Just when she thought her stomach was empty, it expelled even more. Once she was finally done, Toryn helped her up and watched as she washed her face.
Feeling more composed, she finally turned around to look at him, asking, “How did you know? About the night he came to my apartment? You always know.”
“Sometimes it’s a feeling. Other times I see something, a vision. Some call it a blessing, most of the time I consider it a curse, but at least it got me there before he could do worse to you.” His beautiful eyes were full of honesty and sadness. “Come on, let’s put some food back in you, then you should sleep off the rest of the wine.”
“Eat?” The thought alone was mortifying.
He gave her a stern look. “No more faerie wine. Only soup, then bed.”
“Fine,” she muttered and went back to the kitchen to hop up on the counter. He gave her the soup and she drank it slowly this time, unsure of whether she should trust her stomach or not.
It didn’t help that he stood there, watching her with those sad eyes. He was going to break her heart if he didn’t stop.
Everything he said swirled through her head and she found herself laughing as she put the mug down. “You really called my name out during sex?”
“Mmm.” He closed his eyes and licked his lips. “You could ask Tiffany. Why do you think she hates me? It’s my fault she stopped talking to you.”
“Explains the cold shoulder.” He finally smiled and she couldn’t resist. “At least I caught myself before I made a similar mistake.”
His eyes grew round. “What?”
She covered her face with her hands. “It’s why I don’t like dealing with Reese. I nearly called your name, but caught myself.”
“But you never said anything,” he whispered in disbelief.
“Neither did you.”
“Yeah, but I never thought you could, or would, want me.”
“Same here.” She frowned, unsuccessfully fighting off a yawn.
* * * *
His heart was pounding in his chest. She really did feel something more than friendship for him. They might actually have a chance. Tonight, though, he needed to take care of her, and she was tired.
“Tell me you’ll stay?” Toryn quietly asked.
“If you’ll let me borrow a t-shirt.” Color flooded her cheeks.
“You can have my bed, I’ll sleep in the guest room.”
Isadora covered his mouth with her hand and raised a single eyebrow.
He couldn’t resist kissing her palm.
Her breath caught, but she shook her head. “Okay, don’t tempt me, but you can sleep in your bed, with me. I trust you completely. It’s me I’m not so sure about.”
That made him smile, but if she knew what he was thinking, or imagining, she might have second thoughts. He had to squash those and be a gentleman like he promised. “Are you sure?”
“Extremely, same as last time he came after me.”
Last time was hard enough. Now that he knew she wanted him, it was going to be torture. Didn’t matter, it was a torture he was happy to endure. “Anything for you, Isa.”
“Thank you.” She went back to his room. “One thing, Tor, you’re going to have to untie this thing.” She lifted her hair and waited.
His heart damn near stopped. After everything she’d learned, she wasn’t running. He only hoped he could earn her trust back when she learned the rest
With a will of steel, he untied the corset and laid a soft cotton undershirt over her shoulder. Before she could turn around, he moved to change in the bathroom. For the first time ever, he was going to wear the top of the pajamas with the pants. He wasn’t convinced he could control himself if he held her against his skin. And there was no way he could go the entire night without her in his arms if she was in his bed.
When he came back out, her hot pants were lying on the corset, and she was snuggled into the blankets and pillows like she belonged there.
Trying to be a gentleman, he lifted the covers and lay down on the bed, but made no move to close the distance.
Isadora surprised him. She scooted against his body, placing her head on his shoulder as she snuggled in to curl her arm around his waist.
Unable to resist, he wrapped her in his embrace.
He whispered, “How can you trust me?”
“I did before, and even more now. Whatever happens, you are still my best friend.” She yawned again.
“You never cease to amaze me.” He kissed her head. “Now go to sleep, you need the rest.”
“Hey, Toryn,” she looked into his eyes, “thank you for taking care of me.”
“Always Isa, always,” he vowed. There wasn’t a single thing he wouldn’t do for her. She was his everything. “Sweet dreams.”
“You too, my knight.” She closed her eyes and drifted off almost immediately.
Chapter 14
“Shh, shh, you’re safe,” Toryn murmured, his fingers combing through her hair. “Wake up Isa, I’m here, I’ve got you.”
Her eyes popped open and latched onto Toryn. She couldn’t catch her breath.
He hugged her close.
“Sorry,” she muttered, “I keep having the same nightmare.”
“What about?” There was no judgment there, only comfort, but still, she was embarrassed.
“Same one since I was a kid. Some big, ugly dog scared the hell out of me.”
Squeezing her tight, he smiled sweetly and she snuggled closer. “There’s no dog here.”
No, just a warm, strong man, who always makes everything better.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I was already awake.” He started to climb out of bed, and she wanted to protest, until he asked, “Hungry?”
