Page 62 of Midnight Whispers

The shiny black stallion gives me a look as though he’s not impressed by my words, but as soon as Cinder walks over to him, he turns his attention to her.

“Wow, he’s huge!” She reaches to touch him, and I bolt forward, afraid Poe is going to freak out as he often does. But holy shit, he actually allows her to touch him.

When the horse leans down and rests his head on her shoulder, I openly gape. I push a hand through my hair. “Jesus, I’ve never seen Poe act like this with anyone. Even Asher.”

Cinder smiles. “I’ve always felt a kinship with animals. There’s this stray cat that hangs around the back of the bar, and I always sneak him food. He’s so cute.”

Watching her with Poe, I remember watching her with two terrified little girls and how she worked so well to calm them. For the first time ever, an inkling of wanting to be a father rushes through me. A part of me says to get her pregnant as fast as possible so that I can see her as a mother to our child.

I didn’t even feel that way with Maude. Sure, I assumed we’d have kids one day, but it wasn’t something I imagined or daydreamed about.

I come up behind her and kiss the back of her head, resting my hands through the belt loops of her jeans. “You’re something else, you know that?”

She looks at me over her shoulder, beaming. “Because a temperamental horse likes me?”

“No, just because you’re you.”

When I tug her back into me by the belt loops, and she feels my hard length press against her, she lets out a soft moan. And when I yank her jeans down and make her come on my face a moment later in the stables, you’d better believe I give Poe a look of superiority. There’s only room for one man in this woman’s life, and I’m him.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

CINDER

Within a couple of weeks, I’ve quit my job at T&T’s and signed the lease for the property on the main drag in Magnolia Bend. I was a little down the night I told Trina and everyone I wouldn’t be returning, but as soon as I got the keys to the unit, my excitement kicked in.

I haven’t decided what to name my studio yet, but that’s okay because there’s plenty to do to get the place ready.

Tonight, I’m meeting with the contractor I hired to do the work. When I leave my shift at Black Magic Bar, I walk across the street. I’m still working at the bar because I need to pay the rent on the studio until I have customers and bring some money in, but eventually I hope to leave that job behind as well.

I unlock the door, flick on the lights, and step inside. The place is a bit of a dump at the moment, but it’s mine. I’ve never had a place, a thing, that was solely mine. I’m presently freeloading at Nero’s place, and back when I lived with Louise, I begged for any small thing I got.

The sound of the door opening causes me to turn around. I smile when Jarvis, my contractor, walks inside. He’s probably around Nero’s age with sandy-colored hair and a matching beard. He’s a good-looking guy, and if I wasn’t already head over heels for someone, I might try to stoke the interest I’ve seen in the few times we’ve been together.

“Hey, Jarvis.” I step forward and shake his hand. “Thanks for meeting me. I’m sure you’d rather be heading home at the end of the day than stopping here.”

“On the contrary, I’ve been looking forward to this all day.” He smiles, and I return it, though I drop his hand.

“Should we get started? I just want to go over some of the decisions I’ve made since we last spoke.”

“Straight to business. Do you not like to have fun sometimes, Cinder?”

My mind immediately goes to the Ritual Room. “I have my moments, believe me.”

He chuckles, then we discuss what I want done. I go through the list I have in my phone until we get to the last item. Last time we spoke, Jarvis pointed out that I could save some money if I didn’t bring the mirrors all the way up to the ceiling, and since my clients are all going to be shorter than I am, I decided to take his advice.

“I think you’re right about not bringing the mirrors all the way up to the ceiling.”

He nods, hands on his hips. “All right, what were you thinking then?”

I glance around the space. “You didn’t bring your ladder with you, did you?”

He shakes his head. “Sorry, left it at home.”

Near the back of the unit, I spot one of those pails contractors use to mix paint or grout. That could work. I grab it and set it upside down on the floor.

“Not sure that’s the most stable of things you want to be climbing on.”

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