Page 60 of Wickedly Yours

Looking towards the window, I watched the sun’s reddish rays seeping through the glass windowpane as my fingers fiddled with my ring. “Maybe.”

Despite his promises that first night—that he wantedme,when he’d given me the choice between returning home and being with him… we hadn’t shared a bed. I missed waking up wrapped around his body in my apartment, feeling his warmth beside me at night.

If he was giving me space, I didn’t want it.

There were so many things I wanted to tell him. For starters, that I’d started having visions again—flashes of what could be. Or maybe it was what had come before. I could never really tell what my premonitions meant.

Last night wasnew. A little girl with pale hair and violet eyes was holding hands with a dark-haired boy who looked around the same age. He had the same golden eyes I’d always seen.

Who was he? Who werethey?

Those two little ones had taken my hands last night, guiding me towards something I couldn’t see.

Some seer I was.I snorted at the thought, blowing a few strands of my light blonde hair off my face.

Even with everything we had shared in Pleasant Grove, the uncomplicated relationship that had developed between us in the safety of my apartment seemed to fade from my grasp. What had changed?

Teach him that it’s okay to love, will you? He needs that—more than anything else.Lilith’s words echoed through my brain.

But why was he holding back? He’d told me he didn’t need me to love him. Assured me he needed me. It had seemed so sincere, so genuine. Maybe something had changed. I didn’t know.

“All done,” Angelique said, loosening the dress from my body and interrupting my train of thought.

I gave a small smile, trying to brush off my thoughts. “Thank you.”

I’d chosen to stay. Knowing everything, knowing that he’d come to Pleasant Grove to find me, that he’d lied and slept with me under false pretenses—I still couldn’t bear to part with him.

But I couldn’t promise him my heart.

Could I?

A few hours later, after I’d read another book that I’d smuggled out of the library while curled up on my chaise with Selene, I finally gave up on waiting for him.

I was alone in a place full of strangers—demons that I knew hardly anything about. Zain didn’t count since I wasn’tsure I could base my thoughts about their species on just one man. Especially one that had had his wicked way with me.

My research had helped, but I wanted more. I needed aconnection. That was one of my favorite parts about working in the bakery. Seeing the townsfolk every day, watching their faces light up. Part of me wondered if I’d made the wrong decision. Especially now.

If Zain wouldn’t come to me, that was okay. I could go to him. We were supposed to be getting married, after all.

Luckily, this past week of exploring had given me plenty of opportunities to learn my way around the palace.

My knuckles rapped on the open door of Zain’s study. “Hi,” I murmured, leaning my head against the door frame.

He was sitting at his desk, buried under a mountain of papers. “Luna.” His eyes softened as he took in my presence.

I gave my ever-present bodyguard—Talon, currently—a nod of dismissal, the door shutting behind me.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” It was a practiced effort not to blush at his compliment—because he always readily gave them to me. The blush pink gown was long and silky, and my hair was in a braided crown updo, showing off the plunging back.

I’d discovered rather quickly that most of the outfits in my closet showed off ample amounts of skin, but they were works of art, too. Who was I to turn down such stunning creations? It felt like a shame not to wear them, to let them sit in the closet. So. Here I was. Dressed like the royalty I was about to be in a matter of days.

“You’ve been busy,” I observed, letting my fingers trace over the wooden edge of the desk as I wandered over to him.

He sighed. “I’m sorry. My attentions have been focused elsewhere, and I… just wanted to make sure you had some space to get used to all of this.”

“I don’t need space,” I murmured. “I just need you.”

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