Foolish as he felt to even think it, perhaps some part of him wished for Ember in return.
Chapter Nine
Every day had been routine for Ember. She’d wake up, get ready, go to work at the boutique, come home, eat dinner and relax for a few hours, go to bed, and repeat the cycle. But these last four days, which had gone by faster than she’d ever thought possible, had been different. Because for the first time in a long while, she had someone to share those mundane moments with.
She had Nyte.
She’d grown up with her parents and two brothers in a house that had always felt lively and full. When she was twenty-two, she’d moved from Nebraska to Salem and had shared an apartment with Maggie. Their friendship had flourished, and they’d grown closer than Ember had ever expected from someone she’d met and befriended online. They’d chatted day and night, had watched tons of movies together, and had visited every bar, restaurant, museum, and tourist trap in town. Even during the quiet times, Ember had taken comfort in knowing that there was someone right there for her.
But when Maggie got engaged to Levi five years ago, she’dmoved in with him, and the apartment had been so silent, so empty, so…lonely. Despite Ember’s years of dating and failed relationships, despite talking to Maggie and seeing her often, that loneliness had only grown.
Ember turned off the shower, opened the shower curtain, and grabbed a towel, briskly drying herself.
“And what did you do?” she muttered.
She’d bought a big, old house that felt even emptier than the apartment had.
Nyte had chased away that loneliness. Because of their tether, he was always near. Obviously, he wasn’t here by choice, yet since the day after he was summoned, something in his demeanor had changed. He wasn’t as grumpy and standoffish, and he seemed to have accepted their situation and was making the most of it. At least she thought so.
Since eating her spaghetti Bolognese, he’d taken to trying other foods. He liked pastries and hamburgers, and he had immensely enjoyed the dinners she’d cooked. Sweets seemed to be his favorite.
Ember grinned to herself as she rehung her towel, recalling the utter horror and betrayal that had been on his face when he’d taken his first sip of coffee. She couldn’t blame him though. It’d been black, without any creamer or sweetener. Even Ember had shuddered, though she hadn’t been able to contain her laughter.
She stepped into her underwear and drew it up her legs.
At the boutique, he’d often watched the people who came and went. There were times he’d stood so close to them that Ember was sure they must’ve felt his presence, but they always carried on as though he wasn’t there. Other times, he’d eavesdrop on customers’ conversations, and his animated expressions and offhand remarks often made Ember fight tohold in her laughter.
He thrived on gossip.
But it was her he seemed to watch the most. She would feel his gaze on her as surely as she would’ve felt his physical touch, and when she’d look up, those intense, cosmic eyes would meet hers, burning with the heat of a billion distant stars.
She’d felt that heat too. Every single time she looked at him, every single day, and every torturous night as she lay in bed, alone, with Nyte only feet away from her.
He’d even plagued her dreams, filling them with hazy, erotic visions of passionate kisses and sensual touches that left her achy and needy when she woke in the morning.
Ember grasped the sink and leaned forward, staring at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed from the shower, but that wasn’t the only reason her skin felt so warm. A restless energy stirred inside her, a carnal desire that made her belly flutter and her clit throb with the need to be touched.
God, she should’ve masturbated in the shower while she had the chance to let off some of this steam. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could go without some sort of release. Because fuck, Nyte really was the embodiment of her fantasy.
And he was right outside the bathroom door.
Ember blew out a slow breath to calm her raging libido.
You got this, Ember. Stay strong.
Because as much as she wanted Nyte, she wouldn’t do anything without his consent.
Keeping her hair up in its messy bun, she grabbed the dark blue silk pajamas folded on the counter. She drew on the short, lace trimmed bottoms and pulled on the long-sleeved top, tying the three ribbon ties into bows at the front to close it. The silky material teased her skin with its caress, only making matters worse.
Ember groaned as her nipples hardened.
Shaking her head, she plucked up one of the face maskpackages from the tin holder and tore it open. She wasn’t going to let her desire get in the way tonight. Her body would just…need to get over it.
Removing the mask, she held it up, watching her reflection as she lined up the eyeholes and mouth slit with her eyes and lips. As soon as the mask touched her, the cool gel soothed her heated face.
After smoothing out the mask, she grabbed another, removing it from the package as well, before opening the door, turning off the light, and stepping into her bedroom.
Nyte was lying on his stomach atop her bed with her laptop open in front of him. His wings were relaxed against his back, and his tail was draped over the side of the bed, the tip idly curling.
