Resting one hand flat on Ryker’s chest, right above his beating heart, she inhaled his stormy scent and brushed her lips over his cheek. It was barely a touch and didn’t count as a kiss, but neither her body nor her heart received that message. His rough stubble tickled her lips, her mouth tingled, and her heart soared.
She murmured, “I’ll miss you.”
His head dipped, and he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip.
The air between them thickened, and his breath warmed her lips. “I?—”
Bang, bang, bang.
“By the Sands,” Ryker cursed, stepping back. He raised his voice. “I’m coming!” His chest heaved as he looked at her. “I’m sorry.”
She flexed her fingers before placing them over her own racing heart. “I’m… I’ll see you when you get back.”
And then, they would fix things. That was the only acceptable option.
Ryker’s gaze searched hers for a long moment before he nodded. He was halfway to the front door when he paused and glanced over his shoulder.
“When you get to the apartment, check the top drawer on the left nightstand in the bedroom.”
“Left nightstand. Got it.” Intrigued, Brynleigh followed Ryker to the front door.
He picked up a black bag from the floor, slinging it over his shoulder. She assumed it was the go-bag he told her he always kept here, just in case.
With one final longing glance, he murmured, “Goodbye, Brynleigh.”
He opened the door and stepped into the dusky twilight that had overtaken the sky. A tall, pale-skinned man dressed in black and silver army fatigues and combat boots stood on the porch. The soldier’s black gaze flicked to Brynleigh’s, and he dipped his head, pulling shadows from his palms.
Ryker clasped the vampire’s elbow, and then, they were gone.
Brynleigh’s lips were still tingling, the lingering memory of the kiss-that-wasn’t-a-kiss remaining as she pressed her fingers to her mouth. If she focused, she could still catch a hint of Ryker’s scent.
She stood there for several minutes before she, too, vanished into the shadows.
CHAPTER 15
As Dark as Her Maker’s Heart
“The Earth Elf died cleanly.” Brynleigh’s back was straight, her stance was wide, and her hands were clasped behind her. She was the perfect image of a dutiful progeny reporting to her Maker. “I dealt with him in The Rosewood, as requested.”
Jelisette sat in front of the chess board in the safe house’s living room, her hands clasped beneath her chin as she studied the game intently. Her silky maroon blouse covered her arms—and her Binding Mark, apparently.
Brynleigh still had trouble believing her Maker had hidden a Binding. She tried not to dwell on that because she feared that if she did, she might start asking questions that would land her in even more trouble.
Instead, she pinched her mouth shut and waited for Jelisette to look up.
She could be here for a while.
Once, Brynleigh’s sire had made her wait all night before acknowledging her. She hoped that wouldn’t be the case tonight. She was tired and wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
Jelisette didn’t even look up as she moved her rook forward.She spun the board around, humming to herself as she studied the game from another angle.
Minutes went by. Ten. Twenty. Forty-five.
Brynleigh was a statue. Moving would only incite her Maker’s ire.
Chess pieces slowly filtered off the board. Black was winning, but several paths to victory existed for both sides.
When nearly an hour had passed, Jelisette picked up a pawn and moved it forward two spaces.