Page 93 of A Tempest of Shadows

His eyes twinkled when he smiled at me. “You’re sexy when you talk fratricide and treason.”

I couldn’t help laughing as I rested my forehead against his. The stubble lining his jaw prickled against my palm, but I liked the sensation.

“You said King Leonidas was like a father figure to you; was your father not around while you were growing up?” I asked.

A muscle in the corner of his jaw twitched. I frowned at him, but before I could understand what made him so angry, he kissed me.

At first, I resisted the desire he so easily provoked. I was curious to know what happened and why he didn’t want to talk about it, but if he was willing to tell me about Doomed Valley while trying to distract me from this, then it was something he wouldn’t talk about.

I decided against pushing him further on the issue and started to melt into him when my stomach rumbled… loudly. Ryker chuckled as he broke the kiss and leaned back to rest his head on the backboard.

“I think it’s time for a break and to eat. It’s been a while,” he said.

“I’ll go make us something.”

“No, stay. I’ll do it.”

“We don’t have anyone working in the kitchen anymore.”

“I spent a year fighting ghouls and another year in Doomed Valley; I can make us something to eat. You should stay and relax, because once we finish eating, I have plans for you.”

I shivered in anticipation as he shifted his hold, swung his leg off mine, and slid out from behind me. I hated the sense of loss that accompanied his departure as cool air rushed in to replace where he’d been.

Pulling the sheets closer, I settled back on the pillows as he strode toward the door with no intention of getting dressed. “We do still have others around here,” I told him. “Scarlet and her family come and go as they please.”

He smiled at me over his shoulder. “Are you suggesting I get dressed?”

I’d prefer for that not to happen as I liked admiring his muscular back, thighs, and fantastic ass, but… “It would probably be for the best, unless you plan on scaring them out the door.”

He returned to tug on his pants. “I had planned to spend the next few days completely naked, but if you insist.”

The next few days. My heart melted at this revelation. We hadn’t talked about how long he would stay; we’d both just been enjoying our time together.

My mother might return while he was here, but that was a concern for later. Until then, I was happy to accommodate him for a few more days… or more.

Don’t get ahead of yourself—this can never last.

Why don’t you shut up and just enjoy this?

I liked the second half of that conversation with myself better and decided to listen to what it had to say. Ryker waved at me before slipping out the door.

When he was gone, I tugged my blanket up from the bottom of the bed and pulled it around me. I rolled onto my side to watch as the sun sank lower; storm clouds hovered on the horizon, but I didn’t smell rain in the air.

He soon returned with a platter laden with cheese, fruits, slices of salted meat, and bread. My stomach rumbled as he set the platter on my nightstand, and I scooted closer.

He held up a bottle of honey. “I brought this for dessert.”

“You plan on drinking honey straight out of the bottle?”

“No. I plan on licking it straight off you.”

My eyes widened at this revelation, and for a second, I forgot my hunger as his words reawakened my lust. I was going to eat fast.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

Ryker

I rested my hands on either side of the windowsill as I gazed over the land. The lightning lancing across the sky splintered in dozens of different directions, illuminating the night.