“I think it best that Sam is… without distraction.”
“Great,” I said. “Please, continue talking about me as if I’m not even here. That’s a good way to go about this. Also, the fact that you’re all trying to make decisions about me like I can’t make them on my own is really endearing all of you to me. Just in case you were wondering.”
Ryan flinched at that. “I’m worried.”
“About?” I asked coolly.
“You.” He took a step toward me. I thought about being an asshole and taking an answering step back, but I couldn’t do that to him. Not when he looked as earnest as he did. And everyone knew that when faced with the Ryan Foxheart Earnest Face (capitalized, so you know it must be true), you stood no chance whatsoever. “This has been a lot for you.”
“I’m handling it fine, thank you very much.”
His lips twitched at that, and then he was standing in front of me, hands on my arms, thumbs brushing along my skin. “I know you are. But this would be a lot for anyone, Sam. With everything that’s gone on, Vadoma and the destiny—”
“I still really hate that word,” I mumbled.
“—and Myrin, it’s a wonder you’re still standing at all.”
“You are.”
He shook his head. “But this isn’t about me. Not directly. And if Randall thinks he can help you, don’t you think you should listen?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What’s your angle on this, Foxheart? Why are you so quick to send me away?”
He frowned. “I’m not trying to send you away.”
“You’re certainly not not trying to send me away.”
“What? What does that even mean—no. I’m not going to let you talk your way out of this, Sam. You do that all the time. If this is what it takes to keep you safe, then you can bet that I’ll agree to it. You’re my priority. Always.”
“I’m not a child.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“Stop trying to flirt with me when I’m pissed at you!”
“I’m not trying to flirt with you.” Then, “Is it working?”
“You dick.”
“You love me.”
“I don’t know why.”
“Lies,” he said, and I wanted to kiss his whole face. “This might be good, Sam.” I didn’t want to kiss his whole face after that.
“For who?”
He squeezed my arms. “For you. If Randall thinks it’ll help, then you should let him. You didn’t—” He took a deep breath and let it out slow. He chuckled to himself, but it was a rough sound. “You didn’t see yourself. When we found you in Mashallaha after Myrin. I….” He shook his head. “I thought you were… gone.” He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against mine. “I can’t go through that again,” he whispered. “If Randall thinks he can help, then you have to let him. If you can’t do it for yourself, then please. Do it for me.”
“That’s not fair,” I said hoarsely.
“I know. But there it is.”
“You’re not trying to send me away so you can get back with Justin, are you?” I asked, laughing even though nothing about it was funny.
Ryan snorted against my face, which was gross, but I loved him, so I let it go. “Oh no. You’ve found me out. Whatever shall I do?”
“Hey,” I said. “You should probably not joke and instead reassure me a little here.”
“I’m not trying to send you away so I can get back with Justin,” Ryan said. “You want to know why?”
“Why?” I asked, even though I knew what he was going to say. I just needed to hear it aloud again.
“Because it’s always been you, Sam. I promise. I promise. I promise, because when I look upon these stars, there is nothing I wish for more than you.”
Myrin had threatened my friends. My family. Ryan. And if Randall was right, Myrin now wanted to fucking eat my magic and make it his own. But even with all of that, even with the weight of everything resting upon my shoulders, I didn’t regret anything that had led me to this moment. To this man standing in front of me. Stone crumbles, but what he and I had was stronger than even that. And no one, not the Darks, not Myrin, no one would take that away from us. I didn’t care about destinies or visions or what the star dragon or the gypsy phuro or the people of Verania thought about me.
Nothing would take him from me.
Not magic.
Not our enemies.
Not the ravages of time.
Nothing.
Chapter 7: Don’t Read This at Work or Church (Because of Butt Sex)
“EVERYTHING OKAY?” Ryan asked as I closed the bedroom door behind me and leaned against it.
“Yeah,” I said. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Succinct as usual.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of my deal, in case you hadn’t figured that out yet.”
He was lying on the bed, propped up against the headboard. He wore a soft pair of sleep pants that the servants had left out for us at Mama’s direction. They were slung low on his hips, stretching tightly against his thick thighs. His feet, strangely enough, looked delicate in the flickering candlelight.
He wasn’t wearing anything else, much to my delight. The hard planes of his stomach were covered in a light-colored hair that spread up to his considerable chest. In one hand, he held a book, the edge of which rested against his sternum. His other arm was propped behind his head, bicep bulging, the hair in his pit causing my mouth to go dry.
He was posing, the bastard, and he knew what it was doing to me. My eyes might have bulged a little as he unfairly flexed his biceps. He arched his hips subtly, but enough for me to notice. It was a practiced move, one he did when he wanted me to take control.
And I wanted to. I wanted to fucking devour him. To press his face down into the mattress, his ass on display in the air, as he let me do whatever I wanted to him. He was trying to manipulate me a little bit.
And normally it would work.
But this was going to be different. We wouldn’t see each other for weeks after tonight. I needed this to be more.
So instead of pouncing on him like he so clearly wanted, I pressed my back against the closed door, propping myself up and making it clear I wasn’t going to come any closer. At least for the moment.
I didn’t miss the quick frown, but it was gone before it could settle. He knew what I was doing. Which meant we were both playing now.
First things first, though. “I talked to my parents. And the King. Morgan gave them a summoning stone before he left. I think he just hands those out freely now. The jerk.”
“Yeah?” he said. He set the book on the nightstand next to the desk, which was most likely filled with a variety of oils and toys that could be inserted in the most pleasant of places. He brought his other arm up behind his head too, clasping his hands.
That cheating bastard. He knew exactly what he was doing. Oh, he was going to get such a fucking.
“Yeah,” I said, keeping my voice even, like I wasn’t affected by the obvious display in front of me. “They send their love.”
His sharp smile softened a little. “They okay?”
“As best they can be. The King says you can’t stab Dimitri.”
His brow furrowed. “Why would I be stabbing Dimitri? Besides the obvious.”
“We might need him to find the Great White.”
“Ah. Right. Well, then. No promises.”