The words are out before I can stop them, raw and honest and probably way too much.
Jax’s expression shifts. Something protective crosses his face.
“If he touches you again, I’ll hurt him.”
My heart stutters. He says it so matter-of-factly, like it’s not a threat but a promise. Like he’s already decided. I look into his eyes, trying to understand why. They’re darkening again, and it almost scares me.
“Why?” I whisper.
“What?”
“Why would you do that? You don’t know me.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. He tilts his head toward the door. “Let’s go out and eat breakfast before Cal passes out.”
“Okay. Give me a second to get dressed.”
He nods and closes the door, leaving me alone again.
I exhale slowly, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
I grab my favorite sweater from my bag and pull it on. Comfortable jeans. I dab perfume on my wrists, the familiar scent grounding me just a little.
When I open the door, Callum’s standing in the hallway.
“Sorry,” I say automatically, even though I don’t know what I’m apologizing for.
“Don’t be sorry, bed warmer.” He grins, and there’s something playful in his eyes. “I just need my phone. Think I left it in there.”
Bed warmer.The nickname makes my face heat.
I step aside to let him pass.
“I’m Callum, by the way.” He pauses in the doorway, looking back at me.
“Tigerlily.”
He blinks. “Tiger—what?”
I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips.
I blink. “Like the flower.”
He studies me for a second, then grins wider. “Cute like a flower but the heart of a tiger.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I just stare at him, confused, and he flashes me another one of those smiles before disappearing into the room.
My stomach does this weird flip. Butterflies. Nerves. Something.
I walk down the hall before he can come back out and see me blushing.
Zephyr’s sitting at the kitchen table when I walk in. He looks up, and those brown eyes lock onto mine.
“Good morning,” he says.
I smile, small and shy, and play with the sleeve of my sweater.
He doesn’t smile back. He just watches me. Not in a creepy way. More like he’s trying to figure something out.
