I decided that I’d tell her later. It wasn’t like it made a difference when she found out. The man was dead.
Maybe after dinner tonight. Maybe tomorrow. When the right time came to tell her, I’d know.
For now, all I wanted to do was hold her and make her smile.
Ireachedacrossthesheets before my eyes fully opened, arms searching for the warmth that should’ve been there. Not only was Meera not there on her side of the bed, but the sheets were also cool. Meaning she’d been gone a while.
Had the dream woken her early? It was impossible to ignore the fact that she’d been having that same dream every night that she’d been in my bed. Was it a bad omen? She’d been sleeping fine until I moved her into my room. And despite Sybil’s assurance that nothing could get through the wards, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
I sat up, stretching my arms and wings as I looked around for signs of the woman who’d consumed my thoughts for the past week or so. The bathroom door was shut, and the faint sound of running water told me where she was.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and Seth’s name flashed on the screen.
Ugh! It was too early to deal with him. Mateo, maybe, but Seth, no. I needed my coffee first for that.
Last night had been fun. We’d gone out to a new place called Rodízio Nocturne, a Brazilian steakhouse that opened only after sunset, and where the servers might possibly be vampires. I was pretty damn sure the servers were just actors, but I couldn’t say the same for the owners. I’d eaten so much meat that I could barely move when we got home.
We’d both passed out early after a shower, then woke up in the middle of the night, horny and ready to fuck. We did that until we both passed out again.
I got out of bed and made my way down to my personal bathroom, rinsed my mouth, and splashed some water on my face. The smell of coffee wafting through the door separating my wing from the common area told me that Lillian was up. A proper espresso machine had been her first contribution to the penthouse. Then came all the plants.
Prior to her arrival, we’d just grabbed something from a coffee shop or used the instant stuff in a pinch. Gargoyles and demons could use the added caffeine jolt, but we didn’t require it, not like the way Lillian did. Lillian was part snow leopard shifter, and the only time she’d ever pulled claws on me was the time I’d tried to talk to her before her morning coffee.
Meera liked a coffee in the morning too, but I hadn’t noticed any one-eighty change in her pre- and post-caffeine, the way it was with Lillian.
“What was that coffee drink you made for Meera yesterday?” I asked Lillian.
“A flat white. It’s a double shot of espresso with steamed microfoam milk.”
“I have no idea what that means, but can you teach me how to make one for her?”
Meera had liked the “flat white” yesterday a whole lot more than the coffee from the place downstairs. And that was reason enough to learn.
My first try was a bust. I packed the grounds down so hard that the coffee refused to filter through the center and instead squirted out the side. Lillian dumped it and urged me to try again. She declared my second attempt acceptable.
A quick steam of milk later, I was walking back to my suite with Meera’s flat white in hand.
“For me?” Meera’s look of surprise turned into a grin, lighting up the room. “Thank you.”
And I decided that very moment that I’d make her coffee every day for the rest of my life, just to see that smile.
“What’s the look for?”
“Nothing. So what’s the plan for today?”
“I think I need to pick up some sunscreen. Lounging by the pool yesterday with Lillian was fun.”
I quirked a smile, thinking of how sexy she’d look in swimwear. If it were just us, she could skinny dip. But our penthouse wasn’tthe tallest building in the area, and the thought of anyone seeing her had my blood boiling.
I stepped closer, my hands sliding around her waist. She tilted her head up, lips parting. I took the coffee from her and placed it safely on the dresser as I leaned in—
The door slammed open.
“Seth!” I yelled, stepping in front of her exposed body. “What the fuck? Get out of my home.”
“You didn’t pick up your phone. I’ve been calling for at least ten minutes.”
“So? I was busy. How the hell did you get in here?”
