Got Love? (6 page)

Walking back to the secluded tree in the parking lot where they had phased in, Flora reveled in the heat Tharin’s body provided, cocooned safe under his arm.

“Tharin?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to go home with you tonight.”

“Are you sure?”

“I told you I don’t do flings. I think we can make something out of this and I’m ready to take things to the next level. I’m ready to make love to you.”

Without being told a second time, Tharin phased them to his house. In seconds, they ambled toward the bed, laughing and kissing as they hurried to take their clothes off.

Jackets were thrown to the ground, scarves tossed carelessly into the air. Boots were kicked across the room and like putting on the brakes, the pace changed, slowing so they wouldn’t be rushed, savoring their first skin-to-skin moments.

Hands at Tharin’s waist for balance, Flora slipped her fingertips under the bunched material of his sweater, sliding it up and over his head, finally face to face with the thick muscular chest she’d dreamed of since spilling her coffee on it nearly two weeks ago. Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to the place she could feel his heart pounding out of control. Inhaling his warmth and scent, she smiled as she felt him tremble under her touch.

“Highly effective in oral communication.” He joked. “Your turn,” he demanded, holding Flora at arm’s length, kissing her as her hand strayed to the hard ridge along the front of his jeans.

Working fast, Tharin pulled Flora’s shirt over her head to reveal a pair of small, firm lace-covered breasts. Using his thumbs to bring her nipples to a peak, through the thin fabric, elicited a moan from her throat. Pressing into his touch, Flora yearned for more. She needed his touch, wanted his taste, and when he began to kiss her neck, she thought she’d died and gone to paradise.

With nimble fingers, he chucked Flora’s bra at the pile of discarded clothing and just as fast, her panties followed, and those yellow pants that had taunted him all night.

“What’s this?” He paused, noticing the arrow under her breast that had begun to emit a red glow.

“Um, it showed up the night you kissed me.” Flora pointed out, taking Tharin’s wrist in her hand, pressing a kiss to it. “Kind of like yours.”

With more than a little surprise, Tharin noticed the arrow that had been giving him so many fits lately was glowing with the same shade of red as Flora’s.

“In the light of recent discoveries, I’m inclined to give the Fates a bit more leeway where my future’s concerned.”

“We’ll make our own future.” Tharin declared, rising over Flora.

****

In all his years, Tharin had never been so physically close to another female before. There was no longer any telling of where he ended and she began, they fit so perfectly together. And when they both hit that perfect peak, it felt like his first time.

Tiptoeing across the room, Tharin slipped back into the clothes Flora had practically ripped off his body hours earlier. Not that he was complaining, far from it. Meeting Flora was the best thing he’d ever done.

Grabbing his cell, he read the digital clock: 3:23am. Mentally calculating the eight hour difference between Massachusetts and Greece he scrolled through his contacts, hitting send when he came to the number he needed.

“Hey, it’s me. We need to talk.” He began as soon as he heard the woman’s voice on the other end, closing the door on Flora’s sleeping form as he stepped into the living room to continue his conversation.

Chapter 11

Tucking the covers around a deeply sleeping Flora, Tharin traced the purple shadows of fatigue lining her eyes. His fairy worked entirely too hard, pushing herself to the edge of exhaustion doing what she loved. She amazed him.

Until Flora, he never understood what it was like to think of a woman above himself and he hadn’t wanted to. Since she spilled her coffee on him, she was all he thought about. Her scent, her touch, her laughter. The way her eyes lit up when she caught sight of him was enough alone to be his undoing. It moved him deep inside where he thought no one would ever be able to touch. Bringing lovers together over two centuries had made him jaded. He thought himself immune to the effects of
amore
. Always a matchmaker, never the matchee.

Until he moved to Peabody and met Flora, Tharin was resigned in his role. No longer content, he wanted more. He wanted the rush of loving and being loved. He wanted moonlight walks, early morning talks. He wanted arguments and making up. He wanted a life and a family. He wanted Flora. For now and forever. He wanted to spend the rest of this life with her and to Hell with their age differences. Why should they waste any of their precious moments when they could be spending the rest of their long lives together? All he wanted was to be by her side, no matter what.

