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“I’m not ready to lose you,” I admitted.
His heartbeat thundered against my ear, fingers combing through my hair, but he never responded.
I didn’t want him to.
Words now would be a useless balm to soothe a childish broken heart. I was twenty-three, not a teenager losing her first boyfriend.
His impending absence shouldn’t affect me to this degree. I’d only known him for a month, but with him, things were good—easy. When in his arms, I felt safe from the world. Even though I knew he didn’t love me, his embrace made me feel loved.
I appreciated that he treated me with respect and avoided superficial words.
If I could survive losing everyone else, I could survive this too.
39
NYRITH
RAE
Truffle wrappers littered the counter as Zeke, Ash, and Cyn bickered over which flavor was best from the box I’d brought home after work.
“I like the coconut cream,” Ash said.
Zeke’s nose scrunched. “Ew. Coconut is awful.”
“That’s because you hate the texture—the cream doesn’t have it,” Cyn said. “Either way, he’s wrong. Try this one.” He lifted a truffle for Zeke to bite. “It’s red velvet.”
After taking a bite, Zeke nodded. “Good, but it’s no chocolate lava cake.”
“That’s just chocolate on chocolate,” Ash said, laughing.
I opened the refrigerator, checking what I needed from the store. “You’re all wrong,” I said. “The strawberry crème tart is the best.”
“You would think the tart’s best,” Cyn muttered.
I turned to face him. “What?”
“You’re tart.” He shrugged. Zeke shoved his shoulder, but Cyn kept going. “What? You’ve all smelled it. Sweet and tart, like apple crisp. Fucking drives me nuts on top of the fruity floral. She needs to put something on to mute all that shit.”
“Just admit you like her,” Ash said.
“I hate her.”
“Well, she’s right here, and none of you make a lick of sense,” I said, glaring at Cyn. “Especially you.”
Except for the times I used perfume or lotion, only the guys mentioned my scent. Ezra’s implication about my arousal and emotions stuck in my mind. Maybe Shyrlivi biology let them smell what humans couldn’t.
I reached for the box. “You’ve had enough. Save some for Ezra—ah!” I squealed when Ash grabbed me around the waist, hoisting me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. My skirt rode up when I kicked my legs, so I reached behind me to avoid flashing Zeke and Cyn.
“Don’t come between a man and his sweets.” Ash laughed as I struggled.
Zeke came around to see my face, lifting the last strawberry crème tart truffle for me to taste. “Open.”
“I’m not a dog,” I said.
He slipped the truffle past my lips the moment I finished talking. His fingers were cool against my lips when I closed my mouth around them, and he took his time as he pulled away.
“Tart,” Cyn spat, sniffing.
