Twice a Wish

Every set of eyes locked onto Sully as his shadow fell over mine. I fought the urge to hide under the table, flicking a quick look at Jealousy who smiled conspiratorially my way.

I didn’t move. I didn’t spin to face him. I didn’t want anything to do with him.

He should’ve stayed away. I should’ve done more to stay out of his orbit.

I waited for Pika to flutter with his attitude and comical authority. Only, no chirps or parrot chatter sounded, only the brusque, powerful breath of a man I wished I was immune to.

“Good morning, goddesses.”

My skin showered in goosebumps. My belly clenched and heart raced.

Jealousy noticed, her smile widening.

Dammit.

Calico instantly lost her stick-up-her-ass pose and slipped into sensual. “Good morning, Sullivan.”

“Morning, Sullivan,” the other goddesses parroted.

“What brings you to Divinity this morning?” Jupiter purred.

Jealousy rolled her eyes, reaching for her muesli and inserting a huge spoonful into her mouth. If that wasn’t a clear indication that she felt nothing toward Sully, I didn’t know what would. She basically shovelled food and chewed as if watching a highly entertaining telenovela right before her, allowing the rest of us to provide the script and screw-ups.

“I’m ticking off things on my to-do list,” Sully replied in a toneless, chilly voice.

“Can I be on your to-do list?” Neptune murmured.

He didn’t reply, his shadow staying firmly over me.

“I suggest you run along and spend your time elsewhere.” His suit rustled as he stepped closer, coming to my side. His tall frame, his overbearing presence, it all pressed me deeper into my chair.

I flatly refused to look up. I bowed my head, encouraging loose hair to curtain my vision. Had he heard what they’d said about him? Did he see my reaction to him?

My determination to run swelled to unbearable.

I couldn’t allow myself to continue feeling this way. Dreaming this way. Being this utterly stupid. If someone had divined my future and told me that I’d be kidnapped, sold into slavery, and been idiotic enough to feel anything but loathing toward the man trapping me in servitude, I would’ve slapped myself. I would’ve been so disappointed.

I am so disappointed.

The girls looked as if they’d refuse, but Sully growled low in his chest. “Leave. I won’t ask again.”

With a piercing, hateful glance at me, the four glided away, their hips swaying, their femininity leaving a trail of lusty gossamer-like silver snail tracks.

Jealousy went to stand, but Sully muttered, “You can stay. Finish your breakfast.”

She slowly relaxed back into the chair, unobtrusively picking up her e-reader and becoming falsely engrossed in the blank screen.

Sully moved to face me. His shadow no longer cloaked me, allowing the hot sunshine to do its best to rid my traitorous goosebumps.

Without a word, he placed a black box on the table in front of me.

I froze.

Jealousy sucked in a breath, despite her attempt at giving us privacy.

When I didn’t move, Sully grunted, “For you.”

Bracing myself, I tilted my chin.

Our eyes instantly locked. Two mirroring pieces, knotting together, plaiting together, unable to be undone. My heart malfunctioned, skipping and kicking, pounding so hard my ribcage became its drum.

His throat worked as he swallowed. For a second, I thought he’d leave. His to-do list had been ticked. I wasn’t worthy of more time.

The stormy, icy look on his face remained from dealing with his other wayward goddesses. But in a flash, he bent forward, fisted my hair, and jerked my ear to his mouth. “Open your gift, Jinx…you earned it.” He taunted me cruelly, but it only added gasoline to my flaming blood.

I bit my lip as my skin ignited with lust.

Jealousy was right.

After elixir and Euphoria and the rampant hunger of my unchained libido, I wasn’t just Sully’s slave, I was my own.

His thumb traced the base of my skull while his other fingers buried themselves deeper into my hair.

I went instantly wet.

No question.

No doubt.

Just need.

I forgot about Jealousy sitting right there. I forgot about the other goddesses who might be watching. All I could think about was him. His touch. His scent. His power.

Coconut and salt shot up my nose. I fought everything I had not to moan. Not to turn my head and meet his lips with mine.

His nose nuzzled my ear, his breath hot and sinful. “I jerked off to you this morning.” His voice fed confessions into my ear, secret and soft. Jealousy didn’t have a clue, and I didn’t stand a chance.

His hold tightened, burning my scalp where he held me. “I tried to stop myself. I ignored the unbearable ache in my cock.” His teeth slipped threateningly around my lobe, his breath caught, struggling to inhale, just like he’d stolen all the air from me. “I don’t masturbate to a goddess. Ever. Yet…fuck, I couldn’t help myself.”

Biting my ear, he murmured, “Want to know why? Why I fisted myself? Why it only took me seconds to come?”

I shook my head, swallowing and panting, trying to tug away. My mind swam with images of him spread on his bed. Naked. His belly clenched. His fist wrapped around his massive erection.

My bikini briefs became embarrassingly damp.

I struggled harder to get away. I needed distance, but he held me firm, kissing the highly sensitive skin behind my ear. “I couldn’t stop because another man told me that you’re the best he’s ever had. That he’ll never forget fucking you. That he gave you a piece of his heart.”

His voice turned angry and frostbitten. “I got…jealous.” He bit the word into pieces, ripped out its entrails, and threw the rest into a fire. A fire that licked down my neck and over my nipples, scratching deeper into my core.

Throwing me away, he stood to his tall height and wiped his mouth with a shaky hand. He didn’t shake from weakness. He shook from undiluted, raw need.

He infected me with it.

He cursed me with it.

I shuddered as he snatched the box from the table, ripped it open, and tipped something bright and blingy into my lap.

The teal of my dress caught it, spinning rainbows and unblemished glitter.

A diamond.

A huge rock of a gemstone that shimmered with expensive splendour.

I didn’t need to ask if it was real. The brilliance of such a stone couldn’t be fake.

“That’s from the man who fell in love with you three nights ago.” His handsome face twisted with a savage sneer. “First time in Euphoria and you’ve earned a forty-thousand-dollar diamond. Four days until your next serve, Jinx. Let’s see if every man falls in love with you…or if it’s just one.”

With a sadistic, spiteful look, he spun and stalked away.

Only once he’d vanished down his immaculate orchid-frosted pathway did I manage to breathe. To look around. To notice Jealousy had gone. The other goddesses had disappeared.

And I sat all alone, in a wet patch caused by his voice, clutching a diamond worth more than I’d ever earned in my life.

A diamond given in lieu of a man’s heart.

Chapter Seven

A SHRILL RING REACHED into my sleep and clawed apart my dreams.