They hadn’t talked about it, but he was sure Flora would be happy in his house, the house of her dreams. Together with Dori, a family of three—until they had children of their own, of course. Children. He had never given a thought to them before Flora.

Allowing his imagination to drift as never before, Tharin wondered what they’d be like. Boy or girl, would they have their mama’s brilliant hazel eyes or his dark hair? Flora’s green thumb or his gift of love.

Watching Flora sleep, Tharin finally understood the soul deep need humans had to achieve this feeling no matter what the consequences may be. Finally understood why wars were waged over love, nations conquered in the name of it, and empires were built on it. Finally understood what it felt like to have your every thought consumed by the one person whose heart you hold, selfishly hoping they held your own in return.

****

Flora woke as the first rays of sunlight lit behind her eyelids.

Breathing deeply, she sniffed Tharin’s neck where her head rested, her arm thrown carelessly across his chest as she lay on her stomach. Flora was sure she had never smelled anything more lovely. The man was perfection. Even his scent was arousing. Moving her arm from his chest to his shoulder, she idly twirled a piece of his hair between her fingers.

“Morning,” Tharin greeted, rolling Flora over, pressing her body in to the mattress, a kiss to her forehead.

“Morning.” Flora smiled, pressing a kiss of her own to Tharin’s nose, her arms wandering along his taut backside. “You’re dressed.”

“Dori needed to go out. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“What time is it?”

“Just shy of seven.”

“Crap. I’m going to be late.” Flora felt no urgency as she informed him. There was no better reason for being late than lying in bed with her cupid.

“Busy day today?”

“No question. Valentine’s is tomorrow. We’ll all be running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to get all the last minute details together. What about you?”

“A little of this, a little of that.”

“Well, have fun with that.”

“Fun is exactly what I had in mind.” With a wicked grin, Tharin ducked under the covers.

****

“That’s some smile you have there.” Runa walked into the floral shop a few minutes after eight, Fia by her side. “We missed you at home last night.”

“I had a date with Tharin.”

“From that dreamy look in your eyes, I’m going to assume it was an all-nighter. How was he?” Runa asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“You sound like Fia.” Flora snorted. “Let’s just say he was impressive. Very, very impressive.”

“I’m jealous. It’s been a while since I’ve been impressed,” the banshee confessed, hanging her coat before joining Flora at the counter where she was busy piecing together a dozen red roses in delivery boxes.

“What?” Flora was confused, “I thought you and Death were…?”

“You have to be on speaking terms to be impressed. Caer and I are not speaking at the moment.”

“Oh.” Flora nodded, her good mood taking an unintended hit. Caer and Fia had history. Much like her and Tharin, Caer was an older fae-kin who wouldn’t allow himself to fall for the younger banshee due to some messed up personal prerogative, even though everyone who came within two feet of the couple knew they were perfect for each other. “You want to talk about it?”

“Nah. He’ll come around soon enough. I want to talk about you and the cupid. On a scale of one to ten how hot is the cupid?”

“Off the scale explosive. No words can adequately describe his level of hotness.”

“Geez. I would hate you if I didn’t love you.”

“Do you want me to call Caer, give him an ear full?”

“If Death is too stubborn to apologize, then I’m just wasting my time. This is something he’s going to have to figure out for himself. And I won’t be holding my breath while I wait. What about you Runa? When was the last time you were impressed?”

“It’s been so long I’ve forgotten what being impressed feels like!” the elf commiserated. “Please, Flora,” she begged, “tell me what being impressed feels like so that I may live vicariously through you!”

An impish smile on her face, Flora did just that.

****

It was a good thing Flora didn’t hold her own breath for Tharin’s call. She had gotten so busy with last minute orders that she wasn’t able to check her phone until nearly three o’clock.

“Missed call.” She glanced at her phone, recognizing Tharin’s number. Calling up her voicemail, she listened to the message.

“Hi Flora. Listen, I’m sorry to do this over the phone, but something’s come up. I have to go out of town for a bit on business, and there was no time to come by and tell you in person. I’ll be out of cell range for a while, but I hope to see you in a few days. And if I don’t get to tell you, Happy Valentine’s my sweet Flora. See you soon.”

