Page 74 of Loving Amari

She giggles. “Well, except Tofi.”

We laugh in unison, and it feels so good to laugh with her again. To share joy instead of just pain.

The soldiers gasp when they see me carrying Carla into the castle. They bow their heads respectfully, and I see some of them smiling. Word will spread through Wintermoon by morning.

I set her down on her feet in the foyer and she looks around, taking it all in. Her eyes roam over everything like she’s seeing it for the first time.

“Can I cook for you? Wash your feet?” I move closer, unable to keep distance between us.

She rolls her eyes. “You aren’t doing any of that.”

“Then what am I good for?” I move closer still, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her into a loving kiss. Soft at first, then deeper.

“So much. More than you’ll ever understand, Amari.”

I start to kiss her again, groaning when Bobby steps out of his office. He flashes to the foyer with his vampire speed, picking Carla up and giving her the biggest hug. He spins her around.

“I’m so happy you’re home.”

He sets her down on her feet. She gives him the Black Panther fist. “Right on, brother.”

Bobby cries but does the same, his fist meeting hers. “Right on, sister.”

I get frustrated. “All of Wintermoon will be happy she’s home, but I just got her back.” I roughly grab her arm, possessive. “She’s mine just for a little while.”

Bobby grins, understanding. “I’m going back to work. Brookstone and Blackburn have been oddly quiet lately and it’s kind of scary.”

Carla giggles at that when she looks at me. We share a knowing look. She’s been terrorizing Alexis.

“I’m cooking a pot roast. Family dinner later?” Bobby asks.

“I would love that,” she tells him.

I scoop her back into my arms and carry her up the stairs to our bedroom, taking them two at a time.

“You know I could just teleport us.”

“What’s the fun in that?”

I carry her into our room and she looks around, closing her eyes with a smile. “It smells like you. Like home.”

“When’s the last time you had a shower?” I ask.

She looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Are you saying I stink?”

“No,” I say nervously, setting her down on her feet. “You smell lovely.”

She fans me off. “I’m just messing with you. I don’t shower in limbo. There’s nothing there unless I make it so. I just kind of sit around, make sure order is restored in there and Verto is my executioner.” She pauses. “I’m changing the rules a bit in limbo. Before it was more chaotic and my children just fed at will. Now, I’m giving the souls a chance to roam. Seems to keep things more peaceful there.”

“I knew you’d find a way.”

I get closer to her. “You smell incredible.”

She grins at me and I pull her in for another kiss, deeper this time. My fangs ache with need.

“But take a shower with me. I want to worship your skin.”

“Amari...”