Page 37 of Temptation Unleashed (Talaenian Fae #3)

“Lost for words?” She snorted and shook her head. “Marble-cast walls and gilded accents are not the norm here. This is an Italian restaurant, so the décor matches for the sake of ambiance.”

“’Tis appalling.”

“Well, at least you’re honest. If you don’t like it, you’re more than welcome to leave. It’ll certainly do us both a favor, wouldn’t you say?”

She started to round him, but he dropped a hand to her waist and held her close to the wall.

Heat swelled beneath her skin, causing her heart to speed up and those butterflies to return to her throat.

She opened her mouth to protest until two customers walked by on their way to the bathroom around the corner.

He tipped his head slightly, an angle that allowed him to cast one of her coworkers a shaded glance.

“They’ve naught better to do than talk about Cael and myself. How dreary a life when one fills their time with wishful fantasies rather than purpose.”

“And I’m sure they’re petting your sociopathic ego.”

His brows furrowed as he lifted his chin.

He regarded her through narrowed eyes, but his genuine confusion softened her frustration.

Despite his idiotic ideas and outlandish perceptions, he was not from this world, this realm.

He came from a place with unending riches and luxuries.

He had a princess for a lover and a reputation that preceded him.

A brutal reminder of how different they were. How incompatible.

“You serve…humans? A servant? Goddess, why do you lower yourself to such pitiful standards? Pardon me. Lack of standards. ”

Well, there goes any sympathy for you.

Rori huffed, pulling the menus from under her arm—inadvertently knocking his arm away—and shoving them into the collection box with a little more strength than she anticipated.

The loud clap from the thick cardboard hitting the wood caused the guests at the booth closest to them to shoot her startled looks.

She ignored the curious glances, folded her arms over her chest, and stepped up to Thaddeus.

“You must’ve missed my earlier comment about some people needing to work for a living.

You see, here in this world, people have to work to earn money to buy necessities.

We can’t poof ”—she untucked one hand to wiggle her fingers for emphasis—“things we want or need into existence. I need to pay rent to live in my apartment or I get kicked out onto the streets. I need to pay for the lights and water, or they’re turned off.

I need to pay for the food in my fridge, the clothes on my back, the classes I attend to better myself for a more stable future.

We aren’t handed things in this world, Thaddeus.

At least, the majority of us aren’t. The majority are what we call working-class, and we’re doing just that. ”

She made to step past him, but paused, squaring herself to face him again, and added, “Just for the record, serving tables or tending bar can be quite lucrative. And I enjoy interacting with customers and getting to know them. Don’t be fooled by the job’s name.

I may be a server , but I’ve made many friends in this place that treat me with respect.

I’m beginning to gather where you come from, a servant is not respected, nor paid, but rather abused. ”

“Servants in my world are lower Fae, usually lacking strong magic or means of contributing to a realm. If they’re lucky, they are accepted into higher-standing families to perform chores we often lack the time to perform.”

Rori seethed. She pulled a brittle smile and poked him in the shoulder. “And see, that right there, that greater-than-thou thought process of yours is exactly why you and I are completely different on so many levels.”

“Aye.” He leaned over, lowering his face to hers, his lips coming to pause above her ear. “We are, and yet we’re so much alike.”

Rori scoffed. “I’m nothing like you.”

His hand returned to her hip. His body barely moved, but the angle changed and her mind instantly registered the idea of being cocooned by his strength as he had done the night before while protecting her from the Fae attack.

She caught herself reaching up to grip his waist, or his shoulders.

She swore she swayed as the familiar scent of Thaddeus intoxicated her and filtered into her blood to become part of her.

“You know little about me to come to such a conclusion, mo storín .”

“You’re right, because you don’t share anything.”

The corner of his lip curled in a quick half-grin. “You haven’t asked.”

Rori leaned back, shattering the comfortable cocoon. She stared up into Thaddeus’s eyes as he straightened, that wicked smirk holding tight to his delectable mouth. “Like you’d be forthcoming.”

“How soon we forget just how forthcoming I can be when asked a question.” He chuckled, a sound that teased more than her ears. “Did we not discuss a certain metal earlier this morn? Did that not come from your inquiry?”

Rori blinked, replaying their earlier conversation at the beach before it turned sour, like all of their interactions.

