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Willow was capable of bringing out that part of me, and while I couldn’t outwardly express it to her, it was enough to know that she was such a beacon of light, whether or not she knew it.
Driving further into the woods, closer to Willow’s house, I thought about how picturesque of a place it was, even if it was dark. The moon hung in the sky bravely, illuminating the landscape. As we went, the treeline blurred past, and that fresh air kept me alert.
While its beauty was something I could appreciate about Rose Valley, it upset me to know how much pain my father caused its people. They had been completely innocent in the matter, even if he tried to convince us all otherwise.
By the time we pulled up to Willow’s house, I was itching to say something—anything. The ride had been far too silent, and I needed to get the words off my chest.
All the hundreds of thoughts that ran through my mind, most of which came directly from the contact of her arms wrapped around my waist.
I wondered if she could feel the pull between us. If she knew how difficult it was for me to get a grip on myself.
It struck me then how the kernel of a bond in my chest had been the culprit of my strange yearning to be near her and to feel her presence even when she wasn’t near.
How the unsettled feeling in my chest was all because I found her attractive despite my previous feelings about her. That I was so consumed by making things right, all because something within me wanted that connection. Needed it.
I had been a fool to treat her like I had, and I couldn’t stand the thought of not being a better man for her. But since I was back in Rose Valley again, I’d be damned if I left again without trying to see where the mate bond might take us.
Pulling up to the front steps, I killed the engine of my bike and steadied us. Willow carefully climbed off first, and then I followed. Propping up the kickstand, I pulled off my helmet and watched as she did the same.
“How was that?” I asked, noticing the lingering smile on her face.
Willow seemed to catch herself as she hid it away despite how it made my chest flutter. “It was better than I expected.”
“See? And that’s why we all ride.”
She gave me a small smile and handed the helmet back. “Thanks for bringing me home safely. I couldn’t imagine being in that club for another minute.”
“Of course. You looked pretty worn out there.”
Willow nodded absently, looking toward her front porch, where the light was on and waiting for her.
Feeling a slight discomfort between us, I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t know where to go from there.
We had been so close, and I was already missing the warmth of her arms against me, holding onto me for dear life.
Unsure of where we stood, I couldn’t help but feel like I had taken up enough of her time. Even so, I noticed how tired she still looked, and I couldn’t bring myself to leave without knowing she made it inside safely.
“Let me help you,” I said, holding an arm out for her.
Willow looked between my eyes and the outstretched arm, and she sighed. All signs of wanting to pull away seemed to vanish. “All right.”
She looped her arm through mine weakly, and we began for the porch.
Where her contact warmed me through my jacket, I felt a pleasant feeling run through my body. It was such a simple touch, but having her so close made every problem in the world vanish.
As we walked, I couldn’t help but think about how haunting it was to see her consumed by the vision. How terrified she was while she trembled and looked horrified by what she was seeing. While a part of me had been curious about what exactly was in that premonition, I also knew I was better off never having that on my psyche.
I couldn’t imagine how that had felt for her, and it made me glad I wasn’t a witch.
“How are you feeling after the vision?” I asked, unable to keep it in any longer.
“I’m fine,” she murmured, giving me the first glance of her coldness in a while. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
Not willing to push any further, I simply nodded once and helped her up the stairs.
“Your friends looked like they were having fun,” I eventually added, waiting for her to grab her key and unlock the door.
“Yeah, we hadn’t had a girl’s night out for a while,” she answered neutrally, opening the door with a single push.
