Page 14 of All My Hexes (Pine Gulch Ever After)
Dain
New York is so bright and busy. Monsters rush along the traffic-filled streets, heads down and barely talking to one another.
While the monster haven of Rainbow is physically one of the smallest in size, it’s the biggest in terms of population.
It’s by turns exhilarating and overwhelming, coming from PG where I could go hours at a time without seeing anyone.
Ten days without Shadow has been utterly miserable.
Every morning I wake up and reach for her.
She’s never there, and I rise and go about my day in an absolute funk.
Every one of my coworkers has noticed and said something.
I even called my younger brother, the only one of us who’s mated, to ask him if what I’m dealing with is normal.
He suggested I get my ass in gear and find my woman as fast as monsterly possible. It’s what I’d planned to do anyhow after Shadow left.
I’ve got her home address, but I’d like to surprise her, so now I’m seated on a park bench outside of the Parks Department where she works. It’s situated on the bottom floor of a gorgeous old gothic style building. The department’s sign is rustic wood, though, and that reminds me of home.
But things are already rearranging in my brain, because home has felt less like home without her there.
I just got here and I’m hoping she’ll be done around 5 p.m. so I’m seated on the bench with a potted variegated orchid from a South American haven.
I’m hoping she’ll love it and she can add to the collection I’m gifting her.
Plus it’s my job to feed her, so I’ve got a box of assorted mini cakes from Betty’s.
Glancing at my comm watch, I debate calling my woman. She might not even be at the office today, but I’m banking on it. If a while goes by and she doesn’t show, I’ll reach out.
Sunlight filters through the leaves of the tree that hangs over my park bench.
The tiny pocket park behind me is absolutely stunning—gorgeous miniature trees and shocking swathes of wildflowers.
Grass knolls are covered in the wildflower mix and then giant ferns burst from every shaded area.
It’s maybe 1/10 of an acre in total, but everywhere you look is joyous, natural color.
And Shadow did that, I know she did.
Leaning forward onto my knees, I stare at the Parks Department door, willing her to emerge.
“Dain?”
Spinning to my right, I’m shocked to see her walking up the brick pathway from 14th Street, a huge smile on her face. Today she’s wearing heels, jeans, a long sleeved shirt and a sleeveless sweater. It’s posh and stunning and I’m just so fucking glad to see her.
I rise and walk toward her, but she breaks into a jog.
When she reaches me, she drops her bags and leaps into my arms, throwing hers around my neck and covering my mouth with hers.
That first kiss after ten days is delicious and desperate.
Her natural raspberry scent explodes across my senses, demanding what only I can give her.
I devour her until things threaten to get indecent right here in public. We probably shouldn’t do that outside of her literal office.
Parting long enough to look into those beautiful green eyes, I smile softly. “I couldn’t stay away another second. I don’t even know if this is good timing. You’ve probably got plans tonight, but?—”
“Cancelling them,” she says simply. “I’m taking you home with me and cancelling those plans. The girls will get it, I just saw them at lunch. In fact,”—she quirks one brow upward—“Lemon just took me shopping to buy some lingerie so I could show up on your doorstep in nothing but that and a coat.”
Just like that I’m hard and throbbing. The mental vision of Shadow hiding that from me under a coat is almost too much.
“I wanna see it, little witch.”
She gestures toward the bags on the ground. “It’s in there. I’ve got to drop some paperwork off in my office. Come with me and then we’ll head to my place?”
I pause, slinging a wing around her to keep her body tight against mine. “I don’t want to put you down,” I admit. “Not having my hands on you, not seeing you, it’s been torture, Shadow.”
She strokes down the bridge of my nose, down over my laps to my chin. “I know.” She gets it. “I’ve missed you so much. Way more than should be possible for a male I’ve known for two weeks counting the ten days we haven’t seen each other.”
I’m pretty sure I know why that is but the middle of the sidewalk isn’t the place for me to tell her I know she’s my mate. But as soon as we get to her place…
“C’mon.” She pushes out of my arms and grabs her bags. “We’ll be quick, I promise.”
I hope so, because I don’t know how long I can wait for what’s next.