Page 21 of Pandora's Pain
“What? I think I can dress myself.”I’ve done just fine. My fingers pushed down the front of my see-through blouse.
With a flick of his wrist my clothes were gone and replaced with a tight black dress that pushed my chest up and revealed the long span of my bronze legs.
“Perfect.” It was a quiet rasping sound that left his lips parted as he stared intently at me.
“You think I look perfect?” My hips swayed as I stepped closer to him.
His pale eyes became frosty as he glared down at me. “As close to perfect as we’re going to get.”
With another flick of his wrist his clothes were on as well. A tight black shirt covered his wide shoulders, and snug jeans clung to his lean hips.
A mimicking and mocking voice filled my thoughts as I repeated his words in my head.
Why did the gods have to give me the most annoying arrogant asshole in all of Olympus?
“Taking this with us as well.” Another magical wave, and there was that damn box again. He picked up the intimidating box that might forever haunt my dreams. He flicked his wrist again and it disappeared.
It was gone from sight. And yet, I could stillfeelit. It was a stinging pain that tingled through my nerves.
Alex looked at me for just a second as he shoved his boots on. Emotion softened his eyes, and as he stepped closer to me, I realized I didn’t trust him.
I didn’t trust the pitying look in his beautiful gaze.
“You can do this.” His warm breath fanned against my neck as his palm pushed to the small of my back.
What I wouldn’t have given to lean into him. To let him hold me. To find comfort in his kind words. A god could never have offered me those things. And so, Alex was not to be trusted.
I stepped away from his gentle touch.
A knock rapped against our hotel door. It was a quiet sound, not at all like the intrusive way Alex knocked.
We stared at each other for a long moment.
For some odd reason fear trickled through me. My thoughts instantly went to the gods. As if they’d politely knock on our door and escort me back to my imprisonment.
Long strides took Alex to the door, and he opened it with caution.
“Um, shit. Do I have the wrong room?” Ashton’s voice drifted into the room, and in no time, I was shoving past the god before he could say something to ruin my perfect image.
“Hey.” A smile pulled at my lips the moment I saw him. A weird and quick beat began to strum through my heart.
He didn’t smile back. “Who’s your friend?” He nodded to the overbearing god lingering behind me.
Well, he’s not my friend for starters.Not that I could have led with the fantastic explanation.
“This is Alex.” The strange phrasefriend zoneswirled through my mind. “He’s my best friend. We do everything together. He helped me pick out this outfit, even.”
Best friend. Someone alert the gods that this arrogant asshole was just promoted to my best friend.
What did that say about me for having such slim choices for best friends… ? There really wasn’t anyone else I could even call my best friend, even if I wanted to.
Oh my gods, he was my best friend. Damn it. How did this happen to me?
Deep laughter rumbled through my thoughts and it took me a moment to realize it was Alex.
You should be so lucky to have me as a best friend.
“Alex, this is Ashton.” I nodded a little less enthusiastically, almost grimacing actually.
