Page 107 of Grim

I turn back around and feel the unmistakable cold presence of his hands fiddling with the corset ribbons.

“There,” he says triumphantly, tugging the last loop. “All tight, like a sausage roll.”

“Great. Just how every girl dreams of feeling in a corset.”

Esther hops down from the bed and circles my feet with a grumpymrrrrow, brushing against the hem of the dress. I look down at her and give a little twirl.

“Do you like it?” I whisper.

She blinks at me slowly, like I asked a foolish question.

Seek, however, whistles behind me. “You look like a right queen. Reckon if I still had a heartbeat, it’d be thumpin’ like a drum.”

“Thanks, Seek.” I reach back to ruffle his hair, causing him to beam brightly.

“Blimey, Kane’s gonna melt in his shoes when he claps eyes on you.”

“Oh, Seek.” I laugh as I feel my cheeks heat up.

Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with the man. He got back from the OtherWorld a few hours ago, ordered me to get ready, and proceeded to leave again, saying something about having to make a stop before we left. He was brusque.

“It’s true! He’s got that look about him, ya know? Like he’s on fire.”

“Smoldering, Seek.”

“That’s the one.”

Before we can say any more, the door creaks open behind me.

I glance up and catch the flicker of black as Kane steps into the room—and then stops dead in his tracks. He doesn’t speak. Doesn’t blink. Doesn’t breathe.

His eyes rake over me, and I swear I can feel the tines in his gaze. Smoldering indeed.

I watch his throat work around a swallow.

Seek freezes next to me, then cackles. “Oi! Kane, you look like you’ve been struck speechless by love. I swear I see hearts in your eyes.”

Kane’s jaw tics. “Seek. Out.”

“But I haven’t even—”

“Out.”

Esther huffs and leaps off the bed.

Seek throws me a wink and mouths,Told you so, before disappearing through the wall.

The silence stretches thick between us until Kane finally exhales a single word. “Fuck.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “Not the most articulate response.”

“You’re—” he starts, then abandons the sentence entirely. His eyes flick back to the curve of my waist, the corset cinched tight, the sweep of the skirt. “You look good.” He swallows the compliment.

“Good?” I arch a brow. “Milk chocolate is good. Finding a dollar in your pocket is good.”

“Mais oui,you are correct. I do not know why I said that. You look fucking incredible. Stunning.” He drags a hand through his hair. “You are wrapped up like a present I want to take my time unboxing. Then I want to play with the pretty toy I find inside for a long time. Before wrapping you back up and taking you to this party. So, yes, you look good.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks. “I could say the same about you.”