Page 26 of Midnight Auto Parts

The permanence of him purchasing a vehicle, the promise it made that he wanted to stay here, with me, set velvet-winged moths free in my stomach. “You could buy a used one much cheaper.”

“Modern vehicles don’t appeal to me. Vintage ones don’t either, if I’m honest.” He tipped his head back. “I would prefer to purchase land enough for a horse or two, but I must adapt.I can’t stand with one foot in the past without hobbling my present.” He slid his gaze to mine. “And I want to be an asset to you.”

“You okay, Mary?” Josie called from a safe distance. “You’re not making yourself sick?”

From her perspective, I could see how it would look that way to her, but we hadn’t gotten started yet.

“Fine,” I yelled back, shaking Kierce’s admission off me. “Let’s handle this. We’ll talk cars later.”

“All right.” He resumed his position and waited for me to do the same. “Close your eyes and repeat after me. There’s a hymn for this, and you’ll want to memorize it.”

With a tight nod, I shut my eyes and opened myself to the power within me, preparing to listen.

Aside from the usual routine of seating spirits inside their loaners of choice, I hadn’t used the new powers I sensed at my fingertips. I had been too afraid. Kierce gave me the courage to push past the walls I had been erecting for myself. He gave me the confidence to trust in his voice as I picked up the hymn and sang softly with him.

Energy broke against me like ripples skating across the surface of a pond, and I dug my hands deeper.

Cold power teased the tips of my fingers, numbing them, creeping up my hand into my arm. As it seeped into my chest, spreading toward my heart, I almost caved to the fear rising in me. But as my teeth began to chatter, a burst of warmth ignited within my core, melting the chilly discomfort until pleasant heat hit me in a refreshing rush of energy my body interpreted as adrenaline.

Pounding filled my ears, and my eyes shot open onto a world gilded with buttery yellow light.

“How do you feel?”

His multilayered voice echoed, clenching my abdomen with longing.

“Good,” I croaked through a parched throat. “I’m all tingly.”

In my pants.

Kierce cleared his throat.

That was the point when I realized I was checking his pants for signs of…tingles…too.

“I am so sorry.” I slapped my palms over my eyes. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“You’re having a natural reaction.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “Give it a moment to dissipate.”

“You should have warned me.” Heat lashed my face. “I didn’t know I was groping lust dirt.”

“Lust,” he said, blinking slowly. “Dirt.”

“You need to go back to the wagon. Tell Josie to drive you home or anywhere you want to go.” I held in a groan from deep in my soul. “I’m staying here. With the air plant. We’ll climb a tree together and?—”

“You were examining me for signs of arousal.”

The surprise in his voice convinced me living in the wild as an air plant was the right move for me.

“I’m a plant now.” I curled over my knees, pressing my forehead to the dirt. “I can’t understand you.”

“Frankie,” he chuckled my name. “Look at me.”

“Plants can’t look at people.”

“There’s new research that suggests otherwise.” His voice lowered to a pleading rumble. “Frankie.”

The second I drew my hands down my face, he was there, brushing his soft lips over mine.

He speared his fingers through my hair, angling my head in a way that spoke to past experience whether he recalled it or not. He held me there, his teeth raking my bottom lip, his mouth demanding I let him in. I darted my tongue out to taste him,and his groan of satisfaction thrummed through me, heady as a drug eager to addict me. I curled my hands in his hair, refusing to let him retreat an inch from the fire burning through me, consuming me.

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