She huffed and her features pinched slightly before she spoke. “Yeah. Look, maybe let’s forget what happened here.” When she turned, he snatched her wrist and forced her to face him. He had to fix this.
Yet she stared at him as if he were a stranger. “Baby, I never wanted to hurt you,” he said. “But I sure as hell am not going to make your first time in someone’s bathroom.”
The abrupt knocking at the door stole his chance to say more. “You two done in there? We have a problem out here.”
He exchanged glances with Cyra, but her expression remained flat. He had to make this right, show her his reaction had come from a good place, not as a rejection or from giving up on her. He needed to gain back her trust since, as of right now, he’d shattered it.
Cyra wrenched free from his hold, pulled her top down, then opened the door to face Henry.
His posture curled forward in a defeated stance.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she followed him out of the bathroom and out of sight.
And just like that, Gunn was left standing alone in the bathroom, still tasting Cyra on his lips, and suddenly feeling like shit. He now felt as if someone had just detonated a bomb beneath his breastbone.
Chapter 6
Cyra
Cyra’s mind knotted into a tangled web as she darted toward the living room, following Henry, needing as much distance between her and Gunn. What had she been thinking kissing him? Sure, she’d dreamed about that moment, and god, it was even better than she could have imagined. Her whole body still hummed from his touch, but his reaction to finding out she still had her V-card stung. He saw her as someone to have fun with, so fuck him. Who said she wanted anything more, anyway? Her stomach turned, and hell, she couldn’t even lie to herself.
A sense of coldness snapped around her in the hallway, and the fog in her head from being around Gunn faded. She should have been checking on Henry and Nora the whole time, not kissing Gunn.
Still, his fiery kiss and touch refused to leave her thoughts. “Mesmerising” didn’t come close to describing how he left her feeling, as if she floated through the heavens. But then he’d revealed his true colors. And, of course, it had been her fault. She never should have told him it was her first time. Shit! Who did that in the middle of the most earth-shattering moment? An idiot!
Regardless, Gunn would be the kind of man she’d want to surrender herself to. His protectiveness left her writhing on the sharp cliff of pleasure. Intense and evocative. It was a temporary fairy tale she’d remember for a lifetime. Even with her head clear, she still drooled over him.
She burst into the living room and found Henry alone on the sofa, his head cradled in his hands. “What happened?” She rushed up and sat next to him, their legs brushing. A swirl of guilt gripped her stomach for leaving him and Nora, knowing a monster resided in their home. What had she been thinking, getting carried away with Gunn in the bathroom?
“Nora’s gone.” Henry’s voice crackled as if he were about to burst into tears.
“What do you mean?” Had Nora fallen through the portal? With that single thought, she was on her feet, her muscles tight.
Henry lifted his head and shadows pooled under his red eyes. “I can’t find her anywhere.” His voice was soft and quivering. “What if m…maybe she left me? She’s been threatening to walk out for weeks, angry at everything I say and do.” He shook his head, staring at the lush white rug beneath his slippers.
“I’m sure she hasn’t left. Gunn asked her to pack so you two can leave for the night. She’s probably next door asking if you two can crash there.” That made more sense, as there’d be no reason for Nora to go up into the attic and be caught by the demon. Would there? She caught a glimpse of the base of the stairs, deciding she had to check to be sure.
“No, no.” Henry huffed and drew her attention back to him. “Most of our neighbors are away for the holidays. I just know something bad has happened.”
Cyra reached over and rubbed his back, untrained to deal with relationship issues, but the least she could do was support the man. “I’ll go look for her.”
She turned to leave, but Henry clasped her hand. “I’ve checked every room, even the attic.”
Gunn marched into the room, distracting her from her thoughts. He stood broad-shouldered in the archway, his lips tight, and he wore the expression she’d become accustomed to: distant and screaming ‘stay away’. Well, at least it was the familiar look he wore each time they bumped into each other at Chase’s place. Now they could return to their stance of not talking. So why did the knot in her gut tighten?
“Henry,” Gunn began. “I think it’s best if you and Nora leave the house for the night. It’s a lot more dangerous than I initially thought, but by tomorrow, your house will be clean of spirits.”
Cyra appreciated Gunn toning back his spiel and not mentioning demons. That shit terrified the average person.
“I’m not going anywhere. Not until I know where Nora has gone.”
Cyra’s heart hurt seeing the man in sorrow.
“She’s gone?” Gunn scratched his head, causing his short strands to stand upright.
“I keep telling Henry Nora hasn’t left him. She just went out.”
Henry was hunched over, holding his head again with both hands. “I won’t leave without my wife.” A cry curled in his throat, and the earlier guilt intensified as she couldn’t help but blame herself. She should have stayed with them, should have ushered them out of the house herself, should have stayed away from Gunn.
Cyra laid a hand on Henry’s shoulder. “I’m sure it’ll be all
