He shoots me a look, instantly picking up on my less enthusiastic answer. “Unless you had other plans?”
I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. I just...how about we just stay in tonight?” I ask.
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.”
I smile. “It is.” I lean forward and place my lips against his cheek. “Thank you.”
He catches my hand and presses his lips against the inside of my wrist. “What am I going to do with you?” he murmurs, although it sounds like it’s a question for himself.
Keep me. I want to say. Ask me to stay.
I’ve fallen so thoroughly hard for him over the course of our short time together. Despite my soul being bound to cupidity, he’s grounded me here with him. I’m constantly being pulled in two different directions, yet stuck in this limited limbo. But it can’t last. It won’t last.
Every time I feel my cupid mark tingle or another feather falls from my back, I know that I’m closer to losing this. I don’t have forever. No matter how much I pretend otherwise.
Which is why I decide that I’m going to tell him how I feel. Tonight.
I’m going to tell him that this isn’t just fast and fun and heated anymore. Not for me. Not anymore.
Chapter 31
Trix
Watching Warren cooking in his kitchen is damn sexy. He wears a t-shirt and jeans very well.
I opted for some simple black leggings and a soft gray t-shirt. I have to be more careful about my feathers. As soon as I feel one start to lift against my skin, I pluck it out and bury it in one of his trash cans. So long as I don’t use my power very much, it seems to have settled down a bit, but I’m constantly worried that he’ll notice.
Warren sets a plate of spaghetti in front of me, and I immediately dive in and then moan around a mouthful of meatball. “Mmm. This is good.”
His eyes glitter in amusement as he watches me shovel pasta into my mouth. He takes up a much more refined pace as he begins to eat. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“It’s pretty much the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.”
Warren gives me a look. “Careful, darling. Or I’ll be tempted to feed you my cock right here at the dinner table.”
I snort before taking a drink of water. “So cocky.”
“And with good reason,” he replies with a smirk.
I mean...he’s not wrong. His dick is awesome.
After dinner, we clean up together, and then we opt to go down to his private beach and sit on the shore to watch the sunset. I lie on my back on top of the blanket he brought with us, enjoying the view and the cool ocean breeze on my face. I’m going to miss this. I’m going to miss...everything.
Emotion hits me, and I’m forced to take a shaky breath.
Warren reaches over and pulls me onto his lap. His dark eyes scan over my face like he’s wishing he could read my mind. “Are you going to tell me why you’ve been so quiet all night, or am I going to have to tickle it out of you?” he teases.
I try to smile, but I end up biting my bottom lip instead, trying to dispel the nervousness I’m feeling. “Okay, I’m just going to say it,” I begin, my eyes dropping to our laps where my legs are straddling him. “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I...I...” My words trail off, my heart beating so quickly in my chest that I’m afraid he’ll hear it pounding.
Warren frowns at the shakiness of my voice and the way I keep fidgeting. “Trix, what is it?”
I force my eyes to lock onto his. “I love you.”
A simple statement. With the most significant meaning.
Three short words. With the longest implications.
The confession slips from my hesitant lips and wraps around us like the beach breeze, causing bumps to pebble over my skin.
I watch Warren, and he watches me.
I can’t breathe. My heart can’t even beat. I’m stuck with my love lying unclaimed in the inches between us, and that space widens as he continues to stare at me with an inscrutable expression on his face.
Seconds tick by. His eyes shutter a little bit more with each one.
Speak, my eyes plead. Say something, my lips beg. Say it back, my fluttering chest implores.
But he doesn’t.
Warren finally clears his throat, and he lifts me off