Page 42 of Desolation
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and smirks. “As happy as I am for you to have finally admitted that, it’s actually not what I wanted to talk to you about. I came to make sure you were alright when I heard noises because I saw something earlier that freaked me the fuck out.”
Slowly, the ability to process thought comes back and I take in his words.
Wow, I spilled the beans and that wasn’t even what he was referring to earlier.
“Okay. What did you see?”
He blows out a deep breath, fanning my face and drops his hand. “After we got to the room, I cleaned up your back the best I could without putting you in a potentially compromising position if you woke up during it.”
I knew it—he’s such a fucking sweetheart.
“After I was done, when I came out of the bathroom, you were covered in a teal … like a shield of energy? I don’t know how to describe it. Then my brain felt like it was being fried and I barely managed to drag my way up and onto the bed next to you. I didn’t know what was going on but I was so worried it was related to the glow around you.”
He’s speaking so hurriedly, with so much concern that I know he isn’t bullshitting me. I rub my hands up and down his arms, waiting for him to finish.
“I went to touch you and there was a barrier of sorts that I hit and it was like it pushed me away, stinging me or something. I passed out and didn’t wake up until just now when I heard you in the shower. Fuck, this is all sounds so crazy,” he finishes in a rush and starts to pace the room.
Well, shit. I guess Gaia had been telling the truth. Maybe I owe her an apology for all the sass and anger. My bad.Who knew you could trust crazy Goddesses in dreams?
“I know this sounds absolutely batshit crazy but—”
I cut him off with a squeeze of his arm as he crosses in front of me. “I believe you.”
“Wait, what? Really?” He looks into my eyes, suspicious like this is one of my pranks.
I roll my eyes. Really, these guys act like I don’t have a mature bone in my body. “Yes, really. Some crazy shit happened to me when I was passed out but I hadn’t fully believed it until now. I will fill you in but I would rather do it when all of the guys are around so I don’t have to repeat myself.”
He leans down slightly and presses a chaste kiss to my lips, making my stomach erupt in butterflies. I stare up at him and can’t help but smile back at the cheesy, mischievous, schoolboy grin on his face.
“You’re so lame,” I say, shaking my head.
“You like it.” He winks at me.
Yes, I fucking do.
At the thought of seeing the rest of my guys, I inwardly cringe, remembering how I left off with them. I’m not sure if we should try to sleep and let them cool off some more, or if I should woman up, gather them all in the room and risk their rage.
Deciding to ask Hale, since he would have a better idea of their mental state, I ask, “Hey. I know I owe them an apology but do you think I should wait until the morning to throw all of this at them? It’s kind of a lot.”
He rubs his stubbled chin. “Yeah, I think all of this would come across much better after a decent night’s sleep. I’m struggling to believe it myself and I actually saw it.”
I nod in agreement. “Thought so. I’m just going to change into my pajamas and dry my hair really quick then so we can get some sleep.”
“I’ll be in bed, waiting.” He saunters off,leaving me to get ready, and I can’t help the flutter of excitement I feel at the possibilities of him waiting in bed.
Closing the door behind me, I change into my standard short and tank combo and grab the crappy hair dryer built into the wall. Sighing at how long this will take with my new, thicker, Lana 2.0 hair, I resign myself to my fate, section it off and get to work.
After that awful task is complete, I take note of how soft and beautiful my hair looks in the mirror. I can definitely tell the difference in my appearance. There’s a natural glow to my skin and a vitality that has never been there before. I mull over how my features are all enhanced but I also have that weird scar underneath my chin now.
If Fae appearance is some kind of perfect state of being, that scar just doesn’t add up.
Leaving the mystery for another day, I open the door and make my way into the room, fidgeting with my hands, nervous about how to proceed with Hale. I knew what I wanted in the heat of the moment and didn’t feel shy about it, but now… well now is a whole different thing.
He’s lying on his back under the comforter, already snoring away with one hand behind his head and the other on top of the comforter covering his dick.
Giggling softly, I realize nothing further is going to happen tonight and the tension leaves my body. I make my way over to my side of the bed, turn the bedside light off and slip underneath the covers gently, not wanting to disturb him. Laying on my side, I feel the urge to reach out and touch him but refrain, knowing he needs to rest.
“Love you.”
