Page 25 of Heat & Hard Candies

“Nah, you’re safest right here.” He pulled me against him even tighter, inhaling deeply. “Damn, you smell good. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” I tucked my forehead against his neck as we went over another wave, and he held me close. “Only a few more days.”

“We’ve got this,” he agreed. “Being apart during the final reward will be rough, but we’ll make it.”

“We will.”

He kissed my cheek. “My parents are going to love you.”

My chest warmed. “I hope so.”

“You’re saving my life, Beautiful. They’d love you even if you were a menace to the Society. My sister is one, and we’re all still her biggest fans.”

My lips curved. “Your sister is a menace?”

He chuckled. “You have no idea.”

“Do you think she’ll like me?”

“Of course she will.” He squeezed me. “Rhett found her a mate a little while ago, so she’s getting married pretty soon after the season ends. She likes everyone right now, from what I’ve heard.”

“Not a bridezilla, then?” I asked.

“A what?”

I laughed, and explained the term.

“Nah, she’s a bridezilla,” he said with a grin. “But a loveable one. Most of the time.”

Something told me that his definition ofmost of the timewasn’t the same as everyone else’s, if she was really considered a menace to Society.

But, that didn’t matter.

I leaned against his chest, breathing in his scent.

We were together, and that was what mattered.

nine

LAUNA

Goingto the spa with Kyle was nothing like going with the other men.

When I headed for the shower, he joined me. We washed up quickly, and as soon as the soap was off our skin, he towed me toward the bathtub. We both fit inside it, and ended up spending over an hour cuddled up beneath the hot water.

We traded stories about our childhoods and our families. It was really nice, even though it made my heart ache for what I’d lost when mine rejected me for being compatible with the fae.

Hearing about his gave me hope, though.

His family was immortal, and they were loving. According to him, they would accept me with open arms, and love me for who I was.

That sounded like pure bliss.

When we eventually washed up and made it out of the tub, we headed out for food. There was a massive spread set up for us, and we feasted for a few minutes before we started talking again.

“So, what do you want from our life together?” I asked, wiping the corner of my mouth with a napkin.

“What do I want?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow at me.

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