Page 35 of Haunted Hearts

My eyes scan the pages of the book slowly as I absorb the information it holds.

Just outside the bedroom, I hear Kwil and Jonah bickering about something trivial. If I listen hard enough, I can hear Theodon turn the page of his own book as he dives into learning all that he can about the realm we’re residing in. Beside me, Willow sleeps soundly, as she has been since she returned to this room yesterday afternoon. She hasn’t moved, even when we all eventually joined her last night, or when we each climbed out of bed to eat breakfast and got ready for the day.

Once, Jonah tried to wake her to eat. Willow just opened one eye, and stared at him blankly, before closing it to go back to sleep. After that, we left her alone. Willow is so typically filled with life. Seeing her so beaten down is scaring the living hell out of me. This isn’t our Willow.

She’ll be ok. I know it.

I blink, having to reread the last paragraph as my thoughts return to my task at hand. As I finish the page, Willow stirs beside me. I glance over just as she sits up with a start.

“You’re up.”

At the sound of my voice, Willow flinches before looking over her shoulder at me. I let out a mental sigh of relief when our eyes meet and there’s a fire burning there. My Willow is back and ready to take on the day. Her eyes leave my face to travel down my body. I follow her gaze and realize that I’d never gotten dressed after my shower. Only a sheet covers my waist where I’ve set the book down. Amused at where her attention has gone, I glance back up at her expectantly, ready to call her out for her ogling. But my amusement turns to marveling as I watch the transformation in Willow’s expression. One moment she’s disoriented and in the next, a seductive smile pulls her lips wide, and her pupils expand.

Oh fuck… Just like that, my body responds. The book in my lap rises as my dick stiffens. She’s magnificent, even with bedhead. The fact that she finds me just as attractive, despite my failings, is both humbling and hot. I swallow hard as I fight back my answering desire. Thankfully she doesn’t notice it as her eyes return to my face.

“Stop it,” I order, warning myself more so than the woman beside me.

Her answering smile, coy and full of amusement, nearly makes me groan. “Stop what?”

As if she doesn’t know.

“I can see on your face where your thoughts have gone, and the answer is no.” There, that should do the trick. No means no. End of conversation and any temptation.

One of her brows quirks upwards, clearly unconvinced. “Why not?”

Her hand lands on my upper thigh. I glare at her, hoping it will deter her. It doesn’t. Her smile only grows bigger. Good heavens, she is beautiful.

“Because you need to rest without us pawing at you.”

The cracks along her skin have healed up. But just because she physically looks better, doesn’t mean she’s emotionally well. I’m sure after a few more days of sleep and relaxation, her psyche will be just as strong as it was. And while sex yesterday certainly seemed to help her, I don’t want to push it.

My explanation does nothing to turn Willow off from her advancements. Rather than laying back down, she pulls off her top. At the sight of her breasts, I groan loudly. Her nipples bud in the cool air and her breasts jiggle as she reaches down to shimmy out of her panties. The swirling mass of darkness that shifts beneath her skin rises just close to the surface before receding. I ignore it to admire Willow’s sensual curves. Of course, doing that causes me to grow harder.

Then the smell of her arousal hits the air. My mouth waters.

“Still no?” Willow asks, her voice husky.

Swearing violently in my head, I force my eyes back to her face. Damn this woman.Damnmy weakening resolve.No, I can do this. I won’t cave… But I can’t find the word I’m looking for. So, all I can do is nod.

“What!? Really?”

At Willow’s outrage, I grin. Her brows slam together while her bottom lip pushes outwards ever so slightly. Her desire for me and her annoyance that she can’t have her way, only turns me on even more.

“Stop scowling, Willow,” I say pleasantly, unable to keep my amusement from seeping through.

“I’m allowed to scowl,” she huffs as she flops back down onto the mattress. “Now I have no motivation to get up.”

My laughter shakes the bed, “Your motivation to get up was based on whether or not you’d get laid right away?”

“I woke up pissed, ready to tackle the day. But being told no really is a buzzkill,” Willow states matter-of-factly.

Pissed? I think back to the conversation we had with the reaper yesterday and wonder what exactly would have pissed her off. When I come up empty handed, I ask, “What’s upsetting you?”

Willow glares at me before throwing an arm over her face. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me.”

Willow moves her arm just enough to peek at me. “Have sex with me?”

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