Free Unexpected Eden by Rhenna Morgan Page B

her the old-fashioned way. Hopefully, plumbing worked the same here as it did at home. Having to go back out and ask for help after such a dramatic exit wouldn’t leave much of a lasting impression.
    Give or take a few odd levers, the concept was universal. Still, she took her time nosing through the Grecian-themed room complete with floor-to-ceiling columns and twining ivy around a monster claw-foot tub. Eryx deserved to wait. She’d damn sure done her share of it lately. Now that she’d had a few hours to sleep, she felt a whole lot less inclined to let Eryx dole out bits of information as he saw fit.
    After she’d doused her face and rinsed her mouth, she pushed the double doors wide and froze. Eryx lay on his side atop the now-made bed propped on one elbow. A veritable lion sunning himself on a hot rock.
    “I don’t like you getting in my head.” There. Better to get right to business and make sure Eryx knew his boundaries. His slow, seductive grin unwound a good portion of her anger, which only made her want to throw something on principle.
    “I don’t see why not.” His gaze raked her head to toe and he blatantly stroked the growing bulge behind his jeans. “You certainly get in mine. And under my skin.”
    Crude. And erotic as hell. Her mouth went dry and her skin prickled for touch. An invisible hand curled around her waist and tugged her forward until she tumbled onto the bed.
    Before she could right herself, Eryx had her tucked beneath him, his hard length pressed against her thigh. “I won’t take your memories again. Not unless you allow it.” His lips brushed her forehead. “It’s actually considered quite rude to do without permission, but I needed something to go on before I approached you.”
    God, if she could just think for a second. Maybe two. But his body…her wits couldn’t rub two thoughts together. “Ludan didn’t seem to have any qualms.”
    “Ludan is rude.”
    A laugh bubbled up from her belly. So light and unexpected. Free like when she was around Ian. “Point taken.”
    He ran his thumb across her lip, his gaze following the action. Hungry. Focused.
    If she didn’t start talking, she’d get zero answers. She brushed his hand away and tried to scoot out from under him. “We need to talk.”
    He hauled her back in place, captured one of her hands, and pulled it to his lips. With a playful nip at her knuckles, he smiled a smile to melt chocolate. “I’ve spent years trying to find you.” He nuzzled the sweet spot behind one ear, and lowered his voice to a husky rasp. “My family’s busy doing other things, and your sweet body’s under me. The least you can do is let me touch while you interrogate.”
    Shockwaves rattled her and her eyelids fluttered shut. He’d known her less than a day and he’d already found one of her top three magic spots. “I can’t think when you touch.”
    “Good.” He dragged his lips along her jawline. “I’d rather you feel anyway.”
    Her body thrummed, very much on board with his plans. “No.” How she pushed the refusal past her lips was hard to figure.
    Eryx stopped cold, the languorous burn in his eyes banked by shrewd observation.
    He’d been so playful. So light. “I’m sorry, I just want more answers.” She tried again to push away, but he only pressed his weight more firmly against her.
    With a grip on her chin, he steered her face to meet his. “No sorry. Not ever. No means no.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “I told you we don’t play games here. I meant it. When something bothers you, you tell me. When you want something…” The heat from seconds before crept back into his steel gaze. “You tell me that too.”
    Oh, God. Didn’t that leave an open playground for her eager mind?
    Before she could realign her thoughts, he rolled to his back, taking her with him, cradled against his chest. “Now,” he said on an accepting exhale. “Ask your questions.”
    Crap. So many. There were always the basics.