Page 50 of Wolfsbane

“Do what?”

His cheeks went a shade darker than exertion alone could explain. “You . . . seem to like it when I’m⁠—”

“Inside me?”

He nodded. Once.

And I broke into a wide grin. “You’d want me to?”

Another nod. “If you’d . . . want to.”

“Hell yes. Are you kidding?”

Viktor’s lips pressed into a thin line, and I was starting to recognize that for the discomfort it was, so I surged forward to kiss him again.

It wasn’t just that he wanted me to fuck him, which, like I said, hell fucking yes. His body was incredible, and getting to experience it in every single way? Perfect.

But this was the first time he’d hinted at a next time, or that there might be something we could build to. There was at least one more time ahead of me, and I was going to cling to it.

“I want to,” I promised him, lifting my hand to touch his stubbled cheek. “Like really want to. I just . . . didn’t know if you’d want that. Or if we’d keep— . . . but yes. Could we . . . tonight?”

He shrugged. “Probably.”

“Cool. Yeah. I’ll—I’ll make it good, I swear. I want to make you feel good.”

He met my eye again, a sparkle in his irises that said I was just a little bit charming.

And shit, how the hell was I going to make sure I gave him what he deserved? I could ask Altair for pointers—the other witches had always liked him, more than one returning beyond their awakening. But that felt . . . like something I shouldn’t pick at. Especially not in front of Viktor, who I couldn’t really get away from.

Whatever. I was going to figure it out and prove that . . . that maybe I could be what he needed.

CHAPTER 27

Viktor

The kitchen felt empty with no Evie or Cash or Aleks or Henry at breakfast. The whole family had started coming for most meals, filling the room with noise and light, and while that sounded like the last thing I wanted, it had been . . . nice.

Still, if Cash wasn’t comfortable around Daire, it was for the best.

Even if I missed him.

I just had no idea how to make him see that Daire was a good person. It was a little odd, because Cash was angry at Daire out of protectiveness toward Aleks, which made sense and obviously, I’d never hold it against him. But also, it seemed to me that just maybe, what Cash was hating was seeing some of the flaws he disliked in himself inside Daire.

They were both very kind people who had struggled to live under tyranny instead of fighting against it, because they weren’t fighters. Neither of them had known how to fight, or even that it was an option.

Maybe it was uncomfortable to look into a mirror like that? I’d never met anyone like me, but I suspected any such man would be insufferable.

It was quiet when we came into the kitchen, only Leo at the table. No . . . Leo and Altair. That was odd. The sun was up, so Altair being in the kitchen meant that the shutters and curtains were all closed and sealed for him, and also, he didn’t really eat.

But there he was, sitting in a chair, smiling over at us like breakfast at the kitchen table was the most normal thing in his life.

“Morning,” he practically chirped. “Sleep well?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, but Daire didn’t even take a second to consider whether there were any ulterior motives for the behavior. He smiled guilelessly at Altair, sliding into a chair across from him and nodding. “I did. I don’t know where you guys bought those beds, but they’re as soft as clouds. They’re kind of amazing.”

Altair seemed to consider that for a moment, then nodded, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Interesting,” he finally said. “I knew they were better than any bed I’d experienced before, but I assumed they were normal for the modern world. I suppose Cash is simply that good at what he does. No surprise, really.”

Daire’s eyes rounded in shock at the realization that the beds had been made by hand, but he was almost immediately distracted by Mama putting a plate of eggs and sausage in front of him. He turned his sweet smile on her, and I could tell she was charmed. “Thank you so much, ma’am.”