Page 136 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“Gods, Tessa,” Luka muttered, running a hand down his face. He muttered something about it “being too early to deal with this shit,” then he looked at Theon, who was clenching and unclenching his free hand. “Are you going to heal her hangover?”

“You can do that?” she gasped, looking back at Theon.

“I can,” he said. “But I feel more inclined to make you suffer through it.”

“She will probably vomit in the vehicle,” Axel pointed out.

“I will deal with it eventually,” he replied. He met her gaze then, and a smirk of his own crossed his lips. “But right now, she still has quite a bit of alcohol in her system. She’s quite the talker when she has been drinking, and I need to know who she called when she borrowed the mortal’s phone last night.”

Tessa’s eyes widened. She forgot she’d told him she’d done that. Godsdamnit.

“But first, she needs to go put on pants,” he said, tugging her back to the bedroom once more. He marched her straight into the bathroom and stood watch while she pulled the leggings up her legs, then he tossed the flip-flops at her feet.

He didn’t say another word to her as he led her from the room, stopping only to grab a bag from the floor near the door and slipping the strap over his shoulder. His hold on Tessa’s hand didn’t lessen as the elevator descended, and when they stepped into the lobby, he pulled her closer to his side. The concierge met them at the doors, handing a paper bag to Axel.

Tessa had just stepped off the last step when she was pressed up against the outside of the building, Theon’s mouth crashing into hers. She was so caught off guard, she found herself kissing him back before she could get her defenses up against the bond. His tongue swept in, clashing with her own, and his hands slipped under the hem of his shirt she still wore as her own hands slid up his muscled stomach and chest. She’d been chilled when they’d stepped into the morning air, but not anymore. Heat flooded through her, and she arched into him. The need to drown in pleasure came rushing back in full force.

He pulled back as suddenly as he’d started, a wicked tilt to his lips. She stared up at him, her breaths coming far too fast and her thoughts a complete and utter mess.

“Not just in the background today, are you, fury?”

Tessa jerked around to find Tristyn standing several feet away, his eyes on her and Theon, and she understood. Theon had never kissed her so thoroughly in front of others, not even Axel or Luka. But this morning? He had a claim to stake.

Theon was still smirking like a jackass as the valet pulled their vehicle to the curb.

“Don’t let him fool you,” she called back to Tristyn. “He just doesn’t want anyone else touching.”

“So he doesn’t want you, but he doesn’t want anyone else to have you?” Tristyn asked, his head tilting with the question.

“You got it,” she tossed back with a wink before she moved to climb into the back of the vehicle. “See you around, Tris.”

“Looking forward to it, Tessa,” he called after her.

She slid all the way across the backseat and could feel the tension radiating off Theon as he snapped the door shut. She bit her lip when she met his stare. His entire body was taut and practically trembling with rage. Maybe she’d finally pushed him too far.

Did she care?

She probably should, but try as she might, she couldn’t muster up an ounce of fear or panic or anything really as she stared back at him.

Luka and Axel were just as tense in the front seat, and Axel kept glancing back at them nervously while Luka pulled the vehicle onto the road.

After several minutes of utter silence, Axel slowly ventured, “Theon?”

“Fine,” Theon hissed from between his teeth. “I am fine.” Tessa snorted, leaning against the window, and his head whipped to her. “Who did you call, Tessa?”

She pressed her lips together, turning to look out the window. They were still deep in the city, and it would be a good hour to get out, even with little traffic.

“Do not make me force you,” he said. “You will tell me one way or another.”

Still she said nothing.

“Tessa, after last night and this morning, you really should not push him right now,” Luka warned, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

“You should mind your own business,” she retorted, crossing her arms. “You all should.”

“You are my business, Tessa,” Theon snarled. She hadn’t realized he had slid across the seat. He gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Everything you do is my business. Who you speak to is my business. Who touches you is my business.”

“That’s just it, Theon,” she sneered. “It isn’t. None of it is your godsdamn business.”

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