Page 21 of Love Beyond Wanting
“No, lass.’Tis only…” He paused and pointed toward the lamp on the nightstand.“I could see the light from beneath the door and I wondered if ye were still awake.I doona think I can sleep.If ye canna as well, I thought we could keep each other company.”
He shrugged inside the plush robe he was wrapped in as if he was slightly self-conscious that I would turn him away.
I smiled.“Sure.Come on in.You can tell me all about what my sister’s been up to since she arrived there.I’ve haven’t been able to talk to her nearly as much as I would like to.”
His shoulders relaxed as he stepped into the room.Mr.Crinkles stood up on the bed and watched him carefully.Maddock saw him right away, and when his first reaction was to smile at the sight of my beloved companion, I immediately liked him a little bit more.
“Is the creature a he or a she, lass?”
I moved to the bed to pick him up before carrying him over to Maddock so they could meet one another.
“A he.Maddock, meet Mr.Crinkles.”I looked down at Crink.“Mr.Crinkles, meet Maddock.”
Hesitantly, Maddock reached for him, and I handed him over.If Mr.Crinkles didn’t like him, he’d let it be known quickly.Luckily, Maddock was covered in terry cloth from his neck down to the mid-length of his calf so Mr.Crinkles couldn’t do too much damage if he decided to swat at him.
Crink melted into Maddock’s arms and began to purr much like he’d done with Morna.
“Did you spell him or something?He had the same reaction with the witch, Morna.”
Maddock smiled and rubbed the top of Mr.Crinkles’ head.“No, lass, I wouldna dare, but I’m not surprised that he’s taken to me.All animals are sensitive to magic, cats more so than many.He can sense it, and in some way feels connected to it.”
It didn’t surprise me to hear it.Mr.Crinkles had always seemed a little magical to me.He had, after all, saved my life that night so many months ago.
Content that my cat wasn’t going to scratch Maddock’s eyes out, I looked around the room for a place for us to settle in.It was a very large room, but aside from the bed, there was only one other place to sit—a large chair in the far corner of the room.It looked like it weighed about eight hundred pounds.
“Why don’t you bring him back over to the bed?We can sit there and visit.”
He raised his brows in surprise.“Ye are inviting me to yer bed, lass?”
I chuckled nervously—God how I wanted to—as I turned my back toward him and walked over to the bed.I crawled up onto the mattress, propped up the pillows against the headboard and sat down cross-legged on top of the covers.
“I’m inviting you to siton topof my bed.”
He winked at me and set Mr.Crinkles down on the bed.“I jest, lass.Can I ask ye something?”
I shrugged.“Of course, but only if you sit down.”
He hesitated then sat down on the edge and leaned over to lay across the bed and rested his face into the palm of his hand.
“If I sit as ye are, ye might see enough of me to give ye nightmares.”
I laughed and swallowed the words that first came to my mind:Or wet dreams.
“Okay, what’s your question?”
“Why would ye want to leave here?Why would anyone want to leave this time?Ye have pleasures and wonders here I couldna dream of, and all I’ve truly seen is the shower.”
“When your need for a fresh start outweighs your need for convenience, it’s an easy decision to make.”
The honest confession slipped out before I could stop it, and I immediately tensed after spilling the words.They were the truth, but they made it clear I wasn’t happy here, and I never liked anyone to know that I wasn’t truly happy.
I could tell by Maddock’s guarded gaze that he’d noticed my face shift.Whether it was out of politeness or disinterest, he didn’t press me further, and for that, I was grateful.
“Now, let me ask you a question.Is he good enough for my sister?Laurel called me yesterday to tell me she and Raudrich were engaged.”
His brows pinched together in confusion.“Shecalledye?”
“It doesn’t matter.Is he?”
