Free Spiritbound by Dani Kristoff

go home,’
    ‘Why?’ he said drowsily, his eyes heavy with arousal. He opened the circle of his arms, but he did not let her go free.
    ‘We can’t do this. We forget the situation.’
    He pursed his lips. ‘You like me, despite what you say. You can’t hide the language of your body, your kisses. We could be great. We could be so close, if only…’
    Grace closed her eyes. If only–the story of her life .
    ‘There is no future for us, Declan Mallory. I ruined it ten years ago. Your parents would never accept me and I’m not interested in a one-night stand, a casual encounter.’ She saw his eyes widen. She knew he didn’t want a commitment. He’d told her so. She was on the right path now. She had to be firm.
    ‘It could be fun.’
    Grace shook ahead. She’d won this one. ‘No. I’m afraid not.’
    His arms dropped and he let her step away. She raced over to her shoes and slipped them on. ‘Is there a train I can catch? You don’t have to drive me home.’
    ‘No, you’re not catching a train.’
    ‘Of course, I am.’
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ She bristled. ‘Come on, Grace, there are two bedrooms, both made up. We can stay here. I won’t touch you, if you don’t want me to.’
    Grace hesitated. Declan had backed off when she’d asked him to. He obviously wanted to stay in the cottage. It was lovely and she liked it too. ‘Okay. Separate beds?’
    ‘Only, if you insist.’
    She narrowed her eyelids. ‘Now, Declan Mallory, I’m not in the mood for games. What are you playing at?’
    ‘Nothing, it’s just it would be nice to hold you, Grace, to feel you close, even platonically. I really need that right now.’
    Grace scoffed. ‘What do you mean? You have so many girls after you.’
    He waved a hand dismissively, and moved closer, speaking softly. ‘They just want the prize. Can’t you see how off-putting it is to be chased by all those witches? I’m lonely, Grace. I need to touch someone. I need you.’
    Grace shook herself. ‘Why me?’
    He shrugged. ‘I’m not entirely sure. We had a connection a long time ago. That draws me to you. Maybe it’s because you know me and aren’t chasing me. I can’t explain it clearly to you.’
    Grace blinked rapidly, trying to sort through her emotions and decipher Declan’s reasoning. Grace couldn’t let go of her scepticism. ‘You want me but don’t know why. That’s not very flattering.’
    ‘Grace, you accept me.’
    ‘I do?’
    He grinned and ruffled his hair. ‘You don’t worship me, or have an overblown idea of who I am. You’re not interested in me as a catch, as a trophy. That’s what those other witches want. I need the space you allow me to be me.’
    She sensed that he was being honest. He really needed her and she couldn’t walk away from that. There was more to this adult Declan than she’d first thought. He might seem as if he was revelling in all the attention, but in reality he wasn’t. She wanted to ask more but didn’t want to risk it. ‘All right then. But play fair.’
    Goddess, had she just agreed to sleep in the same bed as all that man? He’d better live up to his part of the deal, and no naughty business.
    He leered at her. ‘My honour as a warlock.’
    ***
    Grace took her time in the shower as she contemplated what she had set herself up for. She was going to sleep in the same room as Declan, in the same bed. She’d only ever slept with Elena when they were young or snuggled with her mother when her mother was not otherwise occupied. She tried thinking back to when she was a girl; she’d never bunked up with Declan when they were kids. Their intimacy had been on a different level, mind-to-mind, and accidental, come to think of it. It had been so long since they had touched each other that way that is was less than a memory, more like the silk of a spider web touching her thoughts before dissolving completely.
    The water ran cold and she hurriedly closed the taps, not realising that it wasn’t an