Page 28 of The Incubus's Angel
“I know,” Tilly purrs, getting a faraway look on her face. She snaps herself out of it and continues, “But honestly, I thinkyou’ll need to lock all the males up if she sets foot on the island again. My cousin was basically window shopping last time and she is unapologetically hungry.”
Calixta taps a shiny taloned finger on the table. “Maybe we should let her loose on Arran. She might be able to break him out of his castle.”
Beryl shakes her head, an easy smile playing on her lips. “Can you imagine? She’d terrorize him.”
“And he’d love every minute of it,” Calixta counters. “Those two could be explosive together. Mark my words.”
Feeling a little lost, I ask, “Who’s Arran?”
Tilly swivels her chair toward me. “The vampire and founder of Starry Hill. He’s like four-hundred-plus years old.” She takes another sip of her punch. “You know what, Audrey did say she has a thing for a good age gap.”
My brain finally places Arran. “Oh, is he the guy with the SPF kink? I think I owe him a cake.”
The room erupts in laughter, Tilly snorting so hard some of her punch spills onto her lilac dress. “Damnit. Bodin and I had a bet for how long I’d go without tripping or spilling.”
Beryl shakes her head. “Tilly, that was very optimistic of you.” Meeting my eyes in the mirror, she asks, “How do you want to wear your hair tonight? Down for a change?”
I cringe. “I hate feeling my hair in my neck. Could we maybe do a braid and pin it up?”
Behind me, Marisol gestures around her head. “What do you call the braid that goes in a circle, kind of like a halo?”
A halo? Like an angel? Like what Ren called me? I wonder if he could see me in such a hairstyle what he would say. Would he like it?
“A crown braid?” Beryl asks.
Marisol bobs her head. “Yes! Do that. We can add some jasmine from your vines outside the shop and weave it into the braid.”
Just the thought of a legit flower crown, that may or may not resemble a halo, has me ecstatic. “Oh! I love that idea. Can we?”
Beryl smiles down at me, somehow reading more into my expression than I meant to reveal. “Absolutely.”
Feeling like I’m at my highest point since I’ve arrived on the island, I spare a glance at the incredible ladies around me. Thesegirlshave already taught me so much about life, and myself.
I can’t imagine leaving, of moving away and doing life without them. Or Ren.
Chapter 12
Ren
About an hour before sundown, I head to my door, adamant about not stalling this time. I allow myself one bracing breath before swinging the door open and practically propelling myself outside.
I’m oddly surprised not to find Beck waiting for me this time, but maybe he’s already on the beach. Or maybe he’s not going? If he’s not going, will the others cancel too?
No, don’t go spinning out right now. You need to get out of the house and be around other creatures for a while before you rub your cock raw tomemories of Maisie.
Since Tuesday, I’ve been thinking about that beautiful angel. Well, long before then, but it’s like seeing a new side of her has opened the floodgates. Every waking moment, my thoughts are consumed by her. Which is a lot, because I’ve hardly needed sleep since she found pleasure in my arms. SinceIgave her pleasure, andshegifted it back to me.
I feel fantastic. I feel alive. And it’s all because of Maisie.
My feet glide across the green hills as I head south toward Kraken Cove, but with each step closer, my nerves start to set in.
I need a list.
Not quite in the mood to arrange fruit, or name computer parts or types of flour, I settle on the one topic that brings me joy.
Maisie.
I like the way her hair curls, little tendrils of gold framing her face. I like the way her eyes sparkle, like a thousand butterflies taking flight in a field of lush green grass. The way her lips quirk up with her joy, a smile and a laugh lying in wait, ready to infect anyone near her until you can’t help your own mouth from twitching into an answering grin.
