“Is this okay?” Sterling asked, probably noticing how I couldn’t take my eyes off his perfect body.
“Mhm,” I hummed as I walked around the bed to climb in. “Goodnight, Sterling.” I pulled the heavy down cover over myself and turned away, safe from the sight of him.
When I woke up in the morning, my face was pressed against his bare chest, and my arm and leg were flung over him.
I rolled away fast, trying not to awaken him. Unfortunately, he was already awake.
“Good morning, Cassian,” he murmured.
“Morning, Turnip,” I muttered. I couldn’t look away despite knowing how red my face was. The sun shone through a crack between the curtains, landing in a gold line across his ribs and down his stomach. His dark hair was much messier than I’d seen it, and his sleepy gray eyes watched me with a smile. “Sorry about… that.”
“I didn’t mind. It’s terribly cold, and you’re very warm,” he said.
I looked away, my heart falling ill. I wished I could just have a normal life that let me pursue normal relationships, but I was stuck at this inn. My life would never be normal. I was doomed to be alone, sentenced to a lifetime of new people every night. It didn’t matter how much I liked Sterling. He’d leave someday.
“I’ll make you some coffee to warm you up,” I said, peeling the thick cover away and stepping into the frigid morning air.
“Wait, Cassian. Don’t go,” Sterling said. “I’d rather you stay here.”
I preferred it too, but I didn’t want the heartache. “That’s not appropriate, Sterling. We only shared a bed because there weren’t enough rooms.”
Sterling hesitated. “Right. I just can’t seem to stop myself. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” I said.
I was still his host, so I prepared his morning coffee. By the time I made it back to my room, he had dressed himself. I only lingered long enough to receive his thanks for the coffee before sitting behind the front counter to begin the checkout rush.
“Morning, Cass,” Jasmine said, yawning as she staggered out. “Did you have a good night?” She wiggled her eyebrows with a grin.
“It could’ve been better,” I said.
“He was that bad?”
I rolled my eyes. “We didn’t do anything.”
“Why not?!” she asked.
Thankfully, a customer approached the counter. I took my time helping him so a line would begin forming behind him and Jasmine couldn’t ask more questions. Sure enough, morning travelers trickled out of their rooms to join him.
“Good morning, ma’am, how can I help you?” I said to the next customer with a big smile. Jasmine huffed off to help Olive in the kitchen.
I worked through the line until I reached the last person, but she wasn’t a customer. It was Willorunia.
“Cassian! Lovely morning, isn’t it?” she asked, grinning at me.
“Willo! What are you doing here?”
“I came to receive my payment and help with the curse. Surely you’ve found me a jarful of cateyes by now…” she said, lifting one dark eyebrow.
My mouth hung open as I tried to tell her I didn’t have her payment. “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t expecting you today. I only filled it halfway.”
Willo crossed her arms and sighed. “Oh, well… I’ll take what you’ve got, I suppose.”
“No, Willo, I can get the rest of them,” I said, waving my hands as I stood from the stool. “I’ll get Jasmine to watch the counter. Can you come back tomorrow?”
“This is the only day I’m available for the next month,” Willo said.
“Oh no… I’m so sorry,” I said.
