I was standing here with my mouth open like I’d lost my mind and he was there looking at me like he agreed.
“I, um…I just…I…” I rambled, because I was a moron and I hadn’t thought this through.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.” I said, shaking my head. I just left my brain cells trailing from my room to yours, no big deal.
His lips twitched, but he managed to hold back the smile. “Would you like to come in?”
He pulled the door open further and stepped to the side and I hesitated before I nodded and walked in.
I walked almost to the wall before I turned around and asked, “Are you okay?”
He’d shut the door behind him and was leaning against it, arms crossed over his chest. The question caught him off guard, and before he could answer, I started to ramble on.
“You’ve looked tired and worn out the last couple days and you’ve been removed and I was worried. Was it the spell? Do we need to reverse it? We can, you said you had other options and—”
“Nyx,” Salem cut in, “I’m okay. I’ve been a little tired, but that’s to be expected.” He pushed off the door, walking over to me as he spoke and I tensed when he brought his hand up to my cheek. “But it matters you thought to ask.” He said, his voice soft.
I visibly relaxed and he grinned.
“Is this why you’ve been watching me so intently at meals?”
I nodded, and his grin widened into one of the rare full smiles that took my breath away.
“You do realize most women would have been concerned about what my actions meant for them, not if I was okay personally.”
It hadn’t occurred to me, and I guess my facial expressions were as good at lying as I was, because he chuckled, “You didn’t even wonder, did you?”
He looked thoughtful, as if he had been working out something in his head, and something or someone had just given him the answer.
I was the someone, but I wasn’t sure what I’d solved.
Pushing the thought away I cleared my throat and said, “Okay, well, I’m taking you at your word that you’re fine.”
“I am. I promise.”
“All right. Thank you.”
He walked me to the door and opened it for me, wished me good night and I walked back to my room. It was only when I crawled back into my bed I realized I didn’t actually want to be there.
No, that wasn’t it.
I didn’t want to be there alone.
I was sure I’d interrupted Salem doing something important with my needless worry. He had still been fully clothed and the light over his desk had been on. Maybe I could help him?
It was official, Salem was turning me into a lunatic.
One kiss—albeit a mind-blowing one—and now I wanted him to what? Cuddle? I was a goner and I couldn’t even find a reason to care.
After tossing and turning for a while I gave up trying to fall asleep for the second time tonight.
This walk to Salem’s room, unlike the last one, filled me with trepidation. I’d been worried about him the first time which had given me courage, whereas this time I was going to ask him for something I wanted.
I knocked on his door again and it took him just as long to answer this time as it had the last.
Maybe he went to bed. Maybe he was in the shower. Maybe I should abandon this and—
The door was pulled open and Salem stood there, obviously not expecting me.
“Nyx?”
“Hi.”
What an opening line. Nice going there, Nyx.
“Hello.”
He was waiting for me, to say something else, and I spoke without thinking.
“I want to sleep with you.” I blurted out, before realizing what I said. I clamped my hand over my mouth and went redder than a tomato. Because I hadn’t screwed this up enough, I kept going when he remained silent, his eyebrows shooting up to his hairline. “No! Not like sleep with you, just the sleeping sleep and I was wondering if you wanted to do it.” Holy souls. “Wait no, not it it. Sleep, just sleep.”
I was pretty sure I’d clarified that. If not, there was still time to throw myself off of the landing. It was just down the hall and it was tall enough that the feeling of wanting to melt into the floor could be a reality.
I was just about to go that route when he answered.
“I’d like that.”
His voice was rational and calm, two things I wasn’t, but his words forced me to stop my internal struggle.
“You…would?”
“Come in, Nyx.” He chuckled, reaching for my hand and pulling me into the room.
The small feeling of triumph I felt as he shut the door was doused when I realized I wasn’t sure where to go from here. My plan, like most plans when it came to Salem, was half baked. I hadn’t planned for if he’d actually said yes.
It had been on the couch last time, so it hadn’t been weird. Plus, I was more concerned about him healing and fascinated with his explanation of his world and he hadn’t kissed me yet or told me my feelings weren’t one sided.
My mini-mental come apart was unwarranted though.
“I’m going to shower, the beds all yours.”
He gave me a gentle nudge towards the bed before walking towards the dresser, pulling out a few items and disappearing behind the door to his bathroom.
I didn’t know if he was doing this for my benefit, but it felt like it. Somehow, him not being in the room made it easier to climb onto the giant bed and slip under the covers.
