Page 97 of Ulune's Daughter

I blink rapidly, willing away the stinging of my eyes. The guys in my life have been slow to apologize. When they did at all. For Lawson to recognize that he hurt me, and apologize,andoffer amends? It shoots him straight to the top of mylock this dick downlist. And I haven’t evenhadhis dick yet.

“How?” I ask, pushing a little teasing into my tone to lighten the moment.

He lifts his hand from my chest, slides it into his tuxedo-jacket pocket, and pulls out a pink, flattish crystal. “I’ll admit I brought this for you and would have given it to you anyway, but I was hoping to bribe a few kisses out of you with it.”

I take the crystal and turn it over between my fingers. “Is it a billion-dollar crystal?” When he purses his temptingly full lips at me, I tease, “Is it a million-dollar crystal?”

“It’s not a Meerschaum Pipe,” he says.

He wins so many points for knowing the movie.

His smile turns sly. “But it is a key.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “A key to what? Your heart?”

“You already hold the key to my heart,” he says, his sage-green eyes gleaming. “This is a key to something you might consider more valuable. It’s the key to a library. A library no human and very few fae have ever seen.”

“A Cait library?” I ask breathlessly because that really would be a prize.

“Indeed. But even a secret Cait library is surely not enough to win your forgiveness. So, I’ve hidden something within it. The crystal is the first clue as well as the key and guide through the Fae Ways to the library.”

I go up on my toes and plant a hard kiss on those tempting lips.

His arm bands around me and he holds me as he deepens the kiss. When he lets me drop back to my heels, he’s grinning.

“Am I forgiven?”

“You’re well on the way,” I concede.

“If I meet you at the library and reward you with kisses for every clue you solve, will I be fully forgiven?”

Kisses and a secret library? He’s a gift from the Mother.

“Possibly.”

“Mmm.” He runs a finger down my cheek. “I’ll bring wine. Kisses and a secret library require wine.”

“I require you,” I say, leaning into him. “Come home with me tonight?”

“I can’t say no to you, Kellan.” He rubs his thumb over my lower lip. “But will you regret it tomorrow that you haven’t settled things with your side piece before joining with me?”

I burst out laughing. “Side piece?”

He grins. “Sleep in my arms tonight. I’ll ask nothing of you beyond a goodnight kiss. Talk to him afterwards without regret.”

“Thank you,” I say earnestly. “Thank you for coming tonight. Thank you for saying you’re sorry. Thank you for this lovely gift.” I hold up the crystal. “Thank you for being level-headed when I’m losing my mind. Thank you, Lawson.”

He strokes under my chin and tips my head up for a chaste kiss. “You’re welcome. Always. I am Cait. I’ll require your forgiveness more than most, I suspect. I just ask that you always remember, whatever I’ve done, however wrong I’ve stepped, I’ve never done it to hurt you, Kellan. I only want your happiness.”

My throat tightens and my eyes prickle. I give him another kiss before I start crying at my own event.

Lawson licks my taste off his lips and smiles before leading me back into the center of the exhibit so I can continue schmoozing the V.I.P.s.

Chapter31

Egg-White Flag

RHODES

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