I know I should ask questions. There’s more power than I can seem to fathom in blood, but he feels like he’s about to shatter in my arms. At least this time it isn’t my blood.
Maybe it’s because I’m used to Nolan biting my neck that I choose the spot where Connor’s neck meets the thick muscle of his shoulder. With my arms wrapped around his waist, I press my lips against his feverish skin—kissing him—before I open my mouth wide and sink my teeth into his flesh.
It’s not easy to bite hard enough into muscle to draw blood, but when I finally do, he moans with immense pleasure while the drops of copper tang slip over my tongue. I don’t consume much, but it seems to be enough, because he sinks into me with a happy sigh.
His head rests on the same place it does when he sleeps with me as his wolf, right over my heart. Looking at his shoulder and back, I realize that my bite mark is only a few inches away from the scar he wears from the last time he was touched by my magic. At least this time was more pleasant.
While my fingers trail lazy patterns on his back, he whispers, “Thank you.”
I clear my throat. “For the blood thing?”
He releases a breathy laugh. “For saving my life that night.”
His words of thanks are a salve for the guilt I’ve harbored. Because of my actions, he was forced into a role he never wanted, but he doesn’t hold it against me.
My hand touches the shiny scar on his shoulder that looks like the surface of a pearl. “We protect each other,” I state firmly.
For once he doesn’t argue. After kissing me, he simply replies, “Yes, we do.”
Connor kicks off his boots and shifts to curl around me—his head on my chest, his arms around my waist, and his legs bent upward with my legs hanging over them. He’s so big that it’s shocking to see how tight he can contort his body, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He places a kiss on my chest then sighs contentedly in a way that reminds me of the nights we shared a bed when he was in his wolf form.
The light is still on and we’re on top of the deep, forest green comforter, but it doesn’t look like we’ll be moving any time soon if Connor’s deep, slow breaths are any indication. I smile and let my eyes drift closed, running my fingers through his hair and down his back.
For a room that felt impossibly small when I first entered, now it feels like a safe nook made only for the two of us. Somewhere that no one can reach us. No one can harm us. Because I won’t let them. We won’t let them. Lulled by the coziness of Connor’s warm body surrounding me, I succumb to sleep, certain that for at least one night, my nightmares won’t come for me.
Chapter 12
Callie
“He did what?” Mildred exclaims, startling me so badly I almost swerve off the road. “Where is your phone? I must speak with him. Now!”
“Um, front pocket of my backpack in the backseat?” I answer, though the sentence rises up at the end to sound more like a question.
She releases a deep breath, rubbing her temples, before she turns and starts digging for my phone.
My aunt thought the drive to my magic classes, aka Witch Sunday School, would be a good time to get some hands-on practice behind the wheel. Probably shouldn’t have told her about the whole blood oath thing on the drive. Yeah, yesterday would’ve been better, but I didn’t quite know how to word it, especially with all the new abilities and everything that happened with Connor. Okay, mostly I was too occupied trying to figure out what that night with Connor meant to consider the ramifications of the ceremony and everything.
He was very sweet the next morning, making sure I was fed—I got to use a fork this time—and that I had everything I needed to freshen up for the day before taking me home. However, he was also normal... well, for him anyway. Monosyllabic. Calm. Gentle touches. Nothing to hint that he’d kissed the crap out of me the night before. And he kissed my forehead when he dropped me off. Not my lips.Forehead! Why are boys so complicated?
And yeah, okay, fine, I could’ve asked him about it, but things look different in the morning. He was all…himand I was just…me. The person who is only just beginning to understand how friendships work and has absolutely zero experience being a girlfriend. Assuming that’s what he wants. He did just inherit a whole truckload of responsibilities thanks to me. Maybe he doesn’t have time for a relationship. Maybe he just needed to be close to someone for a night. Or maybe I’m acting like a crazy person that’s overthinking everything.
Ugh. I’m such a coward. Goddess level powers. Can’t ask the boy that now has intimate knowledge of my dental work if he like likes me and wants to…date? While there are already rumors that we’re dating…and that I’m dating all of his friends.
I don’t have to be Queen of the Mole People. I’ll take any openings, honestly. Court jester seems to come to mind at the moment.
“Callie!” Mildred shouts for what sounds like not the first time.
“Huh? What?” I reply, trying not to swerve off the road for a second time.
Her smile is tight, and her voice screams strained patience, when she asks, “Your phone password, please?”
“1234,” I provide, my hands tightening on the steering wheel.
There’s a long pause where she raises a single eyebrow at me before murmuring, “Thank you,” and searches through my call history for Connor’s number.
Everything is so quiet in the car I can hear when Connor answers the phone.
“Reina?”
