Page 157 of Knight’s Retribution

Rocco’s heart expanded in his chest when Kyler’s gaze darted to him and held for several long, beautiful seconds.

She glanced back at Scarlet. “So can I drink something to wash away the taste of demon entrails?”

“Best not to risk it,” Scar said.

“Awesome.” Kyler drew in a deep breath. “How long will this take to work?”

“I’m not sure. Not long, I don’t think.”

Kyler glanced at Rocco again, then closed the space between them. And then, fuck, she curled her fingers around his. He didn’t squeeze hers back, the last thing he wanted was to spook her. She had to be the one to instigate any touching, and the one in complete control until she told him otherwise.

T curled Scarlet into his side. “Let’s hit the sheets. We don’t know when Ky will transition. We should sleep while we can.”

Because as soon as it happened, they had to move, they had to get the fuck out of there. It was only a matter of time before Diemos remembered this place. No, he couldn’t get in here, at least they hoped not, but the fucker could definitely make it impossible for them to escape.

“Yeah,” Roc said, though the way T was looking at his mate, the desperate need in his eyes, there wouldn’t be a lot of sleeping going on.

They walked away, and Rocco looked down at Ky. “Think you can sleep?”

She shook her head. “I’m too nervous. Can we just lie down for a while?”

Her hand was warm and small and so soft in his, and he let her lead him to the bedroom. He’d never thought much about hand holding. But when it was Ky who was holding his hand, he fucking loved it. As she walked ahead of him, her fingers curled around his tighter, and he soaked it up.

They reached the bed, and she released his hand long enough to strip off her clothes while he did the same. But as soon as they were between the sheets, she reached out and took his hand again, and he sighed in contentment even as a riot of emotions spun and wound tight inside him.

“You really are okay with just this,” she whispered, squeezing his fingers and turning on her pillow to look at him.

“I just want to be the one lying next to you, Ky, that’s all,” he rasped, meaning it with everything in him.

“What if something goes wrong tomorrow? What if I don’t get my power or if Diemos catches us—”

“That’s not going to happen,” he growled out, trying to reassure both of them.

She let go of his hand and rolled to her side so she was facing him, resting her head in her palm. Then she took his hand again with the other. “You don’t know that.”

“I’ll die to protect you. If for some reason something goes wrong, you just have to get back here and you’ll be safe. We’ll hide the key just outside the door somewhere. No matter what, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

Her thumb brushed his wrist and goose bumps lifted all over his body. She used to do that a lot, right before she…her hand slid up his forearm.

Yeah, that. She had a thing for his forearms. His girl had told him that herself.

“Tobias and Scarlet know as well, don’t they? How dangerous getting out of here’s going to be. That’s why they wanted to be alone?”

“Yeah.”

She scooted a little closer. “I want to touch you,” she whispered.

Rocco stilled and searched her gaze. “You don’t have to do that, Ky. I don’t need anything but you here beside me.”

“I want to.” She shook her head, her dark hair shifting. “I can’t…I still can’t…”

“You don’t have to say it, baby. You don’t need to explain, and you sure as fuck don’t have to apologize.” Christ, she was killing him.

“I still want you, Rocco. I…god, I crave you, but then I think about…”

“Ky.” His voice guttural.

Her hand slid over his forearm again. “I keep thinking about us together, how beautiful you look when you…” She swallowed audibly. “While you’re moving inside me. And the way you look at me. You’d get this…this look on your face, while you stared into my eyes…when you came. So beautiful, Roc.”