Page 51 of Taken By the Fae

I don’t know too many songs by heart, but Felicity’s “Poison” is one I fell in love with the moment I heard it for the first time.

As my fingers graze the keys, I sing, keeping in tune with the key of the song that matches the lyrics. By the middle of the song, I’m belting it out with thick emotion laced in every word.I let go completely, losing myself in the music, and it’s absolutely incredible.

The song comes to a close. Eyes shut and my hands in my lap, I sit there, taking several deep breaths before I open them again.

Clapping sounds behind me, shooting a wicked shiver up my spine, and I freeze.

“Boundaries mean nothing to you, do they?” Tristan’s amused voice carries through the empty room and latches onto my heart, sending it racing.

I scowl and turn to look at him. “You’re one to talk.”

He approaches at the same time I stand from the bench. “I own this hotel, Aurora. Therefore, nowhere is out of bounds for me.”

“Because that’s what I meant,” I respond dryly.

“I didn’t know you could play,” he comments, glancing at the piano.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Duly noted.” His gaze returns to mine. “You’re good.”

My cheeks flush, and I want to look away. I rock back on my heels, wishing I could use that fae shifting trick to get the hell out of this room, away from his gaze. “Uh, thanks.”

“Max said you took off. What happened?”

“I just needed a minute.”

He inhales slowly. “Should I be concerned?”

“If there was a reason to be concerned, you would know. What are you doing here? Skylar said you’d be gone all day.”

“All right,” he concedes. “I had business to attend to this morning, but my afternoon meetings were canceled, so I came back. Care to join me for lunch?”

I sigh, shaking my head because, hellyes, I want to, but I shouldn’t. “Tristan.”

“Aurora,” he levels.

“I’m not sure what you think you’re doing with me, but—”

He closes the distance between us in a second, pressing me back into the side of the piano, and cages me in with his arms on either side of me.

My heart lurches, and I lift my eyes to meet his, pressing my lips together. “You keep doing that,” I mutter.

His lips twitch. “What’s that?”

“Catching me off guard,” I admit. “I don’t like it.”

His gaze dances over my face, and my breathing hitches when his hands drop to my hips. “Hmm, I think you do. You just don’twantto. Because when we’re close, your heartbeat kicks up, your cheeks flush, and best of all, you get this look in your eyes, and I never know if you’re going to take a swing at me or let me closer.”

“Depends on the day,” I say without thinking.

He exhales a short laugh. “How’s today looking?”

My eyes narrow. “Not great.” I’ve gotten good at saying the exact opposite of what the voice in my head is saying, and she’s getting louder every day.

“Is that so?” he inquires, leaning close enough his breath stirs the hair at my temple.

I tilt my head back so I can look him in the eyes. “You want to get closer to me, then tell me what’s going on. Was that meeting this morning about the unseelie fae?”

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