Page 47 of Willow and the Wraith

“Come see me tomorrow,” Conran said suddenly. “I have a proposition for you.”

A few days later, Wraith led Willow through the massive gates in the middle of a long stone wall, watching her face as she studied the overgrown gardens, the large stone house, and the assortment of outbuildings beyond.

“What do you think?” he asked, his voice carefully neutral.

“I think it must have been beautiful once. Why?”

“I was thinking that perhaps it would make a good home for us,” he said, unexpectedly anxious about her response.

They’d been staying on the ship for the past week. Conran had offered to let them stay at the palace, but he wasn’t ready to be surrounded by so many people. She didn’t seem to mind, but he’d promised her a house and he was determined to find her one.

Barthar had suggested this property. It had been empty for many years, but as soon as he’d stepped through the gates on his previous visit, it had felt… right. But it needed to be right for her as well.

She gave him a shocked look.

“But it’s enormous.”

“Which means there’s plenty of room for all of us. The fact that it’s enclosed will make it easy to set up a security system.” He might have retired but he had no intention of being lax with her safety. “Malacar can set up his workshop in one of the outbuildings and Sooni can have her pick of a dozen rooms.”

She laughed.

“That would definitely be an advantage. What’s it like inside?”

“Come and see.”

He led her across the weed-choked courtyard and into the spacious entry hall. Shutters still covered most of the windows but enough light came through to reveal the high ceilings and generous proportions. He could already envision it with the shutters open, filled with light and life.

“It’s not as bad as I expected,” she said thoughtfully as they explored. “All of the rooms will need to be cleaned and scrubbed, most of the walls will need to be painted, and the floors need to be polished, but those are only cosmetic changes.”

“It was built well. I thought this would be a good room for us.”

They’d reached the upper level and he led her to a large room at the end of the hall. He wrestled open the shutters that covered the tall glass doors and they walked out onto the spacious terrace. The house was located on a small hill to the north of the palace, elevated enough to give a wide view out over the city below.

“Oh, this is beautiful,” she murmured, joining him at the balustrade, then gave him a curious look. “You really want this house, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess we’ve found our new home.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I know it’s going to take a lot of work, but it was beautiful once and it will be again.” She hesitated, and this time she was the one studying his face. “But are you sure you won’t regret giving up your job and staying planet side? That you won’t get bored?

“I could never be bored with you,” he said sincerely. “I would be quite content to simply remain at your side, but Conran has suggested that I work with a small group of his warriors, teaching them about some of the tools and methods I used. They haven’t been exposed to that type of technology before, but he thinks they need to about them, especially since he may send some of them off-planet to continue the search.”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” she said enthusiastically.

“Do you think Sooni and Malacar will approve of the house?”

“I’m sure they will, but we should bring them here later so they can see it.”

She rose on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his and he pulled her close. Heat rushed through his body, the kiss growing hotter and wilder with every heartbeat. She wiggled impatiently against him, her softness tormenting his aching cock.

“Willow,” he groaned. “We should return to the ship.”

“Later. I think we should celebrate our new home first.”

His body immediately responded to the promise in her words. He pulled her close, breathing in her scent, marveling at how quickly she had become essential to his existence.

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