“Okay.” I pressed my lips together. I decided not to question him, at least not right now. “Sounds good,” I said, though I wasn’t sure what I was agreeing to.
Since we’d agreed last night to be partners and support one another, I was willing to forego demanding an explanation from him.
He slipped from the bed and instead of standing up straight away, I laid back and watched him. Part of me enjoyed seeing him this way. Completely vulnerable, naked, in a way that most would never get to see him.
He moved like a large cat, sleek and dangerous. His muscles were so defined and beautiful, and his ass flexed as he picked up his clothes and began to dress. Every time he moved, his muscles rippled. It was hypnotizing. I was in awe.
I sighed with disappointment as the clothes covered his perfect body. I may as well get dressed then since there was nothing keeping me in bed. A small part of me had hoped that we would be able to tangle ourselves back up once again, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen.
Embarrassment flowed over my cheeks as I stood up, naked. The cooler air of the room wrapped around me and as Tavlor turned to look at me, I had to swallow the squeal that rose in my throat. Now, I was nervous being naked in front of him. Now, I wanted nothing more than to crawl under the covers and pretend I couldn’t see him.
Outside the heat of passion and lust, awkwardness and my own insecurities had crept back in. It was like I was comfortable with him looking at me with lust if we were going to make love, but once the sun came out and we were getting dressed to resume our normal lives? Then, I was nervous.
I closed my eyes, visualized a pair of yoga pants and a tank top, and magicked my outfit together.
When I opened my eyes again, Tavlor was smiling at me.
“That was unfair,” he said. “I was looking forward to the reverse strip tease.”
I laughed. It was still strange that he was attempting to make a joke.
“Reverse strip tease?” I asked, arching a brow.
He nodded, sobering for a moment. “Yes, your body is very beautiful. I look forward to having you beneath me again.”
I rubbed my lips together, my mouth going dry at the raw honesty in his words. My hands touched my cheeks, as though I wanted to mask the flush that currently encased my skin. “You’re embarrassing me.”
He chuckled, then ambled towards me and bent forward before he curled a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my skin and I shuddered. He had such power over me, it was almost as embarrassing as being naked in front of him.
“I’ll have to speak that way more so you get more comfortable then,” he said in a husky voice.
I closed my eyes, letting his words wash over me. “Yes,” I said. “That sounds good.”
Then, before I could be seduced into bed again, I turned towards the door and forced myself to leave our little cocoon and step into the world once more. I was already dressed and my stomach was begging me for food. Plus, I didn’t want to keep my sisters waiting.
The noise from my sisters hit me right away. Courtney’s music, thumping in her room. Bella clanging and banging around the kitchen. I smiled. It was the sounds of home.
My heart clenched painfully. I didn’t want to leave. Now that I was home, I didn’t want to go back to the magic realm. I wanted to stay.
But if I stayed, I would go stir-crazy, just like I was sure Courtney already was. I would start to resent this wonderful home the same I used to when my mother was alive and refused to let us leave. If I didn’t go, if I didn’t continue with this plan—whatever Tavlor had come up with—then we would be trapped here forever. Nothing would get done. My life would be at risk and since I was staying with my sisters, they would be at risk as well.
I couldn’t do that to them.
I was surprised they hadn’t come bounding to the room until I saw a tingle of magic shimmer when the window caught it just right. “Damn, I forgot about the privacy spell.” I shook my head and headed down into the dining room. “Morning, Bella.”
Bella turned to me with an excited smile. “Morning, Ava.” She reached out and squeezed my hand, as though she was glad to see I was tangible and I hadn’t disappeared. “How are you doing this morning?”
“Fine, thanks. You?” I asked, focusing on keeping my face looking as normal as possible. I was sure they knew what happened last night—or that they had an idea about it—but I didn’t want to be interrogated by them right now.
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Do you need a tea?” She squeezed my arm again, trying to reassure me. “Any pain or cramping?”
Tavlor stepped into the room and I shook my head.
“No, no, I’m all good,” I said honestly.
As expected, my sisters knew exactly what happened last night. I was being way more obvious than I intended to be, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I was just surprised that Courtney wasn’t down yet to give me a hard time about my night with Tavlor. I figured she’d be first in line, popcorn in her fingers, ready to pop the salty treat in her mouth.