“Forget our past, forget that I mentioned the word mates. Right now I just want to be someone you can trust to have your back. That’s all,” he told her with determination. She gave him a look as if she wasn’t sure whether or not to believe him. He started to insist his point when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Shock ripped through him, and with only a millisecond of debate James kissed her back hungrily and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her against him. Feeling her in his arms felt so right so perfect and he wanted to feel all of her. It had been a long lonely two years but, unfortunately, James knew he had to stop. Whatever this pull was between them, this wasn’t the time to explore it, not with the fresh batch of problems they had now.
So mustering all his willpower James ended the kiss. Panting, they rested their foreheads against each other with eyes closed. “I think our definition of friendship is a bit different,” he joked, his voice rough with a need that was so frustratingly unfulfilled.
“Actually this is a total infringement on the definition of friends,” Lily replied breathlessly. “And I don’t know why I did that because we shouldn’t be doing this,” she told him and gently pushed herself away from him. He felt the familiar tug when she stepped away. His beast still considered her his mate and distance was the last thing it wanted, but James couldn’t allow their instincts to screw this up again so he let her put space between him.
That’s when he noticed it. “Lily, your eyes! They’re back to normal,” James told her, still staring as if afraid it was all an illusion.
“What? My eyes…” she said slowly then dashed to the bathroom. He followed her when he heard her gasp. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I can feel her again, the beast! After I had drunk from Silvano I didn’t feel her but now I can,” Lily said with what sounded like a hint of excitement. She stared at her reflection. “But how?” She asked.
“Whatever the cause, it’s a good thing. I will take it as a sign that Silvano didn’t do too much damage,” James said with a large yawn, suddenly feeling a little sleepy. Lily turned to look at him and started to laugh.
“James, you look exhausted. Go back to your bed and get some sleep,” she told him and he really did want to just that.
“Will you be alright?” He asked.
“James terribly feared hybrid here,” she said pointing to herself. “But yeah I’m fine, better than fine now that my eyes are normal.” Not being able to resist the offer he gave her a slow nod.
“Okay, then I guess I will make some good use of my bed. Good night Lily,” he told and went into his bedroom. He tossed himself onto the bed and then swore quietly. It was saturated with her scent and scent of arousal. His beast stirred instantly at the smell and James mentally pushed him to go away. He needed to keep his libido under control because he really did need to sleep.
As he started to drift off to sleep a stab of concern hit him, why was her scent of arousal on the bed when she had a nightmare? What exactly was she dreaming about? But despite his concern James quickly fell into the unconscious stupor of deep sleep.
Getting dressed in the first thing he found in his drawer, he left his room and saw Lily was asleep on the couch. She laid on her side in a fetal position and he couldn’t help but watch her for a few minutes. She really was beautiful and he had the strongest urge to brush aside a piece of her hair out of her face. Instead, he went into the kitchen to make both of them some breakfast. He had just finished making bacon when he heard the shower start.
He smiled, no one could resist the irresistible smell of bacon. Fifteen minutes later Lily walked into the kitchen with a large yawn. “Finally, I had thought you’d gone comatose there for a while,” James teased and she glared at him with a superior “Hmph!” as she marched over and took the large plate of bacon and ignored the scrambled eggs he also made. “Where exactly do you think you’re going with that?”
“You’re a smart guy James. You do the math,” she told him and sat down.
“That’s for the both of us, not just you!” He argued, but she gave him an unimpressed look.
“Well, you know what happens to the best-laid plans. Now if you will excuse me. Piggy and I have to get reacquainted,” she told him and began eating with James gawking at her as she ate like some kind of wild animal.
“Whatever happened to you not being able to eat?” He asked and Lily tossed him the little orange bottle she pulled out of her pocket.
“That is like a substitute for blood and helps me be able to eat like normal people,” she said between bites.
“Then I think you overdosed because that isn’t how normal people eat,” he said with a nasty smile. He tried to take a piece of bacon, but she slapped his hand away with a growl. “Come on Lily at least give me a couple of pieces!”
“After your “that isn’t how normal people eat” comment? I don’t think so James Lacrosse,” she demanded and stuffed two whole pieces in her mouth then gave him a smug grin as she chewed them. That woman could be pure evil when she wanted to, he thought as he continued to try and steal a piece of bacon. After several failed attempts, he managed to grab a piece.
“See persistence is the key,” he said with a large grin and she rolled her eyes at him.
“Not really I let you have them because I was feeling sorry for you,” she replied with a smug expression.
“Liar, I stole them fair and square,” he argued and she looked at him with an arched eyebrow.
“Stole them fair and square?” She asked obviously not trying to laugh.