Page 33 of Temptation Unleashed (Talaenian Fae #3)

S unlight dappled across her eyelids, drawing her from sleep. She rolled onto her back and stretched her arms over her head, bowing off the bed as every muscle and joint pulled, then relaxed.

Relaxed.

A faint grin touched her mouth as she opened her eyes. When was the last time she’d slept so well, waking with no memory of dreams or nightmares, no restless tossing and turning? When did she last sleep so deeply and felt so refreshed upon waking, rather than the dread of facing another day?

She pushed herself upright, the bulky sleeves of the thermal shirt she’d borrowed from Cael pooling around her hands.

He’d lent her his shirt and a pair of Cassy’s shorts after she showered to get the bloodstains off her skin and out of her hair.

To wash away the horrors of the night before climbing into bed and casting reality to darkness.

But not before she returned to Thaddeus.

She’d sat on the bed beside him for an hour, her mind in turmoil, her soul in pieces.

He created such conflict inside her and she didn’t know how to face it.

The way he filled that void in the recesses of her spirit, the secure understanding that he alone completed her while he alone infuriated her.

The emotional rollercoaster was one she didn’t have the energy to embark on, while it was the only thing she desired most. She traced the lightened areas of skin over his heart, the two marks that were the width of arrow shafts.

Two scars that occasionally sputtered with smoky magic before it sucked into the depths of his skin.

Reciprocal magic, from what Cael had explained. The curse entwined with his healing.

Last night, he’d kissed her. He’d kissed her the way she’d imagined a man would kiss a woman who fed him life he needed to survive.

He fought to protect her like he would die beside her if she perished.

He had provided her modesty while healing her with hands so gentle she almost forgot how cold and cruel he had been only days before.

Last night, something changed between them, and the reality of how it made her feel frightened her more than crossing paths with Rich.

The furthest thing from her mind after all she’d suffered with her ex was wanting anything from another man.

And yet, she found herself craving Thaddeus’s touch, his presence, his kiss.

A kiss that had wrapped her in righteousness.

Sparked something warm and bright from the depths of her chest.

She climbed from the bed and haphazardly pulled her hair up in a ponytail, waves cast over her cheeks.

As she came to the door, she listened, heard soft conversation, words unintelligible but the pitch of one person sounded very similar to Cassy.

A faint sense of relief swept through her, knowing her friend was here.

Things were getting more awkward between herself and Cael with all these damn secrets and sudden one-on-one time.

Normalcy was what she needed right now, and there was no better way of obtaining that than seeing Cassy and Cael all lovey-dovey while she played the third wheel.

When she opened the door, she was greeted by Cassy beelining toward her, a small toiletry bag in her hand and a huge smile on her face.

She looked happier than ever, refreshed, with a spring in her step that Rori often envied.

Her closest friend found true happiness with Cael, despite not knowing what he really looked like, or his true age, or that he wasn’t human.

Trivial details that could be overlooked, she supposed.

“God, girl. You’re fucking stunning with that bedhead of yours.

” Cassy nudged her with her shoulder. “Sexy siren.” With a snigger, she leaned in close.

“Saw and heard your siren’s call caught the attention of Steve’s brother.

Who, may I add, I had no clue even existed.

” She held out the bag. “Figured you’d be wanting these.

Go freshen up so you can give me all the details, because the way he swooped in and ran off with you?

” Cassy fanned herself with exaggerated fervor.

“Heaven help me, I thought I’d swoon. After I panicked and almost rained hell down on him. ”

Rori smiled, her face on fire as she took the bag and hugged it to her chest. She cast Cael a curious glance around Cassy’s arm. Cael minutely shook his head. Rori turned her attention back to Cassy.

“There’s nothing between us. I’m still a little confused by what happened.” A partial truth. She tapped the bag. “Thanks.”

After taking her time freshening up, she found Cassy and Cael on the balcony, sharing conversation over coffee and pastries.

Despite her attempt to refrain, Rori found herself scanning the condo, her heart doing an annoying flutter as she searched for Thaddeus.

It irked her that she felt even a bit compelled to seek him out.

When she realized he wasn’t present—no confusing sensations indicated he was nearby either—a hollowness weighed in her gut.

