He nods, gratefully, as he takes the mug from my hand. “That bad?”
“You're always handsome to me," I say. "But right now you look like someone who didn't sleep.”
Silas’ eyes close in satisfaction as he savors the first sip. “I didn’t. Ended up down here. Making a few things for your heat. Soups, snacks. That stuff.”
“What? Why?”
He chuckles. “We’ll need to eat, little bird.”
I place my palm against his hard chest. “But why last night?”
He puts the coffee mug on the counter and wraps his arms around me. “Saint's alpha wasn't the only one going a little crazy yesterday."
He looks at his coffee mug. "I knew you weren't hurt. I could smell you were okay. But I still wanted to be near you." He pauses. "It was difficult, giving him that time."
He says it simply. No drama.
“I’m sorry,” I say, tilting my head back for a kiss. “I should have realized.”
His kisses taste like whiskey and coffee. I moan against his mouth.
“You make me want to skip out on life today and stay here snuggled next to you.”
“Is that all you want, little bird?”
A familiar heat coils in my stomach. “Sooner we get there, sooner we’re back,” I whisper.
He kisses my forehead. “Go get your shoes on.”
My business at the warehouse takes much longer than I hoped. The insurance agent was late. The fire marshal returned to ask additional questions, and the building owner argued that I was still responsible for maintaining the lease even though there was no longer a usable building.
By the time Silas and I return to the house, we are both exhausted. “Shower and nap?” I ask.
“Perfect,” he says.
He stops on the second-floor landing to kiss me. “See you in a few hours?”
What the hell? He thought I meant shower and napalone?
Disappointed, I trudge up the rest of the stairs. I sulk the entire time I’m in the shower. Boss Bitch Lark does not sulk.
I sulk anyway.
Is it the nest thing? Surely he’s over that now that Saint and I have figured some things out.
Cammie’s voice rings in my mind.What would Boss Bitch Lark do?
I grin. Boss Bitch Lark doesn’t take no for an answer.
Once I’ve scrubbed off the dust and grime from the crumpled warehouse, I throw on a pair of plum-colored shorty pajamas. Then I slip into my fuzziest house shoes and sneak back down the stairs. When I get to the end of the hall, I pause. I’ve been waiting for this. Wanting it for too long now.
I straighten my shoulders then turn the doorknob and walk in. The blinds are down and the room is nearly pitch black.
Silas’ eyes pop open before I can click the door shut behind me. He sits up fast. “Lark. Are you okay?”
He throws his covers back and kicks his legs over to the side of the bed. Before he can get up, I’m standing in front of him. My hand lands on his shoulder.
“I’m fine. I just wanted to come see you.”
