She sat back, her mouth gaping. “Excuse me?”
“You’re contrary, I see.” I pulled a serviette from beside the tray of cakes, dabbing at my mouth in case any crumbs lingered. “And stubborn, no doubt. Are there any other shortcomings in your character that I should know about?”
She wanted to take the bait. I could see it in the way her eyes narrowed and the curve of her jaw pulsed as her teeth ground together. “Thank you for calling, but I’m afraid I must retire.”
Come on, woman. Fight with me. Let me see how hard you bite.“Rigid too.” I bet I could loosen her up.Ten minutes and I’d have her in a puddle on the floor, writhing beneath me. Begging. Shuddering.
Her icy blue eyes ignited. Cheeks flushed. Glorious chest heaved.There she is.
She shoved her hand in my face, lifting her fingers as she counted my faults one by one. “Arrogant. Vain. Irritating. Are there any other shortcomings in your character I should know about?”
I bit back a smile. Not five minutes in her company and she had me pegged. “Apathetic. Callous. Cynical. Devious. Hypocritical. Impatient. Possessive. There are quite a few more, but those are the ones I hear most often.”
I was almost certain I caught a hint of a smile playing around her lips. “At least you’re honest.”
“That’s debatable. But enough about me. Have you come up with that wish?”
Her mouth fell open. “Rían?”
My groin tightened at her breathless tone. If she kept that up, I’d be the one on the floor begging. “I’d prefer if you call me ambassador for the time being,” I said with a wink, forcing the enticing images of what I could do to her from my mind. “Makes it less confusing for any eavesdroppers who may be listening at the door.”Like the dour servant whispering with Aveen’s sister about me. Good to know I’d piqued her interest. Could come in handy in the future.
The cushion next to me dipped as Aveen edged closer. She reached for me, scouring my face with her fingertips, leaving tiny sparks in her wake. Nothing compared to the fire I’d felt the other day. Then again, there was an entire glamour keeping her from me.
Still, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
I barely managed to keep the glamour in place, desperately wanting to let it drop so that her fire could burn straight through and make me feel something.
“How are you able to change your form?” she whispered.
That damned lump returned to my throat, refusing to be swallowed. “I have my father Midir to thank for that.”And nothing else.
She kept touching me, my control slipping until only a fraying thread remained.
“May I have my face back?”
She jumped as if I’d shouted, bolting to the other side of the settee to collect a blue book from the marble-topped table. She flipped through the pages, her finger dragging down the words and lips moving as she read.
“Now, back to that wish,” I said with a smile that didn’t belong to me. “Edward” was the sort to smile fully, showing off all his pearly white teeth. He had a very strict dental regimen.
“I haven’t decided on one yet,” she said.
How hard was it to come up with a wish? All she had to do was think of something she wanted, and I would find a way to give it to her. Everyone wantedsomething.
“I’ve given you a week.”
She gestured toward the vases of flowers surrounding us. “I’ve been a little busy.”
“Don’t tell me you’re actually considering marrying any of the pillocks who’ve called. The last man practically pissed himself when he kissed your hand goodbye.” I glamoured myself to look like the weasel, right down to his thin, hooked nose. Imagining her with someone like him turned my insides. “Now, I’m not a woman, but I’m fairly certain that is not an attractive quality in a husband.”
“At least none of them threatened me with a knife,” she shot back.
She couldn’t still be upset about that, could she? I’d barely threatened her at all. I shifted back into the ambassador.More cake?Don’t mind if I do.“It was just a little knife. And I only showed it to you because you were being contrary.”
“So it’s my fault you threatened to slit my throat, is it?”
She did have a lovely throat. Especially when she blushed. “Did I threaten you?” I asked around a bite. “I distinctly remember asking if you could imagine what it would do to your throat, not saying I had any plans to do it.”
Her gaze fell to my lips.“It was implied.”