Chapter Fourteen
Ipoured myself another glass of wine while trying without success to concentrate on the words before me. I needed to prepare for my next lecture, but that afternoon’s events kept replaying in my mind.
It had been a few hours since I almost killed Sylvia and, after I’d assured Owen I was okay, neither of us had spoken about it. Owen was probably waiting for me to bring it up, and I was dreading the fear I would see in his eyes. That and regret about pursuing me romantically in the first place.
What if he decided I wasn’t worth the risk?
What if he left?
Owen stood at the stove, adding ingredients to a skillet.
He was whipping up another one of his gourmet meals for the second night in a row—some sort of chicken and risotto dish—while wearing an apron with the words Mr. Good Lookin’ is Cookin’.
Of course, the man could cook. Just like he handled everything else with his quiet, skilful confidence.
Damn, that was sexy. “Where did you get that apron?” I took another sip as my gaze lingered on his ass. I needed to slow down on the wine.
He turned to me with a grin that partially eased my nerves. “You like it?”
“I do.”
“Christmas gift exchange at the office a few years back. You know the game where you can either open a gift or steal one?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s a fun one. Did you open or steal?”
“Stole. Thought it might come in handy if I ever cooked for a beautiful woman. First time I’ve had a chance to use it.” He winked, stirred the skillet, then leaned against the counter and appraised me.
Warmth spread through me, but I quickly sobered. We needed to talk about what happened, but I still wasn’t ready.
I looked at the books and papers strewn across the island. The rest of the kitchen was as spotless as ever, save for the few items Owen was using to cook.
“I’m so sorry, Owen. I’ve completely taken over your space,” I said as I tried to tidy and stack my many books and papers. There was so much clutter that I kept losing things. Where had my pencil even gone? Owen must be horrified at the mess I had made of his kitchen. His life.
I finally found it in my bun. Sliding it out, I let my dark hair cascade down my back, then ran my hands through the tresses, shaking them. When I glanced up, Owen was staring at me.
“Owen?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s no trouble at all.”
“Then what were you thinking?”
Now it was his turn to look unsure. He was silent while he served the risotto and a salad. I took the plate he handed me with a murmured “thank you.”
“I was thinking that I like having you in my kitchen.”
“Even with all my mess?” I asked, half teasing.
“Especially with all your mess.” His tone was completely serious.
I blushed. Coming from orderly and fastidious Owen, that was a lovely sentiment.
I surveyed the room again, trying to see it from his perspective.
One of my fall harvest–scented candles flickered beside me.
Owen’s rock music played in the background.
Tonight the room was a beautiful mix of the two of us.
It felt cozy. Safe. Like we were in our own little world where moody Tree Spirits and infuriating Sylvias didn’t exist. If only.
“Now what are you thinking?” he asked, taking a seat across from me.
I think I may be an evil witch, and I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to leave before things get weirder. And more dangerous. Except I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay with me. Forever.
Yeah, there was no way I could say that.
“I’m sorry about earlier. I went too far, and you must be having second thoughts about…about offering to protect me.”
“Who said anything about second thoughts?”
“I hope you don’t think less of me after what happened.” There. I’d said it, even if I couldn’t look him in the eye.
“Why would I think less of you?”
“Well, it was so awful.” I bit my lip.
“Kira, we all have a dark side to us. Plus, don’t forget, I’ve been in literal war zones and I’m a bodyguard—I don’t frighten easily, especially where you’re concerned.”
“But aren’t you scared I might hurt you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because twice now, I’ve been able to break you out of the trance, or whatever it is that comes over you, and I’ve never once felt you turn your anger on me. Not even when I was aggravating you.” His lips quirked up, and I couldn’t help but smile.
He was right. I hadn’t felt even a spark of magic when Owen and I had been at odds. There was a different spark between us, however, and maybe it was time we talked more about that.
“Yes, thank you for that…for kissing me,” I said, blushing as I remembered the barely restrained power of his mouth and body. “You saved Sylvia.”
“I saved you,” Owen said. “I wasn’t thinking about Sylvia at all. I couldn’t let you kill her. You don’t come back from something like that.” The haunted look in his eyes told me he knew all too well what it meant to take a life.
“So, I guess we’ve had our first kiss,” I said. “Or, technically, our second, if you count the…uh, fake one at Sylvia’s.”
“Technically, we haven’t kissed at all. Those two don’t count. Trust me.”
“They don’t?”
“When we have our first kiss, you’ll know.”
Oh. “I will?” Damn, could I sound any more breathless?
“Oh yeah.” His voice was rough, and when my tongue skimmed my bottom lip, his gaze darkened.
“Okay.” I looked down, fighting a pleased smile. I felt light-headed, and it had nothing to do with the wine.
“Kira?”
“Yes?”
“I want to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
“Do you remember what Granddad said before he disappeared?”
“He told you to use the sword.”
“Before that. He told me to take care of you. Something happened when I was seventeen. I won’t go into it now, but I went through a tough time.
I started hanging out with the wrong crowd.
Got into my fair share of trouble. Even spent a few nights in jail and my dad had to bail me out.
” He chuckled, but there was little humour in the sound.
“My parents were fighting, and I was angry at everyone.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. It was hard to imagine a younger, rebellious Owen.
“Granddad sat me down one day and told me I would meet someone who would change my life. He said I needed to pull myself together because that person would need me. I scoffed at him but the idea gave me purpose. It eventually pulled me out of my downward spiral, and I turned my life around and entered the military. Over the years, I’ve been on countless missions and protected and saved a lot of people.
And the whole time I thought I was fulfilling the purpose Granddad had set for me all those years ago. ”
I smiled. I could imagine Charles sitting an angry, young Owen down, fixing him with a steady gaze, and telling his grandson sternly yet affectionately to get himself sorted.
“But then,” Owen swallowed and took a breath before continuing.
“Then, Kira, I met you, and I realized that Granddad had always meant you. You were the person who was going to need me, and you would be the person to change my life. The night before the portal opened, he told me to take care of you, but I had already decided to protect you long before that.”
He reached across the island and took my hand. “So, no, Kira. You don’t scare me. Your power doesn’t scare me, and I have no regrets promising to protect you. Because I’ve been waiting a long time for you, and you’re finally here.”
Tears welled in my eyes, and I could barely speak past the lump in my throat. But there were only two words I wanted to say.
“Kiss me.”