Page 59 of Nocturne

I’m quick to turn away from my open-mouthed gawking when the car jolts to a halt. I look back to see Eero parking my car right in front of the new house I bought a week ago. The day after I decided to adopt Cas.

“Goodnight, Nico,” I smile at the man as he unlocks my door.

Nico nods, and I raise a brow at him.

“Aversion to speak is contagious, I see,” I say as I climb down from my seat.

Zagan’s already there, holding the door open. I swear I see a tug of his lips, but it is dark; it could very much be a figment of my imagination.

Eero climbs out of my car and walks to me with my keys in his hand.

“Goodnight, Eero,”

He comes forward as if to hug me, but after a wary glance behind me, he clears his throat and sticks to waving his hand.

“Goodnight, love,”

He drops my keys onto my palm and is quick to walk towards the car Nico is waiting in.

I expect Zagan to follow him, but he surprises me as he walks me to my door. A thorough gentleman. Huh. This is a nice piece of information which wouldn’t help my tries to forgo the attraction towards him. Attraction towards my part-time stalker! I am in dire need of a good freaking slap.

I thrust my keys into the keyhole and push open the door. I turn to him, not having to try hard for the small smile that I’m sure plays on my lips.

“Thanks for today, Mr Devlin. You have no idea how much it helped.”

Despite the face of granite, I sense that something is troubling the man. His jaw ripples as he grits his teeth hard, and his hunter eyes look more intense than usual.

“Mr Devlin are-“

I gasp in surprise as he suddenly bends down, his face drawing closer to mine. He plants his hands on the door, caging me between the unyielding wood and his body. I can feel the heat of his body as his lips hover dangerously near mine.

"Just a taste," he murmurs, his voice low and filled with promise.

The words send a pulse of anticipation through me, making my heart beat faster as I meet his gaze.

His eyes lock onto mine, holding me with an intensity that sears through me. Then, his warm lips ghost over the corner of my mouth, the kiss so light, so delicate, yet it leaves my whole body aching. I can’t help but gasp, my eyes fluttering shut as I savour the softness of his touch.

The skin below his lips tingles, and I swear I can feel every inch of him even when he’s barely there. The burn from his large hand slowly coming to grip me tight around my waist sends sparks through my body, and suddenly, everything about my clothes feels suffocating. The urge to tear them off, to feel the heat of his skin against mine, is almost overwhelming.

I see the battle raging within him, raw and unfiltered. He doesn’t try to hide it from me. The anger, the disgust—they’re written all over his face, like I’m something he can’t stand.

In an instant, the euphoric feeling vanishes, replaced by a wave of dark, negative emotions I thought I had buried long ago. It’s as though the walls I’d built to protect myself are crumbling.

Before I can say or do anything, he pulls away, releasing me as if I’ve scorched him. Without a word, he turns and strides toward his car, never looking back. If he had, he would’ve seen how easily he unravelled everything I thought I’d overcome.

I blink back the sting of tears, the realisation sinking in like cold steel.

Nothing good ever comes from being drawn to a man like him.

The thought takes root in my mind, and I’m reminded of the burn from my past—the one caused by my ex. It would be foolish to make that mistake again.

Sixteen

Ara

Cas and I wandered through the city the next day, our goofy grins refusing to fade.

I’d taken him for an IQ test, and it both delighted and scared me a bit when the doctor said his intelligence couldn’t be measured. His score was beyond the limits of existing tests. It only confirmed what I already knew—Cas was exceptional. When I asked about enrolling him in a gifted program, the doctor surprised me by suggesting I ask Cas himself.

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