The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 40

Whatever the circumstances, Char couldn't complain about waking up with Iris. There was no puffiness from crying to mar the peaceful expression on her face, and with her body soft against his, their arms wrapped around each other—it wasn't a bad way to start the day.

He ran his fingers through her thick brown hair, and she stirred, her cheek shifting on his chest. He smiled and continued stroking her tresses, in no rush to get out of bed. When she opened her eyes and gave him that shy smile, everything was perfect. Everything was right.

At least for now.

"Good morning, Char."

"Good morning, Iris." He leaned in and kissed her. "This is my favorite way to wake up."

"I can't say I mind it too much, either."

"How are you feeling?"

Her smile faltered. "Um... I'm okay. But, um... Do we really have to talk about that right now?"

Pink dusted her cheeks, and she bit her lip. Char's heart thumped a loud beat. He knew he should have been thinking about what happened last night and how it affected her, but when she brought a tentative hand up to his face and brushed his hair back, his heart thumped again and took off running. Her dark brown eyes dropped to his lips, then peeked up at him through long brown lashes. She licked her lips.

That did it.

He kissed those wet, inviting lips once, twice, three times, and she kissed him back, pressing in harder, drawing it out longer, until he could hardly stand it. His hand wandered to her hip, then slid up to her waist, and then he applied gentle pressure to put her on her back. She neither flinched nor resisted. He felt her lips part and slipped his tongue between them, and she rested her hand on his bicep, holding on and tightening her grip as her tongue tangled with his. A soft moan escaped her.

He knew he needed to stop. His desire was mounting with every second, and even though she was responding, he wasn't sure she knew what she was doing to him. And this wasn't the right time, anyway. She was vulnerable. She trusted him. He couldn't take advantage of that.

But when she moaned again, when her hand came up to his cheek and slid down his neck to his chest, it took everything in him to pull back.

"Ah, Iris," he gasped, breathless. "I don't need breakfast when I've got you."

Her eyes widened, and the rosy glow on her cheeks deepened. "Oh, I..."

Just as he thought. She'd only wanted him to kiss her, and he was already planning a morning-after menu.

He dropped a peck on her nose. "I think that's enough."

Then he rolled off of her and climbed out of bed. She sat up and brushed her hair back, and he glimpsed a thin line on the back of her neck.

He saw Micah dragging her by the amulet again, and he turned away and went into the bathroom, suddenly nauseous.

Last night happened. The scene Micah had shown him happened. It had been torture for him to watch it, but Iris had experienced it.

He wanted that amulet gone, and he wanted Micah dead. That man should never have put his hands on her. Should never have dared to hurt her.

His jaw remained clenched throughout his morning routine.

But when he stepped out of the bathroom and saw Iris standing there in a simple white nightgown, waiting for him, his blood cooled. He smiled and stepped toward her, taking her chin in one hand and brushing her hair back from her face with the other.

"What is it?"

"Char..." She bit her lip again, and then she said, "Thank you. For just being you."

She stood on tiptoe and gave him a kiss, and then she darted into the bathroom while he floated toward the kitchen. He didn't even care if Rath teased him. Iris was worth it. She was worth every bruise and every hour of lost sleep.