Page 18 of Zylus

My breath catches when Zylus descends the ornate wooden staircase wearing only loose-fitting pants as he towels his hair.

“I smell food.” His gaze sweeps over the little feast I’ve set out on the coffee table, then settles affectionately on me.

It’s as if a lightning strike sizzles through my body, touching everything from top to bottom, but giving an extra zap to the tips of my breasts and between my legs.

I’m a weak, weak woman. Did I really spend the last half-hour debating whether I was going to have sex with Zylus tonight? Who was I fooling? It will be a miracle if we make it through dinner before one of us attacks the other.

Chapter Fourteen

Zylus

I landed in my bedroom, then shifted into my corporeal form. It was a good thing too, because Misty had already returned. I needed a shower anyway, to decompress and get Nivar’s smell off me.

Look at Misty, so beautiful. She can’t tear her gaze from me as I join her. It’s a good thing she’s attracted to me. I can’t wait to take our relationship to the next level.

Although last night I was the one to suggest we put the brakes on, I was hoping she would want to press forward. It took all our self-control to go to sleep on separate pallets.

I enjoy her company. We have so much in common. She’s smart and funny, and if the way she treats little Vortex is any indication, she has a lot of affection to give.

Working with her on this project is going to be a treat.

I join her on the floor and eat the roastvermackand sides she bought from the grocery. I have no intention of mentioning whatvermackslook like. If she knew, she wouldn’t eat it, and I want her to save her energy for what I hope will come later tonight—her.

We’re laughing and joking, telling stories about our youth. In between talking and eating, Misty manages to stuff our new pet full of not only the veterinarian-approvedsmelkasnaps we bought at the pet shop, but little bites ofvermack.

I’ve never before seen a wild animal so eager to become domesticated. Perhaps it’s the ridiculous pet bed Misty bought him that has a little crown embroidered on it, maybe it’s the table scraps, or maybe it’s the way Misty’s fingers comb through his blue hair. I can’t wait until those fingers get busy stroking me.

Perhaps she catches my glance or the heated look in my eyes.

“Tired?” Her question sounds innocent enough, but as that one word echoes around the wood-paneled room, its meaning becomes deeper and more filled with sexual innuendo with each moment that passes.

“That meal energized me.” I keep my response neutral but pierce her with a meaningful stare, then wait to see if she takes the bait.

“Maybe you could… add a few logs to the fire and we could… watch the flames.”

I knew I liked this female. “Watch the flames. Great idea.”

I’m in such a hurry, I have to order myself not to shift to my spectral form to shave a few seconds off the task. Instead, I saunter to the fireplace, kneel, and feed wood to the flames in slow motion, allowing her to see my muscles flex in the dim light.

“Will I have muscles like yours when we’re done with this project?”

Good to see my little performance wasn’t lost on her.

“It depends on how much youwatchand how much youdo,” I say over my shoulder, cramming my words with as much blatant sexuality as possible.

“I’ve always liked to dive into the deep end.” Her gaze dips first to my mouth, then my cock which is straining against my thin pants.

“You’re a brave one, getting that loan, letting a stranger move in with you.” I return to our makeshift dining table. This time I don’t sit across from her, but settle close, my hip brushing hers. “What kind of brave thing might you want to try tonight?”

I’ve never been clever at flirting, a fact my brother never failed to tease me about in our teen years. It seems I’m suddenly a master at it because, by the look of raw sensuality on Misty’s face, she’s going to give me a very sexy answer.

“All those years behind a desk at the hotel, I never did much with my hands. Maybe tonight you might help give me somehands-on experience.”

Oh, Misty. That was good, especially the way her gaze flew to my pulsing cock.

“Very astute. It might be quite beneficial to give you some direct experience with somethinghard as woodbefore we attack the baseboards tomorrow. Anything else you want toattack?”

“Well, the plumbing hasn’t been used in a while. Perhaps we should make an attempt to unclog thepipes?”

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