I never realized how loud that background noise was until I heard the silence.
Wren is more than any of it, though.
So much so that I thought she was a dampener when we first met.
She might be adudby our magical specifications, but to me, she’s the most powerful being I’ve ever met because I’m almost positive she holds my heart in her tiny hands, has ever since that first night, even if she doesn’t know it yet.
I could kiss her all day, listening to the sounds she makes and feeling her body against mine, soft and pliable.
But I need us to be more than that. I want to be someone she relies on, comes to when she needs me, and can depend on.
The way I had been once.
I also know that she’s still a virgin, yet another wonderful skill from my beast. I can smell her virginity, the scent calling to me like an incense, taunting me.
With every ounce of willpower I have, I pull back, but I’m unable to go far. I let my forehead rest against hers as we both choke down air like we were drowning.
What a way to die that would be.
I manage to peel my eyes open after a moment, watching hers flutter open, her pupils blown wide enough that they eat up most of the blue I love so much. Her cheeks are red and her lips slightly puffy, and I can’t stop the smirk that pulls at my lips, knowing I did that to her.
Not Julian.
“Hi,” she whispers, her voice rough and thick, the sound going right to my already aching cock, before she smiles, and fuck me, I shouldn’t be able to feel like this after so little time together, but it feels like so much more.
She’s been a part of me for years; I’d just been too stupid to realize how important she was until fate had her stumble back into my life.
I’m thankfully not dumb enough to ignore it again.
“Hi.” I push a loose strand of hair behind her ear and pull her over to the couch with me, flicking a hand behind me, magically locking the door when she’s not paying attention.
The last thing we need is someone to walk in on our not-so-professional meeting.
I’m serious about picking her over this job, but I’m not sure she’s ready to hear that or that she wants anyone else knowing, and for now, this is enough.
I can be patient as long as she's mine, even if only behind closed doors.
I drop onto the couch, reaching for her, but she hesitates, and I feel the slight resistance.
“Wren?”
She picks at her leggings as she chews on her lower lip, and I don’t need to feel her emotions to know something is worrying her.
I move my hold on her wrist down to her hand, lacing my fingers through hers, and wait for her to figure it out. I don’t want to push her, and I never want to make her uncomfortable.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” She asks without looking up, and while it seems like a perfectly reasonable question, I know there's more. I can feel it.
I tug on her hand, making her step toward me, gently brushing my lips against the back of her hand, enjoying the taste of her and the way it makes her breath hitch.
Her gaze snaps to meet mine as I look up at her, and I see the storm that brews there, the worry and fear.
“Wren.” My lips drag against the soft skin on the back of her hand, and I see her shudder, but she doesn’t look away.
“Are you sure you want this with me?”
There it is, that terrible self-doubt.
I can’t wait to stamp that out of her; even if it takes me assuring her for the rest of my life, I’d be honored to do it.
