Page 27 of Sweets and Sycamores

“Don’t move,” he hissed, voice strained through uneven, loud breaths.

She wouldn’t. She would not move even if it killed her. Which it might, Allie thought as she swallowed a whimper and pressed her lips together.

“Almost done,” Dominic panted.

The heat drained from her limbs into her heart like a flowing stream. She wiggled her fingers and felt the blanket under her skin. Her lungs took in the cool air and didn’t burn anymore. Allie was left with a comfortable warmth in her chest, like a quiet light vibrating inside her.

The source of power in my body.

It was in her heart, so easy to point out, so natural, as if she had known it her entire life.

Dominic’s hand slid off her body in a gentle caress.

“You can open your eyes now,” he said through soft pants. Allie did, and she sat up on the blanket, watching her boss lean against the tree trunk, catching his breath. Sweat dripped along his temples, down to his jaw, messy strands of hair sticking to his face.

Had he burned himself?

“Are you all right?” Allie blurted, her hand going to rest on his arm.

“Me?” Dominic scoffed. “You’re asking me if I’m all right?” She nodded, scanning him for any signs of injury, especially around his hands. “You almost burned from the inside out, and you’re worried about me?”

“Yes.” Dominic looked at her and shook his head.

“You have much more power than I expected to find. It flooded out once the seal was removed, and it was hard to keep under control.”

“I can feel it now.” Allie put her hand over her heart, feeling a grin stretch her cheeks. “It’s all here.” It was within her reach now, but her smile faltered watching the disheveled state of the man who had made it happen. “Did it hurt you?”

“Stop worrying about me.” He put his hand briefly on hers and pinned her with a determined look. “I’m sorry it hurt more than—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence.” Allie threw him a look of warning mixed with amusement, wondering if he understood she was taking a page from his book.

She stood up and offered him a hand, at which Dominic rolled his eyes.

They walked in silence out of the forest and onto the lit-up road. The beautiful trees became dark shadows lining their path, the cold wind rustling their branches and leaves. Allie stopped in the middle of Maple Street, just by the market entrance, where multiple lights brightened the street.

“Thank you,” she said, and Dominic stopped and turned to her. “Thank you so much for doing this. If you hadn’t discovered this, I—”

“Allie.” Dominic shook his head.

“Let me help you, too,” she said eagerly. “With your…task.” He frowned. “I might not know much about my power yet, and I definitely know nothing about yours, but I am a Witch. I can think like a Witch, and maybe I can find something helpful. Please.”

“Let’s have dinner.” He shoved his hands in the jeans pockets, the blanket squeezed under one arm. “Since we were supposed to have lunch,” he clarified.

Dinner.

With her boss.

When she had just convinced herself that lunch wasn’t a big deal. Just lunch.

It wasn’t dinner.

And now it would be.

“Sure,” Allie agreed before her long pause became suspicious. “But I only have stuff for soup and salads.”

“Great. I’ll bring dessert.” Dominic resumed walking, and she jogged to catch up with him.

“Bring?” she asked. Dominic raised his brows at her.

“You invited me over.”

Right. She had done that. Which meant he would come over. To her place.

“Of course. I’ll need some time to get everything ready.”

“I’ll be there in two hours.”

Allie slammed the door to her studio room and woke Ekko up from a deep nap.

She told him everything that had happened with the seal, and the creature nuzzled her jaw and flew in circles around her until she finished the whole story.

Allie steered clear of the drilling thoughts about who had done this to her.

It made little to no difference now, although she’d love to fry them once she learned how to work with her fire.

“We need to get cooking,” she told her dragon, choosing to focus on the time she had to spend with Dominic.

Ekko flew through the cupboards and brought Allie everything she asked for.

She chopped all the ingredients for the salad and made the dressing, then focused on the soup.

Allie tasted the food multiple times while preparing it, adjusting the flavor with condiments and spices.

Ekko stole a couple of figs when he thought Allie wasn’t looking, and she caught him with his cheeks round and full.

“Here.” She laughed, piling some figs and cherries on a plate. The dragon munched on them while Allie finished cooking, then helped bring everything to the sink.

She was relieved to have enough time to shower.

Once the water flowed over her, Allie took a moment to breathe, to grasp what had happened today.

She felt that buzzing light in her chest, and there was no hint of rebellion to it.

The power was waiting for her to beckon it one way or another.

She felt safe and in control, and it was all thanks to Dominic.

What would have happened if Brandon hadn’t found her on the side of the road that day? If she had wound up anywhere else than here? With Dom?

Allie shooed those fleeting thoughts away.

She dried her hair, putting half of it up with a wooden pin. Then she chose her new plaid skirt and a white sweater and was out of the bathroom just when there was a knock at her door.

“Come in,” she said with a smile, opening the door wide.

Dominic entered and placed a tray with chocolate brownies and a baguette on the kitchen isle.

“For the soup.” He pointed at the bread.

His eyes roamed over her, stopping at her legs, then moving up to her face, her pinned hair. In turn, Allie was fascinated by the black button-up shirt that stretched over his upper arms, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the dark branches on his forearm.

“Thanks,” she muttered on instinct.

Dominic’s hair was loose but tame, and the black ink of his tattoo was so much richer under the warm and dim light.

Allie set the table and poured two tall glasses of lemonade, topping them off with fresh mint leaves.

“Fine,” Dominic spoke all of a sudden, confusing her.

“You can help me with my mission here in Sycamore Falls.” Allie grinned and clapped her hands.

“But only if you promise to come to me if you have trouble controlling your power,” he added, his intense green gaze burning her with a smooth fire. “Just don’t get another book.”