AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can see why.” I hesitated. “Does it work?”
He cast me a sidelong look, and I suddenly realized just how close he was standing to me… and how close we both were to the edge.
“Does it clear my mind?”
I nodded.
“Sometimes. Sometimes I go for a walk on the trails.” He took my hand, and another surge of heat rushed through me again, warming me despite the coolness of the evening.
He led me away from the headlights of the cars and around the massive granite boulders at the ledge, shocking me again when he showed me a cleared trail between the ancient rocks.
I shook my head in disbelief. “How have I never known these were here?”
“Why would you?” he laughed. “This is not exactly downtown South Havenmire.”
I untangled my hand from his, and without answering, I let myself shift, my apple green dress falling away to reveal a mass of brown and white speckled feathers. My wings beat rhythmically, propelling my stout form upward, and Nyx laughed appreciatively.
His hands came together in a joyous clap as he exclaimed, “You're an owl shifter!” The revelation sparked evident delight in his voice. “Such a rare gift among faeries.”
I released a low hoot in response, circling the area from above for a moment, and I saw now why I had never recognized the hidden gem for what it was. On a fly-by, it simply looked like grass and rock. I would have never known such a beautiful spot existed unless I was on the ground.
He had likely found this place when he was in his wolf form, running through nature.
Slowly, I descended, sliding back down until my long, owl legs transformed into my naked fae body.
“You really are a night owl.” Nyx watched me in fascination as I scrambled for my dress, embarrassed to be so exposed. “Don’t,” he instructed urgently, stepping toward me. “Please.”
Hesitating, I stopped, biting on my lower lip as he neared me, and I rose to my full height. He still towered over me by atleast half a foot, his gorgeous eyes boring into mine, stealing my breath.
Getting me naked was likely what he brought me to that place for. I shouldn’t have been surprised.
But I did receive the shock of a lifetime when he scooped up the garment from the ground and knelt down to lift my legs into the skirt.
Frozen and stunned, I did nothing as his gentle hands raised the dress over my nude body, his eyes fixed not on my nakedness but on my eyes. My heart raced so loudly in my ears, I couldn’t hear anything else, even when I spoke, my hands on his when they reached my shoulders, covering me entirely now.
Bemused, he stared at me, cocking his head. “What’s the matter?”
I couldn’t find my voice for a moment, so instead, I pulled his hand away—and with it, the dress. The material fell back to the ground, exposing my nudity again, this time without an iota of shame. I wanted him to see me, to look at me.
Light gleamed in his eyes as he recognized what was happening. He stepped closer, but kept his hands away. Silently, I begged him to make the first move, but he didn’t. He was waiting for me, making the heat inside me reach a boiling point.
I maneuvered myself closer to him, tipping my head back.
It wasn’t the king who wanted this. It was me. Understanding flooded his face, a small grin dancing on his full, luscious lips.
His mouth inches from mine, he watched me. “I want to kiss you,” he informed me. “More than anything.”
I nodded, unable to find my voice, and he raised his hand to the back of my neck, drawing me closer. My heart thudded furiously as his lips brushed mine, softly at first. He tasted sweet but smoky, like a campfire barbecue.
A soft whimper fell from my mouth as his teeth fell on my lower lip, pulling at the soft flesh, my lips parting to exhaleagainst him. We parted to stare at one another, and he seemed to be asking me something without using words.
Through the intensifying thud of my heart, I pursed my lips again, cocking my head. “What?” I rasped, not wanting to break the spell between us. His hands reached up to brush the hair away from my face.
“Nothing. You’re beautiful.”
I laughed nervously and started to look away, but his strong fingers pulled my chin toward him. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
