Page 298 of Once Upon a Fable

“The dorm.” I squeezed the back of my neck, my hand coming away wet. “I can’t sleep in any of the other rooms.” I grimaced, giving her honesty because that was what she deserved. “They were guest rooms. I, ah...I can’t relax in them, not after what they did to us.”

She braced her shoulders. “I’m the same. That’s why I chose the conservatory. It’s the only place I like. The bedrooms give me the creeps.”

I chuckled, but it came out morbid and sad. “Maybe next summer, we’ll just sleep outside. That would be better.”

I cringed against the flicker of surprise on her face. A lot of incredible things had happened between us tonight but the mention of another season, another year spent living with me had shown where her thoughts still resided.

She might’ve accepted me, but she hadn’t accepted that this was her home now.

She will.

We have time.

“Sleep outside, but not together,” she murmured, avoiding any mention of how many years I intended to keep her chained to me.

“No, not together.” I sighed and stepped toward the house. “Good night, Gemma. Thank you...for everything.”

She shrugged and shook out the towel, wrapping it around her. For a moment, she looked as if she’d argue and follow. I honestly didn’t know what I’d do if she did. But then she swallowed and arched her chin, bowing her head regally. “Good night, Kassen. I hope you sleep well.”

I nodded.

I drank her in one last time.

And then, I walked away.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

SO...

I groaned.

Oh, God.

I flopped onto my back after tossing and turning all night, staring at the new sun through the conservatory glass ceiling. My mind hadn’t shut up. My thoughts were on a racetrack full of him and us and sex.

God, thesex.

Every part of me was hypersensitive, humming for him, wishing he was beside me to take me again and again and—

Wow, you are in soooo much trouble, Gem.

I wedged my knuckles into my eyes, groaning all over again.

This was bad.

This was very, very bad.

I dropped my hands and bunched the blankets keeping me warm and cozy on the floor. I twisted the expensive bedding, unable to lay still.

How had this happened?

How had Iallowedthis to happen?

A crow landed on the ceiling, its talons tapping against the glass, its intelligent eyes glaring at me as if it judged me just like I judged myself.

I cringed, squeezing my eyes shut, only for my head to be full of him again. His shyness beneath his savagery. His curiosity beneath his cruelty. His inherent need to take care of me after treating me like a monster.

I’ve lost my damn mind.