“
Snapdragons!
” Flora cursed, snapping her phone shut. Wasn’t that just great. After what they shared, she never figured Tharin for the love ’em and leave ’em type. Opening the phone, she dialed Tharin’s number, not surprised when it went straight to voice mail.

“Tharin, it’s Flora. I just wanted to let you know I got your message. Have a safe trip. I’ll um, I’ll see you when you get back. Bye.”
Well, that was poetic
. Flora closed her phone for a second time. No time to dwell on her issues, she glanced up at the bell’s tinkle to see another customer walk in. Duty called.

“Welcome to A Touch of Wild Flora. I’m Flora. How can I help you?”

Chapter 12

Ever since the voice mail, Flora tried to pinpoint the reason for her restlessness, but failed. Sure, Tharin could really be away on business, but she didn’t think so. Something in his voice set her intuition off. Recognizing the writing on the wall for what it was, Flora’s usually high hopes were dashed. Her uncanny ability to look on the bright side resolved to a gnawing feeling of panic and gloom deep in the pit of her stomach. She felt desperation looming, and by the looks of things, it wouldn’t be long until she did something stupid and rash.

Climbing out of bed, she hoped a shower would help wash away the negativity. All it did was feed it, as her gaze once again latched onto Tharin’s mark under her breast, bright and glowing.

Aware more than ever of the day’s date, yeah—Valentine’s—
Whoop, Whoop! Not!
Flora pulled on a pair of her favorite jeans, choosing a long-sleeve, pink-hearted shirt over the black turtleneck she really wanted to wear. Wrapping a yellow scarf around her neck, she stepped into her Wellies. She was not feeling very Valentinesy.

“Morning,” she greeted Fia, walking into the dark kitchen dressed and ready to start the long flower-filled day ahead of her. “Long night?” Flora asked, surprised to see Fia in the same clothes from the day before, nursing a cup of coffee.

Pouring herself a cup and grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl, Flora went to sit beside her friend, her own problems pushed to the back burner. “Hey, you okay? Tell me about it.”

Wiping angrily at an errant tear, the banshee shook her head. “Just the usual.”

“How old?” Flora asked, understanding the sorrow she saw in the banshee’s red-streaked eyes. She usually only got this way when children were involved.

“Six, ten, and their parents. A whole family. Gone. Drunk driver walked away without a physical scratch. Like that.” Fia snapped her fingers together.

“I’m so sorry, Fi.”

“Circle of life and all that.” Fia took a shaky breath.

“That doesn’t make the grief any less bearable.”

Fia changed the subject, wiping away another tear. “No. You’re right. Anyway, you’re up early.”

“I didn’t sleep well.”

“Worried about today? You’re so organized, Runa would be jealous.”

“No, not that. I haven’t heard from Tharin since he left the voicemail yesterday.”

“I’m sure he’s just busy.” Fia consoled her friend. “I can see where a ton of matches might need to be made. I’m sure February fourteenth is a critical time. Give him a day or two. I’m sure he’ll be back in no time.”

“You’re right. I’m just being insecure.”

“Just stay busy and I’m sure time will fly by.” The banshee reached over and patted her arm.

“All right then.” Flora rose from her seat, pressing a kiss to the top of Fia’s hair. “Time to get this show on the road. Love ya. Get some rest.”

“Love you, too. I’ll be there at ten if nothing else comes up. Have a blessed day.”

****

Walking to the counter to dump her coffee dregs in the sink, Fia watched out the window until Flora’s taillights disappeared up the road. Phasing upstairs, she landed on Runa’s bed.

“Sleeping here. I’ve got another hour.”

“Wake up. We’ve got a problem with Flora.”

“What?” The elf rolled over, taking the sleeping blind from her eyes.

“There’s trouble in paradise.”

“Lovers quarrel. They’ll get past it. Everyone can see they’re crazy about each other.”

“He left her a voicemail telling her he was going out of town and hasn’t called since. Don’t you think that’s strange, especially after he’s spent the last two weeks doggin’ her every step. Plus, Flora doesn’t quarrel. You know that.”