She had half-jokingly asked him how to kill a Fae.

He had surprisingly offered her an answer.

She had been of half a mind to call him a liar, but Fae couldn’t lie.

They merely twisted words to avoid fibs and chose omission when backed into a corner.

“Ah. That’s what I thought.”

A sharp breath fled her as she stormed past him. “You’re infuriating.”

“A brilliant fire it stokes in you.”

God help her, infuriating he may be, but the inferno he fanned to life was debilitating.

“Yeah, okay. Like that wasn’t hot or anything.”

Rori spun on Cassy, sending her friend back a couple of steps. Cassy’s eyes widened, her excitement draining. Before she unleashed her pent-up frustration, she continued back to the walk-in cooler. If nothing else, it would chill her blood and help her think clearly.

Cassy followed on her heels. “Rori, what happened? Do I need to talk to Steve? Is his brother a nutcase?”

“Yes!” Rori snapped as she smacked her way through the plastic curtain and whipped around.

Cassy shoved the cooler door closed, concern flooding her dark eyes.

Rori paced the small space, fisting her hands in her hair.

“He’s a fucking lunatic! A gorgeous, godly lunatic, Cassy!

Hot and cold and everything in between! He’s everywhere I am, and everywhere I’m not!

” She hit the heel of her palm to her forehead, clenched her teeth, and dropped into a squat, curling over her knees, folding in on herself.

“He’s maddening and infuriating and I wish you could see him for what he truly is because it’s all a facade! Everything about them both!”

“Rori?”

She cracked. The impending mental break she’d known was coming.

Cassy’s arm gently came around her shoulders.

“Honey, I think you should go home. I’ll talk to Carl. Brandon and I can take over your tables and get you out of here, okay? We’ll say you got sick suddenly and can’t be serving tables. You’ve already been cut?—”

The cooler opened. Rori curled herself tighter.

“ Hermosa ?” The air shifted along her open side as Brandon crouched beside her. “What the fuck happened?”

“We need to get her home.”

“I’m already cut,” he said. “My tables are done. I’ll be right back.”

Rori began to rock. Why the fuck did she burn so bad? Why did she want to run back out to find Thaddeus? Why didn’t he stoke the fear inside her like Rich did? Why couldn’t she protect herself against him?

Rori squeezed her eyes shut, but Thaddeus plagued her mind.

All she saw was the angelic Fae man. All she sensed was his strength, his magic, the secrets locked deep within him that he tried to keep out of reach.

The confliction of emotions, the push and pull of her heart and soul.

All the while fearing for her life that, one day, when she least expected it, Rich would destroy anything and everything she might have salvaged for another.

Or Thaddeus would bring upon her the ultimate disappointment.

A low groan escaped her throat. Cassy rubbed her arm, keeping close as she fought back the urge to scream. So many emotions. So much turmoil. It wasn’t fair how calm and controlled he could be. It wasn’t fair she was the one who suffered because he didn’t know how to keep his fucking distance.

It wasn’t fair that he chiseled away at the haphazardly constructed barriers she fought so hard to constantly reinforce.

“I’ll have a talk with Steve, okay? I’ll tell him to keep Ryan away from you. None of us will let anything happen to you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I thought it was a good idea?— ”

“It is a good idea. Too good of an idea and I hate it because he’s perfect and I’m broken! He will never understand because he’s too fucking full of himself?—”

“Whoa. You’re not making sense. First, you’re not broken?—”

Rori whipped her head up. Cassy’s brows wrinkled, her lips pulled tight. “It makes perfect sense, but we’re nothing alike. Cael insists Thaddeus is my soul mate?—”

“Cael? Who’s Cael? Thaddeus?”

Rori’s mind froze. The deepening concern in Cassy’s eyes left her cold.

“Damn it, honey. You’ve been through way too much lately.” Cassy sighed, pulling Rori into an embrace. “It’ll be fine. I promise you. We’re here for you.”

I’m not even safe in my own head.

The door opened again. Brandon rounded them and helped Rori to her feet. “Come, Rori. I’m taking you home. Cassy, I’ll get your side work our next shift.”

“I’ll take care of everything.” Cassy took Rori’s order book from her apron, along with her change purse with her cash tips.

