Page 46 of Raising the Sun

“She likes you,” he pointed out, unhelpfully, wiping at the wet tracks on his cheeks.

I hummed. “Excellent judge of character, I suppose.”

Isaac snorted, but instead of rescuing me, he rose from the sofa. “Guess I’ll go start dinner, and leave you two to get better acquainted.” He tapped my shoulder as he passed, smiling impishly, his lips still swollen and red from our kiss. “Then she might leave you alone.”

“But…”

He leaned down, kissing me quiet. “I can fuck you later, or whatever your plans were, when we don’t have company.”

Once he’d disappeared into the kitchen, I stared down at the beast in my lap, already sound asleep—presumably exhausted from its meddling. Normally, I’d respect a creature for its penchant for mischief, but when they weremydesires being denied, it wasn’t as entertaining.

If this was what devotion entailed, some reconsideration may be in order.

Chapter eleven

ISAAC

The Flower Festival wasin full swing. The vendors were selling their wares, the shows were in action, and the crowds had descended. For a flora-loving introvert like me, it was paradise and purgatory, all in one.

Yesterday, Ash and I had spent the day leisurely scouring the showgrounds, browsing the exhibits and stalls—from engraved gardening tools to handmade pots. We’d stuffed our faces with all the delicious food and watched various displays and expert talks.

We’d had fun, we’d laughed a lot, and his company was appreciated, but the energy had shifted today. An even greater flood of spectators and contestants bustled around, waiting for the main event.

It’s finally here…

As we went through the motions of setting up my workbench, I glanced around the busy marquee at the other participants, at the heaps of talent in this space alone, andnervousness sizzled under my skin. There was excitement there, too. Of course there was. But being in here, in full view, confined to my corner by an intense current of sounds and smells, had my flight reflexes pulsing. I tried to stay positive, to boldly wear the confidence I’d newly rediscovered, but I hadn’t quite anticipated just how overwhelming and fuckingscaryall of this would be.

I was bricking it.

“You’re tense,” Ash said as he appeared behind me, seemingly out of nowhere, and although I was fully used to his antics by now, I still flinched.

“I hate how you do that.”

“Do what, petal?”

“Sneak up on me, then read me like a picture book.”

He hummed, and that signature smirk of his spread across his face. “You are as transparent as a dragonfly wing, my dear. Though, I do wish I could read thoughts. It would have made the last few centuries that much more eventful. Can you imagine how entertaining it would be to so effortlessly exploit a being’s greatest fears? What an intoxicating thought.”

Not the word I’d have used.

“You’re kinda deranged.”

“It’s pronounceddemon, petal.” He plucked a rose from its bucket, twisting the stem between his long fingers, but instead of chiding him for messing with the inventory, I tracked the movement, knowing exactly how good that strumming motion felt on my—

“You’re staring.”

My gaze darted up to meet his smug one, and I scoffed, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much he affected me. “You’re dicking about; course I’m staring.” I turned away, busying myself with stacking bricks of floral foam, or whatever else demanded none of my attention. “Just behave yourself.”

“What will you do if I don’t?” The flower he’d been toying with swept across my nape, the tickle of velvet petals causing goosebumps to prickle in their wake. “I think you should punish me, sweetling. I’ll even show you how.”

An undignified snort erupted from my throat, and I reached back to shove his face away. His human tongue flicked out to playfully lave at my thumb before I could pull it away.

“Stop being a pest,” I hissed half-heartedly. “I need to focus.”

“You need an orgasm,” he said, thankfully lowering his voice. “There was a quiet little nook over by the Marigold Garden. If you’re silent, we won’t be discovered, and you know I can be quick.”

“You’re impossible.” I huffed, though the idea was tempting. Under any other circumstances, I’d have taken him up on the offer without hesitation, but right now, I couldn’t afford any distractions.

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