Page 28 of Fighting for Her Heart

Standing, she brushes her hands over her dress. “How long to you plan to be gone?”

I grin. “A couple of hours at most.” It was easier to talk her into this than I imagined.

“I will meet you at the end of the lane.” She smiles. “But don’t be too long. I’d love your help to cover the windows.”

Chapter Ten

Ember

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

My eyes open to a wondrous sight: Ryker reaching down for my hand.

“Where are Axe and Zuben?” I touch the mattress, feeling none of Axe’s heat. He was beside me when I fell asleep.

“In the living room,” he says.

“The sun’s already set?”

Ryker grins. “Nope. But Nora and I covered the windows and skylights. Must have used ten thousand staples.” He mimics using a staple gun. “Pew, pew, pew.”

He’s like a little boy describing a fun game. Taking his hand, I let him pull me up, and I purposefully fall against his broad chest, inhaling his scent, different today, baked by the sun.

“How was it?” I trace my finger over the scar that follows the arc of ribs around to his back.

“Hanging curtains with your mom?” he asks. “A laugh riot.”

I slap his chest lightly and look up into his eyes. “No, silly. I mean being out in the sunlight.”

He grins and his eyes twinkle. He knew what I was talking about all along. “Fucking awesome, if I’m honest.”

“Why wouldn’t you be honest?” Grinning, I look around the room for my jeans and t-shirt.

“What are you looking for?”

“Clothes.”

“Why mess with perfection.” He pulls me against him and his expression darkens. “Wanna fuck?”

The suggestion warms me, but resisting temptation, I shake my finger in his direction. “Is that all I’m good for? Feeding and fucking?”

“Of course not, little dove.” He raises his eyebrows. “You’re real easy on the eyes too.”

I take a step back.

His expression changes. “You know I’m kidding, right?’

I nod, but his words poke at a sore spot that Mom planted inside me, one that was already growing while Ryker was gone for so long. Are the men’s feelings real, now we’ve escaped and the immediate danger of Octavia finding us has passed?

“Ember.” Stepping toward me, he cups my face in his hands. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I will be, as soon as you tell me where you hid my clothes.” Night will be here soon, and I long for some fresh air, and to keep testing my new strength and power. Not to mention talking more with my mom and figuring out how magic works.

Ryker crosses to the large dresser and pulls a handled paper bag off its top.

“What’s that?”

“New clothes.” He hands the bag to me with a nod. “Hope there’s something in there you like.”