Chapter 17
The roar of a motorcycle filled my ears, breaking the spell Bastian had over me.
I’d let him…fuck! I groaned, banging my head against the wall, squeezing my eyes shut, then opening them and blinking, like it would change anything.
I couldn’t believe I’d allowed that—couldn’t believe I wasn’t more angry at myself for it.
If anything, my frustration stemmed from him running off, more than anything.
It was better this way. Better that I didn’t have to face him. That I didn’t have to talk to him or act like things had changed.
A goblin had just given me the best orgasm of my life, and he hadn’t even used his dick—or his freaking tongue, for that matter. Ugh. How was I supposed to put myself back together after something like that? How?!
The reverberations of his bike drifted through the walls from the garage, followed by the rumble of the house as the automatic garage door closed. I frowned, logic kicking in. Bastian’s motorcycle? But—
I huffed and shook my head. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. Sure, we’d left it back at the club. Now it was here, in his garage. Freaking magic. Somehow, he’d moved it through space, right back home.
Why did I find that so…appealing?
Ugh. I needed to go to bed. Get some sleep so that I could process everything that had happened in the last several hours.
I pushed off the wall and glanced at my phone, at his name in my contacts list. Bastian Croft.
Posh as hell. Yeah, he looked like a Bastian Croft.
I shivered, walking to my room. Teddy was curled on my bed, a divot in the middle of the comforter surrounding him, right where he’d been all evening. He looked up and gave a quiet meow.
“Hey cutie,” I managed, walking straight for my bathroom.
I turned on the faucet, dampened a cloth, used my makeup remover to clean my face, then set about the rest of my bedtime routine.
A few minutes later, I was in my PJs, pulling Teddy to my chest like a stuffed animal.
He gave a loud purr and cuddled up against me.
“You won’t run off, will you?” I cooed, rubbing my face against his soft kitty fur. “No, of course you won’t. You’re a proper gentleman. Not like some people. I’d rather cuddle with you, anyway.” His purrs grew louder, then settled into silence.
In the dark of the room, I let my mind wander, listening to the sounds of the house, the creak of the wood as the temperatures outside changed.
I tried not to flinch each time I heard a noise, letting my breaths deepen.
I was safe in here, safe behind Bastian’s magical security system, safe from people like…
No—I pushed Luke from my mind, forcing myself to think of Bastian, instead.
Bastian had handled me in a way Luke never had. Possessive, assertive, confident, and yet, he’d never once made me feel used or uncomfortable. The opposite, actually. Aside from grinding against me, he’d taken off before I could return the favor. He’d made my pleasure his priority, then vanished.
“Just like sugar…” Those words echoed in my head, paired with the sinuous smile while he said it, the hungry gleam in his goblin eyes.
He’d promised there would be more, but there couldn’t be—shouldn’t be.
I needed this to be a one-time thing, which I had no experience with.
But I couldn’t make the same mistake twice.
I’d let someone else get close to me, and they’d used that against me, waited until I let my guard down to hurt me.
I wasn’t ready to go through that again.
I brought my fingers to my lips. They were swollen, the skin around them mildly chafed from Bastian’s stubble.
I squeezed my thighs together, then smiled.
The minor ache there reminded me of just how good it had been.
All passion and heat, no room for thought or logic.
Maybe I could do this for a little while, keep things casual, enjoy Bastian as a fling, then move on once this case was solved.
Yet, a nagging feeling warned that once Bastian was done with me, I’d never be the same.
My phone chirped. I rolled over, groaning as the room came in and out of focus.
My phone chirped again, another text. I glanced at the bedside clock.
It was nearly 10:00am. Teddy had left the confines of my arms at some point during the night, getting comfortable on the other pillow. He meowed when he saw me awake.
“Hello to you, too,” I teased. Having him around meant I had someone to talk to. It made me feel less alone, too.
I rolled over and snatched my phone, quickly scrolling through notifications. Nothing from Bastian, but a handful of texts from Vivi, two from Tara, one from Eaden, one from Kaylee, and another from my freaking mother—which I promptly ignored.
I focused on Vivi’s first, which had come in a few hours after we talked on the phone yesterday.
Vivi
Did you end up staying with the coffee shop goblin?
