Page 15 of Just Right
His walk toward me becomes a touch more predatory.
“Aurelia,” he says again, the only one of the three who occasionally refer to me by my real name. “My little thief. What are you doing here?” His eyes sparkle. “Does Rowan know you’re here?”
I shake my head.
“Insteresting,” he muses. “Very interesting.” He wipes his brow with the back of his muscular arm. “I’ve been wondering when I’d get my turn. Didn’t expect it would be so soon… not with the way Finn’s trying to claim you… but—” He pauses. Tilt his head. Narrows his gaze. “Oh, no. I see what’s going on here.”
I’m glad he does. “Yeah?” I say, my voice barely a whisper. “And what’s that?”
“Come here. I’ll show you.”
Really? Does he think it’ll be that easy?
ThatI’m that easy?
Okay, maybe I am, but?—
Whoa. One second, Colt was on the other side of the clearing. Now? He’s right there, his hand circling my hand, pulling me close, tethering me to him.
“The magic has you in its grip.” No, Colt, that’syou…and, damn, does it feel good to have him hold me. At least, until he adds, “Your fairytale,” and I jerk out of his slight embrace.
“Fairytales?” I repeat. “Who said anything about fairytales?”
“This is Blackmoor. The home of every fairytale that’s ever existed.” A soft scoff that doesn’t hide the heat in his expression. “Who said anything about fairytales?” he murmurs, echoing my earlier words. “I did, because I’m living in one. And now, little thief, so are you.”
Little thief… that’s not the first time he’s called me that. I’ve ignored it before, only now? I cling to it because I don’t want the reminder that, despite everything, I agree with Colt.
Weareliving a fairytale, and while I believe in magic and monsters, too, now… if there’s one thing I know better than to believe in, it’s anything that might end with a ‘happily-ever-after’. They don’t exist. Theycan’texist.
And if the three bears think they will… that, after my three weeks are done, I might stay in the cabin with them… they have another think coming.
“What did you call me?”
“Little thief.”
That’s what I thought.
My back goes up. “I already apologized for what I did. But if you think Istolesomething?—”
His dark gold eyes sparkle. “Of course you did.”
“The porridge?” I sputter. “You eat that super icy cold shit. I didn’t?—”
“Appreciate how tasty cold porridge can be, I know. Just like how you don’t understand how nice soft things can be.” He shoots out his hand, twisting one of my curls around his finger.“I like soft things.” With his other hand, he rubs the back against my nearest tit. “And you, little thief, promise to be very soft.”
Little thief, again.
I tilt my chin. “I’m not a thief.”
“So you say.”
“What do you say, Colt?”
“That you stole something that belongs to me.”
“Yeah? And what’s that?”
“You’ll figure it out. And when you do…” He leans in, eyes locked on my lips as though he’s already imagining kissing them. “Blackmoor will have its due.”
