Moondust by J.L. Weil Read Free Book Online Page B

us.
    His fingers slipped under my tank top, then splayed across my bare stomach. My pulse hammered, and my veins filled with magic. Gavin growled as I scraped his bottom lip with my teeth, sliding my tongue over the silver hoop on his lip.
    I was going to lose a lot more than sleep, my shirt, and my sanity if we kept attacking each other, yet I couldn’t seem to make myself stop. It was a good thing Gavin had control over his hormones, because I was pretty much useless against mine.
    “I have to stop kis sing you now, or I won’t be able to later,” he murmured.
    I was having a hard time seeing through the lustful haze Gavin had induced, but I groaned because he was right. As much as I really wanted kick this up to the next mind-blowing level, tonight wasn’t the night. I wanted to be fully aware of every moment, every touch, and every sensation. I wanted to treasure the memory. “I know,” I conceded, but it was hard to get my body to agree.
    His e yes darkened to a color deeper than indigo. Voice thick, he said the words that made my heart jump into my throat. “I love you, Bri.”
    I nestled my head on his shoulder, laying my hand over his heart. “I love you more,” I mumbled sleepily.
    W hen I was in his arms, it was easy to convince myself that I was hopelessly in love with Gavin. Everything about our being together made sense and felt right—a perfect match.

 
     
    Chapter 7
     
    Valentine’s Day—barf.
    I despise mushy holidays like this one. It was overrated and another excuse to spend money on crap I didn’t need. But for Mystic Floral, it was a jackpot—the busiest freaking day of the year. And I got to work an eight-hour shift. Go me. Good thing I didn’t have any hot plans with my boyfriend.
    My cheeks flushed as I leaned on the glass counter, daydreaming about the things he had done with his hands last night. I think I spaced out because the next thing I knew, Aunt Clara was eyeing me over a banquet of long-stemmed roses, clearing her throat.
    “Sorry?” I posed as a question, just in case I was in trouble.
    She set the red buds aside, pulling out a pencil from behind her ear. “Bored?”
    I shrugged. “Not really, just e njoying the quiet before the storm of chaos strikes.”
    “ Hmm. That reminds me. Only seven days to go. We need to take a quick inventory and make sure that we are fully stocked for next week.” The end of her pencil tapped on the counter.
    I groaned. “Valentine’s sucks.”
    She smiled softly at me. “Well , babe, the rest of the world adores love. And so do their wallets.”
    I tucked my hair back. “Do you ever get sick of flowers?”
    Running a finger along the sheen petals delicately, she got a wistful look. I guess I got my answer. “Honestly, I don’t. The running the business part, sure; it can be overwhelming at times. But the moment I shut myself in the back room and it’s just me and the sweet smell of freesia, tulips, and daffodils, I forget about everything else. It calms me,” she said.
    “I need something like that in my life,” I mumbled.
    “We all do. Don’t worry. I have every confidence that you will find what makes you happy.”
    Maybe I already had. Using magic—the ocean—they gave me a tranquility I’d never felt. I must have gotten a goofy look on my face.
    Aunt Clara laughed. “And I am not talking about a boy. No matter how magnificent his butt looks in jeans.”
    I made a face. “Are we talking about you or me now?”
    “Umm. I’ m ninety percent sure we were talking about you,” she said.
    Narrowing my eyes, I looked at her, really looked at her. S omething was different. “Did you get your hair cut?”
    “Maybe, ” she replied, a hand smoothing down her long hair.
    It also looked extra caramel-y. “And highlights? Geez, what’s the special occasion?”
    She gave me a dry look even as her eyes shined.
    “ Oh. Is Chad taking you out for V-day?” I drew air-hearts when I said his name.
    Aunt Clara giggled. She