Page 31 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

I finally drew back, wide-eyed and panting. This thing between us was far more than a bond; the chemistry between us was off the charts.

‘Thank you for the bag of goodies,’ I managed. ‘They were really appreciated. Nour was frying some eggs when I left,’ I added inanely.

‘You’re welcome. I had to go back to yours anyway. Eva started whining like crazy at about ten o’clock, and I realised she didn’t have her bunny. I was going to call Yanni to let me in, but Eva hopped out of the open window of the car and a minute later came back with the bunny in her mouth. I have no idea how she got in. You might want to check your security.’

I snorted. ‘She has her ways. Maybe I should get you a key cut,’ I mused aloud, only to realise how forward that comment sounded. ‘Just in case you ever need to get something from the house again, not so you can stay there. Unless youwantto stay there? Which I’m totally not against, apart from Maddie being there, and I haven’t really done anything to my room since I was a kid and maybe—’

‘You know,’ he said, sounding warm and amused, ‘you’re very cute when you're babbling.’ He cut short my rambling with another bone-melting kiss.

Reluctantly, but by mutual agreement, we finally separated before clothing was removed. Much as I wanted that, I had a meeting with Ernie.

‘So, what are you doing today?’ Fraser asked.

‘I’m going to speak to Ernie then do some more research on the goblin’s missing items.’

‘I’m glad you’re building a relationship with Ernie. He strikes me as someone who has been very lonely.’

And didn’t that hit me? He was right – as usual. ‘Me too,’ I admitted. ‘But I’m actually visiting him for Maddie. Much as she’s trying to hide it, she’s struggling – and last night she thought she saw the Eternal Flame in the fireplace.’

‘What?’

‘Yeah. She said there was a flicker in the fireplace.’

‘Was there?’

I shrugged. ‘Honestly? I don’t know. She was so convinced that I believed her in the moment, but we sat there for hours and saw nothing, not even a spark. I stayed up all night but the fireplace was dead. I need to speak with Ernie and ask him about Maddie getting addicted to the Eternal Flame.’

Fraser smiled softly. ‘You’re a good friend. She’s lucky to have you.’

‘I was a very, very shit friend for a whole decade and I have a lot of making up to do, but I’m trying my hardest.’

This time when Fraser kissed me it was far more tender than before, and somehow that only made me want him more.

‘If you’ve stayed up all night,’ he began, ‘do you want a coffee?’

‘So, so much,’ I confessed.

Laughing, he tugged me into his kitchen where he made me a strong coffee doctored with two sugars and a lot of milk, exactly the way I liked it. The bond was freaky: there were some things about me he seemed to know instinctively. I wished it were a little less one-sided; it would be nice to know how he took his coffee. I realised there was an easy solution to that. ‘How do you have your coffee?’ I asked.

‘Just a dash of milk.’ He demonstrated as he made one for himself.

‘No sugar?’

A smile played around his lips. ‘I’m sweet enough already.’

I snorted.

His smile widened. ‘I’d forgotten that my mum used to say that.’

We sipped our drinks in companionable silence and the caffeine did its thing, resurrecting me like a necromancer’s plaything. I looked around the kitchen. There were several plants on the windowsill and a smile tugged at my lips. ‘So which one is George Clooney?’

He didn’t bat an eyelid. ‘This one.’ He pointed to a money tree.

I laughed. ‘Naturally. And Keanu Reeves?’

He pointed to the cactus.

‘Makes sense,’I agreed. ‘That poor guy has survived in harsh conditions. Steve Zahn?’ I asked. He pointed to a spider plant. ‘I’m not following the logic with that one,’ I confessed.

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