Page 35 of Above Cursed Winds

“You fixed it!”

Zia’s face lit up, the stunning expression brightening her sparkling violet eyes. Not for the first time, he caught himself staring at her lips.

What would it be like to kiss her? Based on their interactions so far, she’d probably resist, bat him away or stab him in the gut. But in his fantasy, those cherry-red lips returned the affection.

He had no idea whether she felt the same connection that’d been drumming against his heart. Increasingly, he felt as though he belonged here, in their lives. But he’d been burned by that feeling before, and now he had only loneliness to show for it.

“Fates, you’re absolutely amazing!” Her excited laugh was like the finest champagne, tickling his ears. “I could kiss you!”

He froze.

His hungry eyes strayed once again towards plump lips, skin flushing with a barely concealed desire. Heat. Want. Passion. Her breath gently brushed against his skin in the close confines of Myko’s bathroom.

And then she stepped forward to put her lips on his.

Chapter Seventeen

Passionate and demanding, Zia’s mouth crushed against his, reading his body language and taking the leap she’d wanted to since he’d waltzed into her home. Jeremiah responded eagerly, gripping the back of her neck possessively and bringing her closer.

Greedy for more, her fingers splayed across the expanse of his chest, against the soft material of his T-shirt and working over the hard muscle. The Elemental growled into their kiss, hungry for more and demanding she give it.

It’d been so long since she’d felt genuine interest from someone. Jeremiah had stepped into that role so naturally, it felt meant to be. Connected like this, Zia’s mind barely functioned, lost to the bliss she’d dived into without looking for a safety net.

Only the sound of Myko’s rapidly ascending footsteps yanked her back to sanity.

Jerking away, she caught sight of Jeremiah’s bewildered stare. His summer-blue eyes searched hers for a reason—or for regret. She gave a single shake of her head, her voice not yet functioning, just as Myko rounded the corner.

“Hey Boo!”

The wavering in her tone was barely perceptible, and she hoped the running water would cover the pounding drum of her heart and explain the flush of her cheeks.

Thankfully, Myko didn’t notice.

“You fixed it!”

A childlike laugh erupted from her son as he rapidly turned the water on and off. He blinked those beautiful indigo eyes up at Jeremiah.

“You’re my best friend, Jeremiah!”

When her eight-year-old wrapped his arms around the Elemental, Zia’s heart was torn. On one hand, Jeremiah had earned her son’s affection, eagerly spending time with him without cringing every time Myko’s gift slipped and indulging all the childish enthusiasm of a lonely soul.

On the other, Jeremiah was a true unknown, and Zia was aware he’d leave someday soon. Ultimately, once he’d done what he came here to do, every moment spent here would take a conscious choice on his part.

“You’re my best friend, too, little man.”

Unbidden, tears fell from her eyes, twisting her soul in knots as the Elemental returned Myko’s gruff hug and flipped the water off behind him with a gust of air.

“Come on!” Myko’s excited voice betrayed his innermost thoughts. “We gotta finish up our tournament!”

“Okay, but let me finish up here first. I’ll be down in a minute and then you can continue beating the snot out of me, King of the Kart.”

Hooting and leaping into the air, Myko raced out of the bathroom and out of his room, his steps beating down the stairs before Jeremiah turned back to face her.

As those summer blues connected with hers, she faltered in her decision to resist him and everything he offered. The intensity of his stare unnerved her, the heat that lingered from the prior passion shadowing his gaze. Below his desire, however, there was a question meant for her.

It was as though he was waiting for something inevitable, like someone who’d been burned and couldn’t fathom anything else but the fire.

“Jeremiah,” she began, but her voice trailed off, unable to speak the rest.

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