It made her slightly nauseous, like a significant rush of vitality fled her suddenly.

“Good morning, Rori,” Cael greeted from where he leaned against the railing.

Cassy twisted, a smile beaming across her face.

She waved Rori over, picking up an untouched mug of steaming coffee from the bistro table and handing it to her as she joined them.

She made it a point to keep to Cassy’s side, but found it hard to avoid Cael’s watchful gaze.

When she finally relented and looked up at him, he made a slight motion with his eyes to the beach below.

She instinctively scanned the empty expanse of sand, the swaying seagrass barriers, and the clump of trees close to the pathway from the building to the beach.

No one. Nothing. Just the soothing sound of the calm waves lapping at the water-hardened sand and the seagulls squawking as they perused the beach for scraps of food.

“Steve was filling me in on the deets about Ryan. Said he came for a surprise visit the other day, saw you and lost his ever-loving mind, head-over-heels madly in love.”

Rori spit the coffee she’d just sipped out of her mouth, spraying it over the railing. She coughed, eyes wide as she shot Cael a surprised look. Cael smiled behind the rim of his mug, his silver eyes shimmering, utterly pleased with his story.

Cassy patted her back several times. “Girl, easy. It’s not such a shock. I mean, he comes from good blood. Anyone related to Steve is good blood, good-looking, good eats.”

“Cassy!” Rori choked.

Cassy laughed. Cael chuckled, resting a hand on Cassy’s shoulder.

“Easy, love. Let her enjoy her coffee first.”

Cassy pouted. “I’m being honest.” That damn pout melted into a mischievous grin, her dark eyes twinkling like the Devil in disguise.

She poked Rori’s shoulder. “And a man is fucking nuts not to fall for you. As it is, you left Brandon completely flabbergasted. Steve had to assure him it was no fault of your own. You had no idea that his brother had it bad for you. No one knew until Steve talked to him last night.”

“Um, okay.” Rori cupped the mug between her hands. “So, this is a bit much for me to swallow without my coffee.”

“Says my vixen best friend who was swept away by Steve’s godly brother. Hopefully there was no other swallowing going on last night that may have impaired your throat.”

Cassy winked. Rori’s face boiled. Cael turned away, but the slight heaving of his shoulders assured her he was hiding his laughter.

Rori shook her head, placed the mug back on the table, and brushed her hands on her borrowed shorts. She’d need to ask Cael where her clothes went. After she escaped this turn of conversation.

“While I’m here, I’m going to take advantage of the beach. I’ll be back.”

“But—”

Rori threw up a hand, stopping her friend. “I’ll be back in a few.”

She couldn’t escape her friend’s taunting fast enough.

With the mix of emotions that evolved from the events last night, she struggled with her own conflicting thoughts and feelings about Thaddeus.

She didn’t need Cassy to verbally drag her into a situation she wasn’t sure she even wanted.

She was still trying to heal from Rich, still trying to figure out her own path to recovery from that traumatic situation.

How the hell was she supposed to pursue anything with anyone without healing ?

Kicking off her sneakers as she reached the end of the packed-sand pathway, she soaked in the softness of sand between her toes.

The sun hadn’t baked the beach yet, and the ever-blowing breeze off the ocean kept the sands cool.

She pushed up the sleeves of the thermal shirt and chose a spot partially beneath the shady trees close to the dunes, settling down and loosely draping her arms over her knees.

Minutes drifted by, the briny air and the methodical sound of water minimizing her worries.

She came to the realization that Thaddeus’s actions in the bar had prevented her from doing something irreversible, and probably regrettable, with Brandon.

She loved Brandon as her best friend, but nothing more.

Crossing a line, even with a kiss, would have been hard to come back from.

Cael’s quick thinking would soften the blow of the abrupt disruption, but his story came with its own bag of conflicts.

Thaddeus had not fallen head-over-heels in love with her. That was one exaggeration that triggered butterflies in her belly and resistance in her mind. It caused hope in her heart when she knew well enough it was impossible.

She was part of a race he loathed.

The first trickle of heat teased along her chest, coiling down to her belly.

“Faery doesn’t have oceans. A few lakes, but naught so vast and mysterious.”