Page 61 of Beginning at the End
His grin was wide.“That is a telling statement.”
“Is it?I barely know you.I mean, I know you better than I do a lot of the guys I have dated in the past, but this feels a little rushed.”
“I have waited.Centuries.Hoping for a match of my own once we were loose, but I am a tricky fit, and I have a champion of the empire to look up to.I am mostly djinn.I also want a woman who sees me, no matter what I present to the world.”
She swallowed.“Oh.”
“What do you want in a man?”
She blushed.“That’s a little awkward.”
“Try.”
“As strong as I am, I want a man who knows when I need someone to come to my rescue.Someone who makes me feel safe.”
His eyes went soft, and he touched her jaw with his thumb, settling his fingers on her neck.“That is a lot to live up to.”
“You are doing better than anyone else so far.The bar is currently in the basement.”She leaned into his hand.
He moved in to kiss her.And she whispered, “Did you finish the dishes?”
His lips touched hers, and she felt a surge of magic that ended up with clattering in the cupboards.
She smiled and reached up to touch his neck as the kiss continued, and he lifted her to sit her on the counter.Eudora looked up at him during a small break in the make-out session.“We are not going all the way tonight.”
He chuckled.“Any particular reason why?”
“First, I said no.”
“Fair.”
“Second, everyone is going to be watching us tomorrow, and my hips shifting differently when I walk is going to be noticed and commented on.That is a little much for my return to the community.”She looked up at him with an impish grin.“We can save it for the night after the event.”
“Tomorrow night.”
She nodded.“If you can wait that long.”
Sern looked at her and smiled.“Will you move in with me?”
“You already moved all my stuff here while I was at the grill, so sure.”
He smiled.“I thought I was more subtle than that.”
“I would have thought so, too, but I still felt the surge of magic with your flavour to it.”
“You can taste me?”He looked delighted.
She was resigned.“I can taste you.The heat of your skin, the tingle of magic, the hum of your moods.”
He gripped her waist and spun her around.When the spin stopped, they were in his bedroom.
She looked at the wonder in his expression.He said, “I love the fit of your waist.It gives me all kinds of ideas.”
“The mind boggles.”
He smiled.“Will you share my bed tonight?We have to leave at noon for the event.”
“You brought my dress over?”
