He lets out an exasperated breath, running a hand through his hair. “Eva, it won’t always be that way. You could have so much more. You deserve so much more.”
I shake my head. “But I want this.”
He sighs, finally nodding. “Then I want whatever you want. I don’t see how us being together will ruin things, but I’ll keep it professional as long as you want to.” His lips curve up. “As long as you can.”
I shake my head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“True,” he says. “So lunch?”
“Fine,” I say, walking past him to grab an out of order sign to put on the printer room door so no one comes in. I’m also going to lock it, and no one else has the keys but me. “We’ll do lunch, but no funny business.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, striding away with his hands in his pockets. He turns to look back at me over his shoulder, so devastatingly sexy I almost melt into the floor once again. “See you at lunch.”
10
Tanner
Just a couple hours until lunch, and all I can do while sitting here in my spacious corner office is savor how she tastes, the memory of her pleasure.
I’ve never thought much about finding my soul bond. I was so busy with my kingdom, and I’d never felt a connection.
But now that I’ve met Eva, it feels like my soul is on fire.
After seeing Brett’s troubles in winning over Avery, I wanted to do things differently with Eva.
Give her a chance to get comfortable, maybe more than comfortable, with our connection before I tell her more about our world.
If things were better in my world, I could afford to wait even longer. But as it is…
Still, while I want to win her over quickly and take her back to my world, I want her to be able to slowly adjust to this new reality.
I can’t imagine what it’s like to not know who you really are, what you’re capable of.
By the time we’re fully bonded, she’ll know.
She knows something is different about her. I see it in the way her eyes avoid mine, and she flushes and gets nervous whenever I bring up the subject about being different.
Whether she’s trying to hide from me or herself, I don’t really know.
My phone rings, and I grimace, seeing Flynn on the ID. I just know he’s going to pick up on my mood with how perceptive he is.
I answer the phone, putting it on speaker so I can kick back in my chair and talk as I watch the world pass by outside.
“How’s life as a CEO?” Flynn asks.
“Good,” I say. “Bored again?”
“Yes,” Flynn says. “Though, Ian brought up the possibility of me giving him lessons in seduction during our free time, so—”
I nearly fall out of my chair, which is oddly roll-y anyway. “He what?”
“Oh, that’s the other thing. Chad thinks Isabella has located another beacon. Maybe. Ian really wants the next one and says he needs to know some more moves.” I hear a smile enter Flynn’s voice. “Obviously, he thought I, as a fire fae, would be the best to ask.”
“Aren’t you?” I ask, still shocked by this turn of events and still distracted by the taste of Eva.
Flynn sighs, clearly a bit irritated and pleased simultaneously for his reputation of incredible sexual prowess. He’s a fire prince who is wanted by every princess for his body and skills but strong enough to fight as a warrior. “I suppose. Though, it’s not what I would choose to focus on. Given how stiff Ian is, I don’t mind helping him. He’s practically going stir-crazy here.”
“I know,” I say. “I talked to him last night.”
“Before the two of you came in to laugh at me for getting a bunch of love letters.”
I bite back a grin at that. “It’s entertaining, true. But I’m glad you two are getting along.”
“Yes,” Flynn says. “So how are things going there with you, Mister CEO?” He clears his throat. “And, uh, what was that husky sound to your voice when you picked up? Making progress?”
Of course he noticed. “Maybe.”
He laughs. “Thought so. Shouldn’t take the commander of darkness long to conquer this as well. Speaking of which, how are things as a CPU?”
“CEO.” I correct him. “A CPU is a computer.”
“Right, right. How’s it going? How does it compare to leading an army of darkness?”
I laugh because Flynn is always able to relax me. To relax anyone with his easy warmth and wit. “It’s fine. I’m still learning many things about this corporation. In many ways, it’s not unlike a kingdom. Except it is very unequal, with almost no responsibility from those at the top toward those at the bottom. Something I hope to change while I’m here.”
“But you don’t want to be there long, right? Ian said you were worried about your kingdom. What was in your message last night?”
I’ve mentioned my worries a couple of times to them, but I don’t want them knowing more.
“I’m fine,” I say. “My brothers can hold the kingdom, and I’ll be back before too long.”
“But Eva… she loves that company, right?”
I snort. “Only because she doesn’t know she could have so much better. Her own kingdom. A place that would actually deserve her. They work her to the bone here and don’t give her the respect she deserves. She’ll be better off without this place.”
Flynn lets out a sigh. “I’m not sure she’ll see it that way. It seems like she has made her life there.”
I frown, impatient now. “This is my soul bond we’re talking about. I think I should be trusted to know what she wants.” I drum my fingers on the desk, grinning. “I did make progress, after all.”
Flynn just laughs. “Okay, I get it. I’m just saying sometimes we love something… even when we know it’s not good for us.”
I take a second to turn his words over in my mind, then nod. “That is a good thing to keep in mind. Perhaps I’ll make sure and talk more about it with Eva. I wouldn’t want to assume anything about what she wants.”
“You still haven’t told her what you are, right? Or what she is?”
“No.”
“Well, it’s probably for the best, so she can get used to you. They did say we could do this however we wanted, tell the beacons who they are or not, as long as we protect them.”
I let out a sigh of relief because at least one thing in all of this is simple. “That won’t be a problem.” I check my watch. “I have lunch soon and some business to finish up before I go.”
“Business?” I can hear Flynn’s disbelief. “You mean you’re actually doing the job there?”
“Of course,” I say. “At least whatever I promise to do. They apparently let CEOs stay pretty hands-off, but when Eva needs something done, I’m going to do it.”
“You big softie. Talking about her company like it’s unimportant, then trying to protect it.”
I frown, uncomfortable as always with praise. “It’s nothing. It’s just—”