Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Meryl gripped the steering wheel of her car. She really shouldn’t do a slow drive-by of Robyn’s house, but what if, despite the odds, her date had imploded? Robyn might need a pep talk, or some wine, or….
Just admit it, Meryl, you’re dying of curiosity.
And there was nothing wrong with that. What kind of friend would she be if she didn’t at least check? It wasn’t like she was going to stop by…unless both the porch and kitchen lights were on. That was their secret signal that a date was over, and it was time to talk.
Robyn’s house came into view. The porch light was off and the kitchen light on—for the first time in the five years since her bestie had been divorced. Date night was still going, please do not disturb.
Meryl allowed herself a giddy cackle. Ooh, Robbi, you naughty, naughty girl.
A large shadow lurking next to the tall hedge caught her attention. “What in the ever-loving hell?”
That conniving busy-body, Rol met her gaze and…he did not just shake his head at her, did he? Oh, she was so taking the guy down. Right now.
She pulled the car to the curb, got out—closing the car door gently until it clicked so as not to alert Robyn—and marched across the street.
For whatever reason, Rol strode toward her, his long-limbed frame relaxed.
But his maddeningly impressive wings were high and half open, a giveaway that he was expecting, and prepared for, a confrontation.
She arrived under the pool of LED white lamplight at the same time he did. As if they’d entered a boxing ring, ready to go a few rounds. “What are you doing here?”
“Checking on my friend—much the same as you, I suspect.”
Okay, he had her there. “Except you’re probably not as happy about the outcome as I am.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh boy, are you going to be disappointed.” She shouldn’t smirk, but she couldn’t help it.
The corners of his full lips went down. “Explain.”
“Well…” she made a stabbing motion in the direction of the porch with her finger, “…Robyn and I have secret signals on date nights. See how the porch light is turned off and the kitchen light is on? That means we’re pulling an all-nighter.”
“An all-nighter?”
“I think you can figure out what that means.”
He blinked down at her as though trying to work out what she’d told him, then his brow creased on either side of his widow’s peak. And there was the light of comprehension dawning. “Your friend has enticed Kyzel into her bed, then.”
“Wow. Isn’t that just like a man, to blame the woman?”
“You do not want to see the truth of the matter because she is your friend.”
“I wonder how your friend would feel if he knew how little you think of his ability to make his own choices.”
Rol opened his mouth, then abruptly shut it again.
You’ve been schooled, buddy. So why wasn’t the sense of triumph settling well with her?
Rol folded his arms over his chest—just like a guy—and glared down his nose at her. Another guy thing. “I will do what I must to protect my friend.”
“And I’ll do the same for Robyn.” She stepped closer, and even the distant freeway noise seemed to quiet in anticipation of her next words. “And I wasn’t kidding. If you ruin this for her, I’ll find a way to make you pay.”
He didn’t give so much as an inch, dammit.
But as long as he stood his ground, so would she.
No matter that his warm, masculine scent tickled her nose with a hint of allspice.
No matter that the urge to lean into him was battling with her pride.
No matter that the insanity of pressing her lips to his suddenly didn’t seem quite so insane anymore.
But it was insane. All of it. If she didn’t walk away, she’d—
Rol shook his wings, and they settled into place. “Good evening, Ms. Faulkner.”
He spun away and strode down the sidewalk. The stride turned into a jog, then a run, then he pumped his massive wings and leaped into the air. He was airborne, a shadow above the streetlights disappearing into the night, leaving behind a small tornado of dead leaves.
And her.
“Jesus, Meryl.” She pressed her palm to her chest. If she didn’t, her heart might pound its way out. “What the hell was that all about?”
A delicious warmth cocooned Robyn as awareness stole over her, pulling her from the deepest, most sound sleep she’d ever had.
At least, as an adult. A comfortable weight rested across her waist. With each breath she inhaled the scent of nutmeg, and the softest blanket whispered over her bare skin like downy feathers.
“Mmm.” Feathers.
She forced her eyes open. Kyzel was there, lying on his stomach watching her with an expression of utter peace, as if he’d found heaven.
And she couldn’t disagree. It was like heaven waking up to find him still here, with his arm draped over her and his wing covering her body, sheltering her from the outside world until she was ready to face it again.
And she was nowhere near ready for that, not after all the things they’d done together in the dark of night. The taste of his essence on her tongue, the heat of his mouth sucking her clit. All those deliciously sore muscles clenched and her breath hitched. A thousand more times would not be enough.
Kyzel’s peaceful smile widened, and he scooted his lean body toward her. “Good morning, my song.”
“Good morning.” She rolled onto her back as he followed, and she wrapped her legs around his hips.
His hard, full…dick—yes, dick, she could say…or think…that now—slid into her easily this time, and her moan of pleasure mingled with his. She could get used to being constantly turned on for this guy. That whole mates for life thing was sounding better than ever.
She ran her palms over his shoulders and along the arch of his wings. “Soft.”
A shiver passed through him. Then his mouth was on hers, their tongues mating as he increased his tempo. Heat built at the source of their intimate friction, and, dear God, everything inside her tightened as each stroke brought her closer to breaking.
She closed her fingers around the edges of his wings and pushed her hips up, meeting him thrust for thrust until her inner walls clamped down around him, stealing her breath as her release washed over her.
“Yessss.”
He groaned and surged deep, his wings extending fully.
A distant crack barely registered as his body stiffened and he poured himself into her.
Yep, heaven. She inhaled and exhaled, panting as the magic of making love to this man from another world spun around her, bringing her back down for a landing as smooth and gentle as last night’s flights had been.
Kyzel braced his weight on his arms and pressed his cheek to hers. “Do you feel it too?”
Feel it? Her whole body was alive with it, whatever it was. “I don’t want it to end.”
“It does not have to.” He pulled back and looked down at her.
“But you’ll have to go back to Bezchi at some point.”
“Not for a few more weeks.”
“Good.” She smiled up at him. “Then how’d you feel about going away together next weekend? I can rent a cabin in the mountains for us.”
Not the one she and Kevin had sold as part of the divorce settlement, but one higher up, where there were fewer people.
“I would love that.” He brushed her hair back with one hand. “Why not sooner?”
Sooner would be her choice too, if only. “I wish. But I have to work. The good news is that I only work Monday through Thursday, so we can leave Friday morning. Or Thursday night.”
“I understand. I too have commitments to honor back home, and Rol will probably wish to do some sightseeing. I will be ready to go by Thursday night. Also—” He glanced to his right, and a hint of pink glowed on his cheeks.
“—can we get a place with a larger bedroom? I seem to have broken your lamp.”
She turned her head, and sure enough, the bulky seafoam green glass lamp was hanging off the far edge of the nightstand by its cord, the body cracked open like an egg. “That does look bad, doesn’t it?”
“I am sorry.” He sounded so contrite. “If there is a way to fix it—”
“No.” She grinned up at him. “I never liked that lamp. It belonged to my mother-in-law, and I only took it with me because I didn’t want to spend the money on a new one.”
“Then, you are not upset?”
“Nope.” She placed her hands on either side of his face. “You mean more to me than an ugly old lamp, anyway. But I will try to find a place with an extra-large master suite so we don’t accidently break someone else’s stuff.”
The look of relief on his face was almost comical. “I will be more careful in the future.”
“Great. Because we still have the rest of today and tonight.” She raised her head and pressed her lips against his smooth chin in a quick kiss. “Now, have you ever had strawberry waffles before?”