Page 69 of Yearning For Her

By light and dark, he wanted to believe that.

But as he curled his fingers around the door handle, he stopped. He knew the last thing he should’ve done was look at her again, but his head turned, and his eyes fell upon Willow.

The sight caught him off guard. Her blanket was on the floor, forgotten, and she lay on her side, purple hair splayed across the cushion beneath her. She’d curled up a little, her limbs drawn in closer to her body. So seemed so small, so…alone and out of place. The flowers filling the room only strengthened that perception.

Kian’s throat constricted as he thought of all the times he’d slipped out while the human who’d just provided him with nourishment was recovering from overwhelming pleasure, unaware of his departure. As he thought of all the mortals he’d abandoned while they were at their most vulnerable, all the people he’d left bereft after using them for his needs.

He couldn’t do that to Willow. Would never do that to her.

Fuuuuuck.

He built tall, thick walls in his mind, hoping they would be enough to keep the beast contained for a little longer, and walked back around to the front of the couch. Crouching, he slipped his arms under his mate. She stirred again, but only to turn toward him and nestle her cheek against his arm.

Perfect. She’s fucking perfect.

Kian stood, lifting her off the couch and holding her limp form against his chest. He ignored the heat of her body, ignored her enticing scent, ignored the still burning fires within him, and carried Willow to her bedroom.

The room was soft and feminine, its colors and décor suiting her perfectly. Purple and white bedding, a canopy draped with lacy white cloth as lovely as it was delicate, and tiny strings of lights, currently dark, running up the posts and across the canopy. What was it he’d seen humans call those? Fairy lights?

Unless she’d been inspired to redecorate upon learning Kian was fae, he couldn’t help but wonder if those lights were another little detail woven in by the Fates.

He laid her gently atop the bed. She shifted toward him as he withdrew, but settled quickly, curling an arm under her head and letting out a contented sigh that was followed by the slow, even breathing of slumber. Kian loosened the bedding and drew the blanket over her. Delicately, he brushed her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. His fingertips stroked her soft, smooth skin.

This female was more dangerous than anyone he’d encountered, whether fae or human. The spell she’d cast over him was the most potent magic in existence. Nothing made him feel as powerless as she did.

Something compelled him to switch on the fairy lights. Their warm glow bathed her skin, lending her more vibrancy. Perhaps when she awoke, she’d look up at those lights and think of him.

His feet refused to move when he tried to go. Standing at her bedside, staring at her, he wanted nothing more than to lie beside her, put his arms around her, and sleep. But he couldn’t trust himself to sleep. Couldn’t trust himself to behave. Not when every instinct inside him raged to claim his mate in every way possible.

Movement drew his attention to the foot of the bed. All three of Willow’s cats had leapt onto it, and now sat in a row, staring at him with huge pupils.

“I’ll entrust her to you, then,” he whispered, as though the choice had been his.

The only response he received was an impatient flick of Bebe’s tail.

Temptation urged him to kiss Willow before he left, but he knew better than that. Even a chaste kiss would lead to memories of the taste of her lips, of the breathy sounds she’d made in the heights of passion, of the way her slick cunt had contracted around his fingers…

Kian spun away and stalked out of the room. His frantic stride carried him to the kitchen, where he stopped to write a quick note.

Had a wonderful time, Violet. Hope you rested well. You’ll need all your strength when I come back for breakfast.

He hung it on her refrigerator before rushing out of her house and locking the door behind him.

Nineteen

“Brian’s been such an asshole since his promotion,” Jamie said as she piled steak, peppers, and onions on her tortilla. “He’s cutting hours for his department, which just means he’s riding everyone to get the same amount of work done in way less time, and he acts like anyone who doesn’t like it must be lazy or bad at their job. And what is he doing while his teams bust their asses? Standing around flirting with the young, pretty girls he hired. But he still has the nerve to brag like he’s personally getting all that work done and he’s God’s gift to freaking Verity’s.”

Willow shook her head and took a sip of her margarita. When she’d been hired at Verity’s after moving to Memoree, Brian had already been working there for a year. He was a good-looking guy with a serious superiority complex. Even when he’d been on the same level as Willow and Jamie, he’d acted as though he was in charge, getting away with it mainly because he’d kissed the managers’ asses.

It was no wonder he’d been promoted a couple times in the years since.

“I am so glad I don’t have to deal with that anymore.” Willow picked up a chip from the basket at the center of the table, broke it in half, and scooped up some salsa. She popped it in her mouth and chewed. Salty sweetness swept over her tastebuds, followed by a hit of spiciness.

She loved Casa Roja. She and Jamie had been coming to the restaurant for as long as they’d known each other, meeting here at least twice a month during their lunch breaks. Well, during Jamie’s lunch breaks, since Willow’s schedule was quite flexible.

“I’ve got my own team in a separate department, and he still pisses me off to no end.” Jamie folded her fajita and took a big bite. She used a finger to wipe a drop of sauce from the corner of her mouth. “You’re so lucky you don’t have to deal with this crap anymore.”

“I ran off and never looked back.”

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