Page 14 of Pocket Full Of Posies (Snowberry #2)

Who knew spending an hour in town, eating cookies and talking about nothing in particular with Calliope would be so enjoyable? I sure as hell didn’t. When I return home, I’m even smiling, not feeling one bit awkward about my adventure to Sticky Buns. I smile even wider when I realize Kai is waiting for me on my porch. Shirtless. His horns gleam in the faint sunshine, and every exposed crimson inch of him appears to burn brighter under my wandering gaze.

“There you are, Blossom. I was wondering how long I’d have to wait before deciding to go into town and find you myself.”

“Hi. I was visiting with Calliope. I’ve never had a friend date before. It was…fun.”

I leave my bike on the grass, leaning it against the porch and Kai meets me at the bottom of the stairs, wrapping me in his arms. His embrace is tight and desperate, trying to meld my front to his. He expertly maneuvers my hair to allow his face to press against my neck, inhaling deeply and pressing an open-mouthed kiss to my neck that makes my pulse flutter.

“I missed you, Blossom,” he whispers into my skin, his nose nudging my earlobe.

I giggle at the overwhelming sensations he causes. “I just saw you yesterday.”

“And that was too long.”

Shifting from my neck to my lips he presses a desperate and seeking kiss to them. Starting hard and impatient, the kiss is beyond heart melting and turns into something soft and gentle. Feather-soft brushes of his lips against mine that create more tingling desire than the bruising kiss.

My tail curls tight around my thigh as desire and wetness grow between my legs. I was not expecting that. He’s been so proper while in areas we can be seen by others. I guess now I can’t argue with Calliope that he isn’t my boyfriend after that little display of claiming. Because that’s what it feels like to me. Kai staking his claim on me. Or is it mine on him? Could be both.

“That’s better,” he breathes against my lips, resting his forehead against mine while we both recover from the kiss.

Trying to regain my composure and lower my heart rate, I pull back from him enough to put an inch or two of space between our bodies. Having his naked chest pressed so close muddles my brain and makes me think of what the rest of him looks like naked.

“Where have you been all morning? Tobias said there are more cars at your place now.”

“Yeah, my parents and my brother arrived. They’re a handful.”

“Anything I can help with?” I’m surprised by my own offer. All this socializing is making me gregarious.

Kai’s brow pinches, just barely, before smoothing out.

“No Daisy, there’s nothing you can do. Although another kiss would make me feel a lot better.”

~

Another day passes with Kai showing up and following me around. He’s gotten more brazen with his flirting and public displays of affection. I even had to swat him away a few times when he tried to make out with me in the middle of the greenhouse while customers were watching.

In the morning he shows up grumpy and eager to touch me, kiss me. By the afternoon he’s once again his cocky teasing self, all jokes and laughter. After he stays for dinner and has to leave his mood falls again like he doesn’t want to go home. Like he doesn’t want to leave me.

This morning he showed up grumpy again but far less handsy. Whatever is bugging him today can’t be solved with kissing and some light groping. It’s been hours and he’s still moping around, grumbling to himself.

“What has got your tail in such a knot today?”

The Equinox is only two days away now and I have to admit even I’m getting excited for it. Kai should be just as excited as me, right?

“Nothing. Just normal family bullshit. Don’t worry about it, Blossom. Just ignore me.”

“Hard to do when you’re never more than four feet away from me.”

He stops kicking the rocks on the ground and realizes he was pouting and trailing behind me everywhere I went. Every time I moved, he followed like a shadow, his head bent low, and hands shoved deep in his pockets.

Lifting his head, he forces his shoulders out of his ears and gives me a weak smile.

“Sorry.”

“Not that I mind you being here, but every grumble you make I can hear your displeasure and frustration. I know something is bothering you and I just want to help. Frowning doesn’t suit you.”

He attempts to strengthen his smile and relax his frown, but it doesn’t completely work. I can still see the tension in the slight pinch of his lips.

“Thank you, Daisy.” Kai pulls me into a hug and nuzzles my hair, burying his face in my flowers. “You’re always so sweet and kind. I don’t deserve such a wonderful girl.”

“Of course, you do. But I can’t help make you feel better if I don’t know what’s causing you to be so grumpy.”

Kai groans loudly and pulls away but doesn’t release me, placing a kiss on the tip of my nose, but he still doesn’t answer.

“Won’t you please tell me, Kai?”

Closing his eyes, Kai lets out a long, controlled breath. Reaching up I wrap my arms around his neck and comb my fingers through the silky soft hair at the back of his neck. Opening his eyes, he looks down at me and I can tell I’ve won when his ruby eyes lighten.

