Time’s Teeth, my skin was going to really melt off my body soon. I didn’t even understand why Ilikedthe way he spoke so much.
“You’re welcome,” I whispered—a lame attempt at a joke just to say something, just so I didn’t feel so damn awkward.
But then March moved, pushed me down on the bed and fell on top of me, and I was laughing.Gigglinglike a little girl.
He pinned my wrists down on the bed again, only this time his body was against mine, not an inch between us.
“You’re not as innocent as you look, are you.” It wasn’t a question.
“Idon’t lookinnocent,” I argued—and I really didn’t think I did.
“Keep telling yourself that,” he said, and pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose. “Those wide dove eyes, that pale skin, that hair that looks like it’s made of satin. You screaminnocenteven when you’re covered in blood.” The reminder didn’t even make me flinch. “I told you—you have a reputation now.”
I forced myself to roll my eyes. “It’s only the exterior.”
“I see that,” he said with a grin. “I’m glad for it. I still wouldn’t change it for the world.” A kiss on my lips. “I wouldn’t change anything about you.”
“I thought you just said I’ve changed tonight,” I reminded him.
“What I mean isIwouldn’t change anything about you whichever shape you take on any day.”
Something inside me squeezed. My heart about broke and melted and mended itself again within seconds.
His face.
Maybe he thought I looked innocent, buthewas the innocent one here.
He looked at me in such an earnest way, pouring all of him out of his eyes. Like he couldn’t tell that I was…out of reach, for both myself and the rest of the world. Like he didn’t know that I was too far gone. Likehe hoped,like Silas did.
So I asked, “Are you going to take your trousers off anytime soon?”
March laughed. My toes curled. My ears adored the sound of his voice.
“Not tonight,” he said, which surprised me.
“What? Why not?”
“Because it’s late. And because you need to sleep.” He planted one last, deep kiss on my lips, and stood up.
I watched as he put his shirt on, then sat down on the edge of the bed to tie his boots, and my mouth opened and closed a million times, but no sound came out of me. I knew he was right—it was late and it was too soon and tooeverything—but still.
He couldn’t just leave now.
“Don’t look so sad. I’d say you’re thoroughly distracted,” he said, and stood up. “My job here’s done.” He turned his head to the side a little. “That’s what you called me here for, wasn’t it?”
A little bit of hope in his voice. Just a tiny bit ofdespairin his eyes.
No.
Yes.
I went with, “I think you’re thoroughly distracted, too, Heartling.”
“True,” he said with a nod, which hid the flash of disappointment I thought I saw passing over his face.
Again—this could have all been in my head, though I wasn’t sure why I’d imagine such a thing.
“Sleep tight,” he said, and he turned around so fast, he could have been running. He walked out the door and closed it behind him without another look my way.
