My palms were sweaty.I could hear my own blood rus.h.i.+ng through my ears and it made my breathing come out a little harsher.
Eros slowly lifted his head.
He turned to look at me with a tight smile on his lips and I could see how straining it was for him to remain seated.
He was trying to appease me, despite the fact that he"s in such turmoil with his inner beast.
My heart seemed to soften at the dawning realization and my chest warmed at how he was going out of his way to rea.s.sure me.
I"m a big idiot.
"I won"t hurt you, Emira," he murmured.
My cheeks burned.
I felt quite ashamed of my initial fearful reaction.
It was unnecessary.
"I"m just upset with myself." Eros" voice was raspy and laced with self-hatred that I had never seen in him before.
"I failed to protect you," he breathed out grimly.
Red slowly bled across his mesmerizing eyes to change the beautiful blue a deeper and darker shade.
It made him look strangely more feral and masculine in my eyes.
More beast than man.
I didn"t know what to say, choosing to lower myself onto the bed next to him.
Tentatively, I tangled my fingers with his until my skin hummed at the pleasurable contact.
"I know that you won"t hurt me, Eros. I wouldn"t be here if I didn"t," I admitted, lowering my gaze away from his slightly reddening eyes.
I tightened my grip on his hands.
"I"m safe now. That"s all that matters," I said as calmly as I could, stroking my thumb over the palm of his hand.
Bravely, I brought my gaze to his changing features and took in the true him with acceptance and care.
Eros would always be Eros.
No matter what shape or form he took, I was willing to accept him in all ways.
Eros s.h.i.+fted slightly and turned towards me.
His strong arms circled around my waist, lifted me up and hoisted my tangible body onto his lap until I was comfortably seated against him.
Eros" handsome face buried itself into my neck.
I could feel his intake of air when he kissed my jaw longingly, and the soft sigh that purged itself from my lips was involuntary and uncontrollable.
He nudged my blushed cheeks with his nose, and the sparks continued to a.s.sault my face with blinding force.
"I missed you," he murmured against my ear.
His warm mouth grazed the sensitive sh.e.l.l before I felt him kiss against it.
The s.h.i.+ver that wracked my frame was unbidden.
I found myself willingly tipping my face to the side to give him access to my neck and ear.
"I...missed you too," I replied with a slightly hoa.r.s.e and raspy tone of voice that had surprised me the moment it left my lips.
Eros seemed more relaxed now, but I could tell that he was still bothered because the red remained in his eyes the entire time.
As if noticing my inquisitive and nervous glance, he said, "My beast is livid. The scent of them on your skin is making me extremely irritated."
His long lithe fingers trailed across the corner of my lips while this pained expression made way across his regal face.
Eros kissed my hot cheeks endearingly.
His features seemed more animalistic now, more inhuman as he fought to keep his humanoid form in place.
I feared that he would lose control of himself to his beast.
Who knows what kind of havoc would occur once it was unleashed?
I was scared at the thought, and my chest felt tight with unease.
I curled my fingers into the sleeve of his s.h.i.+rt as if to hold him anch.o.r.ed to me in fear of what could happen.
Worry became evident on my face.
"Can"t you get rid of it?" I asked and then feared the answer.
Because I know that there were three things that can mar or change a person"s scent.
Saliva.
p.i.s.s.
And s.e.m.e.n.
I"m actually scared that Eros has to pee on me to get rid of their scent.
I don"t think I can stand being p.i.s.sed on again, regardless of who it is.
The thought of it is making me sick to my stomach.
Literally.