When he and Marlowe returned, Brynleigh was in a chair by the window. Her hair hung in blonde waves down her back, and she hugged her legs to herself as she sipped a mug of warm blood.
Ryker unhooked the dog’s leash and walked towards her. Brushing away her hair, he kissed the back of her neck.
“What are you looking at?” he murmured.
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. He’d never get enough of that.
“The sun,” she replied.
“It is beautiful.”
Not too hot, nor too cold. Today was a wonderful fall day.
She sighed contentedly, resting her head against him as he placed his hand on her shoulder. “I missed it so much.”
“Now you can watch it every day.”
They looked out the glass for several minutes in companionable silence before Brynleigh hummed.
“This was the moment I knew I was done for.” She raised a brow and met his gaze. “Did I ever tell you that?”
Ryker shook his head. He would’ve remembered something like that.
She chuckled, trailing a finger down the windowpane.
“I walked in here expecting to hate you. Fuckingdeterminedto hate you. I tried so gods-damned hard, Ryker. I needed you to be evil. To be the one who hurt me. And you… you made it impossible.”
“I was already in love with you,” he admitted, staring at the afternoon sun. “I think I loved you the moment I went to look for you after the rebel attack.”
Even then, he’d been ready to give her everything. His soul had known they were meant to be.
She put down her mug and stood, taking his hand in hers. Her thumb swept over the back of his palm, and she leaned against him.
“You were amazing, Ry. You were kind, considerate, funny, and competitive—nothing like what I expected. And I… I fell for you. When I saw the sun, I knew I was yours. And then later that night when River…” Her voice trailed off, and she winced.
“When she told you about the storm,” he finished softly.
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I knew it was over for me. I couldn’t do it.”
Ryker wrapped his arms around Brynleigh and held her close. What would’ve happened if River hadn’t told her the truth about the Incident?
He didn’t even want to think about it.
But it was over now. They were together, and their life was shaping up to be something beautiful.
Clearing his mind of the past, Ryker focused on the stunning woman in his arms. Together, they studied the city. Even Marlowe was quiet, his soft snores rising from his favorite spot on the couch.
Several minutes passed before Ryker remembered the envelope he’d gotten yesterday.
“Hold on.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back, grabbing the letter from where he’d left it and returning to her side. “This came for us.”
She ran her fingers over the front.
“Mr. and Mrs. Waterborn,” she murmured, lifting her gaze to his. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me too.” He kissed her because he couldn’t seem to help himself. “Want to open it?”
The smile Brynleigh shot in his direction could have warmed even the darkest souls.