It smelled like him, the pillows and blankets all held trace amounts of the sweet spiciness I’d come to attribute to him. I talked myself into a state of relaxation up until I heard the door knob turn and Salem step back into the room.
He wore a white t-shirt and a pair of dark blue cotton pants that hung low on his hips.
I looked away from him and sunk further into the blankets. I was not about to gawk at him, even if I’d never seen him out of his usual button up, slacks and vest. If I did gawk, I’d just get worked up again and I really didn’t need him to catch me staring.
The lights flipped off, saving me from any awkwardness, and then the bed dipped.
He was quiet for a few minutes before he said, “Nyx?”
I swallowed, “Yeah?”
“Is there a reason you’ve cocooned yourself into the blankets?”
“I’m not.”
I totally was.
Realizing I’d just lied, I released my hold immediately and pushed my hands under the blankets. Was it still a lie now?
I felt him move, but it wasn’t until his hand grazed my stomach that I realized it was towards me.
He pulled me against him, my side to his front.
“Nyx?” His tone was quiet, but I could hear the hint of a smile.
“Yes, Salem?” I asked, my tone louder and obstinate.
“I heard the lie, but there is also tension in your voice. You weren’t scared of me last time.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
“There was truth there, which makes me feel better.”
I sighed, “Last time…it was…different.”
“How?”
For one thing I didn’t know he kissed like a rockstar last time. Two, he had barely meant anything to me. I mean, I’d liked him enough, but not like I did now.
“It just is.” It was a lame response, but I went with it.
So far, my plan was working out just spiffy.
His hand, which was still on my hip, turned me onto my side and I felt his breath on my forehead when he asked, “Would you be more comfortable if I slept outside the blankets?”
“No.”
“Would you be more comfortable back in your room?”
“No.” The word flew out faster than the first and he chuckled. I could feel it rumble through his chest.
“What if I told you I’d spent the ten minutes before you knocked on my door again wondering if it was appropriate to knock on yours?”
<
br /> I couldn’t see him in the darkness, but it didn’t stop me from trying.
“Would you be telling the truth, or saying it to make me feel better?”
“To make you feel better,” he said, leaning forward to kiss the top of my head before adding, “The truth would have me admitting I’d been thinking about it since you walked Jane up to her room.”
I grinned, my body finally relaxing completely. “That makes me feel much better.”
“Good. Now go to sleep.”
With my head resting on one of his arms, my hands resting over his heart and his other arm thrown over my side, I fell asleep.
No tossing or turning.
When I woke up the next morning, lying half on top of Salem with his arms encircling me, it took me all of a minute to decide this was the best way to wake up.
✽✽✽
“Girl, you have some serious explaining to do.” Callie said, plopping down next to me on the couch.
I’d been home for six months.
Six.
Since the Christmas visit, I’d been back to the Underworld twice. But the last time Salem brought me back, he thought it wise I spend more than a month here. With the time difference, I was spending more time there than I was here and every time he messed with Callie and Iris’ minds, I felt guiltier.
That didn’t mean it made time go any faster.
The leaves were already changing colors for the fall season, and I still had another month before Salem was coming back to get me.
Salem had visited for a few hours each month, but he had an Underworld to run and I had classes to attend and souls to take.
Our relationship had progressed to the point that neither of us had slept alone at night while I was visiting, but neither of us had taken it any further than sleeping. The kissing had become a more frequent thing, and each time was just as all-consuming as the first. Just thinking about it had my belly tightening and me wishing I hadn’t agreed to such a long separation.
He’d said a year, I’d said six months. We’d settled on seven.
I looked over at Callie and asked, “What did I do?”
“Iris said you were a bum at the party on Friday.” Callie said, snagging my pencil from me. “She said not only didn’t you want to drink the shakes away, but you also didn’t find one guy to hook up with.”
Taking my pencil back from her, I shrugged, “I’m not in a hurry to fulfill my fate and get knocked up. I’m cramming for exams.”
“Screw exams. You know it’s bad when this is coming from me, but you need to loosen up a little.”
I couldn’t tell them about Salem for obvious reasons, but the biggest of all the reasons was Furies were not allowed to have relationships outside of a hook up in order to conceive another Fury.
So, I kept quiet about why other men didn’t interest me and why I didn’t have time to loosen up.
Not only was I trying to play catch up on the things I’d missed, I was trying to get ahead for my next trip to the Underworld.
I threw my pencil down on the book and pulled the necklace I was wearing out and started messing with it.
