“Are you going to leave me now?” I blurt before I can censor myself. Why am I like this? “I mean… not leave me. Leave the funeral home. Go home. Not leave me specifically. That would imply something. Which I wasn’t doing. Because I wouldn’t. You were my ward. I was your guardian. This is all very normal and not weird at all…”
Oh my gods, I desperately need to
STOP.
FUCKING.
TALKING.
“I have a house,” he says after a long moment of watching me babble incoherently.
“Oh. Okay. Cool. That’s great. I love that for you.” Shut up, Sunshine.
“I bought it years ago, before I knew you,” he continues.
“Right,” I say quickly. “Of course. That makes sense. You don’t need me anymore. You can open your own doors and make coffee. You know, basic survival stuff.”
Why am I spiraling so badly? Until a few moments ago, I had no feelings one way or another about him leaving, and now I feel like my world is tilting. The only difference is how he looks. He’s still the same annoying phoenix who forced his way into my life.
Only now, he’s handsome. And smells amazing. And is strong. And….
No.
Stop.
“I don’t want to be any more of a hindrance than I already am,” he adds.
“You’re not a hindrance,” I say. I’m brilliant and articulate and emotionally stable. Look at me go.
Behind us, the house creaks faintly as if it too is upset about Ember leaving us.
“I would like to keep working here, if that’s okay?” he murmurs.
“You… need a job?”
“No,” he says, stepping closer, crowding me in a way that would’ve been impossible, and extremely weird, just yesterday. Now? It makes my heart stutter in my chest. “I don’tneedanything. But, I would like to stay, to be closer to you.”
Holy shit.
“This place feels… like home. And I want to explorethis,” he gestures between us, “further.”
My brain short-circuits. What are we exploring? What isthis? Why are my fingers going numb?
“I want to be around you. As me,” his voice is quiet, causing me to lean in to hear him better. “The real me.”
I gulp loudly.
“I know you don’t think of me as a man or an alpha yet,” he adds, his voice softening, “but this is who I’ve always been.” His gaze has captured me, holding me hostage. “I would like you to know me like this.”
Oh gods.
“Well,” I say, because I have no idea what to do with his confession. “This day has taken a turn. And I haven’t even finished my coffee yet.” I bark a hysterical laugh.
He smiles, warm and dangerous. It should be illegal for any being to look so… edible. This whole situation feels illegal. He was a toddler two fucking weeks ago.
I can’t…
No. Nope. Not unpacking all of that right now.
