7. Coral

Chapter 7

Coral

T he seedlings get planted. They get tended. They start to grow into a real garden, one that brings me joy every time I come out to it, and I even start working on a collection of inside plants as well.

The house is incredible. After about a month, I kind of forget why I’m here. Or I could—if I didn’t dream about it all the time.

The nightmare with the jaguar shifter is pretty much on repeat. I have it every night, waking up in the guest room that I chose, shaking. Every night, Nolan is there to hold me close and soothe me, and I fall asleep to the smell of oak and sage.

I remember the kiss, in those moments, too.

Remembering the kiss almost makes it worse, because then I want Nolan more than just for comfort. I want to kiss him again.

Relationships are not something I’m good at. I got along fine with other faeries. I had a hard time with my parents. I cared for them, and they cared for me, before they were killed.

They were both wind-spirits and could literally dance in midair. Romantic, but impractical.

The hive in Seattle raised me more than they did, because they were in another world from me a lot of the time. Many of us had an affinity for plants, in different ways, and it’s where I felt accepted, loved, and cherished.

And they all died. All of them.

Since then, I haven’t really had relationships. I haven’t even had a kiss prior to the one I plopped on Nolan’s lips a month ago. I definitely haven’t had sex with anyone as an adult. My teenage fumbling, in my mind, is literally a lifetime ago.

Feeling all of this for Nolan, now, is so… new. Everything feels exciting. Every single thing that he does makes my heart ache and my blood heat.

I know that he said that he would kiss me again. But I’m kind of wondering now if that’s true.

“He holds me every night,” I murmur to the pumpkins that I’m currently supporting as they stretch upwards toward the sky. “That means something. Right?”

The pumpkins don’t respond. They don’t feel love like I do. But they’re sending out little vines to wrap around my wrists, so I know that they’re trying to comfort me. A little.

I’m trying to work out what it might mean when I hear the pine trees out front announce a visitor. This one, though, I like.

I skip around to the front of the house. “Lyra!” I say, calling out to my friend.

Lyra grins. “Coral. Oh, my goodness. You look… wow.”

I know.

“Come back to the garden,” I say, dragging her back with me.

Lyra laughs and indulges me. I show off the garden, pointing out all the different vegetables that I’ve grown in just the month that I’ve been here.

“Coral. This is incredible. I know that you probably miss the meadow and the cottage, but this… you’re in your element.”

I can’t lie to her. I don’t want to, for one thing. For another, I just… Well, I can’t.

“I love it here. I think I like it the same amount as my meadow. And the house…” I sigh out a huge sigh of relief. “It’s built inside the ground. Do you know how well I can hear all the trees around me inside of the ground?”

“Really well?”

I shut my eyes, thinking of the trees. “Really, really well.”

“It’s been nice to be here with Nolan?”

I crack an eye at her. “Yes.”

“Even though he always has… visitors?”

I open both eyes at that and look over at her. “Sort of.”

People really are always coming by to see Nolan. I’ve met Amara, his sister, who I like very much, and Jasper. They’re fated mates, which I know is a very big thing for the shifter community, but mostly, it’s just clear to me that they like each other a lot. Love each other, very, very deeply. And that they’re basically perfect for each other.

I’ve met other people, too. Other people who are enforcers for Thorne, such as his brother, Evander, the beta. Members of the pack who just come to check in and say hi to Nolan.

Some of them are women, and I try not to be jealous of them. They all seem really standoffish, like they’re looking at me with something I can’t really put my finger on.

Nolan is nice to them. He’s nice to me. He’s a nice man, and nice men are nice to people.

End of story.

“I think it’s been fine to meet some pack members. Amara is really nice.”

“She and Nolan are close,” Lyra says.

“That’s really clear.” It makes me wonder what my life would have been like if I’d had a sibling. But I guess there’s no point in wondering.

Lyra looks at me. I sigh. “It’s just that the other pack members are always so… distant.”

They’re polite. I’m sure that they think they’re doing a good job of being polite and thoughtful, and clearly, they don’t want to piss Nolan off. Everyone except Amara and Jasper, though, has been aloof. I’m used to the stares, so it’s not like I don’t know what’s going on.

“That’s normal, Coral,” Lyra sighs. “It just takes time for people to get to know you.”

“Me personally?” I ask in a small voice.

