As Rob would put it, we got our asses kicked. Losing and getting injured so spectacularly wasn’t a common occurrence for me. I did not tolerate it well. Anyone seeing me like this irritated me even more.
The only person I’d let close was already here ruining tea and taking care of me. But if I hadn’t been able to control myself before, feeding on him when weak was a disaster waiting to happen.
"Then should I, should I go?” He glanced to the door. “I mean, if we’re done."
I stared at him in shock for several seconds. "Don’t tell me you’re actually offering to leave."
"Well, if our business is done.” Rob was awkward and stiff, halfway between the bed and the door. “You don’t gotta pay me or shelter me or see me."
Huh.
"Yes,” I said. “I should definitely stop paying you. That’s weird."
"It is?"
"Well, for what I’m imagining." Something like boyfriend was what I imagined. Butboyfriendssounded so juvenile for someone already past his fifties. I just needed Rob to stick around.
His shoulders loosened and the tension eased as I gave the answer he’d been hoping for, which was exactly whatIhoped for.
"So, does that mean we’re still seeing each other?” he wondered.
I held out a hand and pulled him closer the second he accepted it. He leaned down to join our lips.
"This is exactly where I want you.” I parted our mouths enough to speak, then gave him another gentle kiss.
While I’d actually prefer Rob in my lap, this was close enough, as close as we could get comfortably with my injuries. He placed a hand carefully on an injured area near my right shoulder to steady himself as he hovered over me.
I’d always been private and slow to warm up to others. It was worse after Taryn. Left to my own devices, I’d kept everyone at arm’s length and never let anyone in. Until a mage with little shame strolled into my world and made himself comfortable. The cold shoulder and reluctance were things he was used to from others, so he took great delight in trying to wear out his welcome, and somehow, instead of getting fed up and kicking him out, I never wanted him to leave.
Rob smiled against my lips. “I knew you were at least a little fond of my broke, annoying ass after all.”
"I’m not a little fond of you."
"Oh…” Rob pulled back and frowned. “That sucks."
"For some reason, I’mmorethan just alittlefond of you."
“Oh… that doesn’t suck?”
“It definitely sucks,” I disagreed with a wry smile.
“Hey!”
“You did mention the annoying thing.”
Rob kissed me softly, the perfect medicine, and it took me a second to notice the change in the air. Rob grew so much since we met. His magic usually lurked somewhere inside him like a secret but was becoming a more pronounced part of his presence. Just like his blue aura that never stayed the same shade of blue for long. It fit, reminding me of the sky where birds belonged.
Given how close we’d become I could usually feel his magic even if he weren’t using it, so I thought nothing of it at first when feeling his power in the air.
Then it draped around me, searching for a way inside. Like a forbidden offering, it was right there for the taking.
"What are you doing?” I tried to pull away. “I can’t—"
"You aren’t." Rob placed his hands on my shoulders and carried on.
I sucked in a breath. The cuts along my sides, they were mending. I lifted up my shirt. The angry red gashes along my sides diminished and turned pink like older healing wounds.
“You just healed me?"