Vivi
I got the details from my sister. On top of cheating, that asshole ended up dipping into their savings, making a shady investment, and losing all their money. He didn’t tell her because he thought he could make it back before she found out.
Vivi
Crazy, right?
Vivi
You’re not answering my texts. What’s going on?
Vivi
Are you okay?
Vivi
Did that goblin kill you?!
Vivi
Rose! Tell me you’re okay, or I’m getting on a flight right now!
I sighed. The last four had been sent this morning. I’d slept through two of them. She was probably frantic.
I considered calling her, but I didn’t feel like talking. Quickly punching out a series of responses, I sent them and moved on to Tara and then Kaylee.
Then finally, Eaden. He’d texted me two nights ago, but I was only opening it now.
Eaden
Rose, what the fuck is going on? Your shit’s still in your locker. The back door is open. I sent Zach out to look for you. Looks like something happened in the alley. Cameras showed you getting on the back of a bike. Call me when you get this.
Another had come in yesterday afternoon.
Eaden
What the fuck is going on, Rose? None of my calls are going through. Are you okay?
And then, later last night, after I’d fallen asleep.
Eaden
Someone said they saw you at The Vault. If I don’t hear from you by tomorrow, I’m filing a police report.
I wasn’t going to call him. It would give him ample opportunity to ask too many questions, so I shot him a quick text telling him that something went down, and I was okay.
A few moments later, the beeping began. The screen began to flash with incoming messages. Vivi, Kaylee, Tara. One from Eaden. Then another from Vivi. I grumbled. I didn’t have patience for any of this.
Tossing my phone over on the bed, I climbed to my feet and slipped into the bathroom.
After that, I crept into the kitchen. I half hoped to find Bastian standing there shirtless, cooking breakfast, but everything was quiet.
The coffee maker hadn’t been cleaned out from yesterday, so I went about rinsing it out, then making coffee.
“Woooowwww…” I whispered, finding the stash of expensive coffee in the cabinet.
Small batch beans in bags labeled with different flavors.
A smile pulled at the corner of my lips.
How very Bastian Croft of him. I grabbed the one that was labeled Oatmeal Cookie and poured some into the grinder.
The smell that wafted through the air had me groaning in delight.
Once the coffee was brewing, I set about doing the dishes from last night’s dinner. Bastian was neat, and there was only the small stack in the sink. He mostly cleaned up as he went.
My mind went to him. Had he gotten back late?
Was he still sleeping? I wasn’t exactly quiet while I loaded and began the dishwasher.
Perhaps I should have been, postponing the inevitable confrontation that was coming.
The thought of facing him after what had happened last night left my cheeks burning.
Perhaps the best thing to do was pretend it hadn’t happened.
I crept upstairs, pausing to listen on the landing. At his door, I gave it a quiet tapping knock. “Bastian?” I called. No response. I tried again, but still nothing.
I tried the knob—unlocked. I opened the door, cautious.
He’d told me to stay out of his room, so I wouldn’t walk in, but I did peek my head in, bracing myself.
My gaze feasted on the space that was so obviously him.
The room was set up like a suite, with a small sofa arrangement near the window, and a bed framed by two nightstands.
An acoustic guitar stood on a stand in the corner next to a small chair.
He played? I pictured him sitting there, shirtless, tattoos and piercings on full display, strumming.
He used those same expert fingers that had worked on me last night.
The muscles low in my belly tightened, heat spreading to the apex of my thighs.
My eyes darted to the bed, still made. Bastian hadn’t come home last night. That flaring heat turned ice cold. I closed the door and darted upstairs, just to be sure. The game room was empty. What about the gym downstairs? Perhaps he liked working out early? It was empty too.
“Fuck,” I hissed, striding to my room. I grabbed my phone and opened the texting app, then stopped. It was only 10:30am. I didn’t want to seem… What? Worried? Desperate? Clingy?
He was a grown man, after all. A grown goblin.
A darker, nagging thought seeped into my mind. He had never told me what his plans were, just that he had something that required his attention. An appointment of some sort. What kind of an appointment? The date kind? What if he’d stayed out with another woman?
A sickening sensation burrowed into my stomach.
No, that was ridiculous. He might give off bad boy vibes, but he didn’t strike me as the type to shove his fingers in me, then go find another woman afterward. That meant that something else had kept him away.
