His hold on her hand shifted to an embrace, hugging her closer. “Is that a promise?”
She gazed at him, expression warm and open. Stunning. “I promise to do my part in rattling your carefully maintained control.” A glimmer of mischief filled her eyes. “If you think you can resist.”
A thrill raced down his back. “A Game?”
“Maybe, but not right now.” She coiled her arms around his neck, climbing him, like she had every certainty he would support her. “Right now, I’d rather not be inhibited by rules and competition. Right now, I want to gohome.” She buried her lips in his neck, nuzzling, licking, scraping at his pulse with her teeth. “And I want to do very, very, wicked things with you.”
He nodded, mute. Speechless. No thoughts. Just whatever she was doing with her fingers through the gaps in his buttons.
“And one more thing, quickly.” She pulled away, meeting his eyes. “I love you. With a passion I feared and an intensity I couldn’t fight, even when my past urged me to doubt you… urged that I not expose my heart to such devastating hurt. But…” She licked her lips. “But I know that with you, my heart is safer than anywhere else in this world. I just… I beg for understanding and a bit of, well, patience, as I am known for being the harbinger ofmy own misery and the fear that I will ruin what I think is the start of the best thing—”
He kissed her, but gently. A shut-up-and-stop-doubting-yourself kiss. Using a finger, he reached up and gently smoothed away the powder on her cheeks. The sight still incited anger, but it wasn’t nearly so violent anymore, and more than anger he hated the idea that she had been hurt. Breathing out, he allowed his gaze to return to her eyes. Contented with her earlier claim that she would no longer bear such violence again. He knew her trust was not easily won, and having earned it made the arduous task of letting go bearable.
“Sera, patience is the essence of my being. You do not have to pretend with me, but,” He started walking, carrying her toward home. “I do find it troubling that you still doubt yourself when you are the most exceptional person I know. This suggests a deeply rooted misconception that may take a long time to repair. I’m no student of the mind, but I feel certain I read somewhere about sexual pursuits as a means of building confidence. I’m happy to offer my services in your convalescence.”
She giggled into his shoulder.
“And it won’t happen overnight, such an ingrained belief will need months of dedicated sessions.”
“Months?” She questioned; the smile evident in her voice.
“Months. Years. Eternity. It’s hard to say, so early in your treatment.”
She kissed his cheek. “Hmm. Eternity sounds kinda nice.”
His hold on her tightened. Emotion twined with lust and he fought to keep her upright and not finish this on a snowbank where she’d surely freeze. Just a few more seconds till he could indulge in whim and desire, a few more steps till they were home.
Theirhome. Together.
For as long as she wished to call it such.
Epilogue
Kieranpreparedtoleavework. He had an important meeting in an hour, and he was never late for his appointments. A co-worker snagged him just outside his office, one of the newer hires and very eager with his ideas as he shook Kieran’s hand and initiated a most unwelcome and irritating conversation. Kieran still had to find Sera.
“North, sorry to bother you, but do you have a second?” The co-worker in question, Jeremiah Fulton, was currently blocking Kieran’s path to his office, where he had been intending to look for Sera next, but now would be buttonholed into whatever Fulton felt was so urgent it involved seeking Kieran out directly.
“Merely a second, I was just on my way out,” Kieran said, movement catching his eye over Fulton’s considerably shorter shoulder. The door to Kieran’s office was ajar and light flickered inside. He always left his office locked, so either someone had broken in or Sera had made her way there as suspected. He checked Sera’s former secretary’s desk for Seth, but he wasn’t there.
“Oh, I won’t keep you long then, but I wanted to discuss your proposal for city-wide use of luminore.”
Kieran nodded, his focus on his office. He caught a flash of skirts and then Sera was in the doorway, locking eyes as she noted his predicament and grinned at his discomfort. His expression remained neutral, though distracted.
“Anyway, Levity sent out a round of S-18 forms, which I’m sure you know is only used when trying to update city ordinances pertaining to safety and welfare of Unity’s citizens.”
Kieran was about to attempt a response, despite his not following a word of Fulton’s rambling, when he caught an evil glint in Sera’s eyes. He tensed. She only looked at him like that when she intended to initiate a round of their Game. They were in the rare position wherein he was quite literally trapped and observed while she could remain hidden. It was hardly a fair playing field.
“Which I found rather convenient timing, given your call to a vote is to take place next week,” Fulton paused, seeming to note the intensity of Kieran’s stare and started to turn. “Is something the—”
“Convenient.” Kieran drew Fulton’s attention back to himself. “I quite agree. You raise a very good point about…” He searched his memory, for some clue about Fulton’s purpose. “The convenience of the… timing.” He fought to keep the question out of his voice. He had no idea what the hell he was saying. Sera tapped her chin, playfully considering her attack while her free hand absently teased at the low dip in her bodice.
“Oh, yes, about that,” Fulton continued, seamlessly returning to his ramblings as Kieran’s gaze slipped past him.
Sera had adjusted the angle of the door so that she was visible as she wiggled onto the edge of his desk, making a great show of scattering his organized supplies.
His jaw locked.Thatwas underhanded.
She scooted herself fully amidst her mess, meeting his not quite glare with a playful bat of her eyes. She maintained an innocent air as she started to draw up her skirts.
