Page 25 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

He smiled. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.” I stepped aside. “I thought you were all asleep in the mornings?”

“We usually are,” he replied, sitting down on my fixed couch. “The storm makes it easier for us to enjoy the early morning hours.”

“That makes sense.” I sat down next to him, catching him eyeing my chest. “I got wet,” I answered his non-question. I wasn’t about to get dressed before I knew what he’d come in for. The argument with Jacob last night had me gearing up for the same fight with Harland.

“I like your chest hair,” he mused, scooting closer. His hand carefully reached out and touched said hairs, like he wasn’t used to the feel of them.

My throat constricted as I swallowed. I wasn’t used to men being so attentive to me before coming here. “I’m glad.”

His eyes flicked up to mine, a smile tugging at his lips. His brown eyes shone with amusement. “Alexander and Jacob are both lacking in body hair.”

“I guess it’s the same with you?” I’d heard natural redheads had less body hair, or that it was softer and lighter. It wasn’t as though I’d been around any that I could ask such a weird question.

He just nodded, his attention back on my chest. “I like that you have some grey hairs in there as well.”

A blush was threateningly close. “I will most likely only have grey hairs in a few years’ time.”

His head tilted, those gorgeous brown eyes holding mine captive again. “You have not been told?”

There was something in his tone that had me bracing myself. “Been told what?”

“You will not age while you are within this property.”

That had not been what I’d expected to hear and it made dread fill my veins. I wouldn’t age? Was that a side effect to being the sacrifice? Or was it because I was becoming something else myself?

“Not at all?” I questioned, needing more information.

He shook his head. “I apologize for not telling you this sooner. I truly believed Sienna had informed you of this. She normally does so on the first day.”

“She never mentioned it, but she did give me some reading material I’ve yet to read through.”

He nodded. “Are you okay?” It was clear he worried about my feelings. He’d already seen me break down, so it wasn’t exactly a lie when I shrugged my shoulders and nodded. “If that changes, let me know.”

“I will.” It was an easy promise.

“I actually came here to ask if you had seen Alexander?”

“Alexander?”

He nodded. “Jacob and I have not seen him for hours.”

“He can’t leave, right?”

Harland shook his head. “But that does not mean we do not worry.”

“Of course.” I had to remember that Alexander was their lover. A man they loved and cared for.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, picking up on my dampening mood. His hand tilted my chin up, his gaze searching mine. I tried to remain open. It wasn’t as though I had anything to lose.

Harland leaned in, kissing me softly. The scent of shea butter hitting my senses and making me smile into the kiss. The scent reminded me of Anastasia and however weird it might’ve seemed—seeing as I was kissing a man while thinking of my dead sister—the reminder was an added comfort along with Harland’s presence. Ana would have wanted me to enjoy my time here. That was what she’d planned to do herself. I was done feeling bad for wanting two men. They both had multiple lovers and weren’t acting all guilty themselves.

Emboldened by my new life decision, I grabbed Harland’s neck, deepening the kiss. He moaned long and low, allowing me to blanket his body with my own, the couch cushions moving with us as I rocked my hard length against his.

“Colin,” he breathed, eyes glowing with want.

“Harland,” I rasped, kissing down his neck, unbuttoning his shirt while my lips peppered small kisses along his naked skin. I found several freckles as I worshipped each new one, like small presents for myself as his clothes fell away.