I chuckled. “Right. I’m in the great Mercer Chaplin’s room.”
“You weren’t complaining when you were screaming my name last night.”
I cleared my throat, ducking my head to hide my pink cheeks, and walked to my dress, which lay in a small pile on the floor. I let Mercer’s shirt fall off of my and slipped the dress over my head. A small box of bandages sat on the cart with Q-tips and antibiotic ointment. Mercer came up behind me, wrapping one arm around my waist while grabbing the bandages with his other hand. He kissed my cheek, causing my stomach to flutter.
“I’ll do it,” he said. “I want to take a look and make sure it’s not too bad.”
“It’s fine.” I pulled away from him. “Just a few small burns.”
He turned me to face him and began unwrapping the gauze on my arm. “I have two free hands.”
I bit my lip as the last of it slipped away, revealing the bright red, oval burns around my tattoo and the nickel sized thumb on the tail of the fox. As Mercer turned my wrist to inspect the wounds, my tattoo shimmered in the light, giving a rainbow haze like light on oil. He sucked in his breath with a small whistle and glanced at me with raised eyebrows.
“How did you get these burns?” he asked.
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Really hot water.”
“Uh huh.” He unscrewed the tube of ointment and spread some on a Q-tip. “Interesting pattern.”
I really needed to work on my lying. “Yeah.”
The gelled liquid felt cool against my skin for all of second before my bady temperature warmed it.. I stiffened as a strange tingling passed through my flesh where Mercer’s fingers touched and set my teeth on edge. He pulled my wrist closed to his face and studied my tattoo with a furrowed brow.
“Interesting,” he said.
His fingers brushed against the face of the fox and the buzz turned into a jolt of electricity. My whole arm vibrated and burned. My tailbone slammed into the cart, knocking it over as I flew backward and was stopped by the wall. My shoulders and head bounced against it, and I landed on the floor with a soft thud.
I groaned, trying wave away the dancing lights around my face. My whole body was humming so hard my teeth were on edge. Shit. I got to my feet and braced myself against the wall with a pant. Mercer stood up from the opposite side of the couch with his jaw set. His gaze found mine.
My laugh held a hysterical edge to it. “It figures. I meet a seemingly normal guy, and he turns out to be a god.”
“A pandoran.” He gave a ghost of his old smile. “I knew there was something special about you.”
I took a few faltering steps forward and raised my hands in fists. “Let’s just get this over with.”
He raised his hands in the air. “I don’t want to fight you, Cassi.”
A pressure built up in my chest, and everything from yesterday crashed down around me. Tears pricked at my eyes as my throat closed up. I couldn’t do this.
I stumbled back, pulled open the door, and ran toward the stairwell at the end of the hall.
Had I just slept with the god responsible for James’s death?
Chapter 16
The sidewalk burned the soles of my feet as I wandered the streets of downtown Dallas. The glass high rises towered over me, and the sound of purring engines filled the air all around me. Even after I had left, Mercer’s scent seemed to drift with me, giving a hint of patchouli and olive.
I squeezed my eyes shut as my chest tightened and a lump formed in my throat. How could I have been so stupid? I’d been blinded by my own lust to see. We knew each other now, in more ways than one. I needed to go home, to change and regroup.
I patted my dress and came up empty. The blood in my veins froze in me. My wallet, my phone, everything was still in Mercer’s hotel room.
“Fuck.”
My shout echoed through the air, causing the people around me to jump with startled looks. One woman looked at my rumbled clothing, tussled hair, and bare feet with a wrinkled nose a sneer on her lips. Of all the walk of shames I’d traveled, this had to be the worst. Still, I’m sure not many could say they’d had a night with a god. A hysterical laugh burst from my lips and took hold of my entire body. I leaned against the nearest building and doubled over, laughing and sobbing until my breath came in short wheezing gasps. What the hell was wrong with me? James’s betrayal hadn’t even hurt this much.
“Are you all right?” A man in a suit jacket stepped in front of me.
“I’m … fine.” I managed to choke out.
“Do you need me to call anyone?” he asked.
I straightened, wiping the tears from my face. “Actually, could you call me a cab?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You sure you don’t need me to call you a doctor? Maybe your sponsor?”
I glared at him. “No, thanks. Just the taxi.”