Page 289 of Bonds of Hercules
“I might justdevouryou yet.” Kharon’s breath tickled the shell of my right ear.
Augustus held my gaze, then dragged his eyes down to my lips. “Pardon our insatiability,” his voice rang indecently through my skull. “My carus.”
Augustus didn’t speak aloud, just stared at my lips as I gasped at the intimacy of having him inside my mind.
Kharon reached up with black painted nails—he gripped the back of my neck—nails digging into my skin.
A gothic romantic melody played inside my head.
Reaching out, I ran my hands down their silk-covered chests.
A flush stained the top of Kharon’s sharp cheekbones; Augustus clenched his jaw.
Individually they were intense.
Together, they were as complex as the elliptical curves and modular forms of Fermat’s last theorem, the hardest math problem ever solved.
My hands traveled lower, fingers dancing over their straining zippers—I squeezed.
“Careful, darling.” Kharon dug his nails into my sensitive skin in warning, his expression feral.
Augustus’s hand shot out in a blur. He grabbed my forearm as it flexed, squeezing him harder.
They’d fallen straight into my trap.
I smiled. “Domus.”
Crack.
Smoke rose around us—we were once again standing in the empty, dark dining room—the blinds were drawn, and a fire burned low in the hearth.
We were back at the scene of the crime.
I’d meant to leap us to the bedroom, but something inside me must have wanted differently.
“You … just …” Kharon trailed off as he gaped at me, like he genuinely couldn’t believe my audacity.
Augustus wet his lower lip.
Laughter bubbled up my throat as I pulled my hands away from them.
Kharon looked incredulous as he found his voice. “Don’t tell me you just leapt withtwopeople a dangerously short distance—afteryou just leapt back from the federation meeting.”
I rolled my eyes; we were all fine.
“Okay, Iwon’ttell you,” I said.
Kharon looked around at his surroundings. Awareness lighting in his eyes, he tipped his head back and chuckled, a deep throaty sound.
Augustus joined him, his dimple flashing.
“Do you trust me, carissima?” Kharon’s amused voice dropped an octave, dark lashes fanning.
I stared at the scar on the side of his head. “Yes.”
Kharon brushed a curl off my neck. “Youreallyshouldn’t, darling.” He gently took my crown off and placed it on the table.
Augustus glanced between us with hooded eyes.
