A pause, his head cocking as he watched me. “You mean Jessica.”
“Same thing.” I unlatched my legs from around his waist, starting to squirm out from underneath him.
It didn’t really work since he grabbed my hips in an unbreakable hold, keeping me flush against him. “Jessica isn’t a slut.” He paused, and ignoring my growl, his face dropped to inches from my face. His eyes were on mine. Searching. Inhaling deeply, then holding the breath in, he murmured, “You’re jealous.”
Abruptly, my growl cut off. Staring up at him, I blinked repeatedly.
Was I? Was that what was causing this? Was that the emotion flaring bright?
I knew I didn’t like her scent on him, that was for f**k sure. And I sure as hell didn’t like the fact that he was with me after being in direct contact with her.
Was that jealousy? Or just pride?
Green eyes watching me carefully, Ezra softly kissed my lips. The lightest touch. Gaze steadfast on mine, his mouth hovered before lowering, pressing gentle lips to my chin. The barest of touches down my jaw. My throat. Eyes still holding mine, he nibbled down the center of my chest, ever so slowly, pressing his mouth’s warmth against my skin.
Quietly, he affirmed, “You know I’ve only had sex with you since we got back together.” Truth. His tongue dipped, beginning to create designs on my cle**age before giving my flesh an open-mouthed kiss. Breath rushing over my gradually reheating skin, he said, “I only drank from her today.” As I stayed silent, trying to figure out just what the hell I was feeling, his gaze dropped to one of my br**sts. Gently, he palmed it, beginning to suckle at my pebbled nipple through the material.
My breath caught, and I grabbed a fistful of his hair, my other hand going back to his pants.
Only to have the smell of slut puff at me like a cloud of pissed-off fury, and right now, I could feel his jeans already unbuttoned, which I hadn’t gotten to doing yet.
Using great restraint, I actually withheld the growl. “Your pants are already unbuttoned.”
Ezra laved my nipple, shrugging his massive shoulders over me. “She tried to put her hand down my pants while I drank.”
Okay. The growl couldn’t be contained as I envisioned her perfect hand going for his cock, and I started shoving his shoulders. “Get the f**k off me.”
His head snapped up, not moving one damn bit as I pushed him, and again, he inhaled sharply.
I growled low, and was pissed off just enough that I shoved with my Shifter strength.
He moved that time.
Watching as he stumbled back two steps from the desk, I rolled off it, backing away from him even further and stepping on the discarded items from the desk right before my back slammed against the wall under the shelf of candles.
His eyes were hooded, and his arms were crossed, one hand over his mouth. He stood, bare chest expanding and his muscles bulging, as he inhaled slowly, green gaze carefully watching.
Cutting off the growl, I ran my hands through my hair, confused and aroused and pissed and…yes, damn jealous. And I knew he was scenting it all. Goddamn Vampire nose.
“Lily,” Ezra said quietly. “What’s going on?”
I glanced at the door, ready to bolt. I wasn’t sure I could answer his question.
He sidestepped, placing his back to said door.
Fuck.
“I don’t know,” I muttered, glancing around the room and scratching my nose, only to yank my hand away when it left the remnants of slut there. I growled, glaring at my hand. And told the truth. “I don’t like her scent on you.” My eyes glowed. “And I sure as hell,” I growled even lower, sounding scary to my own ears as I rubbed my palms on my pants, “don’t like the idea of her hands that close to your f**king cock.” My mouth slammed shut, growl cut off.
Dear God. I sounded like a bitter wife.
Silence.
I didn’t look anywhere near him.
A very long freaking minute passed in stillness before he moved from the door, his broken belt jingling as he moved a few feet closer and stopped to sit on the edge of the desk, reclining on straight arms. He unbent his legs and crossed his ankles, staring down at his boots.
“You’ve never been jealous before.” His gaze found my face. I could feel it even though I wasn’t looking directly at him. “You know I drink daily. You know sometimes the women, and occasionally the men, try to get physical with me.” A pause. “It’s practically the same damn circumstance when all those Shifters flock to you. And believe me, sweetheart, they aren’t always there for simple comfort.” He wasn’t lying. Half the time, I had to maneuver away from friendly hands. He cracked his neck. “So, what the hell’s this about?”
I cracked my own neck, rolling my shoulders, and moved away from the wall, heading toward the bookcase across the room. It would give me something to look at besides his unbelievable, half-bare build. Stopping in front of the books, which all looked the same, I mumbled, “I don’t know.” Fuck me, if that wasn’t the truth.
There was only quiet behind me until Ezra stated dryly, “You’ve got to give me more than that to go on.”
Closing my eyes in resignation, I turned and opened them to meet his gaze slowly. His was as guarded as mine. His body appeared deceptively at ease, his posture of someone inviting candor, but his muscles were fairly vibrating they were so tense. I eyed him, trying to work through this.
Going on facts alone, I reasoned it out. During our time together, not-so-gradually my interest in any other partner had completely diminished. When we had been on our break, it had hurt like a son of a bitch when I had found out about his other partners. I had only continued sleeping with Finn because I was pissed off and confused. And there was the incident with Rose’s dog when I hadn’t liked her near him. Hell, I couldn’t even imagine finding someone I would want more in my bed than Ezra. And all the while, I had been having more sex with Ezra, spending every spare moment I could with him.
And it hit me, like a bullet of pounding awareness through the brain.
Oh, Jesus.
My breath caught and my gaze jumped away from him.
“What?” Ezra asked instantly.
I started pacing in front of the bookshelves, rubbing my nose every time I neared the fireplace, so I stayed clear of it. Its smell was bugging the shit out of me when Ezra wasn’t near and his scent permeating my senses. I sighed and stopped in the middle of the room, facing him. “Okay, you and I…” I fidgeted with my open shirt, staring down at it. “Would it be…” Oh hell, this was f**king hard to say.