Chapter Twenty-One
There was no sign of Sylvia, Todd, or their car when we finally staggered into the parking lot, exhausted and shivering.
We headed to the two cottages we had reserved near the small town of Lion’s Head.
Each cottage had two bedrooms, but Owen and I had yet to discuss if we would share a bed or each take one.
By the time we drove through town, every restaurant and store had closed. We settled for eating the last of our snacks, but my stomach still rumbled as I squinted at the rental email under the porch light. I had to enter the security code three times before the light finally turned green.
I stood for a long time in the shower, letting the hot water wash over me as I trembled and cried. I finally got out when Owen knocked on the door and called my name, concern evident in his voice.
Towelling off, I stared at the red negligee I had bought with this weekend in mind.
I had decided to speed things up with Owen—just a little—and had planned to exit the bathroom wearing just this and a sultry come-hither look.
But given the way I was feeling now… I sighed and slipped the negligee over my head, then wrapped myself in a fluffy robe. Sex at this point was to be determined.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I avoided Owen’s gaze. He took the hint and headed for his shower. But by the time he emerged with only a towel wrapped around his waist, my decision had been made and I was waiting for him. Owen’s eyes lingered on my bare legs before he dragged them back to my face.
“Talk to me, Kira.”
“It’s been a lot, you know?”
“I know.”
“You were amazing today,” I said. I took a minute to admire his body.
Still wet from the shower, the muscles of his arms and chest caught the soft light of the bedside lamps and his skin glowed.
I wanted to brush the hair off his forehead, trail my fingers along the dips and ridges of his stomach, undo his towel…
The memory of the wraith almost touching him crashed into me, and I tightened my robe instead, wrapping my arms around my middle.
“Me?” He smiled, hooking the belt of my robe with one finger and pulling me toward him. “You were the one who escaped Aed, saved Jace and Shae, and passed the Waterstone Guardian’s test.”
“You jumped into a lake in the middle of a storm, rescued two injured people, then defeated two demons from Hell.”
“Guess we make a good team,” Owen said, even closer now. “Would probably be best if we stick together.”
I hesitated. “Only until we find Charles.”
“Only until we find Charles?” He slid his finger toward the opening of my robe and arched an eyebrow at the satiny red.
I took a deep breath, trying desperately to ignore his masculine scent and the warmth radiating from his body.
I certainly wasn’t distracted by his fingers caressing my waist under my robe, touching skin not covered by lace.
When had he opened my robe anyway? And, oh God, now both his hands were sliding down to my ass so he could hold me firmly against him.
I needed to focus. I raised my eyes to his, but the raw desire I saw there made me ache.
I dropped my eyes to his perfect lips. Big mistake.
I zeroed in on a water droplet running down his muscled chest. I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak before I did something foolish. Like catch that droplet with my tongue.
“This past week has been fun, Owen, but it can’t continue. We’ll find the third stone, save Charles, and finish this. Then we need to go our separate ways.”
Owen stilled. “Fuck that.”
“I’m no good for you, Owen,” I insisted. “I’m dark and messy. Dangerous. I could hurt you. We need to stop before things between us go any further. There’s no future for us.”
I pulled back and shivered at the look on his face. Behind the anger was something else. Panic. Like things between us were spiralling out of his control, and he was frantic to stop it. “What we have is rare, Kira. You don’t walk away from something this incredible. What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve told you I’m not afraid of you. Never will be. And you know I can handle myself in a fight. So why are you running?”
“Even the sword didn’t want me,” I wailed, and even I could admit I sounded childish. But I was exhausted and hungry and my emotions were all over the place. I was sick of being the dark one already. I had never wanted this.
Owen exhaled and looked like he was holding back a laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him, but he only drew me in for a hug.
“I want you. Jace and Shae want you. Charles would, too, if he was here. We need you, Kira, and not just to find Charles. You’re part of our group. And if it makes you feel any better, Jace tried to hold the sword, but it rebuffed him as well.”
“It did?” I tried not to sound so happy about that.
“Yeah,” Owen murmured against my hair. “So, I don’t think it has anything to do with your magic. I think it’s just…my sword. What else is bothering you? Tell me.”
“Nothing.” My voice was muffled against his chest, and I couldn’t help rubbing my cheek against his skin.
“Kira…” He squeezed me, and I half wondered if he would have rather given me a shake.
