Part 19 (1/2)

”You're not agreeing to forever, you would just be agreeing to try.”

”I'm scared,” she whispered.

Coal kissed the side of her head. ”Some times you have to face your fears to find the beauty. I think that we could have something beautiful.”

”It's too soon. I don't even know you.” Her eyes were stinging again and that lump was back.

”You know me, Julie. I know you. Maybe not everything, maybe not even close but well enough. Take a leap of faith. Trust me on this one. Look around you and trust me.”

”Okay.” Julie smiled. She could feel that it took up her whole face.

”Okay?” Coal didn't sound like he could believe it.

It felt like a weight had lifted off of her. She was sitting on top of the world right now. Literally. ”Yes, okay. I'll give us a chance.” She giggled, sounding like a school girl. ”Let's do this thing, but...” She raised her voice as she felt his arms tighten around her. ”I'm not making any promises and...” She practically yelled. Coal was kissing her neck. ”Hey...wait!” She squealed when his tongue went into her ear. ”We need to take it slow. I'm not rus.h.i.+ng into anything.”

Coal took a deep breath. ”But you'll give us a try?”

She nodded, feeling giddy with excitement.

”Does this mean that you'll let me hold you while you sleep, let me hold your hand, let me kiss you whenever I want, as long as I want and as softly and sweetly as I want?”

Julie pretended to think about it.

Coal tickled her on her ribs just under her arms. Julie burst out laughing, she squirmed and then panicked. ”Oh s.h.i.+t! We're high up in the freaking sky... no tickling allowed.”

”I told you that I'll catch you. I'll never let you fall...” Then he seemed to be thinking about something. ”Well, not for very long anyway.”

”What the h.e.l.l does that mean?”

He gave her a half smile. ”You're safe with me, Julie. I am so glad you're taking a leap of faith.”

”Me too.” She sighed as Coal kissed her. Julie shoved her fears aside. She tried really hard not to listen to that little voice inside of her. She was going to try. Coal was worth it.

Chapter 16.

Three days later...

”I'll see you in half an hour.” Coal kissed her. It was short, sweet and left her wanting more.

”Why does your brother want to see you?” She hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him. ”Tell him you're busy. It wouldn't be lying.” She touched her lips to his between sentences.

Coal groaned, she could feel him hard against her. ”Your scent is killing me. One breath at a time.”

”So stay,” she whispered against his lips. ”We still have half a box of condoms.”

”Don't tempt me, sweetheart.” He ran his hands up and down her back and then cupped her a.s.s. ”I would refuse my brother but not my king and I have been summoned.”

”If he misses you so badly, invite him to dinner.”

Coal burst out laughing. ”You must really love the h.e.l.l out of me if you're willing to...” he let the sentence die. They both just looked at one another.

Love. She waited for the panic to well. The horror to descend. It never did. Julie took a deep breath. ”You know I would do anything for you. Invite the guy. He has a stick up his a.s.s but I think it's because he's lonely.” Coal had told her that Blaze had been hurt and that he hadn't had lady companions.h.i.+p in over a year. She almost felt sorry for the guy. At least it explained the stick up his a.s.s att.i.tude.

Coal exhaled and the tension left his body. ”I'll invite him.” He kissed her on the tip of her nose. ”At my meeting with him.”

”What are you meeting with him about anyway?” She pretended to pout.

Normally Coal would bite her lip or tickle her in a situation like this, instead, he frowned. ”I'm not sure.” She could sense that he wasn't being entirely honest with her. Coal knew what Blaze wanted. He just didn't want to tell her.

Why? Then the answer hit her. Oh, the meeting was about her. Blaze didn't seem to like her very much. Maybe he was going to try and talk Coal into sending her back. Like the last time. s.h.i.+t, now her body reacted. Now? She felt a tightness in her belly. A clamminess on her hands. The air seemed to freeze in her lungs.

”Hey.” Coal squeezed her hand. ”You look like you're afraid of something. It worries me because I've never seen you afraid before.” He smiled at her. ”Not when I was hunting you. Not when I caught you. You stabbed me in the back.” He chuckled, giving his head a shake. ”Yet, you're worried now. Don't be, Julie. You have absolutely nothing to be afraid of. I promise.” He gave her hand another squeeze.

She huffed out a breath. ”If you say so and for the record, I was petrified on the top of that mountain. If I had fallen, I think I would've shat my pants.”

Coal laughed. ”I would've caught you. I will always catch you. When you finally realize that, we'll finally be on the right track.”

”We're on the right track.” It just slipped out of her mouth. Julie licked her lips.

Coal's gaze softened. ”Yes, we are.” He grabbed her and kissed her like there was no today, like there was no tomorrow. He kissed her like she was it for him and well, she returned the favor. By the time he released her, they were both short of breath.

Coal growled. ”Get back into bed. I won't be long.”

”I thought we could go out. Maybe...”

Coal shook his head. ”You are too close to your heat. We will either spend the next few days in bed together, or I will need to stay in another chamber until you are over it.”

”In bed for a few days it is then.” She slipped her hand under the elastic of his pants and squeezed his beefy a.s.s.

Coal growled again. It was a loud and terrifying sound. Her panties were wet in an instant. She loved the animalistic sounds he made. Coal sniffed, groaned and pulled himself from her embrace.

”I'll be back. Get in that bed.” He glanced over her shoulders, his gaze on the bed.

”If you take too long I'll start the party without you.” She bobbed her brows and looked up at him from under her lashes.

His jaw tightened. His eyes darkened. ”You wouldn't dare.”

”Try me.” She shouldn't tease him this way but she couldn't help herself.

”You evil female.” On a feral snarl, Coal turned and left. The frame of the door shook from the slamming.

Julie covered her mouth to hold back a laugh. Note to self, don't tease a s.h.i.+fter when in heat. She touched her lips. How had this happened? No, she wasn't going to a.n.a.lyze this. She was going to enjoy it. She was falling in love and it was wonderful. Coal was wonderful. He wasn't going to hurt her. He. Was. Not.

Julie took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen where she poured herself a water. She took a long drink. It was fresh mountain water, straight from the source. She smiled as she took another sip. Who knew that drinking the water could be so much fun?

She rinsed the gla.s.s and put it in the rack before looking around her. Julie could get used to this. It wasn't like things could go on as they had been. She would need to find something to do around here. Not a job exactly because they didn't seem to work on a money system but something.