Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Do you need food?” He pulled her into his arms again.
“Sebastian always has something, so probably. This is new for me, being in this situation. I’m usually the no-magic caretaker.”
“The one in control.”
She hesitated, quiet for a long beat as he felt the currents of the house. Ivy House was directing his feet.
“I never looked at it like that,” she said softly.
“It can be hard, letting go,” he said, taking the stairs down to the second floor. “Trusting someone else to take care of you.”
Trust me to take care of you, he wanted to say but didn’t. He’d show her—prove to her that he not only wanted the job, but that he would be good at it. Jessie and the team had taught him how.
A door popped open as he neared it and they emerged into Natasha’s room. He set her on the bed.
“Stay,” he commanded, and she shuddered, closing her eyes. She liked when he got forceful.
He looked through her drawers until he found the pajamas and chose the fluffy ones he’d put on her when in Evan’s cairn. He stood her up and stripped her down to her panties before pausing, seeing his release leaking down her inner thighs.
A wave of arousal rushed through him, so powerful he swayed where he stood, closing his eyes and swearing under his breath.
“We need to get you cleaned up.” He softly ran his thumb along her jaw. Her eyes were still closed. “Let me go grab you something to eat, and then we’ll get you into the shower and to bed, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
He tucked her into her robe and set her down again before heading down to make a protein shake. Back in her room, she sagged where she sat, head tilted forward and eyes closed. It looked like it was a struggle to stay upright.
“Here you go.” He handed her the shake and decided against the shower. She was done in.
Instead, he got a warm washcloth and cleaned her up, jaw clenched against his arousal. He grabbed a different pair of panties, choosing the largest, ugliest ones she had. Half laughing to himself, because it didn’t at all help calm him down, he waited for her to finish the shake before dressing her and tucking her into bed.
“Do you want me to stay?” he asked, sitting beside her and looking down on her beautiful face.
Her eyes fluttered open, the now-familiar shadow pooling in their depths. Her past was haunting her again. Her guilt and shame. She just could not get around her self-loathing for the things she’d had to do.
“Why do you bother with me, Tristan?”
Because I love you.
The words were nearly out before he bit them back. “Because you’re worth my bothering with you.” He scrunched up his nose. “That didn’t make sense.” He bent to kiss her forehead, and then her lips. “Because you’re worth the effort, Natasha. Because I enjoy being with you and talking to you and playing our games. I enjoy your presence and your smiles and your frowns. I get excited when I know I’ll see you, and I miss you when I don’t.”
“You can have any woman you want.”
He kissed her again. “Not until you finally stop running.”
“What if I never stop?”
“You will. One day you’ll realize I’m not going anywhere, and you’ve finally found someone who will treasure you as you should be treasured. Who understands you and respects you. Someone who will fight for you and protect you.” He leaned over her to kiss her wet cheeks. “One day you’ll stop pretending you don’t want all that and realize it is worth the risk of giving away your heart. Now close your eyes, little angel. I’ll stay until you fall asleep, and then I’ll give you your space, okay?”
She took a shuddering breath. “Okay.”
She burrowed a little deeper into her pillows and comforter. He took her hand and watched her as sleep quickly dragged her under. He didn’t leave right away, though. He stayed a while longer, listening to her breathing and feeling her comforting presence.
He hoped he was right, and that she would stop running eventually. He honestly wasn’t so sure anymore.
16
Austin
“Get Sebastian,” Austin demanded, standing over the body of a shifter male. His clothes were ripped, as though he’d been starting to shift when he died.
The sun barely peeked over the horizon, just after dawn. The body had been found a half-hour ago but had been lying here for longer. This had to have happened in the middle of the night or in the small hours of the morning. No one had seen it happen or heard the yell. No one besides this guy had been reported hurt, and still no one was reported missing.
The latter was suspect.
Actually, a few things about this situation were suspect; he just didn’t know whom to point the finger at. He needed to find someone, though, because this was the first death. Barely day two and someone had already died from violence. That wasn’t good tidings for the success of this conclave.