Page 117 of Midnights
“Come on, Princess,” I cut in, before she can push back. “I’ll make ye some hot chocolate.”
Chocolate. That was the key, I can see it in her face.
There's a hint of hesitation before her shoulders drop.
“Fine. Lead the way,” she mutters, crossing her arms but falling into step beside me. The sooner we get back inside, the better.
I take a faster route back, but she’s watching me like a hawk.
“How do you know where you’re going?”
I tense. “This is the way I came.”
Technically, not a lie. But definitely not the full truth.
She studies me for a second longer, like she’s trying to piece something together, but thankfully, she doesn’t press.
The storm is fading and the silence between us grows heavy with things neither of us are willing to say.
When we finally reach the back door, I push it open, letting the warmth of the kitchen spill over us. She steps inside without hesitation, and I trail after her, locking the door behind us.
She heads straight for the table, practically bouncing into the seat like the cold never touched her. It’s the most relaxed I’ve seen her, and for some reason, it makes me smile.
“You should get out of those wet clothes,” I tell her. “Hang them in front of the fire in your room, there’s a robe in the bathroom.”
Her lips thin like she’s considering arguing, but then she nods. “I can do that.”
She stands and bounces down the hall like she didn’t just spend the last hour in the rain, challenging the gods themselves.
I exhale, stepping toward the stove and go through the motions of making the hot chocolate. I heat the milk, add the cocoa powder, the sugar, and a touch of vanilla. The smell fills the room, but my mind isn’t on the damn drink.
I'm stuck replaying the moment in the rain, watching the fire in her eyes and thanking the Gods above that I have any self control left.
She's hot as fuck.
There aren’t many people who would look me in the eye and call me out like that. And it only makes me want her more.
What’s worse is, she won’t back down. Not that I'm trying to intimidate her, but let’s be honest, I’m intimidating. Yet this woman doesn’t seem to have a back-down button.
I grip the counter, tightening my jaw as I try to push the thought away. I’m trying to be respectful. Trying to keep my hands to myself. For her sake.
I know exactly what would’ve happened if we’d stayed out there a second longer. If the storm hadn’t snapped me out of it, I would’ve had her shoved up against that tree with her legs wrapped around me. I can already feel her nails digging into my back as I—
I cut that thought off before I lose the last shred of restraint I have left. My cock is already hard enough to break through steel, and I don’t need to make it worse.
She chooses that moment to walk in, barefoot, wearing a robe.
The tie at her waist is cinched tight, but it doesn’t fucking matter. My brain is already stripping it off, imagining how easy it would be to pull the knot loose, let it pool at her feet, and take what I’ve been craving since the moment she walked into my life.
“Sit down.” I set the steaming mug in front of her. And because I’m already too far gone, I set a chocolate chip cookie next to it.
She looks up at me with those big, dangerous eyes and her whole fucking face lights up.
“My cookie!!! You remembered!” She beams, but I can see the suspicion through her delight. “Wait, when did you have time to make cookies?”
I chuckle, leaning back against the counter, watching the way her whole body reacts to something so small. “Found them over there.”
Technically true.
