Vala Eminence by J. F. Jenkins Page A

be mine.”
    â€œIf you're not allowed to have anyone else, I'm not either. I got that concept right away, Chey. While I may be a dirty, good-for-nothing, bad boy, I also don't like double standards. I'm gonna play fair with you. We have the same rules.”
    She nodded. “I'm glad.”
    â€œDid you doubt me? Think I was lying to you about the exclusive thing?”
    â€œNo, but I never know when you're going to change your mind.”
    He exhaled slowly. “If I change my mind, I'll tell you and break up with you first. I'm not a cheater.”
    Cheyenne winced when he said that, and he almost regretted saying the words. But if one of them had to be worried about that happening, it was him — not her. She ran a hand over her eyes and took in a deep, uneven breath, and he knew then that he had made her cry even before he smelled the tears beginning to pool.
    â€œLook…” he began, but he wasn't sure how to finish his train of thought without coming off as a complete jerk. Yeah, I've got it for her bad if I'm watching my mouth.
    She shook her head. “No, you don't need to explain it. I get it. What I did to Zes was low and horrible. The right thing would have been to end it first. I didn't because I thought you weren't going to want me for long. My intention was to indulge my curiosity one time, to know what it was like to kiss you and want to be kissed, and then move on once the itch was scratched. Which still isn't right, I know. But I loved him, love him, I don't know what I feel half the time when it comes to Zes.”
    Having to listen to her admit to loving another man was not an easy pill for Denver to swallow. He was having a hard time not verbally lashing out at her, but for whatever reason he had more patience than usual. Oh wait, it's because I actually have a heart again, now that the curse is broken. Or maybe she's just a special occasion.
    â€œI see,” he said.
    â€œDon't be mad,” she whispered. “It's not that kind of love. It's a friend kind. He and I are always going to share certain bonding moments for the rest of our lives. Maybe that's why I wanted him to be the one so badly. It would make everything that happened with Lucien down in the underworld make sense.”
    Denver twisted some of her long dark hair around one of his fingers, slowly. “Just don't toy with my mind like you did Zes's. I'm not as dumb as he is, first of all, so I'll know right away the instant it happens. Secondly, I'll make the rest of your life a nightmare. And you know I don't make empty threats.”
    â€œI know you don't. Sometimes that scares me more than anything because if I do somehow mess this up, you're going to hate me. The idea of losing you forever is scary,” she confessed.
    â€œThen don't mess up so badly that you lose me forever.” He laughed when he suggested it, hoping she knew he was only joking — for the most part. There was little she could do to turn him away from her forever. Cheating wasn't even on the list. Tick him off, yes, but to the point where he'd never forgive her? He wasn't so sure.
    â€œI'm not perfect.”
    â€œGood, neither am I. Perfection is boring as all get out, anyway.” He smiled down at her, admiring her beauty. Hopefully she could sense how happy she made him even if she couldn't always see it with her own eyes. Showing tender affection was not something he was good at. Every day it became easier, and the desire to be romantic grew stronger. He just had to keep it subtle because every time she pointed out how he was being different, it brought the walls back up again. I'm not supposed to be romantic or loving. If she notices it, someone else might too. And if it's obvious that I'm changing, a lot of bad things could happen faster than I'm prepared for.
    She yawned. “Maybe you should go. I can't be all too entertaining right now.”
    â€œOnce I know you're asleep, I'll leave.”
    â€œYou're