Her stomach answered with a rumble. “Yeah, food sounds good.” She sat up reluctantly and looked at the clock. It was only eight, she usually didn’t wake up for another hour on work days, much later on others. “Hey, what was in that soup? Last time I woke up, I felt like hell. Now I’m great.”
“An herbal remedy, among other things. I hate seeing you hurt, and you were in bad shape. I hope you don’t mind that I used magic.”
“Not at all, thank you.”
“Go on, take a shower, I’ll cook. You’ll find your work clothes on the counter. After last week, I doubt you’d let me talk you into taking it easy.” He half-smiled and grabbed his own set of clothes.
She stared at him in disbelief. Only one word stuck in her head.
“Cook?” She never saw him cook anything before that soup.
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.” Regret dripped from his voice, but he didn’t look back as his hand landed on the doorframe. “I had to keep up appearances.”
* * * *
The day Toryn had dreaded for the last ten years finally arrived. The day she would realize how wrong she was about him. She would never trust him and how could she? Omitting was the same as lying, and he omitted a whole world of information.
No sense in dwelling on it. The past was the past, and he was going to do everything in his power to gain her trust back. For now, he busied himself with cooking breakfast.
He was setting the table when she came out, fresh-faced, and her hair blow-dried straight. Her head tipped to the side as she took in the scene. She didn’t look startled, merely curious.
There was awe in her voice. “I’m impressed.”
“Impressed? You aren’t questioning everything about me?” He frowned, unwilling to believe her trust wasn’t failing.
She shrugged, but one corner of her mouth tipped up, “I was always a freak, so being fae explains things.”
“You’re taking it better than I expected.” He wondered how long that would last.
She grabbed his hand and he met her gaze. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve let you believe I was something I’m not for years. I imagine you feel betrayed.”
Big emerald eyes narrowed as she shook her head. �
�You were sent to protect me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Told not to tell me what we are?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ve known you for ten years and I never pushed you for answers.” Which was true, she never did, didn’t even give much resistance when he dodged certain questions. “I knew there was more to you, that you had a past, but you know what?”
“What?” he whispered, his heart ready to splinter.
“I’ve always loved you. Nothing is going to change the fact that you’re my best friend. I trust you with everything. I know what’s here.” She placed her hand over his heart and it damn near beat out of his chest. Her smile brightened. “I don’t care about the past. You have never hurt me, you always show up when I need a friend, and you always take care of me. If I was a job, you wouldn’t hold me whenever I cry over stupid assholes. You wouldn’t walk with me in the rain when I’m too bored to sit still. You wouldn’t go on two-day shopping excursions, then help me embellish a pair of boots with rhinestones to see me smile.”
She had a point. Daring to hope, he placed his hand over hers. “You may change your mind when you learn the rest. I hope you still have faith in me in the end, but I won’t hold you to it. Everything is a lot more complicated than you know.”
“Hmph.” Her eyes narrowed. “Isn’t it always? Does that change what you feel for me? Or was what you told me last night a lie? Because I don’t believe that.”
“I’ve never lied to you, Isa, but I left out more than you can imagine. Once you understand who I am, who you are, and everything else, things will change.”
“Would you ever hurt me?” she asked.
“Never. I love you, I’ve always loved you, but…”
“Then stop. People change. I’m not going to ditch ten years of friendship over a few new details. I know who you are now. The rest doesn’t matter, because you’re everything to me.”
His heart paused, but there was too much to overcome. “I hope you still feel that way in a few days. For now,” he glanced at her flat tummy that rumbled in response, “let’s eat.”
She took her seat with a grin. “So what else should I know about you? Because it looks like you prepared a feast.” She piled her plate up and licked her lips.
Winking playfully, he shrugged, “We’d be here all week and then some if I tried to tell you everything. Give me more time and I’ll answer all of your questions, tell you everything and anything else that comes to mind. For now, I need you to be a bit more specific.”
“All right, is this who you really want to be? The easy, fun-loving guy who always makes me smile?”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” he confided. “I’ve never been more myself than when I am with you. I’ve had to keep certain things from you and I hate it, but this is who I am, who I want to be. Back home, it’s not the same, at least for me. I have to fill certain roles, be someone I don’t like to stay on the right side of things.”
“Hmm?” Isa drowned her pancakes in butter and maple syrup. She took a bite, humming to express her appreciation. “This is good, like really good.”
He grinned and continued, “Here, no one seems to care who I am. I don’t have to pretend.”
“Good, because I love you exactly as you are. Yeah, yeah, I’ll learn more about you, but it doesn’t change what I already know.”
“All right.”
Her brow arched. “Why do we always eat out if you can cook like this? Because seriously, yum.”
He couldn’t help chuckling. “I’d rather sit down with you and talk instead of cook. When we eat out, I get you all to myself for a little while.”
* * * *
Oh, and he thought she could hate him? Toryn was wrong, oh so wrong. No one had ever told her anything half as sweet as that. If she hadn’t already been in love with him, she would have fallen that second. “See, Toryn, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, and you expect me to hate you when that’s how you really feel? I don’t think that’s possible.”
