And he still had the feeling he was going to tell her tonight. He just hoped she wouldn’t run a mile.
Carina stopped outside his open bedroom door.

“Go ahead,” he said, gesturing her inside, “It’s clean and tidy, I promise.”

She entered, and Cassius turned to flick off the hallway and landing lights, then reached inside his room to switch on that light. He deliberately didn’t look at Carina, who was perched on the end of his bed. Instead, he quickly shut the bedroom door and crossed over to close the curtains. Okay, now he’d got the dull practicalities out of the way, he could enjoy himself.

Turning to face her, he felt simultaneous lurches in his chest and groin. She really was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. In all his long years, he didn’t think he’d felt quite this strongly about someone — and, if he was honest with himself, it scared him. Particularly since he knew it was going to kill him—not literally, of course—when they broke up.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

Cassius shook his head, as though to rid himself of his maudlin thoughts. “Nothing,” he replied, stepping towards her, “I was just thinking about how beautiful you are.”

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

Cassius shook his head, as though to rid himself of his maudlin thoughts. “Nothing,” he replied, stepping towards her, “I was just thinking about how beautiful you are.”

She lowered her eyes demurely, and a wash of colour crept across her cheeks. It was totally adorable, and Cassius’ rapidly swelling cock leapt in response. She seemed to get a grip on herself, and looked back up at him. “Thank you. You’re pretty damn gorgeous yourself. Now kiss me.”

“It would be my pleasure.” He leaned down to do just that, but then stopped. “Oh, hang on one moment.”

A little crease appeared between her eyebrows as he backed off. Then he walked over to his bedside table, removed his glasses and put them down. “Okay, I’m all yours.”

“Well, thank fuck for that! Come here.” She shuffled back on the bed until she was leaning against the pillows, and patted the space next to her.

Cassius didn’t hesitate. He noticed she’d already taken off her shoes, and he quickly pulled his off before joining her on the mattress and moving instantly into her open arms. Their lips met, and once more Cassius was astounded by the strength of feeling he had for this woman. It was as though she’d cast some kind of spell on him, almost like the mating bond that some of his kind experienced. But he’d never expected to feel that—his reindeer colleagues were all spoken for, and he’d never been attracted to any of the girls, anyway. He’d resigned himself to the fact that any attachments he had would be of the human, not supernatural, variety.