Agnes“Did you pack my blue swimsuit? The one with the fishes?” Thea asked as she watched me fold clothes into our suitcases.I smiled, holding up the child-sized swimsuit in question. “Right here. Along with your goggles, floaties, and sunscreen.”Thea bounced excitedly on the mattress. “I can’t wa
“And my wolf?” I blurted out, my face heating at the suddenness—and perhaps selfishness—of my question.Elijah’s features softened. “We’ll figure it out. Without Olivia actively maintaining the curse, there’s a good chance your wolf will emerge on her own over time. And we’ll keep working on ways to
AgnesThe rental car that was waiting for us outside the airport was a sleek silver convertible, and after about thirty minutes of driving along coastal roads with the wind kissing our hair and faces, Elijah turned onto a private driveway that wound up a small hill. As we crested the top, I gasped.
After swimming for a while, we walked along the shoreline, collecting seashells and interesting rocks. Thea insisted on keeping every single one she found, until Elijah gently suggested we only take the very best ones, since we couldn’t possibly fit them all in our suitcases for the trip home.We sp
AgnesThe restaurant Elijah had chosen was just a twenty-minute walk from our villa.“Here we are,” Elijah said, stopping in front of a charming little place with tables spilling out onto the sidewalk. “It’s supposed to have the best pasta and wine selection around.”“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, ta
It was indeed spicy, but in a pleasant way that bloomed across my tongue rather than burning it. I chased it with another sip of wine, feeling the tension from earlier slowly melt away.We talked about everything and nothing as we ate—Thea’s upcoming school year, my designs for a new clothing line,
AgnesThe rain came down in one big sheet, soaking us to the bone in mere seconds. Elijah’s hand locked with mine, and we bolted beneath the nearest dock, laughing.As we sought shelter beneath the dock, I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering slightly. I could feel my nipples, hard and pebbled f
The pleasure built fast, way faster than I expected, and I came with a cry, my pussy pulsing around his fingers as my legs trembled.He didn’t give me time to recover. His hands gripped my ass, angling me until I was nearly at a ninety-degree bend with my arms wrapped around the pylon for support.A
Elijah, noticing the tension leaving my shoulders, offered me a soft smile. “And I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t sexy as hell when you get like that.”I blushed and looked away. “Stop it…”“But I mean it,” he murmured, his voice growing husky as he leaned closer to me. His lips brushed mine ever so
AgnesElijah gently pulled me out of the banquet hall before I could say another word.We reached the nearest bathroom—a small powder room off the main hallway—and Elijah ushered me inside, locking the door behind us. Without a word, he turned on the faucet and soaked a washcloth in cold water.“Her
My hand tightened around my wine glass, and I felt a flicker of heat race through my veins, which I quickly pushed down with a big gulp of wine. It wasn’t enough, though. “Water, please,” I said abruptly to the bartender. “Extra ice.”The bartender nodded and handed me my glass. I chugged half of it
Agnes“Hold still,” I muttered around the pins that were pinched between my lips. “I’m almost done.”“But it tickles,” Thea whined.I sighed, sitting back on my heels to survey my work. The pink dress had turned out even better than I’d imagined—the fabric caught the light just so, and the purple em
Thea was already back from day camp when I arrived, sprawled on the living room floor with a coloring book and a horde of new crayons—which we’d certainly be finding under the couch for years to come. She looked up as I entered.“Mommy!” She jumped up and ran to hug me. “How was work?”“It was good,
AgnesI straightened my blouse one last time before pushing open the glass door to the design department. It had been almost a month since I’d last set foot in the office—first because of the fire, then because of everything with Thea and the house rebuild.I wasn’t nervous, exactly, but there was a
“Thank you.” I took a sip, letting the rich flavor roll over my tongue. “For everything. Not just the wine.”He smiled. “You don’t need to thank me, Agnes. None of this would have happened without you.”“That’s not true. You’re the one who went to see Olivia. You’re the one who believed her crazy st
Agnes“Your eyes are drooping, kiddo.”“Are not!” Thea insisted, even as her eyelids fluttered shut for a moment as she said that. “I’m just… blinking.”I snorted and shut the picture book I was reading. “Those are some awfully long blinks, Thea. Your new room will still be here when you wake up in
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the house together. Thea insisted on opening every drawer, looking into every closet, and testing every light switch. Elijah and I couldn’t help but join her in this endeavour.The builders really had outdone themselves, and my mind was already racing wit