Page 13 of Desired By Eros

Chapter 3

Psyche

Psyche shivered despite the heater blowing hot air against her face and the seat warmer working overtime beneath her. Her fingers still tingled from the cold, and she adjusted the vents again as if one perfect angle would finally dispel the chill that clung to her.

The flight had been…something. Less than an hour, but long enough to freeze her to her core. As a shifter, hypothermia was no issue as her body could withstand freezing temperatures. In her wolf form, she actually enjoyed swimming in the frigid waters off Vancouver Island.

However, in her human form, she just despised the sensation of being too cold. Besides, with all the modern conveniences available, why should she suffer?

She stole a glance at Eros, regretting it immediately when she caught the faintest curve of amusement on his lips. Of course, he’d noticed her discomfort. She avoided his gaze and focused on adjusting the vents again.

“What did I get myself into?” she muttered under her breath, half hoping he wouldn’t hear.

“Cold?”

“No,” she shot back, but her teeth chattered, betraying her. “I’m perfectly warm.”

Eros’s smirk deepened as he leaned back in his seat, utterly unaffected by the icy flight they’d just endured. “You should’ve mentioned you get cold easily. I could’ve brought an extra layer.”

Psyche rolled her eyes and turned the heater up another notch. “I don’t think another jacket would’ve helped much at the altitude we were at. You could’ve mentioned it was going to be freezing up there.”

“I thought it was obvious.”

“Not everyone assumes their travel plans will involve becoming a human icicle,” she snapped, glaring at him briefly before returning her attention to the dashboard.

She couldn’t deny that the flight had been incredible. When they’d taken off, she’d been too preoccupied with how strange it felt to be in his arms to notice much else. But once they were in the air, soaring over the vast Alaskan wilderness, it had been hard not to be awestruck.

And then they’d climbed higher, cutting through the atmosphere to avoid being spotted, and the biting cold had set in. The wind had howled around them, piercing her jacket, and stealing the breath from her lungs. She’d instinctively pressed closer to Eros’s chest, his naked chest, since he had to take off his shirt before unfurling his wings, burying her face against him to escape the freezing gusts. He hadn’t said anything, but she could feel the warmth of his body radiating against hers, a small mercy in the bitter chill.

Now, as they pulled out of the rental car lot in Healy, Psyche couldn’t have been more relieved to feel her toes again. They had needed to get a car since Eros didn’t have the power to glamor. And how would she be able to explain that her mode of transportation was a former god with beautiful white wings?

The heater in the truck was finally working its magic, and the thought of being in a car—a warm car—for the next leg of their journey was enough to lift her spirits.

“We’re almost there,” Eros said as he drove. “Another hour or less, and you’ll be at your precious dig site.”

“Good,” she replied, trying to sound cool and composed despite her lingering frustration. “I could use a little less altitude and a lot more heat.”

Eros chuckled. “Noted. Next time, I’ll bring blankets.”

“There’s not going to be a next time,” she muttered.

The hum of the SUV filled the space as Psyche stared out the window, watching the landscape blur past. She checked in with herself, breathing deeply and assessing how she felt. Not too off, not too overwhelmed. That was good. A meltdown was not part of her list today, not when she was so close to starting her work at the dig site.

Eros had one hand on the wheel, his other arm resting casually on the center console. His profile was sharp and striking—the strong line of his jaw, the faint scruff that added an edge of ruggedness, the annoyingly perfect sweep of his hair. She mentally cataloged his features, one by one, her mind slipping into its usual habit of listing and organizing.

“Hadrosaurs,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Eros glanced at her briefly. “What?”

“They’re one of my favorite dinosaurs,” she explained, her voice picking up speed. “The site in Denali has Hadrosaur tracks, which is fascinating because their tracks show herd behavior. You can see how they moved together, maybe how they protected the young. There’s also evidence of other species at the site, too. We’re hoping to uncover more of that.”

“Right,” Eros said, his eyes still on the road but his tone filled with mild amusement. “That’s…a lot of information.”

“I like listing things,” Psyche replied matter-of-factly. “It helps me organize my thoughts.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

She ignored the smirk, focusing instead on the next question. “Do you want to know why I like dinosaurs?”

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