The Shifter Romances The Writer (Nocturne Falls Book 6) (20 page)

“But what, specifically, makes you think that?”

“I’ve been seeing some things—”

He released the knife to cup her face and gaze into her eyes. He hoped the truth of what he couldn’t say came through. “You are
not
losing your mind, Roxy. I swear you’re not. Trust me on this.”

His heart ached for what she was going through. She must have stopped drinking the town water and was getting glimpses of the local supernaturals again. He wished he could tell her the truth, but he’d promised Delaney he wouldn’t. Damn it. He needed to tell Delaney that the time for keeping secrets was over, no matter what she thought Roxy could or couldn’t handle.

“How can you be so sure?” she asked. “You barely know me.”

He dropped his hands from her face. “I do know you. You’re not crazy. I just… I wish there was something I could do to help.”

“Just listening is good.” The lettuce sat between Roxy’s hands, which were now flat on the counter. “And I wasn’t going to tell you, but I like you and I sort of had an epiphany while I was in my office earlier that I shouldn’t say no to something that might not be available to me in the future. Carpe diem and all that.”

He leaned on the counter. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? I hate to sound full of myself, but is this about me?”

She finally looked at him. “Yes. Well, it’s about us.” She closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath, like she was steeling herself to say something difficult. “I am so attracted to you that just thinking about you makes parts of me ache. I love your company. You make me happy, as silly as that sounds considering we’ve only known each other a few days.”

Her cheeks went the most adorable shade of pink. “I have never said anything like that to a man. Ever. But if I’m going crazy, I want to enjoy all the sane days I have left. With you. If you’re willing. Or interested. Or not afraid to catch whatever crazy I have.”

A shot of hot, pure electricity zipped through Alex, filling him with the unquestionable sensation that this woman was absolutely, one hundred percent meant for him. His soul mate. It was that fast and that complete. He just knew. Shifter or not, she was his.

“It’s not silly and you’re not crazy.” He wiped his hands on his jeans, then threaded his fingers through her hair and kissed her. Hard.

She seemed to exhale into him. As if all the tension that had built up inside of her while she was spilling her heart was now gone, released by his response. Then she kissed him back.

For the next few moments, they were lost to that heated contact, their need for each other overriding all else. Until the pot on the stove boiled over and pulled them apart.

She turned the burner down, then looked at him, her chest rising and falling with the intensity of the kiss they’d just shared. Her eyes were full of light and happiness. “That was a yes, right?”

“That was a hell yes. But you have to know something about me.”

“What?”

“I’m sensing that you want—or expect—a temporary kind of arrangement. Something with an expiration date. That’s not happening. I’m not that kind of guy. Either we do this with the full understanding that it could be forever or we don’t do it at all.”

“But I could be in an institution next month.”

“Well, that sounds like a wild exaggeration, but as long as I know the address and what visiting hours are, I’m in.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You might be the crazy one.”

“I might be.” He crossed his arms. “But those are my terms. All or nothing.”

“I’m not divorced yet—”

“You will be.”

“So I was going to say, we can’t go public with this until that’s finalized.”

“I’m good with that. Does that mean you agree to what I said?”

“All or nothing, huh?”

He nodded.

She nodded tentatively. “But what if I get overwhelmed, or can’t handle being in another relationship so soon, or—”

“We’ll figure it out. We’ll slow down or back off or whatever, but if we’re meant to be, I don’t think either one of us will feel that way.”

“I haven’t had a reason to believe in soul mates, you know.”

He shrugged. “I know. But maybe I can change that.”

Her tentativeness gave way to a bright, beaming smile that matched the look in her eyes. “So yeah, I guess we’re doing this.” She pointed at him. “I’m big on honesty and being upfront and just putting everything out there. I don’t want to have to guess what you’re feeling or try to figure out if you’re happy or if you’re not or any of that. I had too much nonsense like that the first go-round. I’m not doing it again.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Which meant talking to Delaney just got moved up on Alex’s list of priorities.

All the way to number one.

Roxy floated through dinner. Alex had responded so much better to her heartfelt declaration that the thought she might be losing her marbles no longer put her in such a state of panic.

Granted, she hadn’t figured on him wanting a full-blown relationship, but he’d said all the right things and her reservations had disappeared. Plus, he seemed so willing to let her dictate the speed and intensity of the relationship. How could she not want that? She’d never been in the driver’s seat with Thomas. She couldn’t miss the chance to try it now, especially with a guy like Alex.

A smokin’ hot guy like Alex. It really was like he’d stepped off one of her book covers.

“You’re staring.”

“Hmm?” She realized he’d said something and she’d been miles away. Thinking about him, but still miles away.

“Do I have parsley in my teeth or something?”

“No, I was just…taking it all in.” She laughed, the giggly nervousness of desire and possibility and this new infatuation making it impossible not to.

