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“Mm, sorry, but the couch isn’t available.” I trail kisses down her neck and across her shoulder.
“W-why?”
Another kiss, my teeth grazing the soft curve of her neck. “Because I said it wasn’t. This is the only other bed in my house. And if you find another option, I’ll happily set it aflame myself.”
Her breath hitches as I bite the lobe of her ear.
“I won’t touch you any more than I am right now unless you tell me to,” I breathe against her flushed skin. Gods, do I want her to tell me to.
She turns her face slightly to look at me, her pupils dilated. The salty scent of tears clings to her still, and I kiss her cheek, then her jaw. She sucks her lower lip into her mouth, her teeth pressing into the soft skin.
I kiss her softly once on her temple, then settle down beside her, keeping my arm around her waist. “Sleep,mia fiamma. Tonight is not the night for decisions.”
Because whatever decisions she has to make don’t include what you want.
Closing my eyes, I shove my wolf and my worries away, focusing only on the warm body of my mate in my arms, in my bed. I wait to drift off to sleep until I feel her breathing even out, light snores escape her as exhaustion wins whatever battle is going on inside her. Then, finally, sleep takes me as well.
Inhaling deeply, the light forest scent that clings to Adara fills my lungs. Woodsy yet feminine and perfect. My hold around her tightens, and she sighs in her sleep, her face nuzzling into my chest. My heart swells—she rolled over in her sleep to get closer to me.
I lay there for a while, unsure if a minute or an hour goes by. All I know is this is what I want for the rest of my life. Her in my arms, her hair fanned across my pillow, her soft breath against my skin. I never want to go a day without touching her, kissing her, smelling her perfume. I’ve never loved someone so much that I’d let them drown me, consume me,destroyme, but for her… for her, I’d do anything. Before her, I only remember emptiness—the kind that hatred carves deep inside your soul, that eats you alive slowly until all you can think of is death and revenge. But this… this love, this woman,this witch,bursted into my life and made methirstas if I’d been starved and dehydrated for eternity. As if she were the last drop of water. As if she were the last morsel of nourishment. As if she were the last breath of air.
And maybe she is. Maybe she’s all of those things because I’ve never needed anything as much as I need her beside me.
Bending my head down, I kiss the top of her head. Her hair is smooth as silk against my lips and smells like cloves. I lightly brush the hair off her face, tracing the line of her cheek and jaw with one finger, reveling in her softness.
Slowly, I force myself to slip out of bed and make my way downstairs. Opening the kitchen window, I talk to Kaylus about what happened last night, though he’ll have to talk to Adara for a two-sided conversation. He flies upstairs while I start coffee and breakfast, wanting her to have everything at her fingertips the moment she wakes up.
A soft thud hits the floor, and I turn to face the doorway. Adara stands there, fidgeting with her sweatshirt sleeves, a duffel bag at her feet. I quirk a brow at her, leaning back against the counter.
“I’m going to… go.” She avoids eye contact, glancing over her shoulder at the front door. “I called for a ride.”
“Well, I guess you better cancel it.” I grab my mug off the counter, taking a sip of the hot black drink.
Her gaze flicks to mine, her lips parted. “I can’t stay here, Gideon.”
“Why?” I set my mug down roughly, the ceramic smacking on the countertop. “Because I think it’s the best option to keep youalive. You need to stay here so I can protect you, Adara.”
“Because it’s not safe! If it keeps me alive, then it’s only at the cost ofyourlife!”
I stalk toward her, dipping my head low to hold her gaze, keeping only an inch of space between us. “Do you think I’m so weak I can’t defend myself?” I ask, my voice low. “Do you think I’m delusional in thinking no danger would come here and that’s what makes it safe here for you?”
She takes a step back, trying to create space between us, but I follow her, backing her up against the wall.
“Do you think I’d let anything—anyone—come in here and hurt you or myself? Because, darling, anyone who comes here signs their own death certificate the minute they challenge me or come for you.”
“You’re an arrogant idiot,” she says softly.
My brows furrow as her anger rises, her jaw tensing as she glares at me.
“You can’t beat her. She’s hellbent on killing me, killing all of us. She wants to be immortal. She threatened Jules just to get to me. She threatened you!” She shoves one finger into my chest, tears pricking at her eyes. “She’s coming for me, and that means she’s coming foryou. She’ll kill you, just like she did last night.” Both her palms slap against my chest, and she shoves me back, reaching for her duffel bag.
I grab her wrist, putting her hand on my chest as I pull her back to me. She rips from my grasp, rearing back to slap me, but I catch her arm. “Adara,” I whisper, my other hand reaching up, my knuckles brushing her cheek. “Is that why the bed burned last night? Were you fighting her… for me?”
Sharply turning her head away, her chest heaves up and down, her breaths becoming rapid.
“I don’t want you to leave,” I say, and she looks up at me, tears tracking down her cheeks. “I want you to stay here. With me. Where we can fighttogether.”
I pull her into a hug, kissing the top of her head, then guide her to a stool in the kitchen and set food and coffee before her. We eat in silence, and I can’t stop thinking about last night and the way she keeps saying I’m not safe if she stays here, as if I’m her biggest concern.
