Page 80 of Kiss and Spell
“I agree,” he murmured. “You should be laid out on a bed of roses.”
There was a note of regret.
Ursula leaned over and kissed his chin. “All I want is right here in this bed.”
He gave her a smile that sent her hands down his thighs and around the base of him. She pumped and stroked him until he was left panting and yelling her name.
Much later, when Xavier was fast asleep, Ursula lay next to him, wide awake.
She buried her face into the pillow in disbelief. Xavier was here. She held back a wicked cackle. It felt like she went into the Met Museum, yanked a priceless panting from the wall, and walked out the front door. He was hers. She’d fantasized this very moment for weeks, but the reality was much, much better than her dreams.
Ursula wasn’t looking for Xavier, but she found him anyway.
She gave in to a light slumber, satisfied in the knowledge that he was with her. As the minutes ticked by, that sense of satisfaction slowly morphed into worry, rousing her from sleep. Ursula tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, but it felt like she was sleeping on thorns. She stared at the ceiling, listening to the street sounds, and her heartbeat telegraphed a message to her brain. He was here for now. What about after? What about the leap?
Dread prickled at her bare skin. Midsummer was coming and he’d soon depart. She wasn’t going to give him up sooner than she had to. Ursula looked at the oven clock in the corner and let out a sigh: 4:44 a.m. How did it get so late? It was time to wish. She closed her eyes, nestled her head against his chest, and held on.
Let him find a way to stay for a little while longer. Please.
Ursula heard him rouse from his sleep. She opened her eyes.
Xavier blinked and gave her a wickedly handsome grin. “So, I didn’t dream you.”
Under his attention, her dread ebbed away. He eased his arms around her body, bringing her skin to skin.
“I’m really hungry for some reason,” Xavier said.
She laughed against his chest. “Your Highness, get ready for the wonders of a buttered roll.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Before Ursula could write her full name, she knew the language of flowers and herbs. In Nana Ruth’s garden, she learned the art of communicating with a well-placed rose, fern, or sunflower. Nana taught her how they spoke to people even if people were too dense or distracted to notice their messages.
“Why do you talk to flowers?” Ursula once asked her.
“I trust flowers because they’ve always kept my secrets,” Nana answered as she watered the massive collection of blooms and plants. Flowers spoke when people had to hold their tongue. Sunflowers hinted at adoration. Daisies spoke about first love.
Ursula stared at the massive bouquet of cherry-red tulips that had just been delivered to the shop. Sweet passion. Declaration of affection. The flowers arrived with a handwritten card, which she immediately read.
Stars wished they shined like you. Until next time. Your humble prince, Xavier.
Ursula pressed a hand to her chest and dropped the card on the counter. Cue the swooning.
She had spent the night with Xavier. It was a wonderfully reckless choice, but it was hers to make. What made it reckless was that he was everything she wanted in a relationship, but he couldn’t commit to staying in the Grove. They’d come back from the deli with their breakfast, and she had been ready to stream a movie and hang out for a while. His Highness had other plans. Xavier cocked his brow, pulled her to him, and promptly lowered her to the floor, where he pleasured her until she saw the stars of the neighboring galaxy. Currently, she was sore and tired, and couldn’t stop looking off into her crystal ball. Was she seriously sprung over a man—or rather fae man—after one night? Cinderella fell in love after one night. Ursula had woken up alone this morning, but he left her a note.
He’d let her sleep in, but he’d be back later.
Ursula sniffed the flowers, then took her seat at the reading table. She studied the crystal ball, finding the urge to look into the future. The leap had already shown her what wonderful future waited if she made the right steps in her present. Her chest expanded. It was a vision of complete domestic bliss. Ursula sat at a sunny breakfast nook smearing cream cheese on toasted bagels with her dull knives while Xavier tended to her plants in the window. They chatted about having dinner with Lucy and Alex at Sirena’s restaurant.
Longing echoed through her. She wanted this vision to be real but didn’t know how to give it life. He promised he’d stay until midsummer. Ursula didn’t know how to ask him if he wanted to stay with her for good. She didn’t tell him any details because she didn’t want to influence his decision in any way.
The shop bell jingled as the door opened but she didn’t look up from the ball.
“Welcome to Light as a Feather. How can I help you?” she said automatically.
“You already have,” Xavier said. “You’re here.”
Ursula looked up from the crystal. Pleasure hummed within her the closer she got to him. She gave him a peck on the lips. “As much as I’d love to chat with you, I have a client.”