feeling will ever go away when I’m near this man. Will I ever look at him and not feel the way I do now? His warm hand tightens around my hip, his fingertips digging into my skin, sending electric zaps straight to my core.
I rest my hand on his firm chest as he stares down at me, the heat in his eyes almost unbearable. His calloused hand cups my cheek, and my heart flutters in my chest.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“That’s a bad word,” Luna pipes in.
My smile is instantaneous. Like gasoline on a fire, it starts on one end and spreads to the other. As much as I want to chide him for his language, I can’t bring myself to do it. “Thank you,” I whisper, trying to keep the heat from settling into my cheeks. It’s no use. I should come to terms with the fact that I’ll always be that girl who blushes too hard.
Endymion swoops down, taking my mouth in a kiss that evokes deep body quakes. The effect he has on me is visceral. I feel the kiss spread through my body like wildfire. He presses my body against his, and heat engulfs us both.
“Gross.” Luna groans, prompting us to pull apart, resting our foreheads against each other. The laugh that tumbles past my lips is the most carefree it’s ever been.
Every year Summer Fest in Dunsmuir is held at an old barn that was refurbished years ago. The structure is a historical landmark here, only a few miles away from the famous rail line that was built in the 1880s. Though, most of the town is considered historical. Dunsmuir is a tourist favorite because it is one of the few small towns here in Northern California that has preserved an authentic 1920s and 1930s look and feel.
My heart thumps with nostalgia as I take in the barn I recognize from my childhood. It’s a weathered brown color that gives the wood character, letting everyone know just how long it’s been here. The front doors are rolled open, and I can clearly spot the wooden tables covered in white tablecloths and the small fairy lights strung across the borders and crisscrossed along the ceiling inside. From my trajectory, I can even spot hay bales, and it takes me back to years ago when I was forced to sit on them and deal with the hay poking me in my thighs.
A surprised smile lights my face as we walk over the threshold. Even the smell in here is the same. It’s a mix of delicious food and something woodsy. Hints of nature tickle the back of my nose. I spot my parents seated on one of the hay bales at a table and feel emotion grip my chest. Last night I mentioned to Endymion that I was sad that my parents wouldn’t be attending. Dad is only getting sicker, and I knew going out is the last thing he would want. I was still bummed they wouldn’t be here. Somehow, I know this is Endymion’s doing, getting them to go out. There’s no denying how sick my father looks. But the smile on his face as he talks to a few of his friends has tears burning the backs of my eyes.
I tighten my grip around Endymion’s hand in a silent thank you. He glances down at me, an emotion in his eyes that has heat crawling across my skin.
“I was wondering if you’d show.” I turn at the sound of Julia’s voice, and my brows disappear into my hairline when I see who she’s with. Griffin has his arm slung around her shoulder, looking all too comfortable.
“What makes you think I wouldn’t?” I retort, feigning offense.
She rolls her eyes. “Because I know you like the back of my hand, Selene Drake.”
“Oh! There’s Valeria. Can I go play with her?” Luna asks us both, vibrating with excitement. Endymion nods, scooping her into his arms, and she giggles.
“C’mon, I’ll go with you.” End tugs me into his side and presses a warm kiss to my lips that has my stomach fluttering woefully. I watch them go and try to mask my surprise when Griffin presses a kiss to Julia’s cheek.
“Catch up with you later, babe.”
Once he’s out of earshot, I grip onto Julia’s arm and squeeze, my eyes narrowing into thin slits. “You gonna make me ask, or you just want to tell me what the hell is going on?”