Page 51 of These Wicked Desires

Placing my hands on his chest, I stand on my tiptoes and brush a soft kiss to his lips. “We’ll be fine, Cade. Go downstairs and eat something before Kai comes hunting for you and drags you away to force feed you.” With that, I give him the final shove out the door, and close it in his face. I turn around with my hands on my hips. “Now. Where were we?”

Ellis

Chloe stares at her reflection in the mirror as I gather the supplies for her shower. I try my hardest not to watch her, to give her the privacy to come to terms with where she is. I understand all too well the story a mirror can tell. Oftentimes, it’s not an easy story to hear.

“I’ll never get this brushed,” she says quietly, fingering the tangled mess of her hair.

I step behind her and study the knots. “I think you might be right. We might need to cut it.”

I meet her gaze in the mirror and she sighs, resigned. “Just not too short please?”

“How about a bath instead of a shower?” I ask. “I can work on brushing out your hair while you do your best to relax.”

She nods and I turn on the water to fill the freestanding tub, adding a generous amount of bubbles. Chloe steps into the steaming water once it’s filled, and I search for a pair of scissors.

“Here, lay your head back on this.” I place a soft folded towel on the edge of the tub, and hang her hair down the side. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

Gathering her hair in my hands, I cut off about four inches of pure matted snarls. There is no way I’d ever be able to work those knots out. I wet the rest of her hair and slather it in conditioner. Starting at the ends, I section off a small portion and begin gently working the brush through the strands.

I’ve made it through two small sections when she shifts in the tub. “So,” she asks timidly. “You’re dating my brother?”

I smile and huff a small laugh. “Yeah, I am.” Along with two other guys.

“How long?” The pain in her voice is evident. Thinking about how much she’s missed all these years has got to be hard.

“Not long actually. A few months.” Has it really only been a few months? It seems like years ago Kai stormed into my room and threw me out the window into Cade’s arms.

“Really?” she asks, surprised. “You seem so … I don’t know. Comfortable. Like you’ve been together for a long time.”

I smile again even though Chloe can’t see it. “Well, I’m his beloved.”

She whirls around in the tub, causing me to yank on the strands in my hand. Water splashes, threatening to flow over the sides. “Beloved? But … you’re …” Her blue eyes squint as she studies me.

“I’m not a mage, no.” I take a deep breath and motion for her to turn back around. “I’m actually a harpy.”

This time water does splash over the sides of the tub as Chloe jerks away, covering herself as best she can with her arms. “A harpy?” she whispers.

“Yeah. A harpy.” I laugh quietly, trying to ignore the fear in her eyes. “I pretty much had that same reaction when I found out. I thought I was a monster. A creature of death and destruction.” I shrug and grimace. “It’s not quite that bad. I’m apparently supposed to bring balance to the world? Find a happy medium between good and evil.” This time my laugh is harsh. “Like that’s just some simple task.”

She studies me, her breathing rapid as she attempts to get herself under control. “And Cade?”

“This entire thing is a relatively new development, but it turns out Cade is one of my Shields. He’s one of the guys I get my power from. He’s my protector. My … everything.” I motion for her to turn back around so I can continue brushing out her hair, and I hold my breath. Is she going to bolt? Run screaming from the bathroom, too scared to be left alone with a harpy?

She studies me a little longer and swallows thickly. “I guess if Cade trusts you,” she mutters so quietly I barely hear her. Her movements are jerky as she turns back around, holding herself tense like she’s preparing to run if I try to hurt her.

We’re both quiet for a few minutes as I continue to work on her hair. Then she sucks in a breath. “You said, ‘one of the guys?’” Chloe asks, her voice only trembling slightly. “There are more?”

“Two more. Kai and Sterling are my other Shields.”

“So the four of you …”

I laugh again, smiling from ear to ear. “Yeah. The four of us. It’s kind of wild. Sometimes I still find the entire situation crazy.”

“So basically, you have three boyfriends.” Chloe shakes her head and I can just picture her eyes wide with shock and surprise.

“Yeah. Three guys I was fated to be with.”

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