Page 19

Riley

Two Left Feet

Amber bulb lights were strung around the garden. A gentle breeze drifted through the jasmine vines on the trellis wall. The vast expanse of the universe shimmered with stars in the clear night sky overhead. Soft music played from the hidden outdoor speakers, making it the most romantic scene I’d ever experienced in my life.

“It’s beautiful,” I said. “You did all this?”

Malachy looked at his feet. “It’s not much. I just hung up some lights.”

“This is…” I blew out a slow breath as I spun in a circle, feeling like I’d stepped into some sort of fairy tale world. “Incredible.”

“I hope you enjoy it,” Malachy said.

“You’re not staying?” Lucan’s rough voice called out to his brother as he headed off into the dark night.

“I’m taking a walk.” Malachy raised the half-empty bottle of wine above his head. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”

Lucan stared after his brother until the shadows swallowed him.

I stood there in companionable silence before nudging his side. “You can go with him if you want.”

“Hell no.” Lucan’s smile lit up my whole night as he returned his attention to me. “I’ve been waiting to get you alone for weeks.”

“Is that so?” I teased, taking a step back.

My heart was beating faster for all the right reasons, but I still felt my nerves like livewires, sparking off in wild directions.

Be bold. Take what you want. This is your life.

I reached for his hand. “Come on then, big guy. Dance with me.”

It’d been forever since I last danced with a man—forever since I wanted to.

I should’ve known he’d be a great dancer. Lucan was light and limber on his feet.

I bet he fucks like he fights and dances.

I really wanted to test that theory out.

He’d been nothing but a perfect gentleman, showing me off with a few graceful dips and twirls despite the rust on my heels.

I laughed as he dipped me again, trusting his strong arms to keep me from falling, and missed the next step, stomping on his toes before he carried me back to the beat.

I should’ve been embarrassed—Drew always said I had two left feet—but I wasn’t. Lucan made me feel graceful and beautiful and alive.

My cheeks ached from how hard I was smiling and my hair was a sweaty mess, but I’d never felt this… free.

The music was still playing, yet the world around us came to a standstill as Lucan slowed, staring into my eyes. There was pure hunger in that look.

It made me burn with need.

I’m not ready.

I panicked, resting my head against his chest as he pulled me closer. It was safe here. I’d laid on this particular spot almost every night for the past few weeks.

The comforting motion helped me think.

I am ready. It’s okay to get what I want.

Lucan trailed his fingers down the exposed skin of my back, stopping a respectful distance from my hip before moving their way back up.

“Tell me about your parents,” he said.

I tensed, and then relaxed as his fingers continued to work their magic. “What do you want to know?”

“You heard all my embarrassing childhood stories.” He scoffed. “It’s only fair I learn some of yours.”

I smiled against his chest. He did have a point.

It didn’t make this any easier, though.

“They were wonderful.” All these years and I still hated to speak of them in the past. “I was an only child, but they never let me feel alone. They took me camping in the summer and skiing in the winter and never missed one of my volleyball games. My dad loved astronomy. He taught me all the constellations. I can’t remember them anymore.”

I looked up at the stars, remembering all the nights by the campfires with s’mores and tales of immortalized Greek legends as we peered through his telescope.

Inhaling deeply, I let Lucan’s scent wash over me.

“That one is Orion.” He pointed with our conjoined hands, still swaying us both to the beat of the music as it drifted through the garden. “I’m sorry for your loss. I’ve known much change and death in my life. It never gets easier.”

Almost forgot I had the hots for someone old enough to be my great-great-great-grandfather. I laughed to myself, trying to shake off the melancholy mood, and released a truth I’d never spoken out loud.

“In a way, I’m glad they died when they did.”

There was no judgment in his tone when Lucan asked, “Why?”

“Because I was still young enough to be their perfect daughter. They didn’t have to see me fail.”

Lucan’s chuckle was warm-hearted. “I don’t think you could fail at anything if you tried.”

“Then you don’t know me that well.” I planted my hands against his chest, pushing back so he could see the seriousness on my face. I needed to tell him how broken I was before he fell too deep and thought I’d tricked him into a mistake. “I’ve made so many bad choices.”

“I forgive you for being human,” he teased.

But this wasn’t funny.

Stupid burning hot tears filled my eyes.

I had to make him understand. “I complain too much and I know he’s lying about most things, but maybe there is some truth to it after all. I’m not smart like Ember or gentle like Willow. I don’t even know who I am anymore, but I do know you won’t love me once you get to know me.”

“Lies,” he hissed.

His pupils slit to black diamonds as the turquoise mist swirled in his eyes.

It was the first time since I’d met him that I felt real fear in his presence.

Not for me.

Never for me.

Or is that what you want to believe…

I was getting tired of hearing myself think.

“I’ve waited for you to speak his name. The one who did this to you,” Lucan growled. “But my patience is wearing thin.”

I didn’t want to protect Drew, but I hated the anger and aggression gathering around Lucan. Shadows grew heavy in the garden. He’d leave right this second if I asked him to and go burn the world to find my ex. I knew it.

I couldn’t tell him about the phone calls. Not right now when he was all worked up.

But I could tell him, “Thank you.”

The words rushed from my lips as I stood on the toes of my shoes, putting my hands on his shoulders and trying to stand at his level.

“Thank you for what?” He blinked, taken aback.

“For being kind and gentle with me. For giving me time to process all this. For helping me feel strong again.” I had to ignore the inner voice that was screaming at me for being too vulnerable and opening myself to get hurt.

Because I needed to trust my instincts and they were leading me to this. I think my body knew before my brain did that Lucan was it for me.

I expected him to brush off my gratitude, to say it was his job as my mate, but I wasn’t expecting the confident quirk to his smile.

“I can be gentle,” he spoke softly as he lowered his face to mine.

My heart beat faster at the meaning behind his words. His lips brushed my lips, just a whisper, and I melted. I wrapped my hands behind his neck, holding to him like I’d fall without his strength.

“What if I don’t want you to be gentle?” I breathed the question against his mouth.

The dark chuckle he gave in response went straight to my core as he swept me off my feet, growling, “I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”