His voice cracked on the last word. He couldn’t even imagine the heartache that would’ve haunted him if that had happened.
“It was for a good cause,” she murmured, pressing a feather-light kiss against his lips. “Us.”
How could such a small word sound so good?
“Say it again,” he breathed, his heart pounding in his chest.
The corner of her mouth tugged up. “Us.”
Despite the situation, despite her recklessness, despite everything else, warmth ran through him.
“I like hearing that almost as much as I like you.”
Brynleigh chuckled. “You like me, Captain? Is that all you feel for me?”
Her tone was teasing, but desperation and need were buried beneath her words.
“No.”
He stepped away from her and took her hand. Lacing their fingers together, he led her to the window. Stars peeked through the clouds, and the moon was a half-crescent hanging in the sky.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured.
He hummed in approval. “It is, but you are far more beautiful than any night sky.”
His vampire inhaled, but he didn’t give her the chance to speak.
“Like the moon that rises every night and the stars that follow its lead, I am drawn to you.” Even when they had been at their most broken, he’d been drawn to her. “You are mine in every way. My wife. My vampire.”
“Ryker—”
He turned to look at her. “Sometimes, I think you could be my ruination.”
Her hand twitched in his, but he wasn’t done.
“If you’re going to ruin me, do it by my side. Remain with me. Let us work this out, and whatever happens, happens.” He traced her wedding ring. “There’s no one I’d rather be ruined by than you.”
For the longest moment, she was a statue, and then her lips tilted up.
Gods above, had there ever been as beautiful of a sight as his wife’s perfect smile?
“You have a way with words, Ry.” She squeezed his hand. “Has anyone ever told you that?”
“A few,” he admitted, his gaze searching hers.
She stepped towards him and lifted her chin.
“I’m drawn to you, too, and I promise I’m not goinganywhere,” she murmured. “I don’t think you could get rid of me now, even if you tried.”
“I don’t plan on it.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Marlowe snorted in his sleep, the sound breaking them out of whatever spell had been cast over them.
Ryker kissed the top of Brynleigh’s head. “So, this meeting…”
She stiffened. “Yeah, we should probably talk about that.” Pulling out of his grasp, she headed to the kitchen and spoke over her shoulder. “Let me grab you a beer. I think you’ll need it when you hear what happened tonight.”
That did not bode well.