Falling for the Beast (A Modern Fairy Tale Duet 2)

“Does that mean you’re going to move in with me?”

“It will probably be a couple of weeks until I can come back. I want to stay and make sure my mom is okay. But then…yes. If you still want me.”

He turned around and pulled her in for a hug. His hands were wet and slippery on her arms, her hair, and she didn’t care. “If I still want you. As if I could stop.”

She nuzzled her face into his hard chest. “It’s been forever.”

“Forever and a day,” he agreed, his voice hoarse.

“When will you drive back?”

“To Tanglewood? I’m staying here with you.”

“Of course not. You need to go back and prep for the fall semester.”

“How did you know I was accepting the job?”

“Well, I wasn’t sure,” she admitted. “But I am now.”

He huffed a laugh. “Very nice, my little socialist.”

She groaned, remembering the Robin Hood story. Of course he would latch on to that. “You’re going to actually call me that from now on, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely. And I might need to see a costume. With tights.”

“Fine, but you’re playing Maid Marian.”

“As long as you ravish me, I’ll wear anything you want.”

She laughed. He probably would wear anything she wanted him to. His masculinity could hardly be threatened when he stood there, so strong and solid, smelling of soap and a faint musk she could recognize in her sleep. And had recognized in her sleep, she realized, thinking of last night. A blush stole up her cheeks, remembering the feel of him.

His gaze honed on the color, and he bent to nuzzle against her neck. “Were you serious? You’r

e coming to stay with me? Forever, Erin. I won’t let you go after this.”

“I couldn’t joke about that,” she said honestly. It meant too much. She felt too much. And she’d resigned herself to the fact that it wouldn’t change anytime soon. Love had turned her into a raw, exposed nerve, and the only choice left was to seek the shelter of his embrace.

Tension ran through him, though he was silent. For a long moment, he said nothing, pressing light kisses down her neck and across her shoulder. “I’m grateful,” he said thickly, and she knew she wasn’t the only one who needed shelter.

She wrapped her arms around him, barely spanning him at all, but she felt him shudder. Her eyes half-closed, she blindly sought his mouth, finding it warm and firm against hers. She was in a daze, but he guided her, commanded her, until she found the sweet rhythm of their kiss and knew herself to be home—with him, holding him and being held.

“Go back to Tanglewood,” she whispered. “Wait for me.”

“Forever,” he murmured. “You understand that I wouldn’t stop. I’d wait for you forever. Though if you came back sooner, I’d make it worth your while.”

She smiled before tugging him closer for another kiss.

Chapter Nine

Erin

Three weeks later

Despite the number of times Erin had undressed in Blake’s bedroom, it felt strange to do so without his solid, sexy presence. And really it had been months.

The draft from the air-conditioning raised goose bumps on her skin.

The slim light from between the closed curtains painted yellow light across her bare skin as she shucked her skirt and top. She paused with her thumbs tucked into her panties.