Page 72 of Charmed

Her sigh shook the heavens. She met his gaze, hesitation and a world of distress in their depths. "I'm not invincible and, contrary to what you think, I do get scared."

She'd all but divulged the universe's best kept secret in four words. I do get scared. Under normal circumstances, she would've held up to the government's skilled attempts at torture before divulging such a thing to another soul. But she had, and to him, no less.

There was nothing he could say in response that would embody what her admission did to him. She'd just proven, without qualm, that she trusted him. Not merely with her body, but her mind. He could only pray her heart would tumble next.

"Come here." He cupped the back of her neck and brought her down to him for a kiss.

Chapter Twenty

After brushing her teeth and hair, Fiona gripped the bathroom sink and leaned into her hands. She hung her head, unable to look at herself in the mirror. She'd done it again. She'd snuck out of bed at the first sign of daybreak.

Last night had been...jarring. On so very many levels. An expunging crying jag on Riley. Him holding her as if it were the most natural thing. The stuff she'd admitted. Time and time again, he got her to open up, explore the depths of her emotions and test boundaries. It was like every single survivor instinct she'd honed dissolved in his presence.

And she was the witch?

Goddess, but it had been utterly freeing to let go with him. Shed the burdens she'd been carrying for just a brief moment. To know someone else had her back for a change. Not once had she ever considered the notion, never mind trusting someone with the weight. He'd kept her in the safety of his embrace all through the dark night.

But then morning had come, and reality slammed in. Embarrassment over her actions floated on the rays of light through her curtains, shame clinging to the dust motes as they drifted. She'd had no choice but to vacate.

Except creating distance between her and him, even if it was merely a wall, hadn't allowed her to breathe. Guilt coagulated in her stomach because she knew, just knew, that he'd be hurt if she was gone when he woke. He'd said as much yesterday at his place.

She frowned at her inner wrist as the trinity knot continued to burn. It wasn't a searing emergent knell, but the lick of pain was noticeable. Had been since she'd slipped out of bed. Which didn't make sense. If their tattoos were an emotional warning like Kaida had suggested, Fiona's shouldn't be activating. Riley was still asleep. It had happened last night for a brief blip, too, when he'd told her about breaking his china. He'd seemed lost in thought at the time.

Sighing, she met her reflection. The house was quiet, so she could go back to her room and Riley would be no wiser about her indecision. Her instincts to do just that shoved around in her skull, tugged at her chest. She recalled the conversation they'd had, how she'd promised him one day at a time, and the official label he'd slapped on them.

Relationship.

It would be her first. She'd taken lovers for long periods, yet nothing that constituted a commitment. Monogamy didn't scare her, nor did the theory. Truthfully, she didn't want anyone else but him, and the connection they shared set him apart from other trysts or conquests.

Ergo, no, the concept of a relationship didn't frighten her. What terrified her to her very core was the end game. She couldn't help but think they were setting themselves up for an eternity of pain. Three-hundred years of evidence surrounded her as a testimony to what happened when Meaths and Galloways tempted Fate.

Thing was, and it killed her to admit it, she'd never get over Riley. He was stronger than he realized, smart as a whip, and funny as hell. Under all that charm lay the heart of a romantic, and he cared about others so deeply, it manifested as physical symptoms. He was more addicting than any drug and twice as potent. Curses, spells, and hunters aside, he would be her downfall. Whether they won the destiny match or not.

Her head yelled retreat, her body said claim, and her heart just kept beating as if for him alone. She'd been straddling the point of no return since the first instance he'd kissed her. She should be building her wall back up, brick by brick, and heavy on the mortar.

Yet, one verity kept niggling at her subconscious, refusing to be ignored. Riley had been hurt enough for two lifetimes. He wanted her, had been honest about his feelings, and had proven she could trust him. He deserved every ounce of happiness he could get and while he had the chance, regardless if it could be ripped away.

"Dang it," she muttered and smoothed her nightgown. "Be brave."

Exiting the bathroom, she glanced down the hall toward the stairs, then slipped back into her room and quietly closed the door. Carefully easing the covers aside, she climbed in bed on her side, facing him.

Sunlight bled onto his ebony strands and handsome profile. She took in the dark shadow of his unshaven jaw, the long fan of his lashes, and the bow of his slightly parted lips. He seemed so peaceful while asleep. None of the jaunting grins or concern she sometimes found furrowing his brows or even the fear he quit trying to hide in her presence. His woodsy scent wrapped around her, and affection tugged at her chest, lodged a hot ball in her throat.

Until he opened his eyes. Just like that as if he hadn't been sleeping.

Gray-green looked back at her with intensity and a margin of challenge. A beat passed, then his gaze swept over her features like he was attempting to dig below appearance to find thought instead. Finally, after eons of pulse-tripping exploration, he blinked and met her gaze once more.

"You came back." The low, rough timbre of his morning voice was both a turn-on and a comfort. "Snuck out, but you came back."

She couldn't glean anything from his blank expression and forcibly swallowed. "I had to use the bathroom." Partial truth. She did have a small bladder.

"Uh-huh. Where you promptly freaked out about last night."

Maybe he was a mind reader. "Did not."

"Did, too." He rolled over, tucking her under him. "I do believe that's the first time you've lied to me." His hips settled between her thighs and he raised himself on his forearms to look down at her. "I'll forgive you for two reasons. One, you came back to bed after said freak out. And two, being right here, right now is better than having to hunt you through the house to do this."

He closed his mouth over hers and lazily, enticingly nibbled at her lower lip, then the top. A sweep of his tongue, and she opened for him. He stroked her. He seduced her. He explored every crevice until she swore she was drunk and he was the whiskey.

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