Page 22 of Whispers of the Water

I let his words wrap around my heart in a sweet cocoon. I didn’t argue that he had denied us of such a thing earlier. Instead, I let both of us finish riding out this wave of pleasure and satiated longing we’d been harboring. When we woke up tomorrow, he may realize what he’d said and try to brush it away, but I wouldn’t. I’d tucked this moment away in my heart, and I wouldn’t regret it, even if he did.

Chapter Eight

A SINGLE THREAD of light filtered through the curtains on the French doors. The warmth from the covers urged me to fall back under sleep’s spell, but when I rolled over, I snapped out of my stupor. Beside me, Rune’s cheek was turned into the pillow, his arms tucked beneath it. His lips were parted slightly as he dreamed of unknown tales. He’d shifted at some point during his sleep into his Fae form, so I got a clear view of his two sharp canines and black-and-white fox ears.

Last night came rushing back in a dizzying blur, and I bit my lip to keep my smile contained. Heat pooled in between my legs as I recalled the way he’d touched me, tasted me, devoured me. It was a perfect moment, and I was pleased that I felt no shame or regret this morning. I was still just as sure of my decision to trust him as I’d been last night.

Wanting to let Rune sleep, I carefully got out from beneath the blankets and tiptoed across the carpet to the bathroom. After relieving myself, brushing my teeth and hair and throwing clothes on, I crept out into the hall. Akira and Bassel’s door was cracked, and I could hear the soft sound of some show on the TV.

I knocked quietly on the door before Akira said, “Come in.”

He lounged on the couch in his Raven Fae form as he watched a cooking show, and his black eyes brightened as soon as he saw me come in. “Well, good morning, Bria-chan.”

Grinning, I flopped down beside him as he tucked his wings close to his back to make room for me. “Good morning to you, too. Is everyone still asleep?”

“Ardley is downstairs making a pot of coffee, but other than him, yes. Bassel will probably be knocked out for a while. He had a rather late night.”

“Oh, really?”

We shared a knowing smile. Akira’s instincts had been right. I loved that Bassel was going after what he wanted. He deserved to be happy, and Carlos seemed like a really sweet guy. I hoped things worked out between the two of them.

“Speaking of late nights,” Akira said with a curious tilt to his head. “How did sharing a bed with Rune go? Anything juicy happen?”

Crimson heat crept up the side of my neck and onto my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I played with a strand of my hair. “It went fine.”

Akira bounced on the couch, nearly taking me out with his feathered wings as he spun to face me fully. He grabbed my hands, and his eyes glittered with excitement. “I know that look. Tell me everything. Don’t leave a single thing out.”

Laughing, I tried thinking of a way to explain what had happened without getting too graphic, but the door opened. Ardley walked in with a tray of coffee cups and a pot of coffee.

His face lit up when he saw me, a dimple appearing on his cheek, and his fluffy fox tail swished excitedly behind him. “Look who’s up. Morning, gorgeous.”

Akira let out a frustrated groan, and he picked up a throw pillow, launching it at Ardley. “Kuso! You couldn’t wait five more minutes before coming in?”

Ardley ducked, narrowly missing a pillow to the face. “Woah! What gives? Hot pot of coffee over here.”

Akira rolled his eyes and leaned closer to me to whisper, “We’ll save this conversation for later.”

Ardley set the tray on the coffee table and flopped down next to me, his fox tail nearly landing in my lap. “How’d you sleep?”

“Good,” I said. “You?”

He shrugged and smirked mischievously at me. “I would’ve slept better if I had some company. Maybe we can—”

“Ardley,” Rune snapped.

We all turned to find Rune, still in Fae form, standing in the doorway, and his eyes narrowed on his cousin. Any trace of amusement was nonexistent as he stalked toward the couch, his clawed hands flexing at his sides.

Chuckling, Ardley held up his own hands. “Sorry, sorry. I can’t help myself. She’s a beautiful, single girl. Can you blame me for trying?”

“She’s not si—” Rune stopped, and anger pulled his shoulders taut.

My heart and mind got hung up on the last part of his sentence. We all knew what he’d started to say, and every fiber of my being sparked to life with that near declaration. It was happening. He was stumbling over his decision to stay friends, and that knowledge made my heart dance wildly in my chest.

Rune took a deep breath and met Ardley’s eyes. “Just knock it off.”

Ardley slapped his legs and stood. “Well, I guess I should move then.”

“You’d be guessing correctly.”

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