“I’ll make sure this is taken care of. Get her home safe, okay?

” She kissed Rori’s cheek, leveling her gaze.

“I’ll be home in a little while. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything. ”

“I’ll stay with her,” Brandon said, leading Rori out of the cooler. They left through the back door, avoiding staff and customers. Rori stumbled beside Brandon’s set gait, his arm tight around her waist. “I’ve got you, Rori.”

Brandon had been her rock for years. Him and Cassy.

Through all of her ups and downs, her two closest friends were always by her side.

Through laughter and tears, dreams and disappointments.

When Cael came along, he fit right in with them.

They’d become a tight group of friends that shared almost everything.

As she settled into the passenger seat of Brandon’s car, something dark and nauseating filled her gut.

She stared out the window at the restaurant, half expecting to see Thaddeus stalking toward them, half yearning for him to be in the driver’s seat.

She couldn’t explain it, the ache that bloomed in her chest as Brandon pulled out of the parking lot and sped down the road.

The greater the distance, the more it hurt.

I will never fall for him.

The universe mocked her self-promise in tune with the pulsing pain.

His hand on her waist. His encompassing cocoon.

The security and safety only he could elicit, however dangerous and lethal and pretentious.

His words cut like the blade he carried, but his actions went against every hurtful word he spoke. The healings. The defending.

His kiss .

Brandon pulled into her apartment complex and found a spot in front of her stairwell. Rori rested a hand over his before he shut off the car. “I’m okay. I just want to be alone.”

“Rori,” Brandon said with a sigh. “Not after what I witnessed.”

“I’ll be okay. I’m not going to do anything to myself. I promise you with my life. I just…need to be alone. To sort through my thoughts.”

Brandon watched her closely, seemingly unconvinced. “The mind is a dangerous place, hermosa . Please, let me stay for a bit. To make sure you’re settled.”

“I would normally cave, but not tonight. You can call me every half-hour, if it makes you feel better. I’ll answer. I’ll answer every time you call, but I really just need time to work this out by myself.”

“What kind of friend would I be, leaving you alone in this state?” He grabbed her hand between his, his eyes pleading. “If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.”

“Nothing will happen to me. Nothing. I’ve too much to live for to do anything harmful.

And I’m too strong to completely give in to madness.

I’ve got the world’s best friends between you and Cassy.

I’d never hurt you.” She tried to smile, but failed.

“Please? Trust me? This is something that I need to figure out alone. Neither you nor Cassy can help me.”

He swallowed hard, understanding slowly winning over his natural urge to protect. His hands squeezed hers, his head dropping. After a moment, he nodded once, lifting his gaze to hers again through strands of dark hair that had fallen over his forehead.

“Okay. As much as I don’t like this, I understand what you’re saying. But I’ll be calling you until Cassy gets home.”

“And I’ll answer.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “ Dios mio . It pains me to see you like this.”

“I’ll get through this, too, like everything else.” She dug out her keys and cell phone from her apron. “I’ll text you as soon as I get upstairs.”

Brandon nodded again, but remained quiet.

Reluctantly, he released her hand, and she climbed out of the car.

She offered a small wave before taking to the stairwell, thoughts stirring and stewing once more.

She opened her phone to her text thread with Brandon and started to type in that she was inside as she rounded the hallway to her apartment.

She hit Send only when she reached her door and found her key on her chain?—

Steel poked her lower back. Pressed hard into her spine.

Cold, raw fear gripped her in a death hold. Her stomach flipped dangerously. Her heart threatened to burst out of her chest.

The stench of grease and oil cut through the odors lingering on her uniform from the restaurant. Another facet of the universe mocking her helplessness.

“Open the door. We’re going to talk, only I’ll be doing the talking.”

Frozen in sheer terror, she didn’t move. Dizziness swept over her, threatening to make her faint. He jammed what she could only suspect to be the barrel of a gun deeper into her spine until she winced.

“Do it, Rori, or I’ll make sure the next time I tell you to do something, you won’t forget the consequences of not listening.”

Heat laced through her mind, instantly soothing her fear. She found the willpower to tip her phone. The barrel in her back faltered as the reflection in the screen caught the threatening glint of a familiar blade pressed against Rich’s throat.

“I dare you to try.”