Page 35 of Damned and Broken Gods
I choked back a laugh.
“I can sleep on the floor,” Araz said.
“No. We’ve shared a bed before. Let’s not make a big deal out of it tonight.” I kicked off my shoes, stifling a yawn. “Let’s just get ready for sleep.”
I grabbed my bag and headed to the bathroom. “I’ll change in the washroom.”
I used the facilities, brushed my teeth, and changed into my sleep shorts and undershirt before padding back to the bedroom, pack dangling from my fingers.
Araz stood at the windows, his back to me. He’d changed into the loose pants that were his equivalent of PJs, but his top half was bare, a tempting expanse of golden-brown skin waiting to be explored.
But not by me.
Na-huh.
I was not going there.
This heart would remain intact.
“There are so many of them,” he said softly. “I didn’t realize how many…Truly.”
I joined him by the glass, our hazy reflections looking back at us. “Asura?”
He sighed, a weary, aching sigh that made me want to wrap my arms around him and offer comfort.
“You came here before, though, right?”
His body tensed, muscles tightening beneath velvet skin. “It was a long time ago.”
He turned to the room and crossed to the bed, leaving me standing alone in the moonlight.
“I get it. You don’t want to talk about it. I’m not going to push.”
He climbed into bed and lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. “Come to bed, Leela.”
My stomach dipped, a delicious lurch of anticipation that I studiously ignored. The bed was soft, making it impossible for our bodies not to connect as we rolled toward each other, cradled in whatever feathery down was stuffed into the mattress. His skin touched mine, pressing against me, hot, taut, and fragrant with the bite of cranberries—tart, dark, and mouthwatering.
His chest vibrated on a sigh, and he shifted position, raising his arm to invite me to use it as a pillow, to tuck my body against his and curl into his heat.
It was natural.
It was home.
And I instantly relaxed, recognizing this as a haven.
How many more nights did we have left together?
I didn’t want to think about it. Not now. Not here.
Tonight, I’d allow myself to savor this closeness.
Tomorrow was an unknown that I’d face with the dawn.
Chapter 12
A God Who Likes To Cook
LEELA
