His brow rises when I hold it out to him, but he holds up an open palm. “I couldn’t.”
“You know hieroglyphs, too, judging by all those secrets you scribed on those scrolls.”
Realization dawns and he smiles.
“You asked what it said, read it to me… make sure I didn’t screw up the translation.”
He chuckles as he takes it.
Movement distracts my attention, and I swear his shadows swirl around our feet for a second before he nods and shuts them down.
I smirk. I never dream the inscription on my ring will get him excited, but it seems to.
He’s still looking at the silver circle, but he steals a shy glance at me, like he’s hoping I didn’t notice.
“Busted,” I say.
We both laugh.
He runs his free hand over his chin, then clears his throat. “So, the inscription.”
“Yes, God of Secrets, the inscription.”
He twists the ring this way and that before translating, “The beauty of light reveals all, let it always guide you.”
He hands it back and I slip it on again. “Good, I translated it correctly. I hated to think it said, ‘whales are salvation’ when I’ve believed differently all these years.”
He chuckles. “Yes, that would be unfortunate.”
I wander back to the sectional and he follows.
“My upbringing in a group home was… a challenge as you might guess,” I say, skipping over years of emotional scars and hurt. “I graduated high school, went to UT Austin, graduated in the top of my class and got that job. That about sums up the rest of my life.”
I can tell by the amusement in his eyes that he knows I skipped gobs of stuff, but before he can probe I ask, “By the way, what language did you speak to the sphinx in? You never said.”
“You are tenacious.” He laughs, picking up his drink and tossing back the rest. “Hieroglyphics.”
I furrow my brows. “Hieroglyphs is only a written language.” The words are out before my brain can stop me.
“It is, but it hasn’t always been.” He rolls his eyes, grinning.
I snort, then raise a hand in surrender. “Of course, you’d know, oh, ancient one.”
“Vowels weren’t used, so spoken hieroglyphics gradually disappeared as people no longer knew how to pronounce words.”
“Will you teach me?” I’m barely able to contain my excitement.
He brings his free hand to his mouth and starts tapping his lips, a considering expression appearing.
I gently swat him, making him laugh. “I’d love to teach you, my little harpy.”
He shifts toward me, and my body turns traitor because I think I see desire again in his eyes, like last night, and it warms to it.
Stupid, stupid body.
Of course, I crashed and burned when I expected him to wrap me up in that towel and kiss me senseless. But I’m sure he nuzzled me after our run in with Zeki this morning.
Butterflies launch in my stomach.
Pell, no. Not after what he’s done.
I ignore.
I feel their wings increase to a frantic pace when he reaches over and brushes some of my flyaway locks behind an ear. I’d no idea such a simple gesture could feel so intimate.
I know I should hate him in this moment, but my body has other ideas, and it’s suddenly hard to breathe. I can’t take my eyes off him, off his dark features, off his gold and silver eyes.
Citrus with a hint of cloves fills my senses as he leans in and his hand touches my jaw. His eyes move to my lips, and my lady bits warm.
“You’re hard to resist,” he whispers.
“Then don’t.”
Pell, no.
I don’t know where that comes from, but it’s all it takes for him to close the distance and brush his lips against mine. He’s so gentle.
But I want more.
I draw a hand to the back of his neck, encouraging him to deepen the kiss, and he moans, then cradles my face in both hands.
I feel like a precious treasure, something I’ve never once felt before, and my heart speeds.
Traitor. Are you this fragile and desperate for affection, Pell?
Maybe I am.
Our eyes meet. “You’re so beautiful, Pell,” he whispers.
I feel moisture well up in my eyes. I don’t want to ruin the moment crying, but I can’t help myself, and I feel a warm tear slide down my cheek.
His gaze doesn’t waiver, and he draws closer still, his lips doing more than brushing as he presses his to mine.
They’re soft and responsive and sensual, and I’m awash in a flood of feelings I didn’t know I could feel.
I press closer and I can feel him smile against my face, and then he cups the back of my head in a palm and I’m lost. I can’t get enough of him.
I run my hands through his wavy onyx locks at the back of his neck and he rewards me with another moan. I don’t ever want this to end.
But no sooner does the thought cross my mind than he’s pulling back, breathing hard.
Note to self, don’t ever think that again.
He grins. “So you liked that?”
I’m panting, still drunk on emotions, and I can only offer back a stupid smile.
“Good, because I did too.”
I giggle, I actually giggle, and feel no shame.
It seems my inner voice is speechless too because she doesn’t so much as peep. No, she’s probably too steamed.
He reaches over and runs a thumb down my cheek where my tear leaves a track, and the gesture nearly undoes me. I want to kiss him all over again, but he winks as he sits back, seemingly knowing what I’m thinking and toying with me.
I’m stupidly in over my head with him. I
