Page 90 of Nightshades
In my hand, I hold the small plant he left for me on my car, embracing it against my chest because it’s from him.
Traveling under the archway, I lift my hand to touch the light, realizing it’s the lure light that illuminates my insides when he is fucking me. Paired with the flower blooming, there’s an ethereal beauty, like I’m walking under hundreds of stars.
When I open the front door, I expect to see Shade here, but the house is empty. I frown, doubt creeping in, and wonder if he was a figment of my imagination after all.
The couch is still snapped in half, bringing a smile to my face, knowing that anything that is broken is because of him.
Except me. All these years of feeling so different, for craving what Shade could give to me.
I stare at the pictures on the wall from the case files, knowing I need to take them down, but I’m not sure that I want to. Yet. They seem to be like trophies, in a way. I’m not ready to part with them yet.
Checking the time on my phone, I blow out a breath when I see the clock has just struck midnight. I’m tired, but I’m starving, and decide while I wait, I’ll make us Bandeja Paisa. It’s one of my favorite comfort dishes when I have a lot on my mind. I grew up with my mamita cooking it. It’s a traditional Colombian dish with Colombian Chorizo, blood sausage, sweet plantains, shredded beef, arepa—similar to a tortilla—eggs, rice, beans, and avocado.
Thanks to Shade stocking my fridge, I have everything I need to make it. While cooking the meat, I get started on the plantain and brew a small pot of coffee while everything is cooking. Myeyes are so heavy, but my stomach is grumbling, and I won’t be able to sleep without eating.
I chop the avocado, then pour myself half a cup of coffee. Just enough to keep me from face-planting in my food. I pour in a dash of creamer, give it a quick stir, and take a sip.
“Mmm,” I hum, closing my eyes as the warm drink awakens my soul a bit. “That’s the stuff.” I tug my badge from my neck and drop it on the table, the gold shining against the dining room light.
I don’t feel like I deserve the label of detective, considering the series of events.
“I’d be jealous of that coffee if I didn’t know you were consuming me too.”
The sound of Shade’s voice has me lifting my eyes from the swirls of coffee in my mug to him standing in the living room like an intruder hiding in the shadows.
“Shade!” I set my coffee down and run to him, flipping on the light so I can see him. I gasp when I do. He has black dried blood on his body. “Oh my god! What happened? Are you okay?” I skim my hands down his torso, touching every wound that is healed over, but I can still see the shadow of a hole.
He hisses.
“Sorry. Still healing. I’ll be fine in another few minutes,” his booming voice rumbles.
“How many times did they shoot you!” Tears are in my eyes, counting so many bullet holes, that I lose count and have to start over.
“Until the clip emptied. I’m okay. It takes more for me to die, apparently.” He makes an odd face, then plucks a crushed bullet shell from his mouth.
I don’t know why, but something about that has my breath catching, and my thighs pressing together.
Shade inhales, his pierced nostrils flaring. “You like me getting shot, Little Dream?”
“What?” Entranced by the bullet he is holding, a small spike of fear jumps in my heart from being caught. My hands are pressed against his stomach, his warmth soothing the chill in my palms. His skin is rough, thick, similar to leather, maybe—or a rhino. Small goosebumps appear on his tough flesh when I begin to track the black veins, the roots, amazed at how different he is. “No, no. You took the bullet from your mouth, and something about that,” I nibble my bottom lip. “It was hot.”
He growls, somehow his onyx eyes darkening further if that is possible. “Why?”
My heart rate kicks up, and I instinctively take a step back. He doesn’t allow the distance to be between us. “I-I don’t know.” My knees hit the edge of the couch cushions, and a part of me wants to vanish into it or lie down so Shade can do whatever he fucking wants, however he wants.To me.
His roots wrap around my waist. “I think you dooo,” his creature controls his voice, the one that slips inside my mind to create my worst fear. “But you might burn the house down if you do.”
I gasp, running to the kitchen and turning the oven off. Looks like I got here just in time. Thankfully, Shade has those paranormal senses.
“You need to eat before I rip you to pieces tonight. You’ll need the energy to help you heal.”
“Oh?” I gulp while I make our plates.
A shadow falls behind me, completely covering the light and casting me into darkness.
“I’ve only barely begun to explore you,” he says, his arms wrapping around my waist with a gentle caress I didn’t know he could possess, given his natural strength.
I blow out a breath to calm my nerves. My hand shakes as it scoops the rice onto the plates. There’s no way he can’t hear the wild beat of my heart racing from his nearness.