mouth quirked upward. “Had I really kissed you, you would know.”
Every logical thought in her head screamed for her to get up, get dressed and throw this man out of her apartment. But logic didn’t rule when it came to Gryph. Her heart had firm control and was moving forward, the momentum sweeping her with it.
Bolder than she’d ever been in her life, she leaned up until her mouth hovered over his. “Then kiss me so that I’ll know.”
He chuckled, the mirth dying as his gaze claimed hers and his head rose to close the distance between them. His hand wrapped around her hair and pressed her into him and he claimed her lips, his mouth slanting against hers, his tongue snaking out to dart between her teeth, sliding the length of hers, the surface coarse, sensual, enticing.
Selene slipped her hand behind his head, her fingers threading through the longish, thick, golden mane, tangling and tugging, to get closer still. Half lying on his good side, she inhaled the musky scent of male and something more primal. Her body ignited, her skin on fire from breast to thigh where it met his. Her center tightened, her channel growing slick.
A low purr rumbled in his chest and his hand flexed and skimmed across the small of her back to cup the curve of her buttocks. His fingers massaged the flesh, sliding into her panties and between the seam of her thighs, finding her entrance.
Her insides clenched, a wash of liquid dampening the path as he pressed his finger inside her.
Her mouth consumed his, she sucked his bottom lip between her teeth and moaned as he swirled the digit inside her.
Selene let go of his lip and arched her back, her head tipping back as she basked in the rush of sensations shooting fire through her veins.
Gryph raised his injured shoulder and cried out. “Damn!”
Yanked back to reality, Selene slid off him and stood in her bra, then adjusted her panties, her eyes wide. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
The man in her bed nodded, his hand pressing gently against the bandage over his shoulder. “You’re right. I’d be taking advantage of the situation.”
“You? You’re the injured party.” Selene grabbed a short champagne-colored silk robe and jammed her arms into the sleeves, pulling the edges closed around her. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” She grabbed the washbasin and rag and rushed from the bedroom into her little kitchen, where she stood with her back to the open door, her body trembling. Not from fear, but from coming so close to making love with a stranger, and then pulling back. She still wanted him and—damn it—he was injured, practically a prisoner in her bed until he could get around on his own.
Selene sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had to get a grip, go back in there and dress his wound. The sooner he was well, the sooner he’d be out of her bed, her apartment and her life.
As she filled the basin with fresh, clean water, mixed more of the magical poultice and grabbed another clean cloth, she squared her shoulders and called herself a fool for falling into bed with a stranger.
With her mental pep talk fresh on her mind, she entered her bedroom.
Gryph lay on the bed, the sheet covering all the right places but it was tented.
By the goddess.
Selene nearly dropped the basin. Her hands shook so badly and her body burned, craving to be beneath the sheet sporting the evidence of his desire.
“You don’t have to do this,” he said.
“If I don’t, your wound will get infected and you could die.”
“So?” he said. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“I owe you human kindness. I’d take care of anyone injured as badly as you.”
“Anyone,” he said softly. “Selene, what happened a moment ago—”
“Don’t.” She set the basin on the nightstand. “Let’s forget it ever did.”
“Problem is...I can’t.” He nodded toward the tented sheet.
“You can and will.” She refused to glance at his groin, focusing on the injured shoulder. “It should never have happened.”
“Because I’m different?”
“No, because I am.”
He frowned and opened his mouth to say something else, but the cell phone in the kitchen rang, saving Selene from further argument. She didn’t want to explain why she was different. How would any man like to know she could read his thoughts? What if she could project her thoughts? What if all of Gryph’s desire could be a manifestation of what Selene was feeling? Her gift was being able to connect to other’s minds. A telepathy of emotions and images.
She ran from the room and grabbed her cell phone.
“We need you at the hospital,” Deme said without preamble.
“Why?”
“The victim is awake and we don’t know for how long. Hurry.”
“I can’t leave right now.”
“Brigid is already on her way. She should be there to pick you up in less than two minutes.” Her sister sighed. “I don’t like you being alone in that apartment with that man.”
“I’m fine.” Selene’s gaze shifted to Gryph. “He’s not going to hurt me.”
“We’ll know more as soon as the woman can tell us. We need you here for that, in case she can’t speak.”
“But—”
“Come, or I’ll tell Brigid about your guest.”
Her hand clenched around the phone. Her sister wouldn’t understand Selene’s trust in a stranger. And for that matter, Brigid was more likely to throw a fireball first, ask questions later. With the threat of letting Brigid in on her rescue, Selene had no choice. “Fine. I’ll come.”
Selene clicked the phone off and scooted back to her bedroom, grabbing her jeans from the floor. “I have to go.”
“When will you be back?”
“I don’t know.” She jammed her legs into her jeans and pulled them up over her hips. Her hands hesitated on the robe. “You won’t go anywhere, will you? You’re not healed enough.”
His gaze met hers, the heat of those golden eyes warming her body all over again. He gave a brief nod. “I’ll stay until I’m better.”
Selene dropped the robe, without breaking visual contact.
His golden eyes flared, his lips tightened and a low, rumbling purr rose from his chest.
Then she pulled a T-shirt over her head. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
