Chapter Twelve
She suspected me. I’d known going to the store would be too bold, but I couldn’t help myself. Seeing her all done up and pretty had made me flock to her. Luckily, the store was surrounded by forest and I was able to summon a blue jay friend to distract the townsfolk while I made my great escape. And even luckier, I had been watching them for centuries, so I recalled families, generations, trades, even down to some sordid affairs and gossip. Though admittedly, in the past couple of turns of the sun, I had gotten achingly lonely and being around them had made me more aware of that.
I couldn’t scare them away, so I always stayed on the periphery, hoping an opportunity would present itself. Even then, I was picky about the humans I engaged with. They had to have reverence for nature, a spark in their eyes, and bravery in their hearts. All three together was a rarity.
But my Shea, well, she had them all.
When I walked into the cabin, she swiveled her head. Her energy was frenetic—it had never felt so unbridled. Even when she was at the peak of back-to-back orgasms, it hadn’t been this potent.
“Hello, lover,” I said, testing the air.
She skulked closer, her eyes narrowing as she glowered up at me. “Are you married?”
“No!”
“How? You heard that cashier. You’re handsome as hell. Why hasn’t someone swiped you up?”
“I could ask you the same. You are a great beauty.”
“Don’t flatter me! Now is not the time!” She crossed her arms, hoisting her tits up in the process. “What?” she spat.
“I am sorry. Your heaving bosom distracted me.” I shook my head to fight from ogling.
“Heaving bosom? Who the hell talks like that? That’s another thing I don’t get about you. It’s like you’re a sheltered homeschool kid or a damn time traveler.”
I eyed her, perfectly confused. “So you choose to insult me now?”
“Why don’t I ever get to go to your place? Why don’t I ever see you drive?”
“I told you my house is not homey and charming like yours.”
“And your car?”
This would have to be a fault I pinned to myself. I had never been in a moving vehicle. Not only was I bound to the forest, but I certainly didn’t want to test the limits on if I could travel by automobile. The idea made me slightly nauseous. How could humans so bravely get in metal machines and blaze about without any worry?
“I do not have a car.”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“I do not know how to drive.”
She let out a sigh. “For real?”
“Yes, I am for real,” I echoed back to her, hoping I was using it appropriately. “I get everywhere I need with my feet. They have not failed me.”
She cracked a smile of relief. “Is this some stance on fossil fuels?”
Lost again, I took a step closer to her. “I promise I am yours, Shea. I have no other woman in my life, nor do I crave that. I only crave you.” I gathered her hands in mine. “You have been such a light in this dark winter. Please do not let these thoughts in your head ruin our time together. It is so precious to me.”
She unzipped my coat and helped me smooth out my hair after I yanked off my knit hat. “I’m sorry for accusing you. It’s just, yeah, I guess I’m overthinking things.”
I reached for her face, cradling it and sweeping my thumbs over her freckled cheeks.
Her eyes grew with yearning. “Kiss me,” she said, barely a breath.
I continued to hold her face and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Every stitch of passion I could muster was thrown into it. Decades, centuries, thousands of years of yearning given to her, only her. I melded my lips to hers, nibbling her bottom lip then swiping it with my tongue before darting into her mouth. She relaxed in my embrace, letting me hold and twist her how I saw fit in my affections. Little gasps of air left her as she fisted my shirt, holding on for some stability.
“I’m yours?” She gasped between kisses.
“Yes.”
She was the other half of my soul. I was so used to humans being addicted to me, but here I was, consumed by this mortal. It was a first for me. That was how I knew this was different. Her existence was the only thing I cared about. Masses of people could worship me again and it would all mean nothing if she didn’t love me.
I needed her mouth on me, whispering praises up my shaft. I needed her hungry eyes roaming my body, filling me up with adoration.
“You only crave me?” She peppered frantic kisses up and down my neck, undoing my flannel.
“Only you.”
“Prove it.”
I picked her up like a bride and lowered us to the floor, depositing her amongst all the furs and soft blankets. The lights of the Yule tree twinkled in her doe eyes.
“First, to prove it, I will taste what is mine.”
I kissed her lips, then her neck, then pushed up her sweater, grateful she wasn’t strapping her tits down with a bra today. I traced the bud of her breast then roved lower, down the womanly pooch of her torso, then to her cunt.
She opened her legs for me, tilting her hips to present her pink center. I dove face-first into it, swiping my nose through it, the scent alone making my cock harden. From there I drank her sweetness, taking each gasp from her lips as a victory. Her hand laced through mine, squeezing it as she came.
I reared up and stared at her while undressing myself. “Now I’m going to feel what is mine.”
She pulled me to her while I inserted my cock in her slicked-up cunt. The heat from the fire warmed the side of my body closest to the flames. I felt alive. Almost mortal.
I wanted to tell her now.
I wanted to tell her everything.
I opened my mouth. “Shea, I—”
She held onto my shoulders, her eyes searching mine as she bobbed beneath me, slightly jolted with each bump. “Loving you feels so scary,” she whispered, her golden brows pinching.
“You love me?” I asked.
Her breath hitched as she nodded. “Yes, yes I do.”
“I love you, too.” I slowed, bracing myself over her to stare into her eyes. “Loving you scares me too. I would do anything for you.”
“Hold me. Just hold me and love me. I just need to feel you.” Her eyes twinkled with tears now. My Shea was a sensitive soul. She felt things so deeply.
“I want to remember this forever,” I confessed.
“Forever. Now kiss me.”