Page 160 of A Breath of Life
I hadn’t even reached inside the tank when Tallus launched from the couch with a shout. “Jesus fuck. What the hell? Don’t you dare. Diem! Warn a guy next time.”
He scrambled down the hallway to the bedroom.
Echo, unsure what was happening, barked.
The door down the hall slammed after Tallus shouted, “Why do you do this to me? I thought you loved me. You’re evil. Give a guy a warning.”
Chuckling, I closed and locked the lid on the terrarium. Every fucking time, but today, it got me what I wanted.
At the bedroom door, I tried the knob and found it locked, so I knocked. “Hey. Let me in.”
“You are not coming in here if that snake is out. God help me, Diem Krause, you know I hate that thing.”
“She’s in the tank.”
“Do you swear?”
“Yes. It was a ruse. I cleaned it on the weekend. I wanted you in the bedroom.”
A pause.
The lock clicked, and Tallus cracked the door an inch, peeking from within with a frown. “If you wanted me in the bedroom, all you had to do was ask.”
“I’ll remember that next time. Can I come in?”
He glanced past me down the hall. “Is she really caged?”
“Yes.”
He opened the door and propped his hands on his hips, looking petulant and sexy as ever. “You’re a big meanie. I don’t know why you torment me.”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“Then say that next time.”
“I’ll do that.” I shifted my weight, unsure how to begin.
A stitch appeared between Tallus’s brows. He must have sensed my anxiety. “What’s this about? Is everything okay? Did something happen? Is it Nana? Did you—”
“Tallus, shut up for a minute. It’s…” In a flash, my brain locked up, and words vanished. I opened my mouth and closed it again. No. I could do this. I wanted to do this. Had to do this. “I…”
I guided Tallus to the bed. “Sit.”
He quirked a brow.
“Please.”
He didn’t sit, sprawling on the comforter instead like an offering. With his head propped in his upturned hand, he hit me with the sultry and mischievous grin I adored. “What’s up, D?”
“How do you look so hot all the time?”
“It’s a gift.”
“You make it hard to concentrate.”
“Is that a bad thing? I’m not sure how to stop.”
“Clothes would help.”
