“I had no idea. I’m still shocked.”
“Tell me what happened next again.” She flips onto her belly, reaches out for her glass, and downs the rest of her wine in one gulp, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand when she finishes. “The part when he said you were a witch.” Her brows crinkle together trying to remember my words.
“He said … he said I had bewitched him. What does that even mean?” I pull myself from my crouched position and reach my hands behind me to unsnap my bra and pull it off without removing my shirt, sighing in relief when that torture device hit the ground—away from my breasts.
“That man has it bad, Wills. So bad. Did he really tell you to lean on him and let him be the power?”
I shake my head. “No, he told me to let him be the strength when I can’t be … or something like that.”
She sighs.
“Am I crazy?”
“No. Well, yes. Crazy that you didn’t molest him right there in the front drive, but I wouldn’t say crazy in general.”
My eyes widen.
“You thought about it,” she smugly states.
She isn’t wrong. I ignore her and take another sip of my wine. I can feel my buzz crossing over toward drunk at this point.
“He said it felt like he was coming out of his skin when he thought about dropping me off tonight. Kirb, I felt it too. I didn’t want to leave him. I don’t know what to do with the way he makes me feel. Isn’t it too quick to be feeling something this … powerful for someone I literally just met?” She sighs again, and I narrow my eyes at her. “You aren’t helping,” I snap.
“Willow,” she starts, the serious tone making me lean forward in my chair so I can focus on her and not the spinning ceiling from moments before. “What you’re explaining to me is something that some people never find in their lives. You have a connection to him way beyond the definition of time. It transcends that and has a power of its own. I can’t tell you what to do, but if you want my advice, I would tell you to hold on to that and do everything you can never to let go. No matter how scary the enormity of those feelings can be. If he said let him be strong for you, then let him, but Willow, do not let this go.”
“And what about Mia?”
She flops back down and waves her hand in the air. “What about her? He said trust him, and as hard and daunting as that is, do it. I don’t know him that well, but Willow, he wouldn’t be working this hard if he just wanted a cheap thrill. A man like Kane Masters could have any woman in the world. He’s not going anywhere. But more importantly, he’s in the public eye. Do you really think he would start something with you if he was already in a relationship, or whatever the hell?”
“I don’t know, Kirby. I’m completely new at this!”
“I know, honey,” she says and turns her head to meet my eyes. “And it’s so beautiful to watch him bring you to life.”
I hold her gaze and let her words permeate my mind. Let them take hold of my doubts and squeeze them right out of my head.
She’s right. He’s bringing me to life.
“I need to let go of my fear once and for all, Kirb. It’s time, and you know what? I think I’m ready. Ready for Kane.”
I smile, big and toothy. She returns my smile, and with a nod, she sits up and refills our glasses.
I stumble up the stairs and squint my eyes in the darkness. Stupid dark. Stupid stairs. Stupid, weird house I don’t know.
Kirby left to head toward the other end of the house a few giggles and thumps ago, leaving me behind to fumble my way toward my temporary bedroom.
Why is this stupid, weird house so big?
It takes me three doorways to finally find the large bedroom where my stuff had been placed. If I hadn’t seen the size of Kirby’s room earlier, I would feel guilty for taking the master. But now I wish I just had a cot in one of the closets. Then maybe I would be able to find the stupid bed in this big house.
Why is this place so big?
Who needs this much space?
I kick my shoes off and pull my shirt over my head. My nipples tighten when their warmth feels this cool air around me. My pants become a problem when I can’t figure out how to get the button through the little hole. My struggles and wiggles make my phone—which I had tucked into my back pocket—drop loudly onto the hardwood floors.
“Stupid phone,” I mumble, bending over and picking it up.
Giving up on my pants, I drop down on the mattress and sigh when the softness of the down comforter acts like a warm hug.
I love warm hugs.
I would love to give Kane a big warm hug.
Right now.
I bet my nipples would love that.