“No way, man. She’s here. I sense her.” He held up his hand, showing off the ward on his palm that shimmered ever so slightly. “It wasn’t doing that before. She’s here. She’s got to be. Cressida said to go back to the beginning. This is where Reed and I first connected. This is the beginning.”
Was that why she wouldn’t manifest herself to me? She was too busy sending a message to Rob? Was this the distraction I’d asked her to create?
Whatever the reason, I didn’t care. Rob was here. Leo was here. With a deep breath, I lifted the leather strap over my head and stepped out of the ruins.
Rob spotted me first. He stiffened, his dark gaze riveting to me. Neither of us moved. We just stood there, staring at each other. Then he broke into a sprint and rushed me, slamming us together in a hug so fierce, so strong, I couldn’t speak from the emotions passing through our connection.
“Oh my God. Reed? Is it really you?” He pulled back and cupped my face, staring deep into my eyes. Man, how I’d missed that dark, hooded gaze, always swirling with concern.
“Babe?”
I left Rob’s embrace to walk into Leo’s, hugging him tight. “Hi.”
“You’re taking a huge risk coming here. Not that I’m complaining.” He kissed me tenderly. “It’s really good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.” I smiled at him before regarding Rob. The concern in his eyes deepened. Something had him upset. “Are you okay?”
He shook his head, sending my heart into palpitations. Leo volunteered the answer. “He’s been an emotional asshole since you and Bryan left. Clay and I are like his brothers, but we aren’t replacements for his two best friends. Would you please fix him? He’s impossible to be around.”
Rob walked backward deeper into the ruins, his ever-darkening eyes riveted to me. Hunger heated his gaze. Oh yeah. I knew exactly what he wanted to do to fix him. My lady bits tingled in anticipation of a little time alone with my dominant fire elemental.
“Leo, stand watch. I’m going in.” I followed Rob into the ruins.
11
Rob was already on the other side of the ruins by the time I walked in, an impressive feat seeing how he was only a few seconds ahead of me. He eyed me like it was his job, a dark brooding gaze like he starred in one of those moody teenage shows about how life couldn’t possibly get any worse than having the wrong color streamers for the prom.
His five-o’clock shadow seemed thicker than the last time I’d seen him, which caused my heart to flip. I didn’t like that. Not the scruff—that I loved—but rather the fact I hadn’t seen him enough to know he just might be growing out his whiskers. I loved the look. So rugged. So handsome. So powerful.
“Come here.” His voice was rough, commanding, and shot a dance of chills across my skin. I’d always loved his dominance, his overwhelming air of authority when we were together. A slight thrill raced through my system as I took a step toward him. “Don’t waste one second of our time together, Reed. I’ve missed you, and I have a lot I want to do to you to make up for it.”
Oh, sweet baby Jesus. So much of my body tingled with excitement, I could barely stand it. It felt like my skin caught on fire. The heat coming off him filled the entire ruins with thick warmth, centering in my core. He brought up a large hand and motioned for me with two fingers. There was something different about him tonight, something deeper, darker, and definitely worth exploring.
He flashed a wolfish grin full of promise once I stopped in front of him. The gesture sent a throbbing pulse between my legs and my heart hammering in my chest. I pretended to be all cool and casual as I took my time swaying up to him, stopping only once my breasts pressed against his chest.
“I’m here,” I said in my sultriest voice. I had to admit, it made me sound like a smoker who was out of breath. That…could have gone better. I ignored my apprehension and leaned into him more. “What is it you want to do to me?”
He caught me around the waist and jerked our bodies even closer together, his hand resting on my backside, cupping my cheek possessively. His scent, a cross between the leather jacket he had on and the hunger on his breath, filled my senses. I grabbed his muscled arm to steady myself.
Holy Dom, dude. I was so turned on by his control, I just might reach my peak and tumble right off the side with nothing more than his touch. He looked ready to devour me, make me his last meal. I had to be honest, I wouldn’t mind that in the least.
“What is it you want?” He pulled back and studied me, the look in his eyes something I wasn’t used to seeing when I looked into the deep gaze of my strong fire elemental. It was hesitation, uncertainty. It was something I’d see in Leo, not Rob.
I didn’t want him channeling my detached water elemental. I didn’t want him channeling my straitlaced earth elemental. I didn’t even want him channeling my carefree, fun-loving air elemental. Right now, I wanted—I needed—him to be Rob Emmett, my hotheaded hottie, controlling fire elemental.
“I don’t want to be the one in charge, Rob. Not tonight. I don’t want to have to think. Tell me what to do.” I just put it all out there. He might laugh at me, tease me for admitting to a vulnerability, but judging by that look in his ever-darkening gaze, it was exactly the right thing to say.
He jerked me around, pressing my back to his chest, holding me to him with his arm across my shoulders, his hand gently yet firmly clutching my neck. His other hand slid down my stomach,
