Page 86 of Faking It Right
“Both incredibly hot,” I added with a grin.
“There’s that, too.”
I trailed my fingers along his arm beneath the water. “If we’re going to fully embrace our inner deities, we should indulge in some divine revelry.”
His voice dropped to a husky whisper, sending a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the cool night air. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
“It’s what this particular god is calling it.” I pulled him onto my lap until our lips were almost touching. “What do you say, Ares? Ready to make some myths of our own?”
His answer was to close the distance in a kiss that tasted of whiskey and promise. I thanked whatever Greek gods or yak-herding ancestors had conspired to bring us together.
Ryker drew back suddenly, his eyes unfocused and his face flushed beyond what I’d expect from our heated make-out session. He blinked rapidly, swaying in my hold.
Concern replaced my flirtatious mood. “Whoa, are you okay?”
“I’m…” He shook his head, then winced. “Sorry, I feel dizzy.”
I shifted my hands from his hips to his shoulders, steadying him as he swayed again. His skin was too hot, even for someone sitting in a hot tub. The whiskey combined with the steam had done a number on him.
“Come on, you’re overheated.” I helped him off my lap and toward the edge of the tub. “Let’s get you out of here before you pass out.”
Normally, Ryker would insist he was fine, even if he was actively bleeding out. His lack of protest as I guided him told me how shitty he felt. I kept hold of him as we climbed out into the cool night air, the temperature difference making goose bumps rise on our wet skin.
I grabbed the nearest towel and wrapped it around his shoulders with protective attention, ensuring it covered him before getting mine.
“Deep breaths,” I instructed, rubbing his upper arms through the towel. “The fresh air will help.”
He nodded, leaning against me as he closed his eyes and took several measured breaths.
“Better?” I asked, studying his face.
He opened his eyes. “Yeah. Sorry for ruining the moment. One second, I was fine, and the next…” He trailed off with a sheepishexpression. Even half-dizzy and wrapped in a towel like a drenched kitten after bath time, he was adorable.
“Don’t worry.” I guided him toward the house with my arm still protectively around his waist. “We’ve got plenty of time for that, preferably somewhere that won’t cook us like lobsters. Hey, maybe in a past life, we were crustaceans. That would explain why you can’t handle the heat.”
“Crustaceans?” he repeated, looking at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Sure. Maybe I was a powerful king crab, and you were my delicate little shrimp.”
That earned me a sharp elbow to the ribs. Ah, there was the grumpy Ryker I knew and loved. It was a good sign he felt better.
“I’m not a shrimp,” he protested.
“True, you’re more of a lobster with that red face.” I grinned as he scowled. “Well, she did say we were merpeople. That must be why you’re so comfortable in water until it gets too hot.”
“I refuse to believe that’s a valid option for reincarnation.”
“Why not?” I asked. “We’ve already confirmed you were a yak herder, a horse diver, and the god of war. A merman seems downright pedestrian by comparison. Plus, I’d look stunning with a tail and all that freedom to flaunt my abs without pesky shirts getting in the way.”
Ryker snickered as we headed inside. “You would focus on that part.”
“Of course. I had to attract my merman mate to bear my quintuplets, after all.” I celebrated my victory at his annoyedhuff. “Though I prefer this lifetime where I get to see you in those tight jeans you wore yesterday.”
He blushed again, but it was the good kind that came from my words rather than overheating.
“You’re ridiculous,” he said, but there was no bite in it.
“You love it,” I replied.
