Chapter 7
I paced across my living room, my heels clacking against the hardwood floors with e very agitated step. After what had happened last night, I thought I’d sleep poor ly, my dreams plagued by darkness and nightmar es . Instead, I’d s unk into a dreamless void and woken early in the morning with my body ach ing and aroused. That had never happened before . I’d been drawn to my bedroom windows , fe e l ing as though I wasn’t alone —as if I w ere responding to the unseen eyes of an admirer.
All day , I had been on edge, expecting either Thorne or Halvard to show up at my door at any moment. I’d been so nervous and confused that I’d even called in sick and stayed safely inside my apartment. “Please tell me you put on that sexy black dress with the open back,” Lis said through the speaker of my phone. She’d called five minutes ago, no doubt to make sure I was n’ t going to back out of my date with Halvard. As if I could . I was dying to see him again, to have him make the world make sense. I wanted explanations . I wanted to feel the thrill of being at his side and seeing the mysteries unraveled. Mostly, I wanted to be in his arms again and feel the passion only he seemed to ignite in me. I wanted to know that I wasn’t broken, that I wasn’t the Ice Queen they called me behind my back —o r the frigid bitch that Thorne had made me out to be.
“Yes, I’m wearing the black dress,” I assured my friend a s I smoothed my hands over my hips against the silky fabric, subtly patterned with vines and flowers. It was a great dress that showcased all my best assets — probably a little cold for a fall day, but that was a price I was willing to pay. “Lis,” I said as I eyed my thick winter coat and scarf , which I’d already se t out so I could get ready the moment Halvard arrived. What kind of car would he be in? The Carnival had looked so derelict, but it had been absolutely hopping last night. I hadn’t really paid attention to what vehicles were parked on the campgrounds where Halvard’s Airstream was located.
“What is it?” my friend asked . H er voice had dropped, growing a little hushed , as if she was anticipating secrets —n ot the fun gossip type of secrets that she loved to spill, but something much heav ier , dark er . Secrets that mattered. “You want to know how I know?” I nodded , though she couldn’t see that . B ut Lis started talking anyway; she knew exactly where my mind had gone.
“I’m the same friend you’ve always had . I just… l ike your Halvard, am not entirely human.” Not entirely human? What was she talking about? “I have gifts . T hat’s why people tell me things, why I make friends so easily. Charm, pheromones — whatever you want to call it — people just like me. I’m not like Halvard and those at the Carnival ; their differences are far greater.” Then she hurried to add, “But that doesn’t make them bad people. Just different. In fact, I think Halvard is exactly the man you need.”
This was beginning to be an extremely one - sided conversation , and time was running out. My clock indicated that my date could be here soon, and my belly swooped with nerves and excitement. Since the overwhelming desire was to see him again, I hoped that meant Lis was right: Halvard was the right man for me. This seemed to b e more than just a rebound after Thorne — a way to finally kick that asshole from my life. I care d far more about being with my Stone Freak again because I felt like I was truly m yself when I was in his arms.
“Okay,” I said to my friend, “I can’t deny that a lot of weird things have happened , and I have no rational explanation for any of them.” Like the way I was drawn to Halvard and his crazy life, and how I was immune to his gaze when he feared turning everyone to stone. After seeing how he could shatter that statue, I now had a much healthier fear of what turning to stone could mean. It didn’t sound fun at all ; it sounded dangerous.
Straightening my shoulders, I decided the only way to move on was to charge straight ahead. Pre-Thorne, that had been me too—chip on my shoulder, always with a plan and ready to do something meaningful with my life. No more dull contracts and working late into the night. Now that I knew what was really out there, it was time to live again—to stop fearing everything and blaming myself for not being what others expected me to be. Our failed relationship was Thorne’s fault, not mine. We didn’t work, but I was more than ready to believe that Halvard and I had the perfect chemistry—that we did work.
“Okay? Just like that, you’re going to be fine with this? Should I come over?” Lis’s concerned words made me laugh , w armth filling my chest. Last night , I’d been thinking that blowing her off too much would scare her away too, make her abandon me like other friends had done. I knew better now. Lis was my best girl ; she’d always have my back.
