Still, she couldn’t pull her gaze away from him. Even motionless, power radiated off his strong, lean body and muscled limbs. Every inch of him seemed lovingly sculpted by a master who appreciated each graceful curve of sinew and velvety plane of skin.
God, he was beautiful.
No other word for him. Brynne’s mouth watered as she studied him over the rim of her cup. An uninvited stirring made her sink her teeth into her bottom lip. A small moan began to uncurl in the back of her throat, but she mentally tamped it down.
At least, she thought she had.
Apparently not.
Because at that same instant the Atlantean’s squared chin dropped and his head swiveled in her direction. Tropical blue eyes collided with her appalled and embarrassed gaze.
It was already too late to pretend she hadn’t been gawking, but Brynne’s feet were in motion anyway. She pivoted to make a hasty escape—and to her horror, she fumbled her cup of tea.
“Shit!”
The cup slipped out of her grasp, smashing onto the patio bricks. Tea geysered upward like a small fountain and shards of delicate china exploded in all directions.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Brynne dropped to a crouch and began collecting the mess.
“Here, let me help you with that.”
She did not want to look up and acknowledge the decadently deep voice or the man it belonged to. Although there was no ignoring him—not when he’d stood across the courtyard from her, and most certainly not when he was hunkered down next to her, half-naked and radiating preternatural heat and masculine power.
This close, his unearthly spicy scent licked at all of her senses. And everything female in her responded, no matter how hard she tried to pretend he didn’t affect her.
“I’ve got it,” she murmured, her voice coming out of her in breathy rasp. “It’s just a broken cup. There’s no need to help me.”
“I know there’s no need,” he said, continuing to pick up the errant pieces.
Brynne blew out a sharp sigh. “I’m not usually so clumsy. I don’t know how I did this.”
“You must’ve been distracted by something.”
Did she hear him correctly? And was that the hint of a chuckle in his voice?
As much as she wanted to get away from him without so much as a glance at his too-close, handsome face, her head snapped up. He was staring at her, a grin tugging at the corners of his sensual mouth. And the arrogant gleam in his incredible blue eyes was unmistakable.
“I wasn’t distracted,” she informed him tightly. “I don’t get distracted.”
“No? So, you came out here deliberately to watch me?” His cocky grin widened. “I’m flattered.”
Why the hell her stomach should be doing a little flip at his teasing was beyond her. And why her pulse was suddenly hammering in a tempo too eager to be outrage, she really didn’t want to know.
Brynne tilted her head at him, frowning. “What you are is mistaken. And I’m perfectly capable of picking up after myself, so if you don’t mind . . .”
“I don’t mind at all.”
Ignoring her protests, he gathered the last of the pieces and held them all in one hand. Then he stood up and reached out to her with his free hand.
Brynne stared skeptically at his large palm and long, elegant fingers. “You’re not going to zap me with that Atlantean glowy trick, are you?”
He shrugged. “You might enjoy it.”
“Ha. I doubt it.”
Humor still danced in his eyes as she stood on her own, bypassing his offered hand. “Are all Breed females this skittish around men?”
“Are all Atlantean males so certain of their own charm?”
He smirked. “This one is.”
Brynne snorted a laugh as she took the broken cup inside to throw it away. He followed.
“I’m Ekizael, in case you’re too shy to ask. Friends call me Zael.”
She pivoted to face him. “In that case, hello, Ekizael. I’m Brynne.”
He made an amused sound in the back of his throat. “Distracted, skittish and dismissive. How intriguing.”
“Arrogant, presumptuous and insolent. How predictable.”
“Predictable?” He chuckled. “That’s one thing I’ve rarely been accused of.”
Why did her body have to react as if he’d just said something sexual? She pushed the sensation aside. “Well, they say there’s a first time for everything.”
“Hmm,” he said. “By the way, arrogant, presumptuous and insolent all mean roughly the same thing.”
Brynne smiled sweetly. “Since we just met, perhaps I thought it would be too rude to say annoying.”
Now he frowned. “Am I annoying you? I apologize. From the pretty flush of your cheeks and the uptick of your pulse, I thought we were getting acquainted rather enjoyably. Exchanging some friendly banter. Possibly even flirting.”
God help her, but the heat in her face flamed even hotter now, and all over, her skin felt too warm, too tight beneath her clothes. She lifted her chin. “I don’t have time for banter, and I never flirt.”
“Really?” His voice was somewhere between a growl and a purr, a sound that sent her blood drumming in her temples and in several points lower. His gaze drank her in shamelessly before returning to hers. “That is a tragedy, Brynne.”
Before she could respond with a searing retort, several pairs of footsteps approached. Carys strode in alongside Jordana and Nova.
The three women stopped abruptly, falling into an odd silence as if they too could feel the electricity in the air.
Jordana smiled brightly. “Brynne, I see you’ve met my friend, Zael. Isn’t he charming?”
Brynne raised a brow in the Atlantean’s direction. “Charming doesn’t even begin to describe him.”
Zael’s chuckle was meant for her alone. “Until we meet again, Brynne. The pleasure was mine.”
“Yes, it was,” she agreed, smiling pointedly. She turned to Carys. “Ready to go?”
“All set.”
Thank God. Brynne couldn’t get away fast enough from Zael and his disturbing effect on her. Hopefully, it would be a good long while before she ever found herself in the arrogant Atlantean’s presence again.
CHAPTER 30
Little had changed in the long years that Rune had been gone from his father’s castle Darkhaven.
The musty, cool