From the kitchen, the coffee maker beeped. I decided to let it rest for a few minutes. I’d have my shower first. Then, if I didn’t hear from him soon, I’d go have my coffee and text him.
When I made my way back into the kitchen, dressed in a pair of leggings and wide-necked shirt that hung off my shoulder, I still hadn’t heard anything.
Don’t panic. It’s too early to panic, I said, coaching myself through it. He’s allowed to stay out all night and doesn’t owe you answers or explanations.
Calmly, I poured myself a cup of coffee, added some sugar and cream, then sat down at the island. I took a long sip, sighed, and smiled. It was so yummy. I took another sip, willing myself to be calm. But… I couldn’t do it. I caved.
Where are you? Is everything okay?
I pressed send before I could cringe at how clingy it sounded.
I was halfway through my cup of coffee when my phone sounded. I exhaled at the sight of the bubble notification with Bastian’s name and opened the text.
Bastian
I’m fine, sugar. Seen the news yet?
I jumped to my feet. An ache formed in the back of my throat as I sprinted into the living room. I hesitated in the doorway, then walked in.
Meow—
“Jesus, Teddy!” I cried, jumping backwards.
I put a calming hand to my chest, then exhaled, looking down at him.
“Did you have your breakfast?” I asked. He had an automatic machine type feeder that kept his food and water bowls full with a sensor.
He’d never been an over-eater so Peter hadn’t worried too much.
Teddy meowed again, blue eyes tracking my movements.
I found the remote and turned on the television, searching through the channels until I landed on one of the news stations.
“…authorities are still searching for the suspects, but several faces have been identified and rendered, believed to be responsible for the attacks that left twelve dead and four in critical condition.” Sketches appeared on the screen.
“This was an exclusive dinner, with strict rules and an even stricter invite list. No photos have surfaced, as cell phones were prohibited. Some speculate the culprits infiltrated the mayoral dinner under false identities. The guest list is under scrutiny. The mayor’s security team is facing heat for the incident.
We spoke with witnesses in attendance, including Marsh Thadur. ”
An interview clip flashed onto the screen. The name was vaguely familiar, and it took a moment before I realized it was one of the names Aramis had mentioned the night before.
“There is no excuse for what happened tonight,” Thadur said, his tone grave. I blinked, my eyes focusing on the face. Even though I was seeing him through a screen, his glamor wavered. His human face morphed—pointed ears and angular fae features.
So. He was fae.
“It is imperative that we keep our city safe. The events of tonight are a prime example of the growing crime throughout Walton. We should be putting more money into the police force, greater scrutiny into those hired to serve. We lost some good people tonight. I, for one, question the mayor’s security team.
Those criminals shouldn’t have gotten in here. ”
The clip vanished, flipping back to the newscaster.
I didn’t hear the rest. Instead, I sank onto the couch, picking up Teddy and plopping him into my lap.
My hand stroked him absentmindedly as I watched the footage, most of it replaying over and over again.
I had a feeling if I changed to other local news stations, they’d be playing much the same thing.
My phone chirped. I looked down at the screen. Bastian Croft. His name lit up in a bubble, showing a preview of his text. I sighed, turning off the television, removing Teddy from my lap, and padded back into the kitchen. I needed more coffee to process whatever he said.
Bastian
Did you see the news?
Yes. Is that Marsh Thadur the same one Aramis mentioned?
Bastian
Same guy. Did you notice the sketches? All four are of the sleeping fae Aramis told us about.
The sleeping bodies?! How is that possible?
Bastian
That's what I'm trying to figure out. Stay inside. I'll be home later.
Fine…
Dots appeared, then disappeared. They didn’t reappear again.
I didn't want to admit how much I liked his protective words. Stay inside. I'll be home later.
I liked Bastian’s house. I could get used to living in a place like this, slightly removed from the city. In fact, I had every intention of taking advantage of it until we fixed my apartment.
So I finished off my coffee, and raided the pantry. Whatever I attempted wouldn’t compare to Bastian’s pancakes yesterday, so I settled on a banana. Then I went and changed in to a pair of shorts and headed downstairs to the gym.
Which was exactly where Bastian found me two hours later.