The smile that spread across my face must’ve been feral. “Oh? What things are you planning for me to do to you?” I asked, loving how easy it was to tease a blush out of him.
He glared at me. “Oh, we’re doing nothing now,” he said, staring me straight in the eye as he took a huge bite of his burger. I groaned. Why was that so fucking sexy?
“You already have your magic,” I accused. “Fucking seduction magic.” He giggled at my pout, and it warmed me up hearing him so happy. “Eat until you’re full, we can always wait until the morning, but I am sleeping with you in my arms tonight,” I declared, not wanting to give that up. I had been looking forward to sleeping with my person ever since my mother told me about the legends. Now he was here, I was done sleeping without him.
He continued eating and even shared his onion rings with me. We were so cute together. I was tempted to take a picture of us together to show Julie, but I figured I could wait a little before showing him off.
“Where did you live before coming here?” Niam asked, and my mind returned to Julie.
“A few days drive away, south from here.”
“Hmm, did you like it there?”
I shrugged. “I have my best friend there, but otherwise it means very little to me.”
“Best friend?” he seemed a little shocked, and I might be hopeful now, but was thatjealousyI detected?
Deciding not to tease him, because I was sweet like that, I replied honestly. “Her name is Julie and she’s also my boss. We met when her dog was close to choking to death and became instant friends. It was her place I lived at before getting my van.”
“And you and her never…?”
“No,” I shook my head. “I told you, I was waiting for you.”
The smile he gave me. I shivered. He was beautiful. I’d made him that happy. Me. I’d never felt so powerful before. I vowed to make him smile like that every day. I needed him to smile like that for the rest of our lives. AndIneeded to be the one causing them.
They were my smiles now.
Chapter 15
Niam
The motel wasn’t far from the diner, and looking around it did seem like a nice place to rest.And to do the opposite of resting. I was both excited and terrified. But Xarius took us shopping before we got here, telling me we needed to walk the burgers off a bit. So, I’d grabbed some soap and other necessities so I felt prepared for later.
“I’ve had this room since we met,” Xarius said as he unlocked the door. He gestured for me to go in first and I felt giddy inside with excitement. Every little thing he did just helped me fall more for him. I knew we hadn’t known one another for long, but we were fated.Two halves of a soul or two souls that needed to become one, however you chose to interpret the legends. The fact was that I kept getting surprised over how utterly adorable he was. This tall handsome guy with piercings and tattoos was a lovable tiger. He had claws but around me he never showed them. He made me feel treasured, and for once I felt like I belonged. With him I was finally the man I wanted to be, and I didn’t have to worry about what to say or do, and it felt freeing.
“Let me get a towel ready for you,” he said, then disappeared into the bathroom. I told him not so subtly that I wanted a shower before bed. He wanted one, too, and that helped me feel less alone. He would likely be just as nervous as I was. I kind of hoped he was.
The room had a big bed in the center, the pillows looked soft and new. The duvet had been tidied up so you wouldn’t have known Xarius had been sleeping there. His stuff was around the room, not a lot, but bags of things from the general store and some clothes littered the space. The cream carpet had stains on it that had likely been there longer than I’d been alive. I tried not to guess what they were from and focused on the walls instead. They had a flower pattern on them, making the design seem dated. Our worlds were true mirrorsof each other on that point. Brand names and so on weren’t, but it seemed fashion and décor were the same in both worlds.
Xarius came out holding two bottles of soap. “Which one do you prefer?” I took the light pink one and sniffed it. It smelled like cotton candy.
“This one,” I said, moving towards the bathroom with my new obsession in hand.
“Wait!” he rushed after me and took the soap from my hands. “I’ll do it.” He went back into the bathroom.
“You’ll do what?” I asked, walking after him. “Wash me?” I came to a stop when I spotted there was a tub currently filling with warm water. “Oh,” I breathed, looking around the room. He had planned this? There were lit candles and what looked like bubbles in two glasses.
How long had I been staring at the bed?
He turned to me and gave me a shy smile. I was speechless. He could get shy?! “I um, I thought we could bathe together. I want to share this with you before we go to bed.
I blinked, then I couldn’t help but reach up on my tippy toes and kiss him. He kept surprising me in the best kind of way, proving hewas the sort of man to put in the effort. I had to remember to give something back, our relationship needed us both to put in the effort. I was so used to just having myself to think about. To protect. Now I was as good as what this world called married. We were stuck together until we died, and I wouldn’t change a thing about that. Ever since I gave in and decided to help, this calmness had come over me. I now had a purpose and someone by my side.
“Thank you,” I said when we finally parted. “This is perfect.” He gave me his most charming smile yet, although I loved all his smiles equally.
He began undressing first, not taking his eyes off me as he removed his t-shirt. I took in everything. He had a full sleeve tattoo that ran up to his neck and… “Damn.” He had nipple piercings.
“You like?” he asked, flicking one of them. I might have moaned. Might have. He unbuttoned his jeans next. I was glad he wasn’t wearing leather today; it would take way too long to get those off of him.
