Something wonderful.
Something I hadn’t witnessed in years.
A smile spread across his gorgeous, flour-covered face, and he tossed his head back, the most precious sound escaping his hard, tormented body.
Helaughed.
God.
It was the most beautiful sound in the world.Music. A symphony I never wanted to end. I began to laugh with him as I reached for an egg and slammed it against his shaved head.
His eyes went wide, but there was a playfulness in them I had never seen before. I doubled over, laughing harder than I ever had, clutching my middle before standing upright once more.
“That’s for being rude to me,” I said with a smile, my cheeks warm as my heart fluttered, my soul dancing in happiness.
He smirked down at me, the ice in those eyes melting, letting me in. “Run, angel.”
Oh shit.I did, turning and dashing around the island.
Hechasedme—Godwhat a feeling. Years of being overlooked by him, trying to ignore the pain inside as he focused on Gwen and nailing my feet into the ground when the urge to chase him became too much to bear…
He was chasing me, seeking me, and even if this was just a momentary game between us, it would forever be branded on my soul. I was wanted by my blue-eyed demon.
Both of us giggled, laughing like a couple of kids, flour falling from our bodies.
It was a mess—a beautiful mess, but I loved it.
Happiness sparked in my heart for the first time in years as his laughter echoed behind me. His laugh wasn’t rough or harsh, but rather a gentle, rhythmic melody—a sound I'd forgotten over the years. My soul knew in this instant that I would do anything to hear him laugh like this every day for the rest of my life. It was nothing short of a drug for me. The need for it stronger than anything I had ever known—the need for him to be happy.
He chased me around the island, once, twice, before his arm banded around my waist. I let out a yelp as he chuckled against my ear, hauling me back into the kitchen. Then he spun me, backing me into a wall, his body an inch from mine, my bodyon fire. My goosebumps returned, but for an entirely different reason.
The egg yolk had fallen off his shaved head, leaving a sticky residue in its wake. I didn’t care. I touched him, needing to feel his skin on my fingers. I placed my hand on his flour covered face, and he flinched but didn’t yank my hand away, the tips of my fingers humming with pleasure. I smiled, placing my other hand on his bicep, giving it a gentle squeeze, trying desperately to ignore the lust pooling in my core.
He may be a demon, but he had the body of a god.
“There you are,” I whispered as I stared into his beautiful eyes, now warm for the first time. My thumb stroked his strong cheekbone, slowly, savoring the touch as I marveled at him silently. He was breathing hard, and with every breath, his massive chest came close to brushing against me. My Col was back. I didn’t lose him. He had been here all along, hidden underneath dark ice.
Tears filled my eyes.
I sucked in a breath. “I missed you so much, Col. My sweet Col.” His hands were braced on either side of my head, and a pained look crossed his face.
“Karina,” he whispered. It was a warning, but my eyes dropped to his lips, not wanting this to end.
“Yes,” I murmured, standing up on my toes, our lips a mere inch apart.
This was it.
I had him.
The oven went off, and we both jumped.
He immediately stepped away from me, clearing his throat as conflict took over his features.
I smiled at him, unable to think about anything but his walls melting for me. “Cookies are done,” I told, giving his arm a squeeze, letting him know it was okay.
We were going to be okay.
I walked to the oven, slipping on a potholder before taking the tray out of the oven. The cookies were a perfect golden brown, speckled with cinnamon and sugar. Mama would be proud.