“My mother is nagging me nonstop about meeting you. I told her she has to wait till the equinox but she’s being an insistent pain in my ass.”

His mother wants to meet me? A half human hybrid with tainted blood lines and no family name or fancy mansion? Maybe she’s not as bad as I made her out to be if she wants to meet me.

“When was she wanting to meet me?”

Kai falls silent again. I can tell he doesn’t want to tell me. I wait patiently for him to answer, never breaking eye contact.

“At the cocktail party tonight at the house,” he finally spits out. “I told her no. That neither of us would be going. I know you don’t like crowds and that crowd of people is particularly unbearable.”

“You don’t want to take me to your family’s party?”

I know I’m not the type of female his family wants him to be with, but I thought Kai didn’t care what they thought about us. That he wasn’t ashamed of me, but that’s exactly how I feel discovering his mother invited me specifically to attend their very exclusive equinox party and Kai doesn’t want us to go. Doesn’t want to be seen with me.

“No, of course I don’t. Those people are poisonous vipers, and I don’t want you anywhere near them.”

If I were a more logical person, I would probably realize he’s trying to protect me, but in the growing hurt the initial seed of doubt is growing in my chest all I hear is he doesn’t want me around his family and friends.

“Are you ashamed of me?” The words slip from my lips as I pull free of Kai’s embrace, putting needed space between us so I can think. Thankfully we’re in the outer gardens far from prying ears.

“What?! Of course not. I’m honored you even give me the time of day. It’s them I’m ashamed of. It’s them I don’t want around you.”

He reaches for me, but I shift out of his reach. I need to think, and I can’t do that if he's touching me.

“But they’re your family.”

“Not by choice. If it were up to me neither of us would ever have to see or speak to any of them ever again.”

“But if your mother is so adamant about meeting me, maybe she’s not as bad as you think. Maybe you should give her a chance to prove herself. Give me a chance to prove them wrong about hybrids, and to decide for myself.”

Kai’s fingers curl into fists at his side and I can sense his refusal and I’m already deflating in defeat. I don’t know why all of sudden I have an urge to meet his family that I’ve only ever heard unpleasant things about. Maybe because my previous beliefs have recently been proven wrong on other matters, so maybe the gossip about them is all wrong too.

My eyes drop to the grass, and I focus on my toes curling into the cold blades and dirt. I’m going to have to start wearing shoes soon.

“Do you really want to meet them that badly?” Kai’s voice is quiet and gentle, his fingers reaching out to lift my chin, so I have to look into his glittering eyes.

“I mean…maybe. It just doesn’t seem right not to when you’ve met mine.”

He sighs heavily and I allow him to wrap me in his warmth once more.

“If we go, I have a few requirements.”

I nod, my optimism growing.

“You cannot leave my side. I must be with you at all times. If I say we have to leave, we leave. And you don’t speak to anyone I say not to. Okay?”

“Seems a bit controlling to me, but I guess I can go with it. Not that I have much practice at parties anyways. You’ll probably have to do all the talking.”

“Fine by me.”

I never thought that day would come that I would argue to attend a party rather than avoid it. Kai slips his hands under my sweater and presses a warm hand to the bare skin of my back, instantly I feel more grounded and calm.

“You’ve already got me wrapped around your little finger, don’t you?”

I shrug. I didn’t realize I did, but I’m finding I might like it. Leaning down Kai presses a kiss to my temple and presses his cheek to the side of my head. My forehead falls to his chest on instinct, and I inhale his campfire scent.

“I don’t mind if you do. I’ll do anything for you, Daisy.”

I’m struck momentarily breathless at the bone deep certainty in his words, and I cling harder to his shirt to keep myself from falling. Although I think I’ve already fallen for Kai and his dirty mouth and playful teasing.

“I guess if we’re going to attend the party you’ll want time to get ready.”

It’s not even noon. How long do girls usually take to get ready?

“I think I have plenty of time. It isn’t until this evening, right?”

“Well yeah, but my mom and sisters have already started getting ready back at the house. I thought it was like a thing for females to take an entire day to get ready for a party.”

I laugh and the tightness in my chest unfurls.

“I don’t think I’ve ever taken an entire day to get ready for anything, but maybe I could call Calliope and ask her to come over and help me?”

“Probably a good idea. I wouldn’t be of any help. I think you look magnificent in anything.”

He pinches my butt through my long wool skirt, and we spend the next half hour chasing each other through the gardens and laughing. Only stopping when we fall into a pile of freshly raked leaves that start to burn and sizzle under Kai’s touch.