Page 128 of Black Willow Witch
His gaze softened. ‘Maybe not. He died, though, Em. Jax Stone didn’t come back from Bloodhill.Thisversion of me did.It was why I didn’t care when people started calling me Ripper soon after. I didn’t feel the same person I was before.’
She stroked his jaw again. ‘I like this version of you just fine.’
Swallowing, he ever so gently bumped his nose to hers. ‘I never told anyone else that I’d felt tempted to go back to Bloodhill.’
Her chest went tight. ‘Thank you for trusting me with it.’ It was as humbling as it was touching. ‘If someone had told me six months ago that there would come a day you would trust me with anything, I would have snorted and insisted they were high.’
He slipped his hand beneath the curtain of her hair to cover her nape, the warm weight of his palm like a brand. ‘Back then, I didn’t know you. I also didn’t want to want you,’ he admitted.
‘Oh, I know,’ she said, feeling her lips hitch up. ‘I wasn’t too crazy about the fact that I wanted you, either.’
‘Why not?’ he asked, clearly offended.
‘I didn’t believe that anything would ever come of it, so it was just annoying.’
‘If we hadn’t become allies, I wouldn’t have gotten to know you; wouldn’t be in your bed right now. That pisses me off. I should have seen before now that a lot of the rumors about you are just that – rumors.’
‘You had a blind spot when it came to witches who aren’t so well behaved,’ she pointed out.
‘It’s gone now.’ His finger lightly tapped her lip. ‘I see you.’
‘You do.’ She felt her nose wrinkle. ‘I’m not sure I like it.’
A smile blotted his gaze. ‘You’ll get used to it.’
Emberlyn onlyhmphed.
He whispered his lips over hers. ‘Sleep, baby.’
She let her eyes fall shut. ‘Night.’ She groaned when his hand roamed to her butt once more. ‘Seriously, give my ass some peace.’
‘Tried. Can’t.’
‘Can’t, or won’t?’ she challenged.
‘Both. I mean, it’sright there.’
She inwardly rolled her eyes. This was what she got for accepting an Alpha in her bed and life. She really only had herself to blame.
Stalking into the consultation room the following afternoon, Ripper found Emberlyn stood at the altar, her gaze on an open old text – a grimoire, maybe? He couldn’t tell. And if he was honest, he wasn’t trying to figure it out, distracted by the sight of her in a tan, V-neck dress with matching strappy heels.
When he’d declared that he’d make lunch – well, they’d already established that he liked feeding her – she’d told him she’d ‘go work on some potions’ while she waited. The scents of various herbs were strong in the air, giving him an idea of what she’d so far thrown into her bubbling cauldron.
Casting a quick look at the cat curled up on the stool near the fireplace, Ripper set his hands on his hips. ‘The basement door is jammed.’
Emberlyn slowly flipped the page. ‘Why are you trying to get into the basement?’ she asked without looking at him, her tone a little absent.
‘I can hear noise coming from down there.’ As if small animals were skittering around and wrestling or something. ‘I want to check it out.’
‘No need.’ An airy response. ‘All is fine.’
‘I want to check.’
‘Don’t bother.’ Pale-hazel eyes briefly slid his way as she opened a drawer behind her. ‘It won’t let you in.’
‘It?’
‘The basement.’
