“No more doorbells,” he said.
“Um…okay. Why?”
“Because this is your damn house,” Mom said from the kitchen as I took off my jacket.
She was scowling when I entered the kitchen. Ignoring it, I went to her and kissed her cheek.
“I know this is my house. I also know that you two love birds are in a new phase, and I’m trying to respectfully give you some time and space.”
She looked only slightly appeased.
“Have you seen Zachy?”
“He’ll be here. He’s hanging out at Garrett’s, I think.”
“Do you want me to find him?” Uan asked, coming to stand by Mom. He rested his hand on her shoulder, and she reached up to cover it with her own. When she looked up at Uan, her expression softened. She might be afraid that her kids were pulling away, but it was very clear she was happy with her choice.
I glanced at Thallirin and found him watching me. This time, I was the one to flush because I was wondering if I would be as happy if I did someday give in to Thallirin.
We didn’t need to wait long for Zach. He showed up with Garrett in tow.
“I brought a friend,” he said. “Mom, this is Garrett. Garrett, this is my mom, Nancy.”
Garrett said hello.
“Garrett has a game console and some multi-player games to go with it. Can I stay over at his place tonight?” Zach asked as they hung up their jackets and joined us at the table.
“Just for tonight,” Mom said. “This is still your house.” She passed the veggies to me, and I helped myself to a large portion.
“I know,” Zach said. “But this might be the last working game console on Earth. My teen-boy blood can’t turn its back on that.”
Mom rolled her eyes.
Knowing that Thallirin and Uan wouldn’t care for the veggies, I half-stood and passed them over to Garrett. Because seating was a little squished, my boob brushed against Thallirin’s arm again. I pretended not to notice his bent fork or his slight shiver.
Dinner progressed nicely, and it was fun to have a full table. When we were done, Mom suggested the guys go outside while she and I cleaned up. As soon as the door shut behind them, she arched a brow at me.
“Next time pound on the wall and tell us to stop,” she said. “The last thing I meant to do was to drive my children out of their home. Or make you stay with someone who makes you uncomfortable.”
I snorted.
“I am not pounding on the walls. And staying with Thallirin doesn’t make me uncomfortable. After he overheard what happened to me, he and I talked. As usual, communication cleared up any misunderstandings, and he’s been good. No bossing me around, talking to me openly about his concerns…I think I actually like being around him now.”
She studied me for a minute.
“Right cupboard above the stove,” she said.
Curious, I looked and found a stack of birth control packets.
“Uan spread the word that it’s dangerous for someone my age to have a baby, so all the birth control they find has been coming here. Cassie said to pick one kind and stick with it. Help yourself.”
“Whoa. I said I liked being around him, not that I wanted to have sex.”
“I know. And I’m not suggesting you should. I’m suggesting you start taking the pill so, if you ever want to change your mind, you’re ready. We aren’t living in the same world we used to live in, Brenna. The old rules don’t apply. Don’t let anything hold you back from what you want, you hear me?”
Chapter Twelve
I rolled over and heard something in the hall. Lifting my head, I saw Thallirin’s familiar shape in the doorway.
“Is it time to get up?” I asked groggily.
After dinner last night, I’d promised Zach that I would go on today’s supply run with him.
“No. Not yet.”
I rubbed my eyes to look at Thallirin again, trying to figure out why he was just standing there.
“Were you watching me sleep?”
“Yes.”
“Have you slept at all?”
“When I close my eyes, I see you leaving.”
That got me right in the feels.
Pushing off the covers, I climbed out of bed. He didn’t move as I approached.
“I’m not leaving in the middle of the night, Thallirin,” I said, taking his hand and leading him to his bedroom.
“You left your house in the middle of the night.”
“That’s because Uan was having noisy sex with my mom. No one’s having sex here, right?” I turned him and pushed him back onto his bed.
The bedframe groaned in protest.
“Lay down,” I said tiredly.
He’d barely done as I asked before I climbed over him and crawled under the covers. He flinched as I snuggled against his side, but I didn’t pay it any attention.
“Go to sleep, Thallirin. I need you alert tomorrow.”
I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
The bed was shaking like crazy. My eyes popped open, and I looked around wildly, certain we were having another earthquake. It wasn’t a quake, though. Thallirin hovered over me, his arms bracing his weight as he shielded me with his body.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. My gaze darted around the room. “Infected?”
But if it was infected, wouldn’t he be running with me, not hovering protectively? Confused, I looked up at him. His gaze was riveted on my face. He didn’t speak, and the shaking continued.
“You’re scaring me, Thallirin.”
He made a sound between a growl and groan and slowly set his forehead against mine. I didn’t understand what was going on.
I reached up to touch his face, wondering if he’d had another dream about me leaving. Just as my fingers touched his scarred cheek, I felt a weird tug on my chest. My shirt had twisted in my sleep, and my meager offerings were spilling out from the low neckline and the armpit.
A hint of panic swept through me. How could it not? He was acting like a crazy man. Not a man, I reminded myself. A fey.
Ignoring my racing pulse, I pushed his head back enough so I could focus on him.
“Am I safe?” I whispered.
His expression became more pained.
“Always.”
I removed my hand from his cheek and slowly tugged my shirt back into place. Wiggling around while trapped in the cage of his arms meant a few accidental bumps. His eyes didn’t waver from mine for a moment. I wasn’t sure if I should feel reassured by that or terrified.
When I finished, he touched his forehead to mine again.
“Don’t leave me,” he whispered.
I wrapped my arms around his torso and gave him a half-hug. I wasn’t sure pressing up against him completely would be a wise choice at the moment.
“I’m not,” I said. “But I’d feel a lot better if you could explain why you’re on top of me like this.”
He shuddered harder.
“The curtains are open.”
Harsh pounding started on the door, evoking a growl from Thallirin as he jerked his head from mine.
“Shit. We have to go,” I said even as I heard Zach call my name.
I looked back up at Thallirin and saw his hesitation.