The knock on the door made my smile grow wider. “Nope, I’ve got a date , remember? And he’s here. Talk later.” I hung up to the sound of her loudly shouted , “Use protection!” a nd was still blushing like a beet from that when I opened my door to a bouquet of flowers. Not your average, everyday flowers either —n othing as mundane as roses for Halvard, but pretty all the same, even if I couldn’t name anything but the purple thistles that gave the whole composition a punkish vibe.
“Hi,” he said, his mouth pull ing into a sexy half - smirk, his eyes bare , and his sunglasses hooked into the pocket of his jacket. He’d taken them off before he knocked on my door, and I loved how happy he looked to see me. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, mussing up his black hair . “Flowers are customary for a date, yes? Or is it too much?” The bouquet filled my arms when I took it from him — definitely at least three sizes to o large for a simple first date. It was perfect. I loved knowing that Halvard was excited about this, that he wasn’t holding back, and that he was as rusty as I was when it came to this.
“I love them,” I told him . “Where did you get these?” I was already turning toward the kitchen so I could quickly put them in water, and Halvard silently followed me, his gaze bright and warm. I loved that gaze as much as I loved the flowers . I t was so full of appreciation as it skimmed over my dress and curves.
“Ah, Seraphine from the apothecary put it together. They’re all supposed to be plants that promote good health and good fortune.” That explained why they were so exotic, and I loved that he’d given me something so unique and thoughtful. The flowers would have to wait for a proper vase until I got home, but my large mixing bowl would do for now. As soon as I had gently set them down in the water, I realized that Halvard had not just followed me into my kitchen — he was really close. His warmth bathed my side, his scent surrounded me, and excitement began to tingle down my spine, pooling in my abdomen.
I turned my head and got trapped in his gaze, his dark eyes sparkling like the obsidian he’d turned that monster into last night. “Are you ready to go?” he asked, but his husky tone told me he was the one who’d rather stay right here. He had me half-trapped against the kitchen counter, his large body boxing me against the hard surface. That thrilled me, and desire ratcheted up another notch. Stayin g in— what a tempting concept. I very much wanted a repeat of what had happened last night — and more.
My eyes darted to the bedroom door beyond his shoulder , and I opened my mouth to make some kind of sexy invitation. He beat me to it, swooping down to claim my lips, our tongues tangling like our uneven breaths . His arms came around me, yanking me close, and I could feel how his excitement matched mine —h is cock a fierce, hard bar beneath his leather pants, pressing shamelessly against my stomach. “You look too good,” he moaned. “But I promised you a date, so we’re going.” It sounded like he was telling himself that as much as he was telling me.
When he stepped back, I missed his warmth. His gaze was feral and heated as he slid it over me, twisting into a satisfied smirk. Then , he dropped his hand to his blatant erection and adjusted himself again , without shame. He did it with the kind of fla i r only a performer could muster , posing so I got the full effect of that thick bulge and clearly delighting in my obvious admiration.
“Come, darling,” he said, and for a brief, insane moment , I thought he was ordering me to orgasm on the spot. But he reached out a hand and , like a proper gentleman , helped me into my coat. “We’ve got reservations. I want to show you off.” As he guided me out of my home, I had a sudden feeling that he had an ulterior motive. Seduce me ? Yes. But he also wanted to go out so he could clash with Thorne again. Would that finally solve my problems with my ex? Or would i t put Halvard in danger? I eyed him as he guided me to a large, slightly rusty truck and had to conclude , no — Halvard could handle Thorne, no doubt about it.
“How’s Hogzy? Did he get enough apples today?” I asked, smiling at how comfortable my date looked with the beat - up truck. He wasn’t s elf-conscious about our differences, and he hadn’t batted an eye at my fancy apartment either —l ike wealth did not matter one bit to him. Maybe it really didn’t . A nd wasn’t that a freeing thought?
“Hogzy got into the barrels of elephant feed . H e’s currently sleeping off a food coma,” Halvard said with a laugh. The engine rumbled as deeply as his voice when he turned on the truck. Then we were off, driving into the night to some unknown destination. If my father knew about this, he’d have a fit — and that just made it more exciting. I trusted Halvard . I knew instinctively that he’d do everything in his power to keep me safe. That left me free to anticipate nothing but good things for the rest of the night. I was determined to enjoy every minute and make sure we’d get that chance in the bedroom before the clock struck midnight.