“Everyone leaves me, Owen. Eventually. I don’t want to be hurt again. And even if we’re together for the rest of our lives, even if we live the greatest love story ever told, eventually you will die. Eventually you will leave. How would I survive that?”
Owen lifted my chin.
“With great love comes great risk, Kira,” he said. “I hope one day you find me worthy of taking such a risk. One day, I hope you’ll fight for me. For us.”
A tear rolled down my cheek, and Owen wiped it away with his thumb. I already knew he was worthy. That wasn’t the problem.
“I want to be brave and take that risk,” I whispered, almost afraid to speak those words out loud. “But I don’t know if I can.”
Owen smiled. “I know. But you’re one of the bravest people I’ve ever met.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. I see it in you every day. When you stand in front of your classes and share your thoughts. When you help animals in need. When you faced down Sylvia. When you saved all of us today on the Root Path. When you look at me like you’re doing now.
With hope in your eyes. You are very brave, Kira. You just need to believe it, too.”
More tears streamed down my face. “I’ll try. I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”
“Hey. We’re all messes sometimes, me included. And Kira? I want the mess. Understand? I want all sides of you. So, if something is bothering you, tell me and we’ll figure it out. Together.”
I nodded, too overcome with emotion to speak.
“But now it’s time for bed. We’re both exhausted. I’ll take my own room.” He stepped away from me, but I reached out and grabbed his hand.
“Actually, I’d be okay sharing a bed.”
Owen grinned.
“To sleep in,” I amended with an arch look.
“I never thought otherwise.”
I rolled my eyes and led him to the king-size bed.
I slipped under the covers, then removed my robe and tossed it to the side.
I knew exactly what would happen if Owen saw me in my sexy lingerie, and we both needed rest. I tried not to look as he stood by the edge of the bed and dropped his towel, but at the last second I couldn’t help myself and peeked just in time to see a flash of bare, muscular ass.
Owen was naked in bed with me.
Did women still swoon? Because I might.
For a long while, we both lay on our backs staring at the ceiling. Then, as if drawn together by some invisible cord, our fingers laced together, and I smiled in the dark.
“Goodnight, Mystery Man.”
Owen raised my hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. “Goodnight. My brave knight in shining armour.”
I woke up feeling refreshed and much less upset about the previous day’s events. I stretched and wriggled lazily, vaguely aware of something warm and hard pressing against me.
A hand gripped my hip. “Unless you’re ready to take things a lot further, I suggest you quit moving.”
My eyes flew all the way open, and I froze. “Morning,” I whispered and shifted so I could see Owen, then hid a smile when his gaze dropped to my breasts and lingered. I pressed against him again.
Owen let out a low groan. “Fuck.”
That one word intensified the ache between my legs. He was barely touching me, but I was already wet.
“Maybe a little further.” I bit my lower lip.
His hand tightened almost painfully on my hip, and he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they had darkened to a deep indigo. My stomach clenched. Oh, I wanted this man.
His eyes never left mine as he traced my bare shoulder with a finger, then slipped it under the spaghetti strap of my negligee and lightly caressed the skin underneath.
“Why this sexy number, Kira? Seems you had plans for this trip.”
I nodded, trying to focus on the conversation. “Ordered. Online. For you. Us.”
He stilled. “You bought it with me in mind?”
I nodded again, and he growled low in his throat.
“Fuck, Kira. I was barely keeping it together, and now …tell me if I go too fast, okay?” The press of his lips burned my shoulder while my nipples pebbled to hard points.
The lace of my negligee rubbed against them, driving me wild.
I shifted against Owen, pressing insistently against his hard length.
He threw a leg over both of mine, pinning me to the bed. “Be good,” he rasped, his breath warm against my skin. “You always wear sexy lingerie to bed?”
I shook my head no.
Owen’s eyes flared with surprise. “What do you usually wear? I thought you had lots of naughty lingerie pieces.”
“T-shirt,” I barely managed as he nuzzled his way up to my neck, his stubble scratching me deliciously. I moaned as he dragged his fingers over the swell of my breast.
Every touch was tantalizing and tormenting. Every caress promised more and wound me tighter, pushing me to an edge that was just out of reach.
Owen took going slow to a whole new level. He was teasing us both, and I loved every second. At any moment, I knew I could say “stop,” and he would. Owen might be taking the lead, but I had all the power.