Well, she wasn’t totally wrong.
“It’s okay, darling. I’m aware of what people think of me. I make humans uncomfortable, and for good reason, don’t you think?”
Ezra slowly leans into me, his lips brushing softly against mine as his tongue urges my mouth open. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him close, kissing him hard, silently willing him to stay just a bit longer. Eventually, Ezra pulls away and plants a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.
“I also programmed my house number, the bookshop’s, and my cell into your phone.”
Ezra emphasizes the last part of his sentence with a snarl and an eye roll.
He’s so cute when he’s grumpy.
“I will bring the damned thing with me. You are free to call or send a message, but please don’t worry if I don’t respond. I need to travel quietly, and any underborne with exceptional hearing can pick those fucking things up, even when set to silent.”
“I didn’t know you had a cell phone,” I say with a smile … until I look at my phone and the 57 missed calls and insane number of text messages waiting for me.
Shit.
Ezra must read the anguish in my face because he clears his throat to get my attention. I meet his gaze and immediately regret it.
Goddamn it, he’s gorgeous.
When Ezra chuckles, my heart flutters in a way I promised myself it never would. Especially over a man. And now this cocky asshole’s chuckle is one of my favorite sounds.
“I get lost in you, too, my little lupine,” Ezra says, understanding the reason for my intense, dreamy stare.
“I urge you to stay here, Aurora. Louie is not awake yet, but she should be later today. Do not let her out until she’s calm and rational. She can hear you through the door. Also, the Disciples likely know where you live and, as far as I know, are not aware of my existence, so you should be quite safe here. I went to your home this morning and packed everything I thought you might need, including the snacks I found in your kitchen.”
I blink as my heart knocks around in my chest.
He went to my house? Packed my things?
He’s … taking care of me?
“There is no human food here, for obvious reasons. Thane told me about something called Uber Eats? And Instacart? I don’t know, something on your phone. If you’re hungry, I’ve left my credit card information for your use. Please get what you need, but do not open the door for anyone you don’t know. Thane assured me they can leave your order on the porch.
“I would ask you to stay inside the house, but I know that won’t be possible. You are your own person, and I’m not in the habit of dictating what others should do. Unless they ask me to,” he says with a wink and a wicked grin.
“I must insist, however, that you have either Eve or Thane pick you up and drop you off if you want to go somewhere. They are the only people I trust with you right now, little vixen.”
Ezra’s breath tickles my skin as he showers each shoulder with a flurry of soft kisses, followed by a gentle nuzzle of his nose along my neck.
It’s going to be a long couple of days.
“You’ve really thought of everything, Ezra. Thank you …”
I trail off as I stare at my phone lying on the bed beside me.
“What is it, Aurora? Did I upset you by going into your home without your permission? You were sleeping so soundly. You didn’t have a nightmare all night, and I didn’t want to disturb you. You seemed quite tired. I can stay if you’d like, at least for a few days. I am, however, eager to get this over with so I can focus on you.”
He takes both of my hands in his, then kisses each finger individually while staring at me with those beautiful grey eyes.
“What? No, I’m not upset with you. It’s just … you keep saying you’re a monster, right? That you’re notgood. But you treated me better in the past forty-eight hours than any human male ever has. Except for my dad, obviously.
“You saved my life, and when you realized what you did in my home was wrong, you changed your behavior so I’d feel comfortable, even though it’s confusing, and sometimes painful, for you.
“And now, when you’re about to leave, you’re not just disappearing with some cryptic, confusing note and leaving me in a panic. Instead, you wake me, tell me exactly what’s going on, pack my things, make sure I have a way to eat, and understand that you can’t lock me up in your house. Ezra, you’re not a monster.”
I shift my eyes away from the god staring at me to the ceiling, willing myself not to cry. Because somehow the human-devouring creature who saved my life thinks he’s a monster, and the human murderer and rapist thought he was a hero.
