Accidentally in Love with…a God?(Accidentally Yours #1)(42)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

I’d almost forgotten about it. “I hope you washed it.”

“And sterilized it twice,” he added.

“Thanks. You can leave it there,” I said, flashing a glance toward sink. “Where’d you get that thing anyway?”

He walked over to the white marble counter and set it down. “It’s a family heirloom. So take good care of it.”

That was odd. Why would he give me something so special?

“Look,” he said. “I just want to say I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I asked, wondering if he meant the intrusive kiss, the kidnapping, or something else.

“For treating you as badly as I did. I resented you. I saw the assignment as having to baby sit Mr. Santiago’s little pet. But I was wrong. You’re anything but his pet—more like a hungry, rabid cheetah that wants to take his arm off.”

If Tommaso only knew the truth; I’d just tried to chew off Guy’s lips. How sad.

“And,” he added, “I want you to know, I truly sympathize with your situation. I lost my entire family in a freak accident. I was never able to say goodbye or tell them I loved them.”

“I’m so sorry. That’s awful. Just—awful.”

“I tried to tell myself it’s just the way of the universe. Our losses make us who we are, but there are days I’d give anything to undo the past. Anything at all.”

I understood exactly what he meant. The pain. The loss. That had to be what my parents were experiencing right now. But I wasn’t gone. I wasn’t dead. I was taking a damned bubble bath while they suffered. It wasn’t right. “Does this mean you’ll help me? All I want is to safely contact my parents. There has to be a way.”

His eyes narrowed. “No. No matter what, I still owe my obedience and loyalty to the Uchben. They’re my family now,” his tone left no room for negotiation.

“And to the…” I hesitated. “Gods?” I still couldn’t quite say the word “gods” without feeling corny.

He nodded.

“But I’m part—you know,” I argued.

He didn’t flinch. “I know what you are. But, sorry. Doesn’t change a thing. I have my orders.” The black silk fabric tightened around his biceps as he crossed his arms.

I somehow felt more sorry for him than myself; even though I’d lost my grandmother, my parents were still alive. He’d lost everyone. “Okay. I’ll try not to hold a grudge and smite you.”

He made a deep chuckle. “Thanks. Because I’ve taken all the smiting I can handle for one day.” He moved to the side of tub and sat on the edge. “Which brings me to why I’m actually here. I wanted to thank you for standing up against Cimil. I didn’t know you’d done that until you mentioned it to Mr. Santiago.”

I hadn’t had much time to think about that shocking moment, but now that I knew about my ancestry, my sudden burst of strength made a lot more sense. I only wished I’d discovered it sooner and understood how to control it.

“You were pretty out of it when I clocked her,” I pointed out. “But she only tried to wring your neck because you told her to let me go. So I think we’re even.”

A warm, glowing smile swept across his face. I craved something to scare off the hideous feelings lurking in the back of my mind, including the raw humiliation from my kiss with Guy. Tommaso’s smile felt like that something. What. Am. I. Thinking? Didn’t get enough drama today, Emma? I scolded myself. “I need to get some rest so if you don’t mind?”

“Of course.” He shrugged, making the black silk of his shirt slide over his perfectly sculpted chest. He was almost to the door when he turned around. “Emma, I have to ask you something.”

“I’m sort of a captive audience here.”

“Guy told everyone what happened and how he’s bonded to you through your grandmother’s blood.”

“Yeah. So?”

Tommaso’s expression teetered on discomfort. “Emma, you may not know this, but others are connected to him, yet they weren’t able to hear him while he was trapped.”

Others? I felt jealous all of a sudden. Did he have a harem of women he was bonded to? He was a sexy, powerful god. I bet he “bonded” every night. Maybe even three times a day with two women at a time. No wonder he’d rejected me. I was just a little girl in his eyes, completely incapable of satisfying a man like him. Or any man.

He continued, “That means your connection to him is very strong.” He paused, looked down at his feet, and then snapped his head up. “Do you plan to stay with him? Do you love him?” he asked.

Wasn’t expecting that question. What was with these men putting me on the spot like this? I swallowed then nervously cupped a mound of bubbles. “No. I mean—I have feelings for him, but I can’t explain what they are. It’s not like there’s any point of reference for our relationship. He’s been a part of my life for so long, but not a day went by that I didn’t pray he’d leave. Now that I’m in this situation, I feel almost like he’s a necessity, that I won’t survive without him.”

“Don’t let him intimidate you, Emma. And if it’s protection you’re worried about, there are other options. All you have to do is take your request to the Uchben chiefs, and we’ll protect you.”

“He’ll never allow that. Like he said, we’re bonded.”

“Then break it. Release him.”

My heart stopped. “Can I do that? How?”

“Kaacha’al lu’um, tumben k’iin,” Tommaso recited.

“Catch a loom, tomb bent inn?” I repeated with a clumsy tongue. “What does it mean?”

“Literally, ‘broken earth, new day.’ It’s Mayan—from an ancient prayer. It means you wish to break your ties with the past.”

“What will happen? Will it hurt when I say it?” I imagined a giant lightning bolt hitting me on the head.

“No, it’s a painless procedure.” I could see he thought my question was silly, but resisted teasing me. Brownie point for Tommaso. “The oath he took to create the bond with your grandmother, which now binds your blood to him—and therefore to other gods—allows them to keep tabs on you more easily. To protect you, of course.”

“So, it’s like having a direct line to the gods?” I asked.

“More like Low-Jack, or twenty-four hour emergency roadside assistance.”