matter. He’d changed the paperwork to gold just like he’d promised. There was plenty of time for them to discuss the details—a lifetime really.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “That is even better.”
“Why?” When he grinned, tingles began low in her belly and ebbed outward.
“Now I must demand payment for all I’ve done for you.”
The answering smile fell from her face. She backed away a few steps. “What do you mean? I’ve already given you payment for each task.”
“This is true; however, those trades were only for me agreeing to do the magic. And, of course, the physicality of arranging the gold bricks into a pleasing design.”
Jovie gawked. Her jaw dropped and she closed it with an audible snap of teeth. “I gave you my jewelry. We had sex. What else can you possibly want from me?” A slow burn of anger cycled through her chest, climbing and filling her body until her skin burned with it. “Damn it, I slept with you.”
“And you are unrivaled among every woman I’ve been with.”
"You used me, which makes you no better than Clinton."
"No, far from it. What we shared came from my heart and will never be repeated with another. You are that one human that makes my life complete."
"Oh, please."
The fleeting sadness appeared in his eyes, this time clouding the brilliant green and dulling it. “I told you that using magic has steep consequences. It is no less true this time.” He ran a hand along his jaw. “The penalty for such a thing, thrice over in fact, is the exchange of your life for mine, so I will be mortal once more.”
“What?” Stabs of pain lanced through her stomach. She pressed a hand to her midsection where the sharp ache grew. She drew in a deep breath, blowing it back out. “You would really ask me to consign myself to the creamer pot so you can be free?”
“Yes. This is how it must be and how it is with a matched pair such as us. I told you we were interchangeable.” Rand shrugged. “I have done all that you asked. We have enjoyed each other’s bodies. Now payment needs to be realized.” His eyes became cold and glassy. “Magic isn’t a fairy tale substance to play around with. It’s harsh and exacting and will take its toll on both mortals and immortals alike. The exchange of life is the penalty you must pay.”
“You tricked me.”
"No. I warned you all along, at each level, and you agreed to deal with the consequences."
"Still a trick." She wanted to vomit at his audacity. She yearned to scream at the injustice, at the level of hurt she felt for allowing him into her heart. He dashed her hopes and dreams into pieces as if he’d physically stomped on her chest. “I slept with you. I let you do things to my body without regret. I trusted you.” Tears welled in her eyes. “And you lied.”
“I did no such thing. In fact, I did nothing but tell you the truth, always. You chose not to listen to all the words.”
When he would have reached for her, Jovie stepped away. “How was I supposed to know the rules? I’ve never come into contact with magical beings before.” Annoyed when a tear splashed onto her cheek, she scrubbed at her face. “I trusted you.” That fact bore repeating as she seldom gave herself into another’s keeping. Embarrassment seeped through the anger, heating her face. “None of it meant anything to you, did it? You only had sex with me because you knew I’d have to make this sacrifice.”
“No.” Uncertainty highlighted his features. “I enjoyed it as much as you.”
“You’re a man and would drill your cock into anyone available whenever the urge strikes.” She wrapped her arms around her middle, suddenly sick. “I thought you were different.” Sniffling, she met his gaze. “Was your talk of being released by just the right person hype as well? Maybe we’re not meant to share a connection.” The last disappointed her the most.
Rand shrugged. “I only know the rules as they’ve been given to me. I
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “That is even better.”
“Why?” When he grinned, tingles began low in her belly and ebbed outward.
“Now I must demand payment for all I’ve done for you.”
The answering smile fell from her face. She backed away a few steps. “What do you mean? I’ve already given you payment for each task.”
“This is true; however, those trades were only for me agreeing to do the magic. And, of course, the physicality of arranging the gold bricks into a pleasing design.”
Jovie gawked. Her jaw dropped and she closed it with an audible snap of teeth. “I gave you my jewelry. We had sex. What else can you possibly want from me?” A slow burn of anger cycled through her chest, climbing and filling her body until her skin burned with it. “Damn it, I slept with you.”
“And you are unrivaled among every woman I’ve been with.”
"You used me, which makes you no better than Clinton."
"No, far from it. What we shared came from my heart and will never be repeated with another. You are that one human that makes my life complete."
"Oh, please."
The fleeting sadness appeared in his eyes, this time clouding the brilliant green and dulling it. “I told you that using magic has steep consequences. It is no less true this time.” He ran a hand along his jaw. “The penalty for such a thing, thrice over in fact, is the exchange of your life for mine, so I will be mortal once more.”
“What?” Stabs of pain lanced through her stomach. She pressed a hand to her midsection where the sharp ache grew. She drew in a deep breath, blowing it back out. “You would really ask me to consign myself to the creamer pot so you can be free?”
“Yes. This is how it must be and how it is with a matched pair such as us. I told you we were interchangeable.” Rand shrugged. “I have done all that you asked. We have enjoyed each other’s bodies. Now payment needs to be realized.” His eyes became cold and glassy. “Magic isn’t a fairy tale substance to play around with. It’s harsh and exacting and will take its toll on both mortals and immortals alike. The exchange of life is the penalty you must pay.”
“You tricked me.”
"No. I warned you all along, at each level, and you agreed to deal with the consequences."
"Still a trick." She wanted to vomit at his audacity. She yearned to scream at the injustice, at the level of hurt she felt for allowing him into her heart. He dashed her hopes and dreams into pieces as if he’d physically stomped on her chest. “I slept with you. I let you do things to my body without regret. I trusted you.” Tears welled in her eyes. “And you lied.”
“I did no such thing. In fact, I did nothing but tell you the truth, always. You chose not to listen to all the words.”
When he would have reached for her, Jovie stepped away. “How was I supposed to know the rules? I’ve never come into contact with magical beings before.” Annoyed when a tear splashed onto her cheek, she scrubbed at her face. “I trusted you.” That fact bore repeating as she seldom gave herself into another’s keeping. Embarrassment seeped through the anger, heating her face. “None of it meant anything to you, did it? You only had sex with me because you knew I’d have to make this sacrifice.”
“No.” Uncertainty highlighted his features. “I enjoyed it as much as you.”
“You’re a man and would drill your cock into anyone available whenever the urge strikes.” She wrapped her arms around her middle, suddenly sick. “I thought you were different.” Sniffling, she met his gaze. “Was your talk of being released by just the right person hype as well? Maybe we’re not meant to share a connection.” The last disappointed her the most.
Rand shrugged. “I only know the rules as they’ve been given to me. I
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