Standing here on his doorstep, I glance out at the quiet street behind me. Amusement tugs at the corners of my lips. How fitting is it that Endymion lives on a street named Stardust?
The door suddenly opens, and a gasp gets caught in my throat at the sight of a shirtless Endymion. Something is happening inside me. My heart is pounding uncontrollably, and my legs suddenly feel like they’re going to give out on me. Warmth pools in my core, and electricity buzzes through my veins. I feel hot. There is an incessant throbbing between my legs that should not be there as I stare at my daughter’s father.
Endymion’s brows furrow, his gaze raking up and down my body as he takes me in. He’s obviously taken aback by the sight of me on his porch. I shift awkwardly, suddenly feeling like this was a bad idea.
“Hi.”
“What are you doing here? Where’s Luna?”
My heart takes a beating. I refrain from flinching at his cold words. Of course, he wouldn’t care that I’m here. He only cares about our daughter. I need to remember that. This is what I told him I wanted, after all. He’s giving me exactly what I want. Still, that doesn’t make it sting any less.
Then why does it hurt so much?
“She’s fine. When I left, she was already in bed asleep. I actually came here to talk to you.”
There’s a long beat where End just stands there staring at me before he moves. Stepping back, he opens the door for me, indicating I walk in. I do so cautiously, feeling out of my element. It’s never just been the two of us. Luna is always between us as the buffer. Without her here, the air is thick with tension, making it hard to pull in a single breath. All I can smell is him. Everything about him and his very essence percolate around us.
Closing the door behind him, Endymion crosses his thick arms over his broad, tan chest, causing the muscles to jut out. It’s a painfully beautiful sight. The veins in his forearms and hands protrude, and I find myself swallowing thickly, struggling to look away.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” His tone is all grit and no-nonsense. His hand has a white-knuckle grip on the door, as if he’s holding himself back from something and barely keeping it together.
Tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, I square my shoulders, searching for the courage to get the words past my lips.
“I thought we should talk about what happened. A few days ago.” His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t say anything else, so I proceed. “I overreacted in the parking lot about Holly. And I apologize. That’s what I should’ve said to you at the falls that day. But…I meant what I said about everything else. I can’t do this. That kiss from the other night can’t happen again. I think we’re all in a good place. We’ve found a good balance, and I think it’s best if we forget it ever happened.”
Endymion scoffs. He drops his arms, taking a step toward me. “You want me to forget it ever happened, Selene?” His eyes are molten pools of lava, and I’m the ash at his feet. My heart lurches when he closes the distance between us, backing me into a wall. Literally and figuratively. “What if I don’t want to forget?”
My heart stalls, and my stomach dips at his words. Something that feels dangerously like hope blooms in my chest, and before I can tamp it down, End crowds me, caging me in until all I feel is him. All I can smell is him.
Everything about this moment is wreaking havoc on my nervous system. My chest is heaving wildly to accommodate my breaths, and my nipples pebble against my bra, vying for attention from this godlike man.
I shake my head, trying to clear the lust fog he’s induced. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’m still so fucking angry with you, but goddammit, I can’t stay away,”
Before I can comprehend his words, his mouth slams down on mine, crashing through the last barrier I had in place. A cry of longing pours from my lips, his kiss possessing me right down to my very soul. There’s no fighting it. This need, the magnetic pull between us is stronger than both our wills combined, and I succumb to it, letting it drown me in my own desire.