16. Leith

16

LEITH

T hey wound up camping on the bear shifter's land next to the burbling creek all weekend. Two blissful days filled with hiking, eating a wider variety of apple-based foodstuffs than he thought possible, making love under the stars, and talking to each other about nothing and everything. It was glorious. He wanted it to last forever.

But they had an appointment with the crossroads, a demon aggressor to kick out of his territory, and a fair grandmother to rescue.

The drive back to Stonyburn was uneventful and quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts. He hoped she was thinking about him and how she couldn't live without him because that's what was on his mind.

But what if she was thinking about going back to her home in Asheville, leaving him behind? Or she was making a list of the groceries she needed to buy for the week? That would be embarrassing. Not to mention, it would crush him.

He might be a demon, but he wasn't always focused on eviscerating his enemies and cracking open their chests to feast on their souls. Sometimes, he wanted the woman he loved to stroke his horns, kiss him on the forehead, and tell him she loved him.

Rowan handily parallel parked in front of her grandmother's place and shifted in her seat to face him. "So," she said. "This was fun. Well, except for my car breaking down. That I could've done without." She wrinkled her nose.

"We'll have to do it again sometime." Stay here forever with me , his heart urged him to say. Instead, he undid his seatbelt and rubbed his palms against the wrinkled fabric of his suit pants.

"Definitely. After all, Mathan said we were welcome back anytime, and I still need to teach you the finer arts of campfire cooking. Besides s'mores, that is." She nibbled on her bottom lip. "You're going to the crossroads tomorrow night? To confront this interloper in your territory?"

He nodded, scratching his cheek, the rasp of his fingers over a weekend's worth of scruff filling the small space. "And to make sure he never bothers you, your grandmother, or anyone else in this town again."

"You know I'm coming with you, right?"

He frowned. "I strongly prefer you stay home, where it's safe. Typically, confrontations over territory are posturing and hot air, but they can get violent. I don't want you hurt."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I can take care of myself," she said, wrapping her hand around his clenched fist. "Also, there's no way I'm letting you meet this demon alone. He and that hideous private equity firm of his have torn this town apart and made people feel uncomfortable in their own homes and businesses. I'm involved, and I want to be there when you flex your demon badassery and toss him out of your territory." She gave him a feral grin. "Think of me as your backup and cheerleader."

He growled, knowing he would not win this. If he didn't let her come, she'd find a way to be there anyway, putting herself in even more danger. Besides, he liked the idea of her being there to witness him kick this annoying aggressor to the curb. Then she'd know he could protect and defend her.

"Fine," he said, conceding. "But only if you promise to stay back, out of harm's way."

"Absolutely," she said with an excited wiggle. "This is so cool. Wait ‘til I tell Eloise." She leaned over and gave him a kiss, her fingers skating over the curve of his horn, making him shiver.

They parted ways, her disappearing around the back of the building that housed her grandmother's shop and him slowly walking back to the lonely apartment above his office, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

He should have told her that he loved her. He had multiple chances. And even if she didn't love him back yet, he could live with that. After all, she liked him enough to spend the weekend with him. If she didn't, she could've found a way back to Stonyburn instead of staying with him. And she wouldn't have slept with him either or given him a goodbye stoke of his horn.

Shaking his overanalysis, he crossed the street. There was a lot he should have told her. They'd talked a little about their families — how they were kind of screwed up and how neither of them talked to their parents much anymore — but he should have told her everything. It wasn't like he was hiding who he was; he just liked the cloak of anonymity living Earthside provided.

After I get rid of this interloper, I'll tell her everything, including how much I love her , he decided, fishing out his keys and unlocking his office. If she rejects me … His heart, no longer withered and dusty thanks to the magical woman who crashed into his carefully orchestrated life and turned it upside down, clenched tight at the thought. Nope. Not going to think that way. I love her. How could I not?