Page 86 of Moonlight Hearts

“Would you rather be a fairy-tale princess who travels by pumpkin?”

“I guess.”

He nodded.“I’ll remember that.”

His knives were very sharp, but getting through the shell still looked like work, and I was more than a little worried that he’d slip and cut himself.But if anything, the meticulous work made Soyer extremely focused on his task.With him in that state, the pumpkin didn’t stand a chance.

“Can I at least help with cleaning it?”I asked him.Soyer was arm deep in pumpkin guts, which went into a stainless-steel bowl next to him.Even the seeds were pretty big.

“No, I can see how that would end.I’d want to undress you.It’s simply too distracting, Amory.Have mercy.”

I moved my weight from one foot to the other.“Fine, but I’m getting myself another cup of coffee.Watch me.”

“Oh, I can see you.”

He sounded firm, almost like the big Black Shuck he wanted to be, and he was indeed watching me, his sharp, unflinching attention in overdrive.I thought maybe this was a dare.I went for the coffee he’d had ready before I’d even come down the stairs.

“I’m picking up the thermos.”

“Yes, I can see that.”He plopped a handful of pumpkin guts into the bowl, flicking his fingers.I heard the juice splashing against the metal.

“Opening it.”

“Yeah.That’s how that works.”

“And pouring.”

“Oh, Amory.”

The thing was, he didn’t sound pissed.He sounded delighted.He tossed another handful of seeds and slippery stuff into the bowl, then walked toward me.

“Uh, your hand.”

Before I could escape, he was right in front of me, caging me in against the counter.

“This hand?”He tipped my chin up with it.His fingers were cold, and he smelled of freshly sliced vegetable.

“Careful.I don’t want to spill hot coffee on you.”

My voice was a husky mess.I couldn’t even blame waking up early for that.No, this was all Soyer.His presence, his attention.I couldn’t escape him.I didn’t want to escape him.

“I understand.In that case, you’re going to have to really concentrate.You have to make sure you don’t spill anything.”

“But—”

He pulled my bathrobe open.I’d been tired last night, and I’d just fallen asleep in Soyer’s arms.I was still wearing my boxers, and he was looking at me now, almost as if I were another vegetable he was sizing up for his oven.

“Did you enjoy getting yourself coffee, hmm?”

“I—I—”

He placed his hand above the waistband of my boxers before raising his gaze and looking into my eyes.

“Did you?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Ah.But what did I get to enjoy?I didn’t get to pour you that refill, and I didn’t get to see you smile and thank me for it.I have to do something about that, Amory.”