Page 45 of Moonlight Hearts

“There aren’t, and fuck them.May I kiss you, my heart?”

I nodded before saying, “Yeah.You may.”

He brushed his lips against mine, that soft, innocent kiss belying the ardent need I could see in his black eyes, the desire that wanted out.And yet, that single kiss was enough to make a shiver run through me in response.I could’ve melted into him in that moment, would’ve readily followed him wherever he chose to take me.

It was only a moment though, and honking from behind us broke it.

“Fucker,” Soyer grumbled, then pressed another kiss to my lips.“We’ll pick that up later.”

He resumed driving, though he went as slow as he was able to, clearly annoying the driver behind us and enjoying the fuck out of it.They took the next right that was available to them.

“Are you going to tell me where you’re going or what you’re going to do when you get there?”I asked when we were close enough to home that I could see Sundial Tower taking up a good chunk of the skyline in front of us.

Light from outside fell on his face, illuminating his features.“I’ll be working.Nothing you need to worry about.”

Him saying that did worry me—of course it did.But he was my Soyer, my firebird.He’d come for me.He wanted to be with me.He’d never leave me alone.

“Will you promise me to be careful, at least?”

He reached for my hand as he hit the remote button that opened the gate to the underground garage.

“I promise, Amory.And I promise you that there is nothing to worry about.”

I trusted him.But I still couldn’t help worrying.

Chapter Fourteen

“Ilikethis,”Soyersaid as we took the elevator up from the garage.

“Like what?”

He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking at me.

“It’s not even midnight, and I already have you all to myself.That’s what I like, Amory.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.“Two things.I’ve been thinking that I maybe should’ve tried to work less so we could spend more time together.”

He raised his left eyebrow.“Maybe?I love your ambition, I love that you’ve earned the respect of the people you work with through your work ethic, but seriously,maybe?”He waved his hand at me like a judge dismissing charges.“Go on.You said there were two things.”

“Well, yeah.I mean, since I met you, there have been long stretches when I couldn’t work.”

He stared at me.That was an entirely different sensation from how it felt when he watched me work.The staring was a whole lot less comfortable.His eyes gave the impression of an abyss with many sharp rocks on the way to the invisible yet inevitable bottom.

“My heart.I know today was a disruption to your routine.I’m sorry.For getting you hurt I can never forgive myself, but it hardly compares to offering such a wonderful opportunity as working at the Moonlight to more capable staff.Do consider it.If someone else gets to work the late shift a few days a week, they could learn things, make friends.Like you did.”

My eyebrows flew up when the elevator arrived on our floor.“Yes, but—I wasn’t trying to bring up…uh…that time when I first met Lynn and Deacon.And I’d never blame you anyway.You know that.I was thinking more about the fire and when we had to close down for the remodel.”

“Oh, that.”Another dismissive wave.“It was a wonderful opportunity, actually.Made it easier to become a partner.”

I clicked my tongue as he put his arm around me and we walked to our door.

“Someone could’ve gotten hurt.You got hurt!Jenny did!But the fire could’ve hurt someone else.What if Ben had gotten burned?”

“Werewolves heal pretty okay for the most part.”

“Still.I don’t want Ben to get hurt.”

He sighed as he unlocked our door.“Because of that romance you’re so invested in.”