Page 26 of The Autumn Leaf Bookshop (Everly Hollow #1)

I’d break all my rules for you

Sylas

M e: Good morning.

Raene: Morning, Ash. Miss me?

Me: Yes. When can I see you again? You know, for festival planning.

Raene: Is that what we’re calling it now? I like a male who is straight to the point. LOL.

Raene: I’m spending time with my grandma today, then going to the cafe later. I was invited to the book club. I may get some pumpkins from the grocery market.

Me: Sounds like a good day. Well, if you are free later on, let me know. I hope you enjoy the book club.

Raene: Thanks

Me: And pumpkins? That’s a good girl.

“You missed one,” Nim yawns and stretches on the lowest branch of the tree as I sweep up more falling leaves .

I sweep up another pile of fallen leaves, muttering under my breath. “You could help, you know.”

“Leaf loop, then I’ll help ,” he says.

“Fine,” I say down the bond, but it brings a small smile to my face.

I twirl a finger at the small pile of leaves on the ground until a gold shimmering ring reveals itself, then another forms midair, before they fade away.

Nim leans down from the branch. With a quick wriggle of his bottom, tail swaying, he launches himself into the loop, diving headfirst into the leaves until the tip of his tail disappears under the surface. He bursts back out, does a quick spin, and dives again.

Nim continues to play while the bristles hit the wood floor, adding leaves into his pile that continue to flutter out with each turn he takes. All the while, I’m able to quickly ring up two customers who are loving the entertainment of a dragon in leaf piles.

What’s bad is that my customers are asking me if I changed the tree enchantment.

What do I say? Sure! I’m changing up the aesthetic this year!

My emotions appear to be out of control right now, so my magic is beginning to spiral.

I’ve never been with a woman, human at that, that has my emotions in a chokehold.

This morning, I woke up aching. Thinking of her had me grinding my teeth in the shower, needing to take the edge off before I lost my damn mind.

Still, even after that, she lingers in my head.

I’m completely fucked, and my magic is showing it.

I like her. I really fucking like her. I like being around her.

A flash of movement catches my eye. Nim is now rolling in the leaf pile like some deranged cat, his tiny wings fluttering while he chuffs smoke in excitement. A laugh bubbles out of me despite everything, the sound surprising even me.

“Having fun?” I ask him, leaning on the broom.

“Best leaf pile yet. You should thank Raene for that. She’s clearly…inspiring you,” he says through the bond, voice cheerful.

I grit my teeth but can’t fight the heat creeping up my neck to my ears. “Shut it.”

Before he can taunt me again, a toddler from the children’s book section waddles over, her mother following behind her.

The tiny toddler is all chubby freckled cheeks and wide blue eyes.

Her furry ears perk up on her head, and her brown tail with white fur at the end swings quickly in excitement.

It has Nim pausing mid-roll, watching her approach, but then she squeals and dives into the leaves beside him, giggling.

Nim chirps back at her, flaring his wings like he’s putting on a show.

Something twists in my chest. It’s stupid, but the sight of them, this tiny dragon and this tiny little girl playing together, hits me right in the gut. Raene would smile at this.

Hell, I can almost see her in my mind, crouching down beside them, her laugh carrying through the shop like sunlight through the trees. I know she would keep her distance when it was in loop mode to not have a mishap like last time.

Damn it.

If I don’t get myself under control soon, I’m going to have more than falling leaves to explain.

There’s a knock on the door just after nine. It’s not late, but I’m not expecting anyone. No texts or calls from anyone saying they are stopping by. I pull on a plain white tee to go with my black joggers, bare feet padding down the spiral staircase as I rake a hand through my hair.

I unlock the door and open it wide. When the hinges creak, Raene glances over her shoulder, a faint smile softening her lips. I’m not thinking at all. I just reach out, my hand sliding around her wrist as I gently pull her closer. “Why are you leaving?”

Her eyes quickly darted side to side at my question. “Sorry to just show up like this,” she says.

“I should’ve texted after the book club. I was going to go straight home, but…” she hesitates, looking up at me, “I wanted to stop by. When you didn’t answer right away, I figured you weren’t home, so I was just going to leave and text you later.”

“You don’t have to apologize for not texting me,” I murmur, my hands finding her waist. Her body presses against mine, warm and soft, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. “I like surprises.”

“Do you?” Her smile widens, her gaze holding mine like she’s searching for something .

