Page 30 of The Teddy Bear's Prize

It all began with Paolo’s speech. You would have to be blind to not see how much they both adore each other. I remember the night Erika came home after their first date. I was still up in bed reading and she leaned against the door frame, smiling at me with that dreamy “I just met the Prince” sort of look in her eye.

That’s how I wanted my story to go. The type of love you know exists becauseyoulove that hard, it’s just a matter of if, but when it will happen to you.

Turns out, when it does, your cynical and traumatized brain wants to push it away or question every single aspect of it. I’ve spent most of the night trying to reconcile the fact that Tobias belongs somewhere else. Why would hewant to give up the ability to walk through dreams and live here in the mortal realm? Hell, I barely want to stay here in the current state of things.

Tobias follows me into the house, his fingertips grazing the small of my back as he passes, I close the door behind him and flick the deadbolt. He’s already walking into the kitchen as I turn to throw my keys onto the little table next to the front door. A giggle escapes my lips at how comfortable he is, like this is his house, too.It could be.I think, immediately disappointed with the traitorous thought.

“What are you doing?” I ask. I can’t help but take in his broad shoulders or how he fills out those jeans. My thoughts flicker to how he looked earlier on his knees, helping me straighten out my tights.

Tobias glances over his shoulder, his brows creasing, “I was going to make tea.”

“It’s,” I fish my phone out before putting my purse away, “nearly midnight.”

He turns to me, “I can make decaf. I just wanted to spend time with you.”

‘I love you’ sticks in my chest, but I blink and push it down.

“Okay, I’m going to go change out of these clothes,” I gesture to my dress, “and get cleaned up.”

Tobias pops back into the living room, leaning against the door frame, “I could help.”

I think back to that first time in the shower and shake my head, “No, I think I can manage.”

He nods, looking crestfallen, but I need to get my wits about me right now. There is no way I am in love with Tobias, not after a week and not when I’m not sure he feels the same.

I walk to the bathroom and wash off my makeup, then climb intothe shower.

All the while, I continue to wrestle with my feelings for Tobias and what I should do. I try to explain it away, to focus on the logic of the situation while going through every piece of dating advice that I have ingested.

The difference is, Tobias isn’t human, he’s a demon. None of the normal “rules” apply. He’s in my life through magical intervention. That’s it. I have been so wrapped up in everything that I forgot.

The world is different from what I thought, true magic exists. There is proof of it standing in my kitchen making me herbal tea right this moment.

If there was any moment to take a leap of faith, it would be this one.

I towel dry my hair, run a brush through it, then put on my ‘happy sushi’ pajama pants and a black tank. My heart is thundering in my chest as I walk out into the hall. The kitchen light is off and there’s a warm light coming from the living room.

Tobias is leaning over the coffee table, striking a match and lighting one of the white candles from my pantry. He’s already lit nearly a dozen other ones spaced out on the end tables, using the set of tiny glass zodiac candle holders that Erika got me for my birthday.

“You wouldn’t be planning on sacrificing me tonight, would ya?” I ask with a laugh, more than half joking. To anyone else, the gesture would feel ominous, but knowing Tobias, it’s...romantic.

He gives me a bright smile, “Not unless you’re offering.” He straightens, looking around at the candles, “I wanted this moment to look more like my dreams.”

“Your dreams?”

“This is what I see when you visit them. You are the light in the darkness.” He closes the distance between us, I crane my neck to look at him, “I recognized it the momentI saw you, I thought you were a witch, but still I whispered my prayer to The Old Gods that you could find and release me.”

“You thought I was a witch?”

Tobias frowns, tucking my hair behind my ear, his fingertips grazing my jaw as he searches my face, “My little doe, I am telling you that you are the only thing I dream about.”

“How? You can dreamwalk. You have seen things I could barely imagine.” I shake my head, “I dream about books and movies.”

He gives me a wicked smile, “You also dream about being chased and pinned down while I fu?—”

I place my hand over his mouth, “Tobias.”

He tilts his head, wrapping his fingers around my wrist and placing a kiss on my palm, “I have only lived within the bounds of others, while these days with you have been my own. For the first time in my life, I have felt my own emotions and had my own dreams to play within.” He flattens my hand over his chest. “I want to stay here with you. If you would allow me.”

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