No doubt he’d had someone take care of her stuff. She hefted them in the air. “Thanks?”
One side of his shoulders lifted, his gaze unwavering. “Not a problem.”
Right. Okay. Inez shook out the shirt and pulled it over her head, grateful for the covering. She unfolded her pants and slid them on one leg a time aware the whole time of Varyk’s impassive stare. Once dressed, she pasted a smile on her face and tamped down the disappointment at his cold manner this morning after taking her every way possible last night.
“Has there been word on Larz?” After all it was the main connection they had.
“No. He convinced his lira to help him set an explosive near my office where I spend most of my time.”
Stunned, Inez tried to wrap her mind around what he disclosed. He was just telling her now? Her gaze ran over him for good measure, assuring herself he appeared physically fine. “Varyk, are you alright?”
“Do I look hurt?”
Annnd they were back to the king of arrogance.
“Can I get a ride home?” Inez was proud of how clear and even she sounded.
“No.”
Outrage stiffened her back. Words froze on the tip of her tongue. This brusque male didn’t resemble the one who’d licked her belly button and discovered her only ticklish spot last night. Nowhere was the male who’d tongued her to orgasm several times.
Masking her disappointment, Inez voiced her demand. “I’d like to leave.”
If she expected a dramatic response she didn’t get one. Varyk straightened and sauntered in her direction. Every step was prowling grace, a lethal weapon on two feet, the essence of his Dracol sparking in his amber gold gaze. Unwillingly, her nipples hardened and her body readied itself by growing damp.
He stopped in front of her and cupped her jaw, tilting her face up. Inez blocked the renewed jolt of sexual awareness. Barely. “You’re angry.”
Frustration surged on a turbulent wave. Forget accepting his asinine behavior. Forget diplomacy. This was personal. “Well, yes. Yes, I am actually.”
Varyk rubbed his thumb along her jawline and down the curve of her chin. She tried to pull away but his fingers tightened and his gaze darkened. At this range she couldn’t miss the flicker of his dual lids. Not so stoic after all.
“I don’t want you to leave yet.”
Inez blew out a breath. Fuck if that didn’t send a sizzle through every part of her body and kill the anger. Placing her hands on his chest, Inez didn’t attempt to shove. It would be a wasted effort. Instead she hoped her scowl conveyed her growing confusion. “Maybe if you were clear about what you want, I wouldn’t feel caught in this odd limbo.”
His hand dropped and Inez instantly missed the contact. “My apologies. This is…hard for me.”
Curious, Inez waited for him to continue. He didn’t. “What’s hard for you?”
He averted his gaze and if Inez wasn’t mistaken, his cheeks had taken on a red tinge. “This attraction. My desire for you borders on obsession.”
Inez blinked. It was all she could manage as she struggled with how to handle his revelation. Part of her was outright amused at his genuine bewilderment while the other part of her reveled in not being alone in this extreme pull toward a male who should have been the last person her heart wanted.
Fate had a wicked sense of humor and Inez felt certain cosmic forces and the goddess herself were laughing like crazy at their predicament.
“Have you nothing to say?”
His disgruntled expression sparked a giddy little twist in her belly. “I see.”
“You see?” Varyk growled. Even without a connection to his mantle, Inez caught the edges of fiery emotions close to exploding. “What exactly do you see?”
“You’re having trouble with our mutual developing feelings.”
“Mutual?” Satisfaction filled his voice. His gaze ignited with remembered passion but he didn’t allow her a moment to respond. “Stay. I invited you to my territory for a reason. Stay with me and—.”
He broke off on another rough sound and spun away from her. Inez grabbed his elbow, preventing him from walking away. The twist in her belly grew into a flurry of bubbles. Communication clearly wasn’t his strength. Varyk glared over his shoulder but stood still. “And what? Finish what you were going to say.”
“I don’t know!” he admitted and placed his hand over hers. “Just stay. Perhaps we can figure it out together.”
***
Startled, Varyk paused after spewing his thoughts. Once more he wondered what hold Inez had over him to cause him to react in a manner completely at odds with his usual way of dealing with females.
Humbling himself to appeal to another wasn’t something he did often. More like never. Varyk dragged in a ragged breath. Inez could very well sneer in his face and demand he take her home. His essence rose at the idea and his inner Dracol protested. Varyk was of a mind to toss Inez back onto the bed and keep her there until she agreed to stay.
As if reading his mind, she leveled a measuring glance at him. His heart thundered in his chest and a puff of green smoke swirled from his right nostril. He readied himself to sway her physically if necessary.
His cock stretched in his pants eager in a way Varyk wished he could control. But this, whatever it was between he and Inez wasn’t controllable.
“I’ll stay.”
His breath escaped on a hiss, elation sending his emotions soaring. Success. He’d gotten what he wanted even if he was uncertain how to proceed. This was a first for Varyk, but maybe Milana had the right of it and he was due a change in his dealings with females.
He tugged her into his arms and breathed the words out. “Good. That’s good.”
Because he wasn’t quite sure he’d have been able to let her go if she wished otherwise.