By the time Basil had finished making the kids a snack, I had apparently fallen asleep on the couch—healing really did take a lot outta ya. I spent the entire day in and out of sleep. Basil had to help me up the steps by nightfall because I was so out of it. Truthfully, I mighta played it up a little to get his hands on me, but in all honesty, I was in no condition to do anything other than sleep.
Basil had a spare bedroom that he’d decorated in shades of orange—Rasha’s favorite color—and even though he claimed it was a spare room, nothing more, it was very clearly already set up for her. He’d told her she could pick out new decorations and furniture if she wanted, claiming that it could be her room while we stayed here, but she was already in heaven and happy with it. She and Niya were sleeping in there tonight.
I lay in Basil’s bed, and when he went to walk away, I asked, “Where’re you goin’?”
“I was going to sleep on the couch.”
“Why in the hell are you doin’ that?”
“I didn’t know if you wanted me—”
“Basil, get your ass in the bed.”
A slow smile spread over his face, but he closed the door and began getting ready for bed. I watched him remove his arm and leg bracers, his utility belt, and several necklaces and bracelets. When he started climbing into bed, I asked, “Are you really sleeping in those pants?”
He froze. “Normally, I’d sleep in my boxers, but—”
“I’m in no shape to attack you in the middle of the night. You’re safe enough.”
He rolled his eyes. “Not you, hunter. I meant because Niya and Rasha are here.”
“Oh.” I thought about that for a second, and he had a point since Rasha was sleeping outside of her own home for the second night in a row and might wake up in the middle of the night. “You must have sweatpants or jammies or somethin’, right?”
He snorted out, “Jammies.” I rolled my eyes, but he grinned. “Yeah, I have some.”
I waved at him.
With a sigh, he walked to his dresser and faced away from me while he changed into his jammies. I only got to see his ass in his boxers for a couple of seconds which was seriously disappointing.
As he climbed back into bed, I asked, “Why didn’t you just magic them on or whatever?”
“Because you don’t like it.”
That made me freeze and slowly turn my gaze to meet his. “What?”
“You hate witches and witch magic, and I know you’re already… trying hard to be okay with it all. I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable in my house, so I figured while we’re here, you wouldn’t like me doing magic all the time.”
Something in my chest tightened and guilt began eating away at me. “Basil, I don’t want you changin’ who you are—”
“But you hate witches.”
I sighed. “I… did. I still hate the ones that hurt Millie and Rasha, obviously, and I hate the ones back at home that continue hurting people, but I don’t hate you… or your family. Bas, I could never hate you or any part of you.”
He swallowed thickly. “You don’t?”
“Hey, I thought it was pretty damn obvious that I kinda like ya.”
He smiled, but only a little.
“And your family has been kind and helpful, so I have nothin’ against any of y’all.”
His smile was bigger this time. “You mean that?”
“‘Course I do.”
“You really wouldn’t mind me doing magic around you?”
“Nah. I want you to be yourself, Bas.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
He settled on his pillow as we fell quiet. I had just shut my eyes again when he whispered, “I still feel off, so can I…”
“Can ya what?”
He didn’t respond, so I turned my head and found him already staring at me. It took all of five seconds to figure out what it was he didn’t want to say, so with a sigh, I held my arm out. He practically dove into my side, settling his head on my shoulder and his hand on my chest. I wrapped my arm around him and enjoyed the sigh that escaped him.
As much as I wanted to take advantage of havin’ his sexy little body against me, sleep was already claimin’ me. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d said going through a healing took a lot out of you. Hopefully I could get him naked tomorrow night.
“I’m glad you and Rasha are here,” I heard him whisper as I was drifting off.
I tried to say, “Me too,” but I’m not sure anythin’ came out before I was fast asleep.
Chapter Eighteen
Basil
Waking up with Hiro’s strong arms wrapped around me made me wish I could stay in bed all day. I scooted as close as I could to him, tucking my face against his throat and breathing him in. He sorta smelled like smoky sandalwood, and I sorta really loved it. When I kissed his throat without thinking, he grumbled a little, but pulled me tighter to him, so I settled in, perfectly okay with lying here while he slept.
“I’m awake,” he whispered.
“You’re supposed to be sleeping in.” Did he read my mind?
“How am I supposed to sleep with you rubbin’ all over me?”
I snorted into his throat. “You call kissing your neck rubbing all over you?”
“Your whole body’s wigglin’ around to reach me, so yeah, I do.” His accent was even sexier when his voice was hoarse and sleepy-sounding.
I lightly nipped at his skin, and he groaned as he tilted his head to allow more access. “Seems like you like it to me.”
He grunted and reached down to grab my ass and haul me even closer. Putting my thigh between his legs and draping myself over him, I could feel his hardening cock. And I knew I couldn’t resist him anymore, I didn’t want to. I nibbled my way up his throat and across his jaw, then pulled his earlobe between my teeth.
The bedroom door flew open, slamming against the wall and scaring the shit out of me. I jumped, and Hiro yelped out an “Ow” as I turned to find my little sister storming into my room.
“Ever heard of knocking?” I asked her as I pulled the blanket over both my and Hiro’s laps.
“We’re hungry,” Niya said.
I rubbed my hand over my face. “You’re always hungry. Do you have a tapeworm or something?”
She wrinkled her nose. “What?”
I waved her away. “Never mind. I’ll be downstairs in a minute. Is Rasha okay?”
Niya nodded. “Yep! Now come feed us!” She ran out before I could tell her not to speak to me that way. She was such a brat sometimes, although she didn’t say shit like that to anyone but me.
Turning to Hiro, I winced when I saw him holding his ear. “I’m so sorry.”
He snorted and pulled his hand away. “Not your fault. No blood, we’re good.”
“First sex injury.”
“I don’t think it counts since we weren’t havin’ sex.”
“Yet.”
His amused expression met mine before he pushed my shoulder. “Go feed the starving children.”