Page 9 of Festive with a Grumpy Fae

I haul myself out of bed and stumble toward the door, pausing for a second with my hand on the knob to listen.It’s quiet out there.Is my sexy faerie sleeping still?

Or was the whole thing just a really fucked-up dream?

A dizzying combination of hope and disappointment crashes through me.I had a really rough night with really vivid dreams—it’s entirely possible summoning the faerie was just the first of those.That’s the most logical explanation—and what I should be hoping for.

On the other hand, summoning a faerie is without doubt the coolest and most interesting thing I’ve ever done, and I don’t want that taken away from me.

Buuuuut… living with a faerie who clearly doesn’t like me for the next three weeks would be terrible.

“Are you going to stand there all day, or do you plan to emerge at some stage?”

The smooth-yet-biting voice reaches my ears clearly despite the closed door, and my inner self cackles with glee.I summoned a goddamn faerie!

I yank open the door and glare at the tall, even-better-looking-in-daylight,shirtlessfaerie standing in my kitchen, my favourite mug cradled in his hands.Despite the relatively early hour, he looks as fresh as a daisy.Clearly he got a better night’s sleep than I did, even though he was on a couch in a strange place.

Arsehole.

“Would you like some tea?”he offers.“It’s not bad, despite the poor quality.”

The growl that erupts from my throat is entirely unexpected, but it doesn’t faze him at all.He just sipsmytea that he insulted frommymug, inmykitchen, like he’s in his own damn home.I don’t bother to answer, just stomp into the bathroom.

A shower goes a long way toward waking me up, and I even feel a little bit guilty by the time I’m done.After all, if I’d been torn away from my home by someone I’d never met, I’d probably be an arsehole too.When you get down to it, this situation is my fault, and he’s doing the best he can to cope with it.

And I did tell him to make himself at home in the kitchen.

The front door is open when I emerge into the main room again, and I catch a glimpse of my sexy faerie standing outside, his head thrown back as he inhales deeply.I don’t blame him—at this time of year, the early morning air is addictive, still cool and fresh but not cold, carrying the sharp tang of eucalyptus plus newly-turned dirt and fuck knows what else.It’s one advantage to living in the country that I’ll never be upset about.

I get dressed for work quickly, planning to hit one of the cafés in town for a coffee and something breakfasty before I have to open the store.I’ve got food here, but after the night I had, I think I deserve to have someone else cook for me.Plus, it’ll get me out of here sooner.

I head for the door, pausing only to grab my wallet and keys, then find myself hovering awkwardly once I step outside.His eyes are closed.Is he communing with nature?Or… something?I don’t want to interr?—

“Aghhh!”I shriek as his eyes pop open.He blinks, unfazed, as I clutch my chest and try to breathe.“You scared the living crap out of me.”

“Did I?”

“I’m going to work,” I announce, telling myself it’sfinethat he didn’t apologise.Maybe it’s a cultural difference.“I should be back by six.”Does he even know when that is?What’s the fae concept of time like?

He nods.“Very well.”

I wait for him to say more—maybe ask some questions—but he doesn’t, so I step past him and head to my car.

It’s not until I’m opening the door that I realise he’s followed me and is about to get into the passenger seat.

“What are you doing?”

The look he gives me questions my intelligence.“I’m getting into your vehicle.”

I grit my teeth.“I can see that.Whyare you getting into my car?”

“So I can accompany you.”

Getting a straight answer out of him is going to be impossible, and I don’t have the time for a fight—not if I want the bacon-and-egg muffin I’ve been picturing.So instead I simply say, “No.You’re staying here.”

He shakes his head.“I go where you go.”

“Absolutely not.”I can’t take him to work with me!

“Yes.”