Her hand remained in the space between them. Her fingers twitched, the movement capturing his attention. Those hands had just killed a man.
Rationally, he should’ve been repulsed by that. He should’vebeen horrified that she’d murdered someone while wearing his wedding band.
But he wasn’t.
He was drawn to her like she was the moon, and he was a star lucky enough to shine in her presence. He couldn’t pull his gaze from her, even if he tried.
So, he didn’t try.
Ryker’s heart thundered, and every part of him wanted to get closer to Brynleigh. To talk to her, kiss her, forgive her.
He needed her.
Exhaling, Ryker murmured, “There’s blood.”
“What?”
He reached out and captured Brynleigh’s fingers. They were so soft, so much smaller than his. So right.
By the Obsidian Sands, how he’d missed this. Her. Them. Touching.
He could barely think, barely breathe. His entire world revolved around the sensation of her hand in his.
Gently, he tugged her closer.
Thank all the gods, she didn’t pull away. He wasn’t sure what he would’ve done if that had happened.
A groan rumbled through Ryker’s chest, and his entire body warmed at their nearness.
Fuck, he’d missed this more than he could ever put into words. They hadn’t had nearly enough time together. Before he could think too hard and convince himself this was a bad idea for numerous reasons, he brushed his thumb over the back of her knuckles.
Brynleigh breathed his name, and gods help him, those two syllables had never sounded so right.
Ryker was in this now, for better or for worse.
Holding her gaze, he inhaled deeply. Her unique scent of a crisp evening and night-blooming roses flooded him.
The touch wasn’t enough.
He needed more.He needed all of her.
His feet carried him closer. He couldn’t help it.
As bees were drawn to flowers and rivers were drawn to oceans, he was drawn to Brynleigh. She might destroy him, might ruin him, but at that moment when they were finally touching again, and neither of them was pulling away, he didn’t fucking care.
Maybe being ruined wouldn’t be so bad if she was by his side.
“See?” Ryker’s thumb stilled on the back of Brynleigh’s hand, pointing to the red streaking across her pale flesh. “Blood.”
She sucked in a breath, and he dragged his eyes up to her mouth. Those lips that he’d dreamed about parted, and he glimpsed her fangs nestled in her gums.
“Oh,” Brynleigh breathed, the sound drawing him straight back to their wedding night. “That… happens.”
It did seem like a rather normal side-effect of killing someone.
Stillness overtook them both. Each moment, each breath, was longer than the last.
He noticed everything and nothing at once.