She pulls me in for a hug. “No. Not you personally. It takes time for the pack to warm up to anyone new. I think that some of the fox shifters can attest to that.”

I perk up. “I’d love to meet the fox shifters.”

Lyra nods. “Actually, I think you’d probably get along really well with them. They were also displaced and came to the pack seeking refuge. Why don’t I set up a time when we can get together with them, so you can get to know more of that crew? What do you think?”

I nibble at my lip. The idea of someone who understands my situation is great, but then I have to meet new people. More strangers. Who might still give me the who-the-heck-are-you glance.

“They’re farmers. Pretty good at it, too, and they sell their produce to the pack and to tourists to help out.” Lyra winks at me.

Oh. Okay. I can do that.

“I’d really like that,” I nod.

Lyra and I chat for a while longer before she leaves. Nolan, who had a meeting with the alpha, comes back a little while later. When he comes in the door, my heart feels light, like it’s surrounded by bubbles.

“Hi!” I say.

Butterflies are drifting in with him, and Nolan smiles as one lands on his head. “Looks like someone had a good day.”

I blush. “Lyra came to visit.”

“Visits from a friend are always good,” Nolan says.

“I know. I did really like it.”

“More than all the people who come by to bother me, I take it?”

My face falls, and the butterflies do their best to scatter.

Nolan steps forward. He gently puts a finger under my chin and tips my head up to look into his face. “It’s not a bad thing, Coral. I know I have a bunch of people who come to see me on a daily basis.”

“Do you like it?” I ask honestly.

He sighs, and his fingertips feather out along my jaw. The point of connection makes me feel like there’s a thousand rivers racing under my skin. I want to lean into his hand, but I’m scared that would be weird.

“I don’t know if I like it. I’m just used to it.”

“Why?”

He drops his hand, and instantly, my stomach twists. Did I say something wrong?

Nolan runs his hands through his tawny hair. “I just… I’m used to being there for everyone. People think of me as dependable, reliable. Someone they can always call for help.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” I say. It doesn’t sound bad, but I can tell from Nolan’s expression that he’s not really pleased.

“It shouldn’t be bad. But it’s just…” He sighs. It’s a big sigh.

Patiently, I wait for him to explain.

“I’m not sure why I’m telling you this, but here goes. I’m happy that people like me. But sometimes I wonder if they even know me. Or, if they just know that I’ll be there for them, when they need me. I want someone to be there for me, too,” Nolan finally finishes.

Oh. Oh.

I touch his arm. “I can be there for you. If you need me.”

Nolan studies my face for another second before giving a slow, steady nod. “I think I’d like that.”

“I think I’d like it, too.” I smile.

“So. Are you ready to show me what grew in the garden today?”

My smile spreads across my face. “Absolutely.”

After showing Nolan how far the pumpkins have come from yesterday, I direct him to the greenhouse. I want him to see what I’ve been doing in one corner, just for fun. I think he’s going to like it.

“Close your eyes,” I say, tugging on his hand.

“They’re closed. Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so.” I pause. It’s not a lie, but maybe I should warn him. “I’ve been working on something, and I think you’re going to like it.”

“I’m sure I will, Coral,” he rumbles. I like it when his voice rumbles like that.

When we get into the greenhouse, I put my hands on his shoulders, turning him so that he’s pointed toward the project I’ve been putting together. Hopping in front of him, I clap my hands together.

“Open your eyes!” I squeak.

Nolan’s beautiful hazel eyes flutter open. He looks at me for a second before looking back at my project. His eyes widen.

“Coral,” he breathes. “This is…”

Unsure of what that means, I turn to look as well. It’s technically moss. But it’s moss that I’ve made into a… living room, I guess. The furniture is big, fluffy mounds of moss that took me forever to coax up into a position that resembles a couch. There’s a twining vine of jasmine that covers the ceiling, which drips down into a light fixture that attracted some bioluminescent worms from a cave underground. It’s still day, so they’re not glowing yet. Maybe he doesn’t see the worms and thinks the jasmine is weird?

I walk forward, stretching my hand out.

“It’s supposed to be somewhere that you can sit while I’m working in the greenhouse. This—” I wave at the light fixture made of jasmine, “—is supposed to be like a reading lamp. There’s a whole cave system under us, and some of the worms in the cave are bioluminescent, and they agreed to come up and hang out in here, but because it’s during the day, I don’t think you can see them, but if you think the worms are weird, then I can…”

I pause.

