Page 23 of Shiny Things

The wind in my feathers eased some of my tension. I hadn’t flown in a long time. I’d become paranoid of Elias’s bird finding me and confirming what we both suspected.

That confirmation would change the course of our lives forever. It was better this way.

Elias

Chapter 8

My phone alerted me to the door off my bedroom opening. I smiled down at it.

Kim was making herself at home. This was a good thing.

She could be rummaging through all my things, and it wouldn’t bother me in the least. Normally, I was a private man who despised others in my space, but not when it came to Kim.

Today was a good day.

But when she didn’t return after a few minutes, I couldn’t help but check the video feed to see what she was doing.

There was no sign of Kim on the terrace. As I panned the camera from side to side, I saw the pile of her clothes on the ground.

“No!” I screamed as I jumped up from the couch and ran out the door.

I scanned the area and could barely make out a tiny black dot on the horizon.

Without bothering to strip, I shifted. It took me a moment to untangle from my shirt, but as soon as I did, I flew as fast and hard as my wings would allow. Like a bullet through the wind, I was determined to catch up to her.

This was my chance. Once and for all I was going to prove to her that we were meant to be together.

My heart pounded with excitement as I pushed my raven harder than I’d ever flown before.

Her house was just ahead as I watched her shift back into her skin.

I was too late. And at this rate she may never give me another opportunity.

Maybe I should have just licked my wounds and turned back, but anger fueled me on.

Just before I landed, I shifted and glided onto her porch with ease.

She yelped at the sound of my footsteps as she fumbled around for her spare key. I already knew she kept it under her doormat. Not the safest place, but I supposed at a time like this it was a good thing. It wasn’t like crime was high in our quiet little sleepy town of Ravenden.

“Shift,” I demanded.

“No.”

“Kim,” I warned.

Defiantly she turned to face me, and in that moment, everything changed.

I’d never seen her naked before. I instantly grew hard, as if my dick had a mind of its own. My mouth watered, and all I could see was her.

She was stunningly beautiful. I let my eyes wash over her body, and I shuddered with desire.

Her mouth fell open in surprise as she stared back at me, only she wasn’t looking at my face.

A smirk quirked one side of my lips upwards.

She wanted me as badly as I wanted her. I was certain of it. Finally, it felt like we were on equal ground.

In three long strides, I closed the gap between us and pulled her into my arms. My mouth crushed against hers, silencing her protest, if there even was one.

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