Page 97 of Until the End of Ever
“Oh. Cupcakes. I said I’d leave them on his altar.”
I glared. “You’re giving himmycupcakes?”
She laughed. “Or I could always make an extra batch.”
Her bath ready, I lowered her into the water, still dressed. Her comfort took priority over white silk. I could imagine moving her limbs to remove the gown would cause some pain.
“Lucian!” she chastised. “That dress must be worth?—”
“Far, far less than your wellbeing,” I completed for her. “Which reminds me; I need to cook something for you, lest I finally meet that hangry goddess I’ve heard about.”
“Unlikely you ever would, given how you spoil me.” She beamed at me, lowering herself into the depth of the tub with a moan that made me want to peel my clothes off and join her.
Food first.
“Get used to it.”
41
KLEOS
No one seemed to have any intention of leaving the manor tonight and I was grateful for it, blushing every time I so much as glanced at Lucian—which happened a lot.
He’d been ready to die for me, without question or hesitation, knowing that losing his life during our mind journey would have killed him in the real world. And then I had to go and profess my undying love for a guy I’d technically dated for a week. What could I even say to him after that? Please don’t freak out?
Except he wasn’t freaking out at all. Ever the accommodating host, Lucian threw together the most delicious lasagna imaginable while I was regaining use of my limbs in the bath, using the leftovers from Friday’s ragù. The six of us ate enough for twenty, all before the amused eyes of the patriarch, who was never one to miss a meal. And this time, we certainly didn’t skip the wine.
It must have been one or two in the morning when Gideon slurred, “I suppose we should get going…” halfheartedly.
Lucian rolled his eyes. “Right. Like I’d let a bunch of drunken, exhausted, slightly high morons traipse all over townat the witching hour. There are spare rooms aplenty. You’re staying.”
“I’ll show you to the best one!” Lucky offered, hopping off her seat, Silver, Gideon, and Ronan on her trail.
The latter had presumably no need of a guide, but we were all ready to sleep at that point.
I watched them leave the floor, head tilted. My own guest room had been right next to Lucian’s, so I’d assumed the rest were close by. The gods knew I hadn’t had a chance to check out the many doors on this floor alone.
“The best guest bedroom’s over there, huh?” I teased. “And here I thought you liked me.”
Bringing his hand to the small of my back to guide me to our rooms, he sniggered. “Silly witch. You didn’t get a guest bedroom at all. You’d think I’d suffer any visitor snoring right next to me?”
I flushed. Come to think of it, he definitely didn’t seem the kind of guy to let just anyone so close while he slept.
“Oh.”
“You can stop fidgeting,” he said with that knowing crooked grin. “I’m not going to interrogate you while you can barely stand. I know that ritual was a lot.”
My shoulders relaxed, and I chuckled, embarrassed. “Am I that easy to read?”
“If one pays attention.” In the room, he kissed my forehead and slid into the bed next to me.
I truly was exhausted, but my heart beat fast in anticipation. There was a difference between fucking a man in every feasible position for a week straight, but lying in bed with him after professing eternal adoration was another story.
I won’t make it. One of us has to.
The moment you sink, I let go. It’s you and me. Until the end of ever.
He wasn’t running. He hadn’t called me clingy or told me maybe we needed a bit of space, suggesting I return to the other room for the night. He was here, after I shoved my big foot in my mouth and told him I wanted him forever.
