Page 43 of Severed Heart (The Ravenhood Legacy #2)
Chapter Twenty-Six
D ELPHINE
“M ON DIEU !” My God , I exclaim as Tyler stalks into my bedroom with a toolbox and stepladder as water pours from my bathroom ceiling. “I’m sorry, Dom is at the library,” I add hastily. “I maybe should have called a plumber—”
“No need to insult me.” He gives me the wink I love. “I’m the problem solver and have been known to be pretty good with my hands,” he emits in a low rumble, waggling his brows.
“Imbecile,” I roll my eyes, unable to help my smile.
“Well, good afternoon to you too , General,” he says, surveying the leak. “Hate to say I told you so—”
“You love telling me so,” I scoff, “and a new roof is very expensive.”
“Nothing a simple call to France couldn’t remedy, but we can argue about that later ,” he says before setting his toolbox on the sink and opening his stepladder, his hair and T-shirt damp from the ongoing storm.
After placing the ladder in the tub, he reaches the top just as the sagging ceiling gives way, instantly soaking him.
Laughter bursts out of both of us as he comically steps right back down, his mirth-filled, warm brown eyes meeting mine.
Dark brown hair drenched, water drips from his long lashes.
At the sight of it, a stirring hits me as my eyes continue to trace the droplets trailing down his jaw and Adam’s apple.
When did it become this pronounced? And his lips ... so full.
I’ve noticed the smaller changes in him in our time together, but they’ve started to add up dramatically in recent months. The beautiful boy who approached me years ago with shadows in his eyes is starting to look more and more like a beautiful man .
“Well, shit,” Tyler says, jerking me from my thoughts while surveying his soaked clothes. Grinning, he shakes off the excess water like a wet dog as I scold him, jumping back.
“Real hand man,” I joke, shaking my head. “I’ll grab you a shirt from Dom’s room.”
“That’s handyman ... don’t scowl at me.
You told me to start correcting you,” he chuckles.
“And I never proclaimed to be a professional ,” he taunts as I turn and hurry across the hall, opening a few of Dom’s drawers before pulling out a black T-shirt.
When I return to the bathroom, I’m stopped short by the sight of a shirtless Tyler, his head now in the gaping hole in my bathroom ceiling.
The view from my vantage point utterly paralyzing.
My eyes sweep him from his boots to the powerful thighs straining against the denim—which hangs threateningly low on his hips.
He’s utterly etched in muscle, with deep lines on either side of his abdomen.
His trim waist creating a small gap at the button of his jeans.
The ridges in his stomach are heavily defined, with pebbled sinew on either side, leading up to a broad chest that looks cut from stone.
So much difference in him.
Should I feel this much guilt to appreciate the beauty of my best friend? Shame provides the answer as quickly as it did when I began asking.
“Definitely a roof leak,” Tyler shouts, jerking me out of my appreciation for his efforts as he calls out to me, thinking I’m out of the room. With that knowledge, I continue to allow myself to feast. Ancient stirrings fuel my thirsty eyes, reminding me of the days I felt such desire.
My thirst only grows as I imagine gaining access to explore his body, tracing every inch of his etched skin with my—
Delphine!
Briefly, I entertain retreating to Dom’s room to scrub my eyes— my mind— of such thoughts of him. Instead, I’m slammed back into the moment as I become aware of a return stare. A very, very intent return stare. And in the eyes peering back at me ...
Molten brown flames roar, blazing a path straight into me. The hellfire of desire inside them consuming and cleansing my insides with overwhelming ferocity as I inhale a sharp breath.
Mon Dieu!
Unsure of my own expression, I stumble forward, holding Dom’s shirt out and shaking it for Tyler to take so I can release myself from our paralyzing connection.
But it’s Tyler’s fire that refuses to free me, the look in them all too familiar—the predatory hunger inside naming me prey.
And I feel it, weakening me as I begin to shake with the force of it, willing myself to speak, to snap his debilitating hold even as my body responds.
Stop this now, Delphine!
“What is the issue?” I ask, my tone betraying my stupor. Stupor and shock that he’s capable of such a look—a look he maintains as he slowly, so slowly takes the offered shirt.
