Page 37 of In Love With the Leshy

“Thanks.” I force a smile.

“Sorry. I can’t believe he’s being such a jerk!” I’m ready to go there and give him a piece . . .”

A throat clears, causing Masha and I both to start. I clutch my hand over my pounding heart. When I see Em with Ana in his arms, it picks up speed. She went with Safra to pick more flowers while Fang stayed, sitting at attention.

With a low growl, Fang bares his teeth at Em. Em, who looks like he did the day he rescued me from the bear. I hate that a simple look at him gets me flustered.

“It’s okay boy, he’s not going to hurt us. You know that.” I pat Fang’s head.

“Nice to see where his loyalty lies.”

“Guess he takes after his master.” My lips curl into a fake smile.

“I deserve that,” Em says, sitting cross-legged in the grass next to me. “But I never switched loyalties. I made sure that Nikolai didn’t hurt Masha or Ana.” His voice, along with his eyes, drops. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do the same for you.”

“Em, look at me.” There’s a slight shake of his head. “Seriously,” I say, getting a whiff of his clean, outdoorsy scent. Slowly, his eyes raise to meet mine. “You did make sure he didn’t hurt me. You stopped him in time.” He looks away again. “I mean it, Em. He didn’t rape me. Another second, and he would have, but you stopped him.”

Em’s hand reaches around the back of my neck, stroking his thumb back and forth against my skin. “I don’t know how you can forgive me. It took too long to get to you. It felt like a lifetime.”

“But you did. That’s what’s important.”

He withdraws his hand. I feel him pull away emotionally again, too. At least he’s giving me a glimpse into his feelings. If it’s guilt that has him acting like an ass, I can forgive him easily.

“Emerald Hickory,” my belly flips and flops as his full name comes off my lips. “What is wrong?”

He turns his face in the direction opposite me. Since he initiated the touching, I follow his lead and, with my hand on his cheek, turn his head so that he’s facing me again.

“The look on your face. The terror in your eyes when you saw me. It gutted me. Turned me on the inside into the ugly monster I looked like.”

My heart aches. “You are not an ugly monster. Not inside or out.”

“I know what I looked like.”

“Looked. Past tense.”

He stays silent for a few beats, then takes my hand in his fully human-like hand, “That’s a part of me. Of who and what I am. That’s the reason some people believe Leshies are demonic. No matter what I do, I can’t cut it off or get rid of it. There are times I might look like that again. Particularly when I’m injured and weak.”

“It doesn’t change who you are in here.” My free hand reaches up and rests over the strong pounding of his heart.

“It does if you can’t stand to be near me during those times.”

“I was surprised. I didn’t expect it, so yes, I was freaked out. Did you forget, I came looking for you–”

“Against orders!”

I smile, a sincere smile. “You’ll see in time, I’m not good at taking orders.”

“Are you really okay with what I am?”

I hold his face between the palms of my hands and stare into his jeweled eyes. “Emerald Hickory, not only am I okay with what you are, I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“Come here,” He gathers me on his lap and brushes his lips over mine with a featherlight touch. “I love you, too.” I look to my right and then to my left. Realizing I don’t want to put on a show for my hostess and her daughter, he explains. “When I sat beside you, Masha took Ana. They are back at the cottage.”

“So it’s just us?” My motor revs.

“It’s just us.” He confirms, dipping his head to my lips again. This time, his tongue seeks entrance into my mouth. I comply easily as he deepens the kiss, flaring the passion between us. One hand runs up my spine, while his other hand kneads my breast over the material of one of the dresses Masha made for me.

I turn on his lap and straddle him.

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