Her fangs ached as she admired him. Every inch of him was delectable.
Ryker’s lips twitched. His eyes were still closed as he drawled, “See something you like, little vampire?”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she refused to be embarrassed about admiring him. He was hers as much as she was his.
“I do.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Good morning.”
He rolled them over, pressing her back into the mattress as his eyes blinked open. “Morning, sweetheart. How’d you sleep?”
“Fine.”
He studied her. “How many nightmares?”
He knew. He always knew.
“Only one.”
They were getting better. Slowly. One day, she hoped to have none at all.
Ryker kissed the corner of her mouth.
“Good, I’m glad.” His hand trailed over her hip. “Are you ready for today?”
She bit her lip. “This is the last one, right?”
He nodded.
“Then yes, I’m ready.”
Two and a half weeks ago, Chancellor Rose convened an emergency meeting of the entire governing body of the Republic of Balance. Since then, Brynleigh and Ryker had been forced to attend three meetings. They each testified on record about the events leading up to the Reunion and provided their accounts of the night itself.
“You’ll be amazing.” Ryker lifted Brynleigh’s left wrist and kissed the spot where the blue bracelet had been. “I have a surprise for you after.”
She smiled and studied him, searching for a clue. “What is it?”
“You’ll have to be patient.” He booped her nose. “That’s the point of a surprise.”
Of course, she knew what surprises were, but it wasn’t like Ryker to keep things from her.
“You really won’t tell me?”
“No. There’s nothing you can do to make me spill. It’s a secret.”
Brynleigh highly doubted that there wasnothingshe could do.She could think of several things that would make even the most battle-hardened fae talk. But she would be patient.
Honestly, she was just ready for all this to be over.
She wanted to live a quiet life with her captain, away from the spotlight of the Choosing and everything that had happened to them since then.
Brynleigh said as much to Ryker, and he smiled.
“A quiet life? Is that all you want?”
She waggled her brows. “Well, it’s not the only thing I want.”
“Oh? I endeavor to please your every whim.” He kissed her slowly as if they had all the time in the world. “What else do you want? Tell me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
He looked at her with so much love and devotion that, for a moment, she thought her heart would combust. She’d never known it was possible to be so loved and cared for. And yet, here they were. They’d picked up the pieces of their relationship and emerged stronger than ever on the other side.