Page 65 of Lost Girl

"Tendays too long,” she corrects, making it a point to stress the timeframe. “That’s almost two weeks. I promise I’m fine, Tavi. No pain or anything.”

"Fresh air's good for her, Tav," Cortez chimes, whipping my head in his direction.Calm the fuck down, dude,I can all but hear in his pointed stare.

"Thank you.” Wendy beams at him, offering a dainty little curtsy. "Cortez, right?"

"Yes ma'am." He grins. “The one and only.”

"Oh, God, no,” she visibly cringes, “please don't call me ma’am. Wendy is fine.”

Cortez and the boys all chuckle in unison. “Wendy it is then,” he agrees.

“Sooo are you going to show me around or..." That’s directed at me as those inquisitive blues bore into the side of my face, prompting me to tip my head toward the house.

"Come on." I hold my hand out for her, which she takes without hesitance, lacing our fingers together.

Snickers resound as I lead her up the steps and into the house, but are soon replaced with more hammering and drilling at my lack of a reaction.

We stop just beyond the threshold, what will soon be considered the foyer. "That's all she wrote, for now anyway.” I motion around the blank slate.

The structure is complete, including all of the windows and the interior walls, but the roof is only halfway done. Once that’s complete, installations can begin.

"It's so open yet surprisingly cozy,” she muses, taking it all in. “No fireplace though?"

"There will be, right over there. Here, let me show you.” I guide her further in, positioning her right in the middle of the room. “This will be the common area. The fireplace will go up against this wall. Behind us is the kitchen and on the opposite side I want to add some built-in shelves and put in a piano for my sister."

Wendy spins around in a flash. "She plays?" The astonished lilt in her voice doesn’t go unnoticed, neither does the bewilderment coloring her expression.

"She does,” I nod, “and she's really good. I used to love listening to her practice when we were younger."

"Well, maybe I'll play a tune or two for you, too.” She tosses in a little wink as she shuffles to the window overlooking the porch.

Now it’s me who’s astounded, rushing up behind her. "Wait, you play?"

A small hum vibrates within her throat. "All my life."

Without realizing it, she just added another point to the list of things that fascinate me about her. “There's a piano in the Town Square. If I take you, will you play for me?"

Wendy peers at me from over her shoulder, lips puckering in amusement. "I thought you said I needed to rest?"

"I thought you said you were tired of staring at the wall?"

She considers this for a beat, then pivots to face me, crossing her arms. "What do I get if I play for you?"

"I don't know.” I hitch a shoulder. “State your terms and I'll see what I can do."

"That beach, the one we walked the night you broke me out? Is that the only beach here?"

"It's not. The one off the edge of the Woodlands is lush."

"Take me there,” she demands. “That's what I want."

And you’re what I want.

Taking a step toward her, I wind my arms around her and slide my palms to the small of her back, dropping my lips beside her ear. "Better start refreshing your memory on all those notes, little wolf, 'cause I'm taking you to the beach tonight,after you play for me."

“Oh my God...That sounds so dirty," she breathes.

I don't think she meant to say as much, it simply came to be, evoking a hushed laugh through my nose as I reel her in closer.

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