Page 64 of Reaper’s Wrath

And while I got the sense he wasn’t thrilled about Kairos being here, he didn’t get too upset. I appreciate that he took my chiding in stride. That might not have been the case had I told him I had tried to get Kairos to grant me access to my email. He refused, but I had to try.

I’ll be curious to see if Elio finds out about that.

I haven’t been able to fully decode their relationship. Friends yet rivals. Associates. There seems to be a lot at play.

When I reach for the door to head upstairs, it swings open before I can reach it. I yip in surprise and jump backward.

Elio stands across from me, an amused brow arched high.

“You startled me,” I scold with no real heat.

“Clearly. I came to make sure you were up and moving. We have company arriving today.”

“Oh yeah? Anyone I know?” I’m not sure why I ask. It’s not like he’s bringing my dad aboard.

“No, but I suspect you’ll get along. Come on upstairs with me.” He takes my hand.

I give him a little tug. “Wait a sec. Can you look at my neck and tell me if there’s a rash or anything? It’s a little tender, and I have no idea why.” I scoop my hair to the side and turn to show him.

He’s silent while the backs of his knuckles gently caress down the side of my neck.

A shiver trickles down my spine and out to my fingers and toes.

“You look absolutely perfect,” he breathes. The earnest devotion captured in those four simple words blankets my heart in warmth.

I turn, and our eyes lock.

Time stretches and warps like the reflection in a funhouse mirror. Anticipation clamps tight around my ribs. Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to? We haven’t kissed since the day we played a modified version of truth or dare. I can feel the ghost of his lips touching mine, and I realize that yes, I want it. I desperately want to feel him kissing me again.

A curse rips from his throat before he backs me against the wall, and his lips come crashing down on mine. He plants a kiss so devastatingly potent that my soul leaves my body for a moment. The roll of his tongue. The press of his lips. The claiming touch of his hands cupping my face. I have died and am reborn in the span of seconds, all because of Elio.

As the moment ebbs, and he reluctantly draws his mouth from mine, our panting breaths are all I can hear past the ringing in my ears.

“The next time you look at me like that, I won’t stop until I’m coming inside you.”

His measured words, coarse as a rocky shore, scrape across my skin in a way that melts my insides.

I give a shaky nod because I don’t know what else to do. I don’t have any brainpower left to even try to come up with a reply.

Elio takes my hand in his and leads us upstairs. We chat with Michael and Evie before three visitors join us half an hour later. The smile that has effortlessly adorned my face since our kiss falters at the sight of one.

It’s the woman from the photo, and she’s even more beautiful in person.

Young.

And she flings herself into Elio’s arms at first sight.

My stomach turns itself inside out.

“It’s so great to see you,” she says while beaming up at him. “I’ve missed you.”

Elio narrows his eyes at her playfully. “I’ll reserve judgment until I hear what you’ve been up to while I’ve been away.”

“Nothing. How can I be up to anything on that island? There is nothing to do. Now, if you were willing to let me stay here with you…”

“There it is. I knew you had an ulterior motive for this visit.”

“No,” she insists, chin high. “I wanted a visit. That doesn’t change because I’d also prefer not to go back to that prison.”