He clenches his jaw. “I have to be careful, Cael. You know I can’t touch people.”
Of course, he hasn’t ever touched her. I should have remembered. The first time we met, we bumped into each other in the lift at the college. I took his hand to help him back up after he’d fallen, and because he was so stunned, he didn’t pull away.
The moment his palm touched mine, a flash of images moved through me. At first, I didn’t understand, then he explained. Aris is a touch telepath, able to sense things through the simple act of touch.
The images I saw when I touched him were of my nightmare. Only a few passed through my thoughts at that moment, but when he explained he had the same recurring dreams as I did, we knew it was more than a coincidence. We just didn’t understand what it was.
We still don’t.
We became friends in our joint search to find answers, but after finding none for the past five years, we sort of gave up, figuring at least we got a friendship out of our shared misery. But now… I look toward Kyra, and Aris does the same.
Perhaps we’ll get some answers.
Chapter 3
Kyra
Cael’s fingers touch mine as he takes my cup. Myriad images flood my mind—most of them from my terrible nightmare that plagues me almost every night.
I pull back my hand as if burned. Drawing in a shaking breath, I meet his teal eyes evenly. “Did you—” I start to ask, but my wristband chirps, startling us both.
I glance down and realize it’s a call from my best friend. “I—I have to get this. It’s my friend, Claire.”
His gaze holds mine a beat before he finally nods and then turns away, heading back behind the counter.
My eyes track his retreating form as I wonder at what just happened between us.
Claire begins talking, but nothing she says is really registering in my mind. My responses are automatic as I do my best to appear normal, despite the fact that I feel anything but normal right now.
After I’m finished talking to Claire, I turn my attention back to the computer, pretending to study the screen. That has never happened before. Swallowing nervously, I lift my gaze back to Cael.
I don’t know if he felt anything like I did, but if so, he didn’t say anything. Then again, I said nothing, either.
I look down at the cat and find her green eyes already staring up at me expectantly. I pick her up and cuddle her to my chest. “Are you ready to leave, angel?”
She purrs loudly, and I take that as a hint. It’s earlier than my usual time to leave, but after what happened, I doubt I’ll get any more words in today. I need to go home, take a nice long bath, and just relax. Maybe I’m just stressed. After all, my last book didn’t do as well as I’d hoped and so I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself to get this new one right.
I gather up my belongings, then carefully place my new companion just inside my bag with her head sticking out, so she can see while we walk back to the apartment.
I wave a quick goodbye to Aris and Cael as I start for the door.
“Kyra!” Cael calls out. “Wait!”
I turn back to face him as he walks toward me.
He holds out a to-go cup and gives me a handsome smile. “I thought you might like one for the road.”
“Thanks. That’s really sweet of you.”
His smile grows even wider. “Let me know what you think of this one tomorrow.”
I’m mesmerized as I stare deep into his gorgeous eyes. Nervously, I tuck a stray tendril of long blond hair behind my ear. “I—I will,” I stumble over my words.
“Great! I’ll see you then.”
He holds the door open for me like a gentleman as me and my new cat leave the café.
When I reach my apartment building, I step onto the lift. I press four and then look down at my new best friend, waiting for the doors to close when someone steps on.
I lift my head to see Davin smiling at me.
“Hey, Kyra.” His gaze drops to my bag. “I see you picked up a new friend.”
“Yeah.” I reach down and stroke the top of her head. “I… sort of found her today at the coffee house.”
“Great find.” He reaches out to pet her and she responds by purring like mad.
“She’s my new writing muse,” I add proudly.
His brows go up in a thoughtful look. “You’re a writer?”
I nod, bracing myself for the inevitable barrage of questions.
“What do you write?”
It occurs to me I could just lie. It’s not like he’d know. Normally, that’s what I do, especially if a guy asks me. After all, a lot of guys don’t respect romance authors, but as my gaze scans Davin, I don’t know why, but I don’t feel like he’d judge me harshly for this. After all, Cael didn’t.
“I write fantasy romance novels.”
He smiles. “I love fantasy.”
A slow grin curves my mouth. I hadn’t expected that kind of reply, but now I know I was right to tell him.
“Do you write under a pen name?”
“No,” I reply. “I write under my real name. Kyra Luna.”
He looks down at his wristband and types into the display. “Kyra. Luna,” he says under his breath. After a moment, he lifts his gaze to me and smiles brightly. “Beneath A Silver Moon,” he says. “I’ll check it out.”
My cheeks heat in embarrassment. That’s one of my steamier novels, and I’m not sure it’s the one I want him to check out first if he’s so determined to read something of mine. I look down at his display and note my other books listed.
“What about starting with that one?” I point to my clean romance novel.
He arches a teasing brow. “But I like the cover on this one better.”
I try but fail to suppress a grin. “Fair enough.”
He smiles. “I’ll let you know what I think after I’ve read it.”
“I… uh… that sounds good,” I reply, my voice rising in pitch on the last word as my nerves get the best of me.
“All right.” He lifts his wrist as if gesturing to the book still on the display. “I’ll read it tonight and… the next time we run into each other, I’ll let you know what I thought. Or we could even discuss it if we go for coffee.”
“Okay,” I smile. “I… look forward to hearing what you think.”
The lift stops at my floor and I step off. As I do, I can’t help but glance back and notice Davin still watching me. He gives me a nervous smile and a small wave as the doors slide shut.
I look down at my cat and arch a brow. “How is it that I met two handsome guys in the same day?”
She blinks up at me but says nothing. I pet her head and start down the hallway. By the time we reach the apartment, all the supplies I ordered for her are already waiting for me. The boxes are stacked neatly at the door, so I pull them inside as we enter. I set the cat down and give her a good scratch behind her left ear.
“This is your new home, angel,” I explain, hoping she will like it. “It’s not much, but don’t worry. I’ll get your food and everything set up so you can be comfy.” She turns to me, sitting back on her hind legs as her green eyes stare up at me expectantly.