match will be easier. Men and their need for the adrenaline is ridiculous, just saying.”
She sighs, seeming resigned. “Tell me about it.”
“Ellie… You’re happy, right? With Ghost, I mean.”
There’s a pause before she answers in a dreamy tone. “I am.”
The Rage Ball I knew never uses a dreamy tone. She was always serious and upright.
“He made me feel like I can be weak with him, you know,” she continues. “I always thought that strength was the key to everything, but Julian showed me how freeing it can be to be weak with the right people. I should be myself instead of putting on a façade.”
I sag against the pillow. “I’m so proud of you. You owe me a dozen hugs.”
“Uh… okay… I guess. Just come back and I’ll see what I can do.”
I laugh. Some things will never change.
“What’s wrong, Zoe?” Her voice drips with concern. “Even your laughter isn’t the same. What happened to you all these months?”
A lot. Maybe like Elle, I’m losing a façade, too. I pull the sheet closer to my nose until I inhale Shadow’s scent. It’s all because of him. He’s making me question everything.
“How is it with Ghost?” I ask instead of answering. “I mean, do you ever forget that he’s a killer?”
“Hmmm. I don’t see a killer when I look at Julian. I see a kid who was abandoned, kidnapped, and forced to become a killer. I didn’t have a say in being a prostitute’s daughter and neither did he have a say in being a killer.”
“What if you want a family? You can’t have it with Ghost’s lifestyle.”
“A family?” She giggles. Elle freaking giggles. “It’s funny because he’s definitely trying to impregnate me. I don’t worry about the lifestyle, though. I know no one would protect me more than Julian.”
“Hey! What about me?”
“You and Liam, too, of course.” There’s a rustle on the other end before she says at whoever beside her. “You’re up?”
Ghost’s voice is distant, but I can hear the possessiveness loud and clear. “Who are you talking to this early?”
“Zoe.”
“Just Zoe?”
She laughs and the carefree sound warms my heart. “Yes, just Zoe.”
“I’ll talk to you later, Rage Ball.”
She mumbles something affirmative before she squeals then breaks into laughter.
I hang up with a smile. Seems like Ghost is taking good care of her — sort of.
When I’m standing in the shower, I’m painfully aware of the soreness between my legs. My breasts are so heavy and my nipples ache. No idea whether it’s because of the pregnancy or Shadow’s bites.
Probably both.
Just recalling how he held me to sleep last night shoots hot awareness in my stimulated body. The sensation of his hard chest against my back and his strong arms around my waist make me want to hug myself.
With a pained sigh, I step out from the shower. After I wear a light woollen dress, I fetch my coffee from the kitchen and go outside.
The wind blows my still-damp hair and I freeze on the porch – not because of the weather.
Shadow stands in the field half bloody naked. The soft morning light gives his side profile an unearthly view. The orange hue highlights his cut muscles until they almost appear shiny. The tiger tattoos snarl down his arms as if itching to come out and play. They appear less gruesome and more artful. I swallow to stop myself from drooling like a dog. He’s so beautiful it’s unfair.
Once I’m momentarily out of the haze – only a bit – I concentrate on the way he’s cutting off flowers with infinite care like he’s treating a small child.
I leave my coffee on the table. Usually, only coffee is able to start my day, but I’m already wide awake by seeing Shadow.
He didn’t leave.
He’s here.
The realisation almost brings tears to my eyes. Freaking hormones.
I didn’t realise how much I wanted Shadow to stay until I saw him standing there like some model in a fashion magazine.
Shadow must sense me when I come near, but his attention doesn’t stray from the red tulip he’s carefully cutting. He has several aligned in the basket. I’m actually impressed by his neat work.
“Since when did you wake up?” I try not to sound so happy that he’s still here.
“I don’t sleep much.” He’s distracted by the tulip in his hand.
“You did a good job for a first timer.”
He meets my gaze and grins so wide, those grey eyes sparkle. My heart falters. He’s really different. Even his grin is genuine and not a suffocating