“I had to get a shirt on,” I say, my voice low and teasing, “but if I’d known it was you, I could’ve kept it off.”

She throws her head back, laughing, the sound making my stomach flip. Her hands grip my arms. They are light, warm, and leave a burn on my skin that makes me want to pull her closer. Her touch does things to me.

“Come inside,” I say, brushing my thumb across her hip as I guide her in and close the door.

Nim is perched on a branch near the staircase, his little head cocked to the side, eyes bright as he watches her. She lights up the second she spots him.

“Hey, you,” she says softly, reaching out to give him a few light pets. He tilts his head into her touch, purring, his little leg twitching as she scratches under his chin.

She laughs, glancing back at me. “He acts like a dog sometimes. He’s adorable . ”

I shake my head, smirking. “Don’t inflate his ego. He’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

“She speaks the truth,” Nim hums. Which makes me chuckle.

We climb the last few steps together, stepping into my apartment with her for the first time. She puts her purse onto the brown leather couch, her gaze taking everything in with that curious softness I’ve come to love.

The place isn’t huge, but it’s pretty spacious. A small living room with a TV, an armchair, and a couch with an olive-green blanket draped across it. A decent-sized kitchen with a laundry nook off to the side, and a narrow pantry tucked beside it .

Two doors are down the hall, one to the bathroom, the other to my bedroom.

A single candle flickers on the coffee table, filling the space with a warm, subtle scent of cedar and amber.

A couple of skylights allow the natural lighting to spill across the floor, and the kitchen window looks out over part of the town behind the bookstore.

“It’s cozy,” she says, her eyes roaming the room before landing on me. “Like you.”

I arch a brow, stepping closer. “Like me?”

“Yes. You’re all tall, golden, and handsome, and with your fall vibes, you’re cozy. You’re like a walking knitted sweater,” she says, smiling in that soft way that punches straight through my chest.

I grin, tilting my head. I only heard one thing from what she said. “You think I’m handsome?”

“Mm-hmm.” She nods, not even hesitating. “Very.”

I try not to let that go to my head as I ask, “Can I get you anything?”

“Just some water, please,” she says, sinking into the couch.

I return a moment later with two glasses, handing her one before setting mine down on the coffee table after a sip.

“Thanks,” she says, taking a drink. A quiet sigh escapes her as she sets the glass on the table.

“So,” I ask, leaning back into the couch beside her, propping my head up with my hand, my elbow resting on the back of the couch, “how was book club? What’s the genre this time?”

Her eyes brighten instantly. “It was a lot of fun! I downloaded the book after girls’ night and couldn’t put it down, so I was able to catch up to where they were. They all just started it, too.” She pauses, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “It's a dark romance.”

She picks up the glass and takes another sip. Clearing her throat.

I can’t help but watch her mouth.

I take another sip of water, mostly to give my hands something to do other than reach for her. “So what’s this one about?”

She leans forward, her voice low but serious, like she’s about to disclose a secret. “It’s about this morally grey anti-hero, you know…the kind of man you shouldn’t root for, but you do anyway. I love the banter, and the tension…”

Her eyes meet mine for just a second, and I can hear her pulse beating rapidly.

I smirk, letting the silence stretch. “It sounds like I have competition.”

Her eyes narrow playfully. “Oh, you think you're in the running?”

“Oh, I know I am,” I murmur, inching closer. “The question is, do I have to be morally gray, or do I just have to keep you on the edge of your seat…waiting for more?”

Her heart is racing, but she doesn’t look away. “Edge of my seat.”

She reaches out and takes my glass, setting it on the coffee table.

“What are you doing?” I ask, trying my hardest to keep my voice steady.

“Something I wanted to do a few days ago…” she whispers, straddling my lap.

Shit.

My cock stirs immediately, hard and ready .

She knows it. Hell, she feels it because she shifts her hips and lines herself up perfectly, grinding against me with slow pressure that punches the air out of my lungs.

My hands are on her, gripping her hips, sliding lower to cup her perfect ass because I need to feel her.

Every inch of her feels like she’s made to fucking ruin me.

A soft, broken whimper vibrates against my neck, her lips barely brushing my skin.

Then she presses her mouth fully there with her hands in my hair.

She’s kissing and tasting, her tongue gliding over a spot just below my jaw before sucking lightly.

The sensation has my hips jerk up against her, and she laughs against my skin.