Page 35 of Yearning For Her

No. No way.

And yet her lips parted, letting out her response unbidden. “Kian?”

“Are you going to make me stand out here all morning?” he asked.

She unlocked and opened the door. Surely enough, Kian was standing on her porch. His white hair was swept to one side as usual, baring the shaved part of his head and his pierced ear, which no longer tapered to a point. There were no horns jutting from his temples, and his eyes, though still a penetrating, icy blue, looked normal. His pale skin held no trace of that inhuman gray undertone.

He wore a black corset vest that accentuated his lean, athletic build, and the sleeves of his crimson dress shirt were rolled up to reveal his toned forearms. Why was that so damn sexy? A pair of snug black pants over leather boots rounded out the look. She barely noticed the paper bag in his hand.

He grinned. Was it her imagination, or did his canines look longer and sharper than a human’s?

“Are you fucking me with your eyes, Willow?”

Her whole body flushed. “No.”

Kian’s chuckle rumbled from his chest, dark and velvety. “Your desire says otherwise.”

God, that is so not fair. I can’t even lie to him!

Willow crossed her arms beneath her breasts. His gaze dipped and remained focused there.

“My eyes are up here,” Willow said.

“So they are. But how could I possibly keep mine from wandering when there is so stunning a view to take in?”

She rolled her eyes. “What are you doing here, Kian?” Then it occurred to her. “Wait, how are you here? I never gave you my address.”

His grin took on a mischievous slant. “I didn’t want to waste your time with something so trivial, so I just followed you home yesterday.”

Willow gaped at him. “You’re stalking me?”

He dismissively waved a hand. “I just wanted to ensure you made it home safe.”

Loki hissed. It was followed by loud growls from Remy and Bebe, who now stood with their backs arched at Willow’s feet.

“Ah, your cats. I thought I’d picked up their scent on you.” Kian stepped forward and placed a hand on Willow’s shoulder, gently guiding her aside as he entered her home. His exotic scent teased her nose.

But she could only stare on in shock.

The cats retreated from him warily, hackles raised and ears back.

Kian crouched in front of them and placed the paper bag on the floor. Slowly, he extended both arms, holding his hands to the agitated felines.

One by one, the cats eased toward him, whiskers twitching as they sniffed his fingers.

“Fae have a…complicated relationship with these animals,” Kian said, voice low. “You could say they have a paw beyond the Veil, and their eyes can perceive things many fae would prefer to keep hidden.”

The felines eased away from him. Though they’d stopped growling, they maintained their tense, cautious body language and didn’t take their eyes off the fae in front of them.

“What are their names?” Kian asked.

Willow looked over the cats, who’d been her truest companions over the last few years—apart from Jamie, anyway. They were also her babies. Maybe they were just reacting to what Kian was, but she would’ve liked to think they were also trying to protect her. “The black one is Bebe. Remy is the gray tabby, and the orange one is Loki.”

“Bebe, Remy, and Loki. I will do no harm here. Let my words be our pact.”

As she quietly closed the front door, Willow asked, “Are you talking to them or me?”

“Them, obviously. You already know I mean you no harm, or you wouldn’t have invited me inside.”

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