Fire in the Blood by Robyn Bachar Read Free Book Online Page A

strange fluttery feeling in my stomach that I dimly recognized as nervousness. I never get nervous, especially about sex, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Safest assumption was that my exhausted brain wasn’t able to process the sudden appearance of Faust’s romantic side.
    I flipped the lights on and smirked at the sight of an enormous whirlpool tub. Normally I’m the quick-shower type, but that had fun potential. I could get clean while being dirty at the same time…
    Perching on the edge of the tub, I twisted the hot water on full blast—finally something worked in this place. I was beginning to wonder if he owned a model home. Faust sidled closer, appearing curious, and I grabbed hold of the lapels of his jacket and hauled him against me.
    “We need to add some casual wear to your wardrobe,” I informed him. I tugged the jacket off and let it drop to the floor behind him, and then loosened his tie and tossed it in the vague direction of the door to the bedroom. “Don’t get me wrong, I love a man in a suit, but I’m willing to bet your ass would look great in a good pair of jeans.”
    “I’ll agree to wear jeans tomorrow if you wear a skirt,” he suggested. “You have lovely legs.” He unhooked my bra and threw it on top of his tie.
    “No, I have skinny chicken legs.”
    “Hmm. You are underfed. We must do something about that.”
    I laughed and deftly unbuttoned his shirt. “Says the man with an empty kitchen. Don’t faeries eat?”
    “We do, quite a bit. But there’s no reason to go to the market when one can do this.” A glass of champagne appeared in his hand, and he offered it to me.
    “Point taken.” Maybe there was something to the idea of having a faerie husband. I took a long drink, and though I couldn’t taste whether it was sweet or dry, it was cold and bubbly, which was fine by me. I’d never have to go grocery shopping again…until he traded me in for a younger model. I set the glass aside.
    “Babe…” I started, and he interrupted me.
    “Liam.”
    “What?”
    “My name is Liam.”
    An electric jolt of magic surged through me as my inner summoner squeed at learning a faerie’s True Name. It’s like the summoner Holy Grail. The moment passed and my stomach twisted and knotted into an anxious pretzel.
    “No…” I whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t know this. Are you crazy ?”
    “I love you. I trust you,” he replied. Faust—or Liam, great, another thing to mess with my head—caught my hands in his and held them. He made it sound so simple, but this was the complete opposite of simple. This was life changing.
    “And what, you tell all your women your True Name so I now get to be in the club?”
    He shook his head. “I’ve never told anyone before.”
    Lord and Lady. Steam wafted from the water behind me, yet I was suddenly cold enough for goose bumps to raise the ink of the tattoos that sleeved out my arms. “So why me? Why now?”
    “Because you need to know I’m sincere.”
    “Babe—” I started, and his brow rose. I ground to a halt. Despite my giddiness at knowing it, I couldn’t use his True Name. It wasn’t right. “I don’t doubt that, but you’re giving me a loaded gun and expecting me not to pull the trigger. This is the ultimate temptation for a summoner.”
    “And I trust you,” he repeated. He kissed me, and I wanted to strangle him.
    “This is blackmail.” I poked an accusing finger into his chest. “Emotional blackmail. You think I’ll have to stay with you if I know this.”
    He quirked a brow. “Do you want to leave?”
    With an annoyed growl I nudged him back and then turned off the water. I stripped off the rest of my clothes, what little was left. “Shut up and get in,” I ordered.
    The water was hot enough to boil the average person, but it’s difficult to burn someone with as much fire magic as I have. I breathed a happy sigh, and then pounced on Faust after he joined me. I pinned him against the side of the tub