I clawed at the marble countertop, resisting the urge to tear off his fitted brown Henley and kiss that knowing smirk right off his face. “Well if I had known you were coming, I would have adjusted my plans.”
“We didn’t want to get your hopes up in case things changed and we got stuck in Salem longer.”
I nodded, swallowing thickly. “When do you head back?”
“Not until after the Hallowed celebrations have concluded.”
The weight on my chest lifted a bit, giving me enough room to take in his words. They’d be here for all the events and festivities. That meant not returning to Salem for at least a week or so.
“I missed you so damn much.” His eyes darted behind me to the window. “And that little witchling. Where is he?”
“Ruby took him on a stroll and then was bringing him back here.”
His neck craned over my shoulder toward the windows. And if my stomach wasn’t fluttering before, it now was.
“I don’t want to interrupt, and I still need to unpack, but can I come by later?” His sienna irises twinkled in question, making me giddy to rekindle whatever had stoked between us before he’d left town. But I couldn’t help the twinge of disappointment that he’d only saidI.
“Saros is back at home. He wanted to unpack right away.”
My chest flushed with heat. I was still getting used to Lynx being able to read me like this. No one ever had before. And realistically, no one ever would. “Any time after eight should work.”
“We can talk more tonight,” he offered with a halfhearted smile that didn’t quite fill the span of his lips.
Goddess, I just wanted to kiss him. To follow him home and ask Saros for myself what was going on between us. “Okay.”
“Wicked, I can sense you spinning out and there’s no need for that,” he tutted.
I swallowed my unease, taking a deep breath.
His gaze roved over me, then he arched a brow. “When are you modeling your designs?”
“Once I get Aspen to bed.”
“Well, I don’t want to miss out on that.” He dragged me in for a friendly-looking hug, but when he whispered into my ear, his gravelly tone was anything but. “Text me so I can say goodnight to Aspen and then I’ll stick around for theprivateshow.”
Full-body tingles erupted beneath my skin at the implication of his words, and when he pulled away, I was buzzing. Giving him a devilish smirk, I discreetly waved my fingers, unleashing some Desire. He shifted uncomfortably, the bulge growing in his jeans.
“Fuck.” He glared at me. “Leaving me hot and bothered for the next few hours while I try to unpack? You truly are wicked.”
“It’s only fair.” I shrugged, pleased with myself, knowing I’d be counting down the minutes until we were alone.
“In that case…” A flood of want rushed between my thighs.Shit.I zipped them together, and Lynx smirked at me victoriously before striding toward the door and adjusting the waist of his jeans in one fluid movement. “I’ll see you later, Wicked.”
Chapter8
Lynx
Saros lay on the bed, his e-reader blocking half of his face from view. When I walked into the bedroom, he hadn’t even acknowledged me, pretending to be glued to whatever he was reading.
I knew better.
He was trying to avoid something, and I was pretty sure it had to do with our beautiful autumn-haired neighbor. If I asked him about it, though, he would snap at me. I could tell from the steely scent cleaving the air between us.
I unpacked in silence, shoving my clothes haphazardly into drawers. If there was anything that would draw commentary from my partner, it was my lack of rigid cleanliness.
But there was nothing. Only silence and the occasional grunt in response to whatever he was reading.
Once I finished, I climbed across the bed, clamped my fingers around his e-reader, and pulled it away from his face. He had his glasses on, glaring at me from behind their rectangular lenses.
