Coming up to the first door, Cole waved a hand. “This one’s my room.” Instead of opening it up and taking me inside, we avoided the whole awkwardI’m in your bedroom and you’ve seen me nakedmoment and kept walking. “This one used to be the guestroom, but I converted it into my office a few years ago after my folks died.”
“So you inherited this place?”
“Yeah. My parents bought it before I was born. I’ve been coming here every summer since I can remember.”
I could picture the little devil running on the shore, splashing in the water while his mom watched. “How nice.”
“Yeah. It was. They used it less and less the older they got, so I made it into a writing retreat until recently. Once things went to hell in a handbasket, this seemed like the perfect escape. It’s where all my best memories are. We even buried my dog under the big tree by the lake. Charlie was the best. So loyal, but what else can you expect from a border collie?”
Before I could react to the sad story about his dog, he opened the door at the end of the hall and flipped on the light, revealing a simple but cozy bedroom.
“This can be your room. The bathroom is shared with my office, but I never use that one. I have my own. You’ll have all the privacy you need.”
I couldn’t help but notice that he remained in the doorway, respecting that this was now my space. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. Cole had always been a gentleman with me. I mean, until he wasn’t, but that was different.
“Well, I’ll let you get settled. Give me a holler if you need anything. Or if you get hungry. I don’t have much, but I do make a mean grilled cheese sandwich, and I’m pretty sure there are a few cans of soup floating around in the pantry.”
As soon as he left, I closed the door and sat down on the bed. Taking a deep breath, I sank into the reality of my situation. He was the last person I’d be going to when I got hungry. Feeding was one problem I currently had zero solutions for. With the grid down, camming was out. And with Cole being human and not supernatural, there was no way I could risk his life. Not to mention I couldn’t toy with his emotions like that. He thought he loved me. It would be cruel to play on those feelings. I was going to have to come up with another solution. And soon. Maybe I could find someone safe to snack on in a dreamwalk? I guess we’d find out.
Shoving that problem away for now, I took another calming breath. The human pheromones were strong even though this was just a guest room. Honestly, it took the sting out of not having my horsemen. If they’d rejected me, but I’d stayed? Fuck. Their pheromones would have broken me. Even now, just thinking of them sent pain slicing through my chest. How could they do that to me? Grim with his words, the rest of them with their silence.
A single tear slid down my cheek, my lip wobbling in its wake. If I gave in, I’d start really crying. Not soft, gentle whimpers either. Great racking sobs. A faint knock had me swiping the offending tear away as Cole pushed open the door. He stood there with a laundry hamper in his hands.
“Sorry. I just thought you’d like some towels and a change of clothes. They’re mine, so they’ll be big, but you can't stay in those forever.”
So much for not crying. Tears burst free, and I let out a keening wail.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I was just trying to?—”
“I-it’s... n-not... y-you,” I forced out, though I wasn’t sure how coherent the words were between my sobs.
He dropped the hamper and rushed to my side, pulling me against his warm chest as I continued crying. Gentle hands rubbed my back as he made soothing noises.
“What happened, Merri? Was it that guy? The rock star?”
Again, that pang of deep loss hit me, and I nodded, inhaling a shuddering breath.
“What did he do to you?”
My lip quivered as tears continued spilling down my cheeks. I hadn’t thought this far ahead, but I should have. I was so focused on getting away that I never came up with a human-safe version of events to explain my arrival. Not knowing what else to do, I went with the opening Cole provided.
“I was stupid. I caught feelings, and I thought he did too.”
“Of course you did.”
“Yeah, but he’s a rock star. I should’ve known better. Instead, I was delusional.”
He pulled back and stared into my eyes. “Merri, I need you to listen to me. Any man who doesn’t see what a treasure you are must be blind. He lost you because he was stupid. Not because you were. He doesn’t deserve you.”
I sniffled and Cole reached up, brushing a tear off my face with the pad of his thumb. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I mean it.”
His eyes were so kind.Hewas so kind. It was such a shame Cole hid himself from society. The world needed men like him.
He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear and offered me a shy smile. “Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll be here when you need me. Just say the word.”
I nodded as he stood. Before he left the room, I called, “Cole?”
