Chapter 32
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Ispent over a week in Caelan’s bed, drunk on his love. Moira and the others tended to the shop while I shirked my duties in an epic way.
But it was Monday, and real life could wait no longer. Caelan’s strong arm was locked on my waist, keeping me pressed against him. I shoved at his arm.
“I have to go to work.”
A hot, possessive kiss against my shoulder blade. “No.”
I laughed. “You have to go to work, too. Don’t think I missed all the calls you’re getting from the other Lords. Donovan’s death needs to be reported.”
“It already has been. His people felt his demise.” He nipped my neck.
I shivered and arched against him. “What are you going to do?” My voice was a little breathless, but Caelan kept me that way.
“You tell me, Evangeline.”
I stilled. “What?” Shifting, I rolled to face him.
“Did you claim his land when you claimed me?” His eyes were warm and languid, a hint of glow in his irises. Ever since that night, the glow hadn’t faded.
I thought about it. “Umm. I don’t know.” Honestly, I hadn’t given it another thought because I’d been tangled up in Caelan.
“Check.” He pressed a kiss to my lips, one warm hand wandering south until it found gold.
I arched and moaned against his mouth. “If you keep doing that, neither of us will be checking anything.”
He slithered down my body. “Good.”
Possessive little nips all over my breasts and stomach until he ventured farther—
A scream ripped from me. “Caelan!”
He smiled against my thighs. One rough lick later, and I was lost in the Shifter Lord once again.
I was three hours late for my shift.
Little Shop of Florals was so full I had trouble pushing through to get to the register. When Moira spotted me, a slow smile curved her lips.
“You look like you’ve been fucking for days.”
I gasped and slapped her arm. “Moira!” Heat burned my cheeks.
Her wicked laugh made me grin. “It’s about damn time.
We called the Keep multiple times. All Simone would say is ‘she’s busy.
Send hard liquor. And maybe a marching band.
I can’t take it anymore.’ We figured you and Caelan were occupied, so we left it alone.
” She grimaced. “You should probably send Simone a basket of whiskey and chocolates, though. The poor woman is traumatized.”
Ash came up to the desk, grinning from ear to ear. “You’re the talk of the town, Evie,” he whispered before dropping a kiss on my cheek. “Business has never been better.”
I blanched. “They’re all here because of…”
“You two horny kids lit the skies of Joy Springs up like the fourth of July,” Moira said gleefully. “Anyone with a lick of blood felt the power you stirred up that night.”
“What about…” My voice trailed off.
“Your secret is safe,” Ash whispered. “But there are a few hundred wolves who know what you are, so you can’t expect it to stay that way. Caelan already had one defector. There are bound to be more uncomfortable with someone of your bloodline in charge.”
I snorted. “I’m not in charge.”
Moira and Ash both rolled their eyes. “You told the wolves to run like they were errant puppies and every single one of them did.” Her face softened. “You and Caelan are bonded in a way greater than blood now, Evie. It’s too late to take it back.”
I didn’t want to take it back. Every time I thought about what we’d done in those woods, my veins boiled with desire. I wasn’t quite myself that night, but I’d seen Caelan there, staring at me, heaving with power, his eyes drinking me up, and my reservations fell away.
I’d seen him.
I wanted him.
I took him.
And Caelan had gleefully gone along with it, claiming me in a way that a week later still got me hot and bothered under the collar.
All I wanted was to return to the Keep and slide back under the covers with him, but real life didn’t work like that. We both had responsibilities, his greater than mine right now, though I suspected that would end soon.
Cernunnos hadn’t shown back up. Maybe he was giving me time to adjust. Maybe he knew I needed this time to take a piece of myself back.
Maybe he was waiting for the right time to bitch at me for swallowing the world seed.
Hell, I don’t know. Whatever it was, I knew it was waiting right around the corner to pounce when I least expected.
If I could take Caelan by the hand and lead us both into a peaceful life with no people to care for and no responsibilities, I would. But life didn’t work like that, and we’d be at each other’s throat without some outlet.
Tess handled customers with ease, and I counted no less than ten people who came in and bought something.
When the rush finally died down, all three of my friends gathered around the register and stared.
“You look different,” Tess said, tilting her head to study me. “On the inside.”
I bet I did. “I feel different on the inside,” I agreed.
Moira leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “So…how was it?”
Ash snickered.
Tess blinked owlishly. “You didn’t hear all the screaming in the woods that night?”
Three pairs of eyes turned to her.
“Um. What? You heard us?” I asked, horror unfurling in my stomach.
“There is no barrier a banshee can’t pierce,” she said with a shrug. “People slated to die do all kinds of tricky things to escape their fate.”
“Awesome,” I said and sighed. “Sorry about that.”
She leaned against Ash. “That’s okay. I hope I scream like that when Ash and I—”
“Tess!” Ash barked, his cheeks turning crimson.
Moira’s mouth opened in a shocked o.
A laugh bubbled from me. “Tess, I’m sure that will happen for you both. It’s important to be one hundred percent sure when it’s your first time.”
Tess nodded. “Ash hasn’t pressured me.”
The dryad pinched the space between his brows. “For the love of the gods,” he muttered.
Moira punched him in the shoulder. “Aww. Ash. We always knew you were a gentleman. Glad to see we weren’t wrong.”
“We do other stuff,” Tess volunteered.
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.
Moira fluttered her eyelashes. “Oh? Do tell.”
“Moira!” Ash closed his eyes, a pained expression on his face. “Tess—”
But Tess wasn’t known for understanding nuance. “Is it normal for it to be so large?” She made a motion with her hands that had Moira slapping her hands over her mouth. “You know like so…”
Ash took Tess by the elbow and marched her away. “We will never speak of this again!” he called back to us.
“The hell we won’t,” Moira said, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
I’d missed them. I missed this.
I missed the normalcy we once had, and I knew this small reprieve wouldn’t last.
Not with the supernova of power I had burning in my veins.