Page 58 of Forsaken Secrets

We had fallen behind, though, so I took a deep breath, then raced to catch up.

Finally, our orange glow met his. Those silver eyes glinted in the lyphos light, and my chest tightened at the look there.

"You know, you aren't all that much older than either of us, old man."

"Well then, not children." His lips twitched. Was that … a smile? "Let's stop not flirting and get to work."

And then he was off again, wandering through a small square room.

When he passed through a door ahead and turned, Eli waggled his brows at me. "What do you see in him, anyway? Is it the rugged clothes? Or perhaps those silver eyes? It certainly isn't his attitude!"

I crossed my arms. "I see nothing beyond an irritating barbarian with secrets."

"Mhmm. I think you have a crush on that irritating barbarian. I've seen the way you look at him, you know …"

My jaw dropped. I … what?! No. That was preposterous.

"You know," I smirked, "if you're noticing it, perhaps you're the one with the crush?"

Eli waggled his eyebrows and shrugged. "I mean, he is rather attractive."

Heat shot straight to my core as I pictured the two of them together … strong hands caressing firm muscles, lips, and tongues stroking, bodies grinding —

No. I was not going there right now!

Swallowing the giant lump in my throat, I glared at Eli. "You're just trying to get a reaction out of me."

He winked. "Whatever you say, my lady."

And then he was off, racing to join Lynk. I couldn't get what he'd said out of my mind, though.

The way Lynk had looked at me back on the cliffs — those silver eyes soft as his fingers pressed into my chin …

The way he'd let me look for marks beneath his collar …

Gods, no. I did not have a crush on Lynk … just a healthy appreciation for his physical attributes.

I mean, I'd be blind otherwise. Right?

Yes. That's all it was. I shook my arms out and glared at Eli.

Damn him for putting those thoughts in my head!

"You okay back there?" Lynk asked, brow raised as he stared at me. Did he know what I'd been thinking about?

No. Of course not. He'd probably just seen me shaking like a maniac and thought I was having a seizure.

Cheeks warm, I nodded. "Just preparing. You know how it is."

His brow lifted, but he let it go and kept walking. Eli still faced me, though, and mouthed, "crush."

I glared at him and shook my head. He was completely and absolutely wrong.

This was just a weird byproduct of being stuck in close proximity with two handsome men. I wasn't used to so much testosterone in such confined spaces. It was doing something to my hormones.

Yes. That's all it was.

Hormones.

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