Flame of the Phoenix: Hades' Carnival, Book 6 Read Online Free PDF Page B

their lovemaking away.
    But she had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to wash away the memory as easily as she did the physical reminder from her body.
    Phoenix stood outside the bathroom door and listened. The shower was on, which meant water was spilling over Tilly’s gorgeous body. He wished he was in there with her, running his soapy hands over her warm skin, seeing the water cascade over her.
    He shuddered and turned away. He grabbed his pants and pulled them on but didn’t button them. He’d take a quick shower as soon as Tilly was done.
    Now that he was alone in her room, he took a better look around the space. It was vibrant and warm, just like Tilly. It was uncluttered too. There was a book on her nightstand, but there was no clothing lying around, no clutter except for the top of her dresser. He wandered over and examined some of the jewelry scattered there. Tilly did seem to like jewelry, but it wasn’t diamonds or rubies she wore, but colorful vintage pieces. Bakelite, he’d heard it call it once before. He put down the bracelet he was holding. Whatever she called it, it suited her.
    He went to the window and peered out. The day was quickly waning. It had taken her a fair amount of time to organize her business before she’d been able to head home to pack. And after that…well, they’d gotten distracted, to say the least.
    They should have been gone from here hours ago, but Phoenix didn’t sense any evil around them. Not yet. He figured Hades would concentrate on Jessica first, wanting to punish Mordecai most of all. The immortal warrior had lived in Hades’ realm for years and had tricked the god into believing he’d won Mordecai’s soul. All the while, the warrior had been playing Hades false and doing his best to help the remaining warriors. Still, it didn’t pay to underestimate the God of the Underworld. As soon as he showered, they were out of here.
    Right on cue, the water went off. Phoenix turned, crossed his arms over his bare chest and waited. He knew Tilly was feeling off-kilter. Knew she was disconcerted by the way she’d lost control with him. He’d seen it in the way she’d tried to distance herself as soon as their lovemaking was finished. He’d also heard her muttering to herself in the bathroom.
    She could build her defenses as much as she wanted. He’d beat them down again. If he’d learned anything over the long years of the curse, it was patience, especially when there was something or someone worth waiting for. He already knew how to fight. The two traits combined would allow him to win Tilly’s heart. He would accept no other outcome. For whether she knew it or not, she already held his heart in her hand.

Chapter Four
    Tilly insisted on stopping at a restaurant on the way out of town. Neither one of them had eaten much today, and she knew he had to be starving. Or maybe not. She wasn’t quite sure how much food he actually needed to consume in order to survive. But she was hungry.
    “This isn’t smart,” Phoenix said for at least the tenth time since they’d left her home. She’d driven for twenty minutes before pulling into a family restaurant.
    “Noted, but I’m hungry.” She opened the door, grabbed her purse and climbed out. It was a warm evening but she wore a thin summer sweater over her tank top, anticipating the air conditioning inside.
    He frowned but got out of the car and walked around the front and met her. He followed her toward the building, one hand riding low on her back. “Besides,” she continued, “if Hades is strong enough to find me here, he can find me anywhere. If he’s weak, he’ll only be able to check the places he knows I usually am,” she pointed out as she opened the door and walked inside.
    Phoenix grumbled. “The problem is we don’t know what we’re dealing with.”
    And that was a huge worry. She knew Hades had been stripped of most of his power, the operative word being most. There was no point in worrying about it. What