Page 17 of Lust & Lollipops

“Care to enlighten me?”

He flashed me a grin. In the moonlight, his green eyes were brighter than usual, and his teeth glinted white. His hair was a mess, and his gigantic horns were definitely eye-catching, but it was the golden wings that really made me stare. “What’ll you give me if I do?”

I scoffed. “Less hatred?”

“You don’t hate me.” His voice was amused. “I’m the only man on this island you trust.”

“How could I possibly trust you? You lied to me. And apparently, you’ve been planning to marry me since the first moment we met.” I tossed a hand toward the ocean. “For all I know, you’ve been altering my mind to make me like you since then. Doesn’t exactly scream trustworthy.”

“I don’t have that kind of magic, Lolli. The fae with the delicate-looking wings are the ones with mental power. The rest of us are elemental. All our power is physical.”

“What’s your element, then?”

“Fire.” One of his wings stretched out behind me, and soft flames licked up the golden feathers. I couldn’t help but stare.

The warmth felt so good that I found myself leaning closer to him.

“Damn,” I said. “How do I know the mental magic thing is true?”

“Ask any of the other guys. They have no reason to lie about it.”

“I’ve seen you talking to them, though. They like you.”

“Like I said, I have a plan.”

“One that involves lying to me?”

He chuckled. “No. I’ll never have to do that again.”

They shouldn’t have, but the words eased my worry a bit. “I should probably go. Someone will come looking for me soon.”

“You’ve got a little more time. You were getting irritated long before I left. Even the stupidest of them would’ve picked up on it by the time you walked away. None of them want to be on your bad side, so they’ll give you space until they have a reason to be suspicious.”

“And me being alone with you isn’t a reason?”

He grinned at me again. “They don’t know we’re together. And I’m not on anyone’s radar as a threat.”

He was probably right.

Everyone thought I hated him. And I kind of did.

But I also still kind of trusted him. Which was obviously a problem.

Wasn’t it?

“What do you want in exchange for telling me your plan?” I asked, staring out at the ocean so I wouldn’t have to meet his gaze again.

He considered it for a moment before answering.

“A hug.”

“A hug?” I lifted an eyebrow in his direction.

“Yup. You’ve never hugged me, because of the rules. I want to experience it.”

I snorted. “I’m sure you’ve hugged a woman before. It won’t be any different than that.”

“Compatible mates smell different.” He lifted a shoulder. “Take it or leave it.”

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