Page 22 of The Demigod Complex
Her cheeks turned red, which only made her more appealing, but she also smiled. “It’s a nymph thing. Part of our…magic…I guess you could say.”
“Handy.”
“Very.”
He shifted. “This is for you.”
Her eyebrows went up, but curiosity had her coming closer to inspect what he had. After a second, she bit her lip. “You got me all things to hydrate?”
He shrugged. “Yes.”
“That’s just…” She shook her head as she trailed off.
Just what? Adorable? Creepy? Concerning? Not part of their relationship as boss and employee? What was she thinking? He honestly couldn’t tell. “Sit down.”
At her small smile, he realized that he’d basically barked an order. But he felt foolish enough at this point, no way was he taking it back.
Besides. She sat. “Herbal tea. A cucumber salad. Coconut water. Several kinds of juice. And noodle soup.” Again with the small smile. “You’ve thought of everything.”
He eyed the assemblage of items. “It’s what I could get on short notice. I guess it is a bit of an odd mix.”
“It’s lovely.”
Two words guaranteed to make him feel like more than a demigod in her eyes. “I thought about starting the fire but wasn’t sure if that went with the theme or would counteract the hydrating.”
“Actually, a fire would be nice,” she said, sitting down. She poured herself some of the herbal tea and sat back, wiggling her bare feet up onto the couch with a sigh.
He picked up the remote and clicked a button. “Modern humans have taken away displays of manliness,” he commented.
That got a full laugh from her. By Olympus, he loved that sound. Clear and sweet, like bells, or the gurgle of a brook.
“You should laugh more,” he said, before he could stop himself.
Leia sobered. “I haven’t had much reason to.”
“I get that.” He glanced at the seating. He knew what he should do. He should take the armchair and give her space. This was about taking a moment for her.
He just couldn’t quite make himself do it. Instead he grabbed her by the ankles and lifted, gently so she didn’t spill her tea, and sat down with her feet across his lap. “Do you have a thing with feet?”
She frowned over her cup. “With feet?”
He shrugged. “Some people don’t like their feet touched.”
She lowered the cup to look at him sideways. “I guess that depends, Castor. What are you planning to do to my feet?”
“Nothing weird.” He leaned over to pick up a tube marked “soothing gel.” “They told me at the spa that this was…great.” Actually, the lady’s word was orgasmic, but he wasn’t saying that. Tonight wasn’t a seduction, dammit.
“Oh.” Leia blinked. “That sounds nice, but I tell you what. How about you do my feet and I’ll do yours.”
“No thanks.”
“I feel bad being the only one getting the full treatment here.” She waved at the goodies. “It’s only fair.”
“I’d rather not.”
Leia studied him with narrowed eyes. “Youdon’t like people touching your feet. Do you?”
“Do you want the goo, or not?” He shook the tube at her.
