Page 64 of Soul Food

“You’re fine as you are.” He surprised me. “That’s why the world loves you.”

“Thanks.” I pulled my phone out and hesitated. “Let’s take a picture.”

“What?” He frowned, but I pulled him close and took it, anyway. “I thought celebrities didn’t like their pictures taken?”

“Shh,” I hissed, afraid someone might hear him walking by. “This is different. I want a picture of us. The world already thinks we’re chummy, anyway.” I snapped a few photos of us and in every single one he never smiled. “You want me to take one with your phone?” I asked softly.

My heart drummed to life when he actually pulled out his phone and handed it to me. I hadn’t meant to see his contacts when I opened the screen, but it popped up when I touched the screen. I saw that I was his only contact besides the vice-president and his secretary, Diane. How odd. But I tapped on the camera icon. When he least expected it, I leaned in and kissed his cheek as the phone snapped the picture.

I started laughing as he looked down at me. “What?” I offered. “You got a problem?”

He slipped his phone back in his pocket. “You’re happy,” he stated.

My eyes brightened. “Am I?”

His lips cracked with the hint of a smile. Oh, the travesty he must go through every time he tried to hold one in. “You are.” His eyes crinkled, forehead creased, the battle was over as he let his mouth widen, revealing perfect, straight white teeth. Absolutely devastating. He tore my heart all to pieces and didn’t even know how easily he could do it. Make me wish I could keep him,us, just like this.

“Is that SoulGoddess?” I stiffened as I heard someone’s voice on my right. I turned around slightly and saw that people were finally starting to notice me.

“I think it’s time to go,” Amit whispered.

___________

AMIT

I had no intention of sleeping on the ride home, but when Ruth scooted to the middle seat and fell asleep against my shoulder, the world went silent until the driver pulled into her driveway. I lifted my head and fought a yawn. I was exhausted and nothing would soothe me until I could slide into my reaping form and regroup. A human body required so much. As long as I remained in this form, I was held captive to the same issues—needing food and sleep.

I stared at her rich black skin and thick lashes as she slept against me. I didn’t want to wake her, she looked at peace, but we were at her house. I sat there and watched her way longer than I should have before I opened the door, stepped out, and bent back down to get her. She started to wake as I scooped her up in my arms. Her sleepy, dark eyes blinked up at me before she dropped her head against my chest and wrapped her arms around my neck. Once we were at her door, she started calling off numbers, unaware I already knew everything about her, including passcodes to her home.

Reality hit me, and I stopped mid-step. She’d hate me if she knew the truth.

“Who knew having fun could be so exhausting?” she mumbled.

I looked down at the pesky soul in my arms. My world fell away—it fucking crumbled—just like it always did since finding her. I squeezed her tighter.

I carried her to bed and placed her down on the silky covers. She latched onto my hand, and I fought for restraint.

“Stay,” she whispered.

My chest filled with something I didn’t know—expanding and heightening everything I already felt toward her—it was almost painful, so yearning and sweet. Pulling my hand away, I said, “Sleep. You’re exhausted.”

“I’m not anymore.” She sat up.

“I am,” I lied because Ruth was a splinter in my control. Indulging myself would be too easy after knowing the taste of her. It always was. She would be my undoing if I weren’t careful. As much as I looked and watched after what was mine, I couldn’t escape from this even if I wanted to. I was bound and determined to eat this beautiful soul in front of me.

She tossed her cap off her head and pulled off her shirt, then started unzipping her jeans. “I need to shower.” The room was dim, but I could see her beautiful expression staring up at me. “Want to join me?”

“Goodnight, Ruth,” I told her, walking toward the door.

“You’re so stubborn sometimes,” she grumbled, but it wasn’t an angry grumble. More like, one of affection.

“You ask too much from me,” I gritted out before exiting the room.

Her gaze caught mine. “I think that’s exactly what you want me to do.”

_______

When I got back to the house that had been my home for the last decade, Lars waited for me with his arms crossed. “What?” I muttered as I shifted into my reaping form. I kept my cell phone when I did.

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