Nolan’s right behind me. Slowly, his arms unfold and wrap around my chest. He tugs me back into him. The warmth from his body radiates through mine, and I let myself lean into it.

“This is the coolest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispers in my ear.

I squeak and turn. “Do you want to try it?”

“Hell yes.”

Laughing, I move out of Nolan’s embrace and tug him down onto the couch. It’s so soft. The moss smells amazing, like earth and water, and it’s so plush to lay on.

Nolan flops down next to me, looking up at the jasmine light fixture. “When do you think the worms will start glowing?”

“Well, it’s still pretty bright out, but maybe when the sun sinks down a little more?”

He sits up, and I sit up, too. The sun is currently setting, and it’s growing off the last golden rays of light. The entire greenhouse looks like it’s dipped in gold, including Nolan’s skin. Tentatively, I reach out my hand and touch the side of his face. “You really like it?”

“I really do.” He grins. “Did you really make it for me?”

“Yes. I did,” I whisper.

Nolan searches my face, like he’s trying to see if I’m lying.

Well. Might as well tell him.

“I can’t lie,” I murmur.

His eyebrows shoot up.

“It’s part of being a faerie. I can’t tell an outright lie. I can skirt the truth, I can tell a partial truth, but I can’t tell a direct lie.”

“Coral—”

“Just in case you ever need to know. If you want a faerie to tell you the truth, it’s helpful to use questions that can only be answered in a yes or no, because we can’t lie and tell you the opposite if it’s not true.”

Nolan studies me. “Coral, you don’t have to tell me this.”

“I might not. But I want to,” I say softly.

His mouth twists into a smile. “Coral. Yes or no, do you want to tell me about the whole fae truth thing?”

“Yes.” The truth sings through me, brighter than any glow worm.

One of Nolan’s hands comes up to touch my face. “I wish I could do the same thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just so that you could know when I’m telling you the truth.”

I wrinkle my nose at him. “I kind of just assume that you are.”

“Then I’ll just make sure I never give you any reason to doubt that.”

The sun is fading. And the glow worms are here. The greenhouse starts to sparkle with a blue light that feels so ancient, my faerie heart swells with happiness.

Nolan turns me so that he’s looking at my face. His arms are so warm, and I scoot a little closer. If I lean in, I could kiss him.

I want to.

I lick my lips, and his hazel eyes go dark. I know it’s lust this time.

“Nolan?”

He murmurs a noise, still staring at my lips.

“Remember how you said when you kissed me again, you didn’t want it to be like… last time?”

He nods.

“Can we try it again? Now?”

Nolan looks at my eyes. He takes a deep breath. “Yes or no… do you want to kiss me?”

“Yes.”

The single word hits him, and I see the moment he struggles. He shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath in through his nose.

“I can’t lie to you,” I add softly. “Remember.”

Nolan’s eyes snap open. “You really do want to kiss me.”

“I really do.”

There’s no hesitation then. Nolan’s arms go around me, and he pulls me close. When his lips meet mine, I… explode.

There’s no other word for it. His hands are everywhere. His mouth on mine makes me ache, and when his tongue laps at me, begging me to open for him, I do. I’ve never felt anything like this.

The smell of jasmine flowers in the air is intense, and mixed with Nolan’s sage and oak, I feel lightheaded. Or that could be the fact that his hands are tugging on my dress.

Nolan’s hands come to my hips, and I squeak when he rolls me on top of him. Then I moan, arching my back, as I realize that I can sense some truth in him, too. Namely, the way his body is reacting, which sends me into a sort of frenzy.

I need more of him.

Rocking over the hardness that’s between his legs, I gasp when Nolan’s lips touch my neck.

“I don’t want to break this spider-woven dress thing,” he grunts when his fingers tease at the strap on my shoulder, “but please, please take this off.”

I comply. The dress drifts down, until I’m bare from the waist up. I’m not really wearing anything under the dress. It doesn’t often occur to me, and I don’t like how some underthings are so scratchy on my skin.

So when Nolan sees my naked breasts, I’m a little insecure—until his rough hands palm them, and I moan, arching into his touch.

“You’re so fucking pretty, Coral,” he rasps before he laps at one of my nipples.

