They wanted her to stay in the States, suggested a new album and setting up a tour. Cassie said she’d consider it. Initially excited about signing with a new manager who agreed to let her have a huge say in how her career ran in the future, now flatness filled her.
She missed Hone.
So much. An empty space throbbed inside her and not even a pasta meal and a chocolate dessert from one of her favorite restaurants sealed the gap.
She thought about him in the morning when she was first awake. She turned to him a million times during the day to tell him something. But the nights…the nights were the worst. She ached to feel his arms wrapped around her, ached to feel his kiss. She plain ached, so she didn’t sleep. Not even makeup managed to hide the shadows on her face.
Tonight was no different.
She tossed and turned and finally gave up. With a glass of wine in hand, she wandered to her hotel balcony and stepped outside into the cool evening air.
She’d changed.
Cassie returned to the bedroom. She’d arrange a meeting with Henry tomorrow and would tell him her problem. Hopefully, if he didn’t tear up her newly signed contract, he might have a solution.
The next day, Henry’s secretary fitted her into a five-minute gap between appointments.
On the threshold, she hesitated, her chest heavy with dread. This could go so badly wrong. She twisted her hands together and stepped inside.
The grizzled man in a navy-blue suit looked up from his paperwork, cocked his head. “Something wrong, Cassie?”
“Henry, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. So much. But I can’t stay here in Los Angeles. I feel smothered and I-I miss my friends. All night, I lay awake worrying about it. Singing and working with you is my dream, but I n-need to go home to New Zealand.” Her voice trembled, and she bit her lip, terrified that she might give in to the tears burning in her eyes. “Please.”
“You still have several songs to write to fill your album. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“Go home to New Zealand. Write your songs and send my secretary a weekly report. Send videos of you singing so I have an idea of how you’re going and can advise you. With modern technology, there is no reason why you can’t work from New Zealand and commute back and forth as necessary. You might need to spend one or two months at a time back here while we’re recording in the studio. Depending on the type of promotion we decide to go for, you might have to tour, but I can’t have you unhappy here in Los Angeles. For now, base yourself in New Zealand, and we’ll try to make it work. Okay?”
“Y-yes.” She gaped at him as she replayed his words. It was that easy? “Yes! Thank you. Thank you.”
“Cassie, I’m not an ogre. If there is a problem, you need to let me know so we can fix it. We’re a team, and we need to work together.”
Cassie peered at him for a frozen second. Did he mean that literally or figuratively? Because if dragons were real, maybe ogres…
“Cassie?”
She jolted back to her business head, tucking away thoughts of the supernatural. “Thank you, Henry. I won’t hesitate next time. The contract is so new, and Kevin—”
“I’ve heard about the way your ex-manager operates.” Distaste coated his words. “Go home to your friends. You’ll do better work if you’re relaxed and happy.”
Forty-eight hours later, she was on a plane. She landed at Auckland International airport at six in the morning and after formalities, took a cab to Hone’s house in Papakura. Hopefully, he was there. If not, she’d hunt him down.
At seven thirty she pounded on the door, her heart thumping in concert. What if Hone had moved on? What if he’d found someone else?
She swallowed as she heard footsteps and the door flew open. Manu.
“Um, is Hone here?”
“In his bedroom.” Manu blinked at her with tired, bloodshot eyes. He’d lost weight since she’d seen him last.
“I-is he alone?”
Manu snorted and stood aside. “He’s in his bedroom.”
Apprehension bounced through the pit of her stomach, nerves transmitting to her hands and fingers. She wiped her clammy palms down her wrinkled dress. Maybe she should have taken the time to shower and change.
Her footsteps slowed. What if he didn’t want her?
She sucked in another breath and pushed open the door while bracing for the worst. The room was stuffy and dark and smelled of alcohol.
“Hone?” She fumbled for the light, relieved—so relieved—when she found only Hone in the bed.
He rubbed his face and blinked at her. “Cassie? Am I imagining things?”
“I-I missed y-you.” She swallowed the hard lump in her throat that was making her stutter. “I can’t sleep.”
“Oh, god, Cassie. Is that really you?” He bounded off the bed, and heedless of his naked state, wrapped her in his arms.
Tears pricked at her eyes as she sank against his hard chest. Hone drew back and kissed her, and she felt as if she’d come home.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Hone kissed her nose, her chin and nuzzled her neck. “I missed you so much. How long are you here?”
“My new manager says I can base myself here for most of the year. I’ll have to travel a bit, but I shouldn’t be away for longer than a month, maybe two, at a time.”
A slow grin flourished on Hone’s face, highlighting his haggard appearance. But his irises glowed that reddish-brown, and she understood she was seeing his taniwha. “I love you, Cassie. I’ve been so miserable without you.”
“Hone, I love you too.”
He kissed her and drew her to the bed. Her clothes faded away, and she sighed as their naked bodies moved together in perfect synchronicity. His hands shaped her breasts, plucked her nipples even as she stroked his chest.
He left her to get a condom, then they slid together again. He pushed into her, stretching and filling the empty spaces inside. They held each other, shattering into climax and lingering in the aftermath.
“Cassie, will you marry me? I love you. My taniwha has already claimed you. We both want you more than anything.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I love you—both of you. Oh, Hone. Yes.”
Their next kiss contained passion and acceptance, commitment and joy.
Best kiss ever.
Best day ever.
Forever.