Page 184 of Bliss & Her Idols

My nose wrinkles at the scent of dust. I struggle to hold back a sneeze.

I blink at the gray sheets.

I’m lying in Torin’s small bedroom again.

Bright sunlight shines through the window over the battered wardrobe and ceiling, which is decorated with stars.

How long have I been sleeping?

Who carried me here?

I squirm to the side and find that Cricket’s arm and leg are thrown over me possessively.

The blankets are pulled up to our chins.

Cricket is snoring, looking exhausted but the happiest I’ve seen him, as if his demons have been chased away.

I study his face, kissing over the freckles on his nose gently enough not to wake him.

He must have stayed awake the entire heat to look after Torin and me.

Let him catch up on his rest now.

I can’t resist tracing over Cricket’s bond bite. He shifts in his sleep with a sigh.

I raise my hand to my own neck. I shiver in pleasure as I trace over the bite, which has already healed to the lightest scar.

It’s a reminder that I belong to the Idol pack.

Behind me, I can hear the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar.

I twist to see Torin sitting on the floor with his back resting against the wall. His scratched guitar is lovingly propped on his knees like an old friend. He’s strumming out chords with a look of intense concentration.

I haven’t seen him like this.

It’s fascinating.

A line runs between his brows of deep thought. Otherwise, his expression is open and relaxed.

He’s not only happy but also, fulfilled.

This is what Torin is meant to be doing, as much as Jin comes alive when he’s performing on a stage.

Torin’s hair falls over his face, as he plays.

He’s dressed in a simple white shirt with no jacket. The sleeves are rolled back to reveal his strong forearms. His trousers are black, thin, and too short.

His feet are bare.

Yet he’s never looked so handsome.

“I know that I’m pretty,” Torin says without looking up, “but why don’t you record me on your phone? Then you can stare at me in that stalker-like way whenever you want?”

I huff. “How do you know that I wasn’t thinking about where to stuff that guitar because you’ve woken me up with your playing?”

Torin misses a note but still doesn’t look up. “I can feel your love through the bond.”

Startled, I concentrate.

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