Page 44 of Make You Mine

The timer went off for the cupcakes. But I was still focused on the thought of being bent over the counter by Ren.

“Crap.” I slipped into my sweater and grabbed the oven mitts to get the cupcakes.

“Are you okay?” He picked up his shirt and put it back on.

I took a deep breath and turned to face him. “I’m fine. Just needed to get these cupcakes out before they burned.”

He nodded, his eyes still smoldering. “Alright then. Let’s not let these cupcakes go to waste.”

“Yeah. I promised you dessert.” I felt awkward. But his smile, though hesitant and unsure, made me feel a bit better.

We both laughed, breaking the tension, though the heat between us still simmered just beneath the surface.

He helped me place the cupcakes on the cooling rack, then into the fridge so they’d cool faster. His hands brushed mine occasionally, sending little sparks of electricity through my fingertips.

I glanced up at him, and he was watching me, a mixture of desire and restraint written clearly on his face.

“Maybe we should clean up,” he suggested.

I nodded, feeling the awkwardness settle. We started cleaning up, moving around each other with a careful choreography. The space between us felt charged, like a taut wire ready to snap.

We stacked dishes, wiped counters, and exchanged glances that said more than words ever could. Ren’s presence was steady, grounding me as I tried to sort through my tangled emotions.

When the kitchen was spotless, he turned to me, his expression softening. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I nodded. The mood was broken. “Are we okay? I didn’t mean to lead you on?—”

“You didn’t lead me on. And I’m okay as long as you are.”

“Good. I want to be okay.”

“See? I know you’re going through some shit, Piper. What kind of an asshole would I be if I rushed you into more than you’re ready for?”

“You’re a good guy, Ren.”

It was for the best. Complicating my life when it was already in a precarious place wasn’t wise. I needed time before moving on, and that was okay.

He drove me home and walked me to my door, waiting outside until I was safely inside and had locked the door.

Chapter13

Piper

Iawoke abruptly to the sound of Nimbus yowling in the corner of my room. My heart pounded as I tried to shake off the remnants of sleep to see what he was going on about.

The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls from the moonlight outside. It didn’t make sense, but I was too afraid to turn on the light. What if I saw something terrible?

I squinted into the darkness. Usually, he just stared and maybe scratched at the walls a little bit. But this was different. His back was arched with his fur standing on end, eyes wide and fixed on something I couldn’t see. His ears were flattened against his head, and his low growl sent chills down my spine.

Smog was acting weird, too. He sat at my feet, alert as if he were guarding me.

My initial grogginess faded quickly as I became more aware. I strained to hear any other sounds amidst Nimbus’s yowling. That’s when I heard a faint, almost imperceptible noise coming from within the walls. It was a soft scratching, accompanied by a low, rustling sound.

My pulse quickened, and an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. I had to get the hell out of here.

Yeah, I joked about this house being haunted, but I never thought it really was, or I would have moved the frick out at the first sign. What the hell was going on?

I threw back the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet touching the cold floor. With each step, I felt a growing sense of dread. Nimbus continued his vocal protest, his eyes never leaving the corner, drifting up and down the wall as he pawed at the baseboard and softly growled.

---