Continued from Wet….

Silvia bristled at his words, stumbling away from him. “I beg your pardon.” Circling around him, she moved toward the door. His gaze followed her, his brow arched and lips twisted in a smirk. She reached for the door handle. It refused to budge. As she turned, he approached with measured steps, effectively blocking her in.

He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “Your shoes.”

“What?” She stared at him unsure she heard him correctly.

“Your shoes are still wet.” With a teasing smile, he turned and took a seat on the loveseat. Silvia stood rooted to the floor, unsure of whether or not she’d heard him correctly. “Please join me.”

She glanced at the door with longing, but the scent of tea and the crackle of the fire lured her toward the small sitting area. Silvia sat down, keeping her attention focused on the strange, yet handsome man. He poured the tea and handed her the cup.

The liquid warmed her as soon as it touched her lips. She sighed and held the cup in both hands as she sipped. “Who are you?”

He tilted his head as if thinking for a moment, then replied, “Gavin.” Without warning, he leaned forward and grasped her ankle. A twist of his wrist and her feet were bare. He nudged her still-soaked shoes closer to the fire. The action happened too quickly for her to jerk away from him, and she shifted to tuck her feet beneath her with a huff of annoyance.

The burn of his touch against her skin had sent a shiver of longing through her body. The innuendo and mystery mingled with the surprise of desire only fueled her confusion. The sweet spice of the tea lingered on her tongue. Her gaze wandered the length of his body and returned to settle on his mouth where a hint of a smile betrayed his amusement. Something about him bothered her, nagging at the back of her mind like an important but vague memory.

“I…” Silvia pursed her lips together as she struggled to find the right words. “Why do I get the impression this meeting isn’t as fortuitous as you’d have me believe?”

Gavin chuckled. “I knew you were bright, Silvia.”

Her hand trembled at the mention of her name. She set the cup down and moved to stand. “How do you know my name?”

His hand closed around her wrist and held her fast. “The better question would be—” he stood and pulled her close “—why?”

Silvia struggled to free herself from his grasp. What the hell did he mean why? None of this made any sense. “You’re a madman.”

Without a word, he pressed a soft kiss to the inside of her wrist and released her. She stumbled back and rubbed where his lips had been. Snatching her shoes off the floor, she ran toward the door.

The ivy planter near the door began to grow, snaking across the wood and wrapping around the door handle, burying it. Silvia gasped and dropped her shoes. When she glanced at Gavin, he stood with his hand out, his eyes closed. When he opened them, they narrowed on her.

“Release me,” she pleaded, a sob lodged in her throat.

He shook his head. “You,” Gavin drawled, “have been chosen. Serve me…or suffer a fate worse than death.”

 

Interesting. I wonder what his powers could be. These characters definitely warrant some investigation. Don’t you think?

❤