Page 53 of Fighting Fate

16

I’m not sure what I’m doing here, but my gut tells me it’s where I need to be. The house is large, and although it’s clearly old, it’s also well kept. You can tell it’s loved, and when I knock on the glossy black door, the sound of laughter becomes a little louder in the silence that follows. A light comes on behind the stained glass panes before a tall, dark-haired woman opens the door.

“There better not be flour everywhere when I get back!” she calls behind her, and when she turns to look at me, I freeze.

For a moment, I’m confused to hell. Maybe I’m going crazy because this girl feels nothing like my girl, but damn, she looks so much like her. A carbon copy that leaves me dumbstruck as I search her from head to toe, taking in the outfit she’s wearing. Fitted pencil skirt and modest blouse.

“Can I help you?” she asks, looking around me as if to check I’m alone.

Then she tucks her long waves behind her ears, and I can see her face clearer. There’s the smallest dimple on the end of her nose, and her eyes, as she continues looking at me, are greener.

Willow’s twin narrows her stare on me. “It’s you,” she hums with a smiling nod.

“I’m looking for Willow,” I tell her as she looks at me from head to toe once more. “I…she…”

God, how do I explain how I ended up here without setting off alarm bells?

“Rory, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Dorian,” she states, holding out her hand. When I take it, she asks, “She’s not expecting you, is she?”

“No, I—” I pause when the woman I came here to see approaches. There’s a startled look on her face. I can’t quite make out whether she’s happy to see me or whether I’ve fucked up.

Regardless, the weight bearing down on me eases somewhat. The closer she gets, the easier it is for me to breathe. I didn’t realise I was this concerned until now.

“Hey,” I murmur, keeping my stare on her so that I can see her face clearly.

“What’re you doing here?”

The instant she pushes past her sister, I tug her closer to me at the same time as I step forward. It’s impossible to keep my hands to myself when we’re only a breath apart. Cupping her face, I tilt it up so I can see her better.

“How did you know I was here?”

“The way you sounded on the phone worried me. I couldn’t listen to you cry and pretend that everything is okay.” She’s my girl. The only woman I’ve ever wanted to keep in my life for more than one night. “I know you said you were fine, but I had to see for myself. I had to put eyes on you.”

Tightening my hold on her face, I bring my body flush to hers, relishing her warmth and the way she makes my heart run away with itself by simply looking at me. With only her gaze, Willow makes me feel like a better man.

“How did you find me?” The hitched whisper makes me smile, despite knowing that I’m about to sound like a crazy asshole.

“When you told the taxi the address, I wrote it down. I know yours by heart, so…”

“That’s creepy…crazy actually…” The serious expression on her face relaxes with the quiver of her lips. “Are you stalking me now?”

“Doll, I’ll follow you to the fucking ends of the earth anytime I think that you’re not okay. I don’t care if it’s right or what it looks like to anyone, I—”

Warm fingers press to my lips before Willow turns to her sister and shoos her away. “Can we have a moment, please?”

“Sure…sure…” Dorian chuckles, flashing her gaze to mine. “Nice to finally meet you, Rory Knight.”

Once she’s disappeared, Willow steps outside, bringing the door with her so that it’s ajar. I have a feeling I’m in trouble from the way she cocks a brow at me, pursing her lips.

“I can leave. I know you’re all right so—”

Silencing me with the press of her lips on mine, she grasps my face with both hands. There’s a low, gravelly groan when I nip at her bottom lip, and before I can go any further, she’s licking into my mouth. Long nails dig into my nape, harder and harder with every swirl of her tongue over mine.

Her kiss is as desperate as every thrum of my heart. Drinking up all her hums, I mould my hands to her ass, pressing her tighter to me until we’re writhing to get impossibly closer.

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