Tempted

listened to her with the quiet attentiveness that had been the second thing about him that had drawn her to him.
    The first being his utter hotness, of course.
    Stark’s room was cozy and dark, lit only by a single candle. Darius pulled a chair over to the door and propped it against the handle, effectively barring anyone from busting in on them. Then he rummaged through the dresser in the corner of the room and pulled out fresh sheets and blankets, which he remade the bed with, saying something about not wanting her to sleep on a wounded vampyre’s sheets.
    Aphrodite watched him as she pulled off her boots and jeans, and then slid her bra off under her shirt. She thought about what a weird feeling it was to have someone take care of her—someone who actually seemed to like her for herself, which was a total surprise. Guys liked her because she was hot, or because she was rich, popular, and a challenge, or, more often than not, simply because she was a bitch. It always amazed her how many guys just flat-out liked bitches. Guys didn’t like her because she was Aphrodite. Actually, guys usually didn’t take time to find out who she was underneath all the good hair, long legs, and attitude.
    But the biggest shock of all about her relationship with Darius, and it was definitely becoming a relationship, was the fact that they hadn’t had sex. Yet. Sure, everyone believed they were doing it like bunnies, and she’d let them believe they were—she’d even encouraged them to believe it. They weren’t, though. And somehow, that didn’t feel weird. They slept together, and had even had some seriously hot make-out sessions, but that’s as far as they’d gone.
    With a jolt of shocked realization, Aphrodite understood what it was that was happening between her and Darius—they were going slow and getting to know each other. Really, truly getting to know each other, and she was discovering that she liked going slow almost as much as she liked getting to know Darius.
    They were falling in love!
    That terrifying thought had Aphrodite’s knees going weak so suddenly that she backed up to the chair that was in the corner of the room and, feeling light-headed, sat down.
    Darius finished making the bed and looked bemusedly across the room at her. “What are you doing all the way over there?”
    “Just sitting,” she said quickly.
    He cocked his head to the side. “Are you really okay? You did say you burned along with the vampyres in your vision. Are you still feeling the effects of that? You look pale.”
    “I’m a little thirsty, and my eyes still sting, but I’m fine.”
    When she continued to sit across the room without making any move to come to bed, he gave her a confused smile and said, “Aren’t you tired?”
    “Yeah, yeah, I am.”
    “Shall I get you some water?”
    “Oh, no! I’ll get it myself. No problem.” Aphrodite boinged up like one of those freaky puppets with strings and walked over to the sink in the opposite corner of the room. She was filling up a paper cone with water when Darius was suddenly behind her. His strong hands were on her shoulders again. This time his thumbs gently began to knead the ultratight muscles in her neck.
    “You carry all your tension here,” he said, working from her neck to her shoulders.
    Aphrodite downed the cup of water and then couldn’t make herself move. Darius massaged her shoulders silently, letting his touch tell her how much he cared for her. Finally, she allowed the cup to slide from her fingers. Her head lolled forward and Aphrodite breathed a deep, contented sigh. “Your hands are totally magic.”
    “Anything for you, my lady.”
    Aphrodite smiled and leaned into his hands, allowing herself torelax more and more. She loved it that Darius treated her like she was his High Priestess, even though she had no Mark and would never be a vampyre. She loved that he had no doubt that she was special to Nyx—that she was Chosen by the Goddess. He so obviously didn’t care whether a Mark went along with that or not. She loved that he—
    Ohmygoddess! She actually loved him! Holy shit!
    Aphrodite’s head snapped up and she turned around so quickly that Darius took a short, startled step back, automatically giving her room.
    “What is it?” he asked.
    “I love you!” she blurted, and then pressed her hand against her mouth like she was trying,
too late
, to keep the words from exploding from it.
    The warrior’s smile was long and slow. “I am glad