Doubt clouded his eyes. “Isa,” he said gently, “I’ll be hanging out at the bar while you work today. All day. If trouble comes, we may have to bail early.”
“No problem. I’m relieved you’ll be there.”
Reality swirled around her, bleeding into an ancient forest at the edges of a deep pool with colorful crystals embedded in the floor. There was a thunderous waterfall that poured into the far end.
Toryn took her hands and the room rematerialized around them. Disoriented, she stammered, “What’s happening to me now?”
Gently, he caressed her face and a shiver ran through her. “You drank too much of the faerie wine. It’s the residual effect. It allows you to see across the divide and escalates your senses. Being around another fae intensifies the results.” He sighed and squeezed her hands. “For now, I don’t want you out of my sight. The effects will wear off in a couple of days. I probably told you too much, too fast and confessed things I shouldn’t have, but I was a wreck last night. I thought I lost you, and it hurt worse than anything I have ever felt.” He squeezed his eyes shut and took a shaky breath. “I will protect you like I always have.”
“I never doubted you, Toryn. And I’m glad you told me. It was getting hard to hide how I feel about you.”
Isa finished her food and took her plate to the sink.
She turned back to look at him. “If I was raised in Faerie, would you feel the same about me?”
There was no hesitation in his answer. “Yes, no question in my mind.”
“Why?”
There was only raw truth in his gaze. “Our connection is here.” He laid his hand over his heart.
She smiled back at him.
“Not here.” He ran his hand down his chest, his abs, and over his fly with a wink.
She had to swallow back her lust.
His voice was low, when he added, “But never doubt I want you in my bed more than I’ve ever wanted another being.”
“Tease.” She couldn’t blame him. He was innately sexual, like her. She turned to finish getting ready.
* * * *
Teasing was never his intention, at least not of the sort she referred to. Toryn craved nothing more than to keep Isadora there in his home, kissing her, touching her, making love to her all day and all night. If she didn’t need to go to work to keep Remus from suspecting something was up he would consider it.
First, there were a million things she needed to understand before he could take their relationship there. Not to mention, he needed to know how far Remus was involved with Evan, and how deep the conspiracy ran. And he needed to do all of this without giving her the whole story yet.
To wrangle his conflicting thoughts and desires, he took his time cleaning the kitchen before following her to the bathroom.
He found her sitting cross-legged on the counter as she finished applying her make-up.
Her eyes met his in the mirror, and her lips quirked up. “As long as we’re being honest, do you like me better with or without all the stuff?” She made a motion toward the hair products and cosmetics.
“Oh, Isa.” He smiled warmly. “You are beautiful no matter what you do.” He hopped up on the counter and leaned back against the mirror to look deep into her beautiful emerald eyes. “I love how you look either way. You are honestly the only woman I know who could shave her head, throw away every bit of make-up, wear a plain burlap robe, and still turn the head of every person in the place.”
“Really?” she gave him a funny look, but didn’t seem so sure.
“Really.” He nodded. “You don’t have any idea how hard it is to feign interest in another person to make everyone else think I’m not with you. Or how hard it is to see you with another man.”
“Does it help if I admit every last one of them, for the last ten years, was a terrible attempt to convince myself you weren’t the one I wanted?”
“Same here, Princess.”
She swallowed hard. “But what
about Leon? You two are good together.” She looked away, squeezing her eyes shut.
“He knows what I feel for you. It was his idea to pretend to be more than friends because I couldn’t make myself take anyone home anymore. None of it was real.”
Her eyes popped wide open as she turned toward him. “You two aren’t together? But…”
“Think back, Isa. Did I ever say Leon and I were a couple? Did I actually ever say we were fucking?”
She looked away, her nose scrunching, then she shook her head slowly. “No. Shit… you two played it off well.”
“I promise you, it was an act. All because you’re not supposed to know any of our world yet, Isa. If I had told you how I really felt, and you told me what you feel, where do you think we’d wind up?”
Her mouth fell open. “Are you saying we can’t?”
“After your attack, things are different. Still, what comes with the awakening isn’t easy. It’s not something we’re doing without a long discussion first. There are things you need to know before I make love to you.”
She took a slow breath, a frown on her face. “That I can live with.”
“You aren’t upset about the misdirection?”
She let out a short laugh. “No. You said I couldn’t know. I believe you. Please stop doubting my faith in you.”
“Easier said than done.”
“We’ll figure it out, Toryn. You’ll get me through whatever mess is coming, like you always do. Just tell me you’re mine, and I’ll endure.”
“I’ve been yours since the moment I saw you, Isadora. I’ll always be yours.”
She smiled then. “Good. I don’t want anyone else. I’m not letting you go. No matter what I learn, or what comes, no one and nothing will change that.”
He wished that were true, but she had no idea what she was promising.
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