Page 76 of A City of Smoke and Demons
She rubbed her stomach, trying to dislodge the heavy feeling there.
‘Hungry?’
Analise jumped. Ezra was standing beside her. He wasn’t looking at her, but watching Lira and Jem instead. Her eyes traced the line of his jaw, his throat, lingering on the place she’d sunk her teeth. The heat of his skin was in her fingers.
He glanced at her, holding out his hand. ‘I’ll make you something, if you want.’
She stared at his outstretched hand blankly, then realised he wanted his shirt. She handed it over and when he’d pulled it on, followed him from the basement. There was no sign of Samira in the crowded front bar. A man asked Ezra about fight night but Analise didn’t hear his response.
She trailed him into the kitchen and sat at the table, legs heavy, feeling like her head was floating somewhere above her body. He didn’t mention the other night, and part of her was glad. The other part was wondering was that it, then? Had he gotten her out of his system, like she’d tried to do with him?
‘You’re quiet,’ he observed.
‘Just thinking.’
‘About?’
‘You, if you must know.’ The words were out of her mouth before she could pull them back. ‘I need to thank you, for helping me the other night—or at least for trying. I’m sorry I …’
Tried to eat you.Wanted you to hurt me. Thought you were a monster.
Ezra’s face was tight. ‘Analise—’
‘About the other night—’
‘I didn’t expect … I just wanted to help you.’
‘I know,’ she whispered.
He looked at his hands. ‘And, I thought that if we … I thought I could get this tension out from under my skin.’
Her heart stuttered. ‘And did you?’
‘No. Did you?’
Analise’s chest was heavy all of a sudden; she clenched her thighs together, mouth dry. ‘No,’ she admitted.
‘So, what now?’ Ezra lifted his eyes to hers. ‘Because if it were up to me, I’d be having you for a snack, Analise. Today, tomorrow, the day after …’
She swallowed, and pushed the longing away. ‘Someone gave me some advice, and I’ve decided to take it. Well, to try anyway,’ she said. ‘They suggested I should get to know you with your clothes on.’
His lips twitched. ‘Well, that’s no fun.’
‘Plus, you held a rat for me.’
‘Yes, I did. You need to remember that moment as a sacrifice I made for you.’
Analise smiled. ‘I want to see the real you, Ezra.’
‘You already have—I told you that.’
She dropped her gaze, fidgeting with the salt shaker on the table.
‘What would you have done, if I’d told you what I used to be the night we met?’ Ezra asked.
‘I’d have smashed my glass into your face and made a run for it.’
‘And if I told you later?’