“Will it be expensive to fix?” I ask in a telling squeak. The intensity flowing between us increases substantially as he takes a few heart-rending beats to answer.
“It’s a roof leak,” he emits in a low whisper, exhaling a harsh breath and clearing his eyes before looking back up at the ceiling.
“I can’t really get to it until the storm passes, but I can patch up the roof and ceiling once it dries out.
We’re lucky the leak will be isolated over the tub until I can get to the repair. ”
“Okay, Merci.” I nod at his every word like a fool. “Let me ... get you a clean towel before you put the shirt on,” I offer. “You are soaked. What was I thinking?” I joke to break some of the lingering tension.
“Yes, General,” he drawls, the command in his tone stopping me short from my retreat as his eyes roam from my face to my feet and back up. “What were you thinking?”
I turn and flee to my bed, pulling a towel from a clean laundry pile.
Taking my time to steady my mind and breathe, I make my way back to Tyler, handing the towel over and placing a few others on the floor to soak up some of the water.
As I mop up what I can, I reason with myself that I’m only curious after spending so much time with him.
We’ve talked of everything in recent months but never broached anything about personal relationships.
During those months, I found myself wanting and hoping to change some of his perceptions of me.
But it’s not his perception that has me fixated as I lift my eyes to watch him wipe the water from the expanse of muscle along his torso and stomach—swallowing when his eyes catch and hold my lingering stare. Again.
“So much change I see in you,” I rasp out like an utter fool. Desire clear in my voice as his rich brown eyes flare.
“Likewise,” he rasps back, his timbre smooth and full of insinuation, which covers me in goose bumps. “Changes for the better?” he asks, his own eyes taking liberties he has been careful to avoid before today as I give him the truth.
“ Very good, you have taken your physical training very seriously , Soldier.”
His lips lift slightly in amusement due to the apparent fool I have become in these tense moments. The amusement disappearing just as quickly as Tyler runs his teeth over his bottom lip, and I follow the movement carefully before he replies.
“That I have, General.” I barely manage to conceal the shiver his tone elicits while willing myself to stop staring back. Tyler utters something low, and when I’m certain I hear ‘tap dancing’ as part of his whisper, I tense.
How did this become so difficult? It’s been nothing but easy between us these past months together. Just yesterday, it was easy. Why is there such a difference today? Searching for a way back from this uncomfortable shift in atmosphere between us, a notion comes to me.
“Oh!” I practically shout, startling us both. “I have a graduation present for you!”
He frowns. “I graduated last year, General.”
“No, this is a soldier graduation present. Come.” I pull at his hand, and he follows me to my nightstand.
“Soldier graduation present?” he asks, brows rising in surprise.
“Oui.” Reaching into my drawer, I grab my offering and place it in his palm. Staring down at it, he slowly brushes his thumb down the detailed etching carved into the handle as I explain. “This brought much luck to the soldier who owned it, and I want you to have that luck.”
He widens his eyes in surprise. “This belonged to Matis?” Tyler shakes his head gently, his reluctance evident. “General, I can’t take this.” He lifts the pocketknife in his open palm. “I know how much this means to you.”
“It’s the last thing I have of my papa,” I relay, “but remains wasted in my possession. I want it in the hands of someone who will use it. Of someone worthy, and Tyler, you are so very worthy . Please take it,” I urge, closing his fingers around it.
“Okay, I will,” he whispers as the tension builds again, this time in my chest. “This means a lot to me,” he relays softly, his words heartfelt as he pockets the knife, his eyes holding mine. “I’ll keep it safe.”
I nod. “I know you will.”
Eyes lighting, he flashes me a half smile, making his dimple pop. “So, is this the part where the Jedi disappears into the swamp alone, only to come out later kicking ass?”
“Oui,” I sniff as his smile disappears. “Gah, I’m sorry.” I shake my head in embarrassment. “I’ve been fighting these stupid emotions all week and thought I was capable today, but now I feel like imbecile.”
“What? What emotions, what’s wrong, bab—” He swallows when my eyes widen at his near-whispered term of endearment and rephrases his question. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong ... I’m a little melancholy for this admission, but it’s due.” I press a tear away as his gentle eyes follow every movement carefully. I blow out a breath to try and steady myself as he inches closer.
“What? What is it?” he coaxes gently.