The necklace Tasha had given me during my Christmas visit now held the ring Salem bought me as well. I’d tried eight different chains, but the ring melted through each of them. I wondered if the ring didn’t like metals from this world, or if the soul magic was too powerful for regular metal. I never took it off and fiddled with it more than I did Fitz, something I think he was grateful for.
“I feel so behind, Callie. I’m just not getting this.”
Callie leaned over and pulled the book towards her and her nose scrunched up.
“Onyx, we aren’t even on this chapter. We’re three back. You need a night out and we are going out tonight if I have to dress you and drag you out myself.”
I knew that tone. She was not to be argued with.
I knew life couldn’t stop just because half of mine was in a different world, but the thought of going out and partying didn’t appeal. Still, it would seem I didn’t have a choice tonight.
“Fine. How long do I have?”
“An hour. Iris is already in her room getting changed.”
I grinned, because Iris had known I wouldn’t argue with Callie. “Of course, she is. All right, I’ll go get dressed.”
A half hour later, I was sent back to my room to find something more appropriate than jeans and a t-shirt and three hours after my wardrobe change, we were walking back to our table from the dance floor.
It had taken a little while, but eventually I’d started to have fun.
Callie and Iris had always been good at getting me to let down my guard and I had missed them. Missed our talks and the laughter that was always present.
Not for the first time, I hated I couldn’t tell them everything. I hated keeping myself from talking about a life that was becoming as much a part of me as this one.
Chapter 13
The last month went a little faster than the previous six, but my visit to the Underworld went just as fast. The only argument Salem and I had was how long until the next time. This time, he started with six months, I said one and we compromised on three.
Salem and I had decided on an easier method to explain my absences. I’d formally requested the Oracles allow me to study abroad and Salem had ensured they’d agreed. It made it easier for me to explain to Callie and Iris and it made it easier for Salem so he didn’t have to alter their minds as much. Callie, Iris and Ms. Ivy thought I was studying abroad for a few months at a time in different places and I’d told them I wanted to explore the world before I couldn’t anymore, which was true. It just wasn’t our world I was exploring.
They understood, Ms. Ivy going as far to tell me she knew this life wasn’t my first choice and she was glad I was finding happiness before I settled down.
We hadn’t solved everything, and sometimes he still had to do minor altercations, but we were figuring it out the best we could.
Today I’d walked into the apartment after my last class and I couldn’t help the rush of excitement when I saw the cupcakes on the counter with a card that wished me a wonderful trip. I went straight to my room and threw open the door.
Over a year since I’d met him and I was just as excited to see him. Salem was sitting on the edge of my bed, an empty wrapper on the nightstand.
He didn’t even have a chance to stand before I jumped him, my limbs wrapping around him like an octopus as I buried my face into his neck. His arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled back to give me a proper hello, which I think was supposed to be a quick kiss, but when I didn’t let him go, he smiled against my mouth before flipping me onto my back.
His lips never broke contact from me as he dragged them from my lips to my jaw and then down my neck. He moved, propping himself up on one elbow as his opposite hand trailed down and ended up under my shirt, but he stopped at my waist.
He’d done this before, the skin on skin contact, but he’d never pushed further. I trailed my hands over his shirt and the stomach muscles underneath which twitched and jumped under my touch and then his kisses began to slow and he pulled back and smiled.
“I missed you.”
I narrowed my eyes, “It wouldn’t have been so long if you weren’t so stubborn. Besides, it’s a longer wait for me.”
“Not this time.”
“How do you figure?”
“Tasha and I figured out a way to slow the time down in the Underworld. I waited just as many seconds as you did.”
I cocked my head to the side, doing my best to ignore his thumb which was drawing lazy circles over my hip bone, “Will it mess with things?”
“Your realm is dependent on the sun. Mine is dependent on magic. It had no ill effects on us.”
“Does this mean when I spend a week there, only a week will pass here?”
He nodded, his smile growing with mine.
“So far, it seems to be holding, though I don’t know for how much longer it will.
If the spell dries out, we will cast it again, but this way I can come get you more often without you losing out on your life here.”
We took the long way home, something Salem had promised me we’d do, taking the carriage because I’d seen it and wanted to ride in it. I was used to cars, I hated the motorcycle, but a horse drawn carriage was freaking cool.
Salem had pulled papers from the seat he’d taken and been going through them since we’d started our ride.
When the forest came into view, I knew we were close and I sat back to look at him. He was so focused on the letter he was reading. I smiled, reached over and poked him in the side. He didn’t react aside from his eyes coming up from the letter briefly before going back.
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