Xander growled, and Daegal laughed.
“I think that’s my cue to leave,” the Fortune Elf said. Daegal stepped forward and brushed his lips over the back of my palm before whispering, “Nice to see you, too, Aileana.”
I just blinked at him, staring until he disappeared from sight. When we were alone, Xander turned to me and crossed his arms. “You didn’t miss me?”
“Well,” I hedged, “I didn’tnotmiss you.”
A flicker of a smile flashed across his face. “Aha! I knew it.” He stepped towards me. “I’m glad.”
“Did you get what you were looking for?”
“We found some interesting information, but no.” He shook his head. “We didn’t get the next piece of the map.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We have some leads, and something will turn up sooner rather than later. Until then…” Xander stepped towards me, crowding into my space. I sucked in a deep breath, gazing up into his golden eyes. His voice deepened into a low growl as he said, “Why don’t we talk about something else?”
My chest tightened at the sight of the desire swimming in his golden eyes. I rasped, “What do you want to talk about?”
He chuckled, the sound low and husky as he said. “You.”
“Me?” My voice squeaked, and blood rushed to my cheeks.
“Yes,” he breathed. Xander stepped forward, and suddenly I realized my back was pressed up against the log cabin. “Let’s talk about you.”
My heart pounded and the air between us grew thick with anticipation as Xander closed the distance between us. He inhaled deeply, lifting a gloved hand and running it down my cheek.
I pressed my face into his touch, staring at him.
I hope he kisses me again.
As soon as the thought appeared in my mind, I jumped. Where did that come from? Xander wasn’t supposed to be kind. I wasn’t supposed to want this. He was supposed to be a means to an end.
We had an agreement, the two of us. That was all. There weren’t supposed to be any feelings at play in here.
None.
So why was I leaning towards him, opening my mouth? Why was I staring at him, closing the distance between us?
He wasn’t moving. Why wasn’t he moving? Why was I pushing myself up on my tip-toes as my breathing grew ragged?
I had no answers. I didn’t understand this. All I had was a pulsing desire that seemed to grow every time the two of us drew nearer to each other.
“Aileana,” he whispered hoarsely.
“Yes?” My voice sounded as ragged as the wind that swirled around us.
He leaned in close until our breaths mingled. He smelled faintly of smoke and trees, and I wondered where that scent came from.
“I missed you,” he murmured. His eyes were dark, his voice husky as he drew me against him. His body felt firm beneath me, and I placed a hand on his sculpted chest. He sucked in a deep breath, a growl rumbling through him. “I didn’t want to. Goddess knows I tried not to. But I did.”
He sounded almost… angry about that.
I tilted my head. “How does that make you feel?”
“Frustrated,” he replied instantly. “You make me feel so frustrated. I don’t know whether I want to yell at you or kiss you.”
“Why don’t you?” I asked.