My words trailed off as I considered how to explain what it did to me.Scarlet and I had always shared everything.I’d kept my lightning from her and still harbored the secret of my control overallthe weathers, but we’d always shared the most humiliating things we’d ever experienced.
I didn’t know how to share this.
“That stone has a lot of power,” she said.“Did it scare you?”
“No.I mean, yes… a little… but that’s not why I left.”
“Thenwhy?”
Movement in the tower drew my attention as Ryker appeared at one of the openings.He rested his hands on the stone while he gazed at the town.
I couldn’t see his eyes, but I sensed the lightning emanating from him and knew they’d be as black as the walls around us.The muscles in his neck stood rigidly out.
“Ellery, what happened?”
I shifted my attention back to Scarlet’s concerned face as she rested her hand on my elbow.I couldn’t lie to her, but I really didn’t know how to explain this.
CHAPTERFIFTY-FIVE
Ellery
“The stone…it made me feel… like, ah… like I needed Ryker,” I managed to get out.
“So what?”Then her furrowed brow cleared, and her mouth parted.“Ohhhh.”She glanced from me to him to the town and back again.“Really?”
I struggled not to turn red at her disbelieving tone.“I know it’s insane and completely inappropriate, considering where we are, but yes.Every time it released that red pulse, it got inside me and dug deeper until I had to get away.”
“Or else you’d get Ryker inside you?”
I gawked at her as she gave me a devilish grin.“Scarlet!”
She waved her hand.“Yeah, I know, I’m hilarious, but do you still want to fuck him in the tower?”
Despite her blunt words and my lingering discomfort from that gem, I couldn’t stop smiling at her.“I feel better away from it, but I still feel its vibrations in my bones.It didn’t make you feel the same way?”
“Thankfully, no.I like those guys, but I’d prefer not to have sex with any of them.Maybe it had that effect on you because you and Ryker already have a sexual connection.The gem’s power might have enhanced that.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
I didn’t know what happened up there, but I was happy I’d put some distance between myself and the stone.I wished Ryker would do the same.
Two more flashes passed before the others descended the stairs and joined us.I felt stable enough to look at Ryker again, but he kept his gaze away from me.
Staring at the town, he stood with his body tensed like he was waging a battle against himself.Since he’d spent more time up there than me, I had no idea how long that battle would last.
“It consistently flashes every minute,” Ianto said.
I was grateful when no one else asked why I’d fled the tower.Maybe Ryker had somehow explained it to them, but I doubted it.
“Do we leave it there?”Scarlet asked.
“Yes,” I said, far too quickly.
Scarlet’s mouth twitched toward a smile.I itched to kick her.
Ryker shuddered at the sound of my voice and closed his eyes.My heart yearned for him, but the worst thing I could do was go to him.If I touched him, I had no doubt I’d end up on the wall with my legs spread and him thrusting between them.
I almost crossed my legs to suppress the ache, but only Ryker would ease that.Not here.Not here.