He grinned. “It?”

“You.” She pushed her linguine around on her plate. “You know what I mean.”

He put his fork down and sat back. “No, tell me. You’re a writer. Use your words. Tell me exactly what you mean.”

“Oh, is that how it’s going to be? A challenge?”

“You’re the one who said you believe in putting it all out there.”

“That I did. Okay, then.” She’d already stripped her soul bare in front of him once. She was willing to do it again. “What I mean is that I am sitting here reveling in how unbelievably sexy you are. How amazing you are inside and out. And I’m in awe of how the last four abysmal years of my life have led me to a man who could easily have any woman he wanted, and yet, he wants me.”

Alex nodded. “True statement. I do want you.”

She grinned. “That works out then, because I’ve also been contemplating how best to make up for lost time.”

“Meaning?”

She stared at him. “Meaning all the years I went without. Attention, affection, companionship.
Sex
.”

He swallowed, and she thought she saw a hint of color cross his cheeks. “Okay, definitely getting the picture.”

She shifted in her chair. “In fact, I was thinking about all the sex scenes I’ve written over the years. About how I don’t even really know if all of them are possible. Like, there’s one that takes place in a shed.”

His brows lifted, and he nodded. “Or the one on the motorcycle.”

Her mouth opened. “That scene doesn’t come until almost the end of the first book. Did you really read that far?”

He shrugged. “I read the whole thing. Couldn’t put it down, actually.”

She shook her head in disbelief. Thomas had never even shown the slightest bit of interest in her work, except to mock the very idea that anyone would want to read about romance. But Alex had read one of her books without her saying anything about it. She’d never felt such utter amazement in her life. Or desire.

She stood up, willing that intense feeling to power her through the next bold move. “Dinner is over. Dessert is being served. In the bedroom. If you’re interested. Which I’m hoping you are. The flan we can have later. We’ll probably need some sugar to fuel the rest of the evening.”

His eyes flashed gold, but she was too happy to care that the crazy had returned. He jumped up and grabbed her hand. “Yes, I’m interested—actually,
interested
isn’t a strong enough word, but there are two reasons this isn’t going to happen tonight.”

She frowned, knowing she looked disappointed, but she’d already told him this was going to be all about honesty. “Which are?”

“One, it’s dark now and my first concern is keeping you safe. Which means checking in with my friends who are helping me and heading out to make sure your ex isn’t lurking somewhere, plotting to do you harm. Your safety takes precedence. Which is why there will be another deputy parked outside, watching your place while I’m gone.”

She nodded reluctantly. “Okay, I understand all that. And thank you. What’s the second reason?”

He grabbed her hips and pulled her against him, his eyes blazing as he peered into hers. “I believe in foreplay. Physical and mental, and right now, you’re running on impulse, which I appreciate, but waiting a little longer will be worth it. I promise. I want our first night together to be perfect.”

She liked the sound of that.

He glanced at the table. “And maybe not after we’ve both just had large quantities of garlic, either.”

She laughed and slid her hands up his chest. “Okay, those are good reasons. How long are you going to make me wait?”

He leaned down and nuzzled her neck, making her sigh and shiver at the same time. Her pulse kicked up. She was already anticipating what was to come. If only Thomas wasn’t out there and Alex didn’t have to go look for him.

His hot breath tickled her skin as he answered. “Until you think you can’t wait another second.”

His teeth scraped her throat. “And then, one second more.”

“Coffee? Cookies?” Delaney asked. “I have some salted butterscotch blondies too, if you want one of those.”

“No, thanks. I just ate.” Alex stood in her kitchen, thankful that Delaney had agreed to see him on such short notice at her home. He’d called as soon as Deputy Lafitte had shown up at Roxy’s. Then Alex had driven straight here with the hopes of this being a quick trip. He had no desire to be away from her any longer than necessary.

Delaney took a few sugar cookies out of a jar on the counter, put them on a small plate, then sat at the kitchen table. “You said you wanted to talk about Roxy. What’s going on?”

He shook his head. “She’s still seeing things she shouldn’t. I’m sure of it. For whatever reason, the magic in the water isn’t having any effect on her.”

Delaney broke one of the cookies in half and took a bite. She swallowed before she answered. “That shouldn’t be.”

“But it is. So someone has to tell her the truth. She thinks she’s going crazy. Actually losing her mind. Did you know her mother had some issues with schizophrenia?”

Delaney stared at the plate. “Yes. She told me about that when we were in college. Very sad.”

“Then you can understand how this can’t go on any longer.”

“Oh no. Of course not.” Delaney put the remains of the cookie down. “That’s not good at all. She doesn’t need to think she’s going mad in addition to all the stress of this stupid divorce. But with her mother’s history, you can see why I’m hesitant to add any more stress to that load.”