I gasp. The jasmine smell gets stronger.

“Coral,” Nolan says roughly from where he’s kissing my chest. “I… do you… I need?—”

“Don’t stop,” I whisper.

He looks up at me. “Coral…”

“Don’t stop. Please,” I beg.

Nolan growls again. I squeak when he flips me onto the moss, my back against the soft surface. My dress comes off, sliding down and off of my hips onto the floor.

Propping myself up on my elbows, I look down at Nolan. He’s staring up at me, kneeling on the ground.

I open my mouth. Close it.

“I want to make you come, Coral. I want to taste you.”

That’s new to me. But I like Nolan. And I really do want to come.

I open my legs, and I quickly touch the moss couch to grow a little padding under his knees. Nolan watches, then looks up at me with eyes glittering with interest.

“That’s so fucking cool.”

I would say something, but… all thoughts fly out of my mind when he hooks my legs over his shoulders. When he licks me at the center of the heat that’s driving me crazy, I arch off of the moss.

“Fuck, Coral. You taste like… fuck,” he grunts.

I would say something, because it feels like I should. But I can’t. All I can do is feel.

Every inch of my skin tingles. I can feel the magic leaking from me, channeling through me, but I’m totally powerless to stop it. I want this to never, ever end.

Nolan’s tongue is incredible. His mouth laps and nips and sucks in all the right places. At some point, I drag my fingers through his hair, pushing him down, because he’s just right there…

He pulls back, licking his lips. “Changed my mind. I want to come with you.”

“Yes,” I breathe. I want that more than anything.

Nolan moves up, his big body arching over mine, his arms on either side of my head. I’m panting, staring at him, and he tugs off the sweatpants that covered him earlier. I feel him pressed against me. Feel him pause.

“Coral?”

My eyes drift to his.

“Is this… okay?”

“Yes. More than okay. I need you inside me.”

Nolan’s face goes tight. His jaw twitches, and he nods. Then he pushes inside me.

This is so different than the only other time I’ve had sex. I absolutely love it.

Nolan fills me slowly, inch after inch, but I welcome every bit of it. I gasp against the stretch, arching my back as I take him.

When he’s pressed inside me fully, he leans forward. I shut my eyes against the softness, the tenderness in him as he kisses my forehead.

“You okay?” he murmurs.

“Yes. I feel so good,” I reply.

Nolan grins, the corner of his mouth crinkling into a smile that sends a fresh rush of heat through my body. “Hold on, baby.”

He starts to pump his hips. The motion is so slow at first but picks up speed, until I’m writhing to meet him. My fingertips dig into his strong shoulders, and I wrap my legs around his hips, desperate for more. I want him deeper. I want more. I want…

I want him. Forever.

The realization comes a split second before something builds in me. I cry out, realizing that I’m having an orgasm the second that it bursts over me like summer sunshine.

My eyes flicker. The bluish glow from the worms turns gold.

When Nolan grunts my name, clutching me to him, I know how he feels. Because I feel the same way.

Magic rushes around us, a torrent that I can’t even try to contain. Feebly, I wave my hand above Nolan’s shoulder, trying to get some of it to move away from us.

He kisses my palm. I let it slide against his cheek. When his eyes open, he’s looking at me with… awe.

“Hi,” he says. “Are you… was it…”

“That was incredible,” I breathe. “Can we do it again?”

Nolan laughs. He shifts backward, then frowns.

“Nolan?”

“I think we should probably check the greenhouse first.” He winks at me.

“Why?”

“Look up,” Nolan says, leaning down so I can see past him.

In the blue light of the glow worms, I can see exactly what he’s talking about. Jasmine, two feet thick, is pressing down against us, with so many fragrant blooms, I think I might be drowning in it.

Nolan presses back up, and his back brushes against the flowers. “We might have to hack our way out with a machete.”

“No!” I wiggle. “I’ll just?—”

“I’m kidding, Coral. I’d never do anything to one of your plants without checking with you first.”

I relax, then look up at him. “Nolan?”

“Yes?”

“I think this might be the most perfect night of my life.”

Nolan’s eyes shine with emotion, and he pulls me to him. We lay like that, on the moss couch, beneath a ceiling of jasmine stars, until I feel sleep tug at me.

When I fall asleep, for the first time in years, there are no nightmares.

There’s only Nolan.