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Flicker, burn, and rise above; seal her intent with power and love.

I repeated the statement in my head until she was done.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it,” I returned.

“It’s weird but I feel a little better. Maybe this stuff really works.”

“Trust it does, but only if you believe so.”

“Thank you for this. I feel silly…”

I rounded the counter. “Don’t, life is hard enough to navigate as is, but doing so with feelings you can’t control or don’t know what to do with is ten times worse. It’s really okay and you’re going to be just fine.” I hugged her and she hugged me back before she left. I finished closing, rolling my eyes at the fact that I needed to take my own advice.

“I have a lot of feelings about a vampire I need to deal with but am being stubborn about and refusing to,” I mumbled to myself and snorted a laugh.

“Do as I say, not as I do.”

Maybe I was the one who needed to be burning intention papers.

My eyes rolled hard as I locked up and left the store, prepared to head home and drink more wine than I needed then find something to distract myself with.

Armed with very strong wine I purchased monthly from a vineyard in Crescent Falls, cheesecake, and chocolate dipped strawberries I picked up from The Marketplace, I sat in my bed propped against the headboard. My lower half was cozy under a blanket while I overindulged on my favorite things.

I started my night with a deep dish, cheese stuffed crust, veggie pizza and devoured half. When I was done, I took a long hot shower and put on something soft and comfortable, an oversized Sweet Inferno T-shirt, before I climbed in bed, ready to enjoy what was left of my night.

While I lifted a strawberry to my lips, I powered on the TV and curiously watched the news story on HGNN about Station 112 working a fire. Here I was trying to distract myself from the vampire who tilted my world off its normal rotation and a very vivid reminder of him was all over the screen.

“Damn these vampires are fine,” I mumbled, dipping my spoon into the massive slice of cheesecake.

The reporter was talking about a house fire. There was an elderly couple saved by one of the firefighters. Everyone made it out alive with no casualties. While six fine ass vampires moved in the background, rolling the hose back on the truck and moving through debris, the very enamored news reporter was enthusiastically rallying behind the idea of Station 112 being an asset to the city.

I agree, sister. Even if it’s just watching them work.

I shamelessly searched every face and body for something familiar and came up empty, which annoyed me because why did I care? I shoved another spoonful of cheesecake into my mouth and pulled up one of my guilty pleasures, WAGS: Crescent Falls, prepared to binge watch the last three episodes. They were giving that Layla girl hell and I was here for it.

Halfway through the first one, my plans changed because someone interrupted my night. It was him. I could feel it. This connection we had was wild and a little scary. I couldn’t suppress the awareness that moved through me. A feeling like something was pulling me toward his energy. My heart began beating erratically and a wave of heat crawled up my neck, blazing over my face. The same feeling I had when he was sucking on my wrist days ago.

I placed the tray loaded with my sugar rush goodies on my nightstand and climbed out of bed, taking a minute to control the flutters which took flight low in my stomach. My lack of control of the nervous energy that wrapped around me was irritating.

What the hell is happening?

Every time Kyron was around me, I was overly aware of my body in ways I had never been before. My nipples tightened, my pussy thumped, and my skin was hyper sensitive. The worst part was that the pulse throbbing in my neck mirrored tiny drums beating in my veins. I left my room, and when I made it to the door, my eyes closed briefly before I exhaled a cleansing breath, attempting to calm myself then laughing.

Bitch, he can hear you.

When I opened the door, a sexy smile and dark eyes were waiting. His light woodsy and spicy scent immediately hit my senses. He hit my senses. “You really don’t understand boundaries, do you?”

“I respect boundaries. Me being here is one you’re allowing because you made yourself available to me.”

Yeah bitch, you did…

“Can I come in?”

There was no point in pretending I didn’t want him here, so I stepped back to provide enough space for him to enter my apartment, but he didn’t move. I arched a brow and grinned.

“Do I need to officially invite you in?”