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“Okay, this is just insane. I’m going to run into town and… And get some food. Or a drink. Or something. I need to think.”
Before we have a chance to stop her, she turns away, striding out of the room.
I stand up, a feeling of profound powerlessness drumming through me.
Roman leans forward and softly touches my hand, shaking his head.
“Give her time,” he says. “She’ll be back when she’s ready.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Roman
I sit on the deck as the sun glistens over the world, making it look entirely different from when it was rain-streaked, to when the sky was clashing with thunder. It’s difficult to believe everything was so dark and stormy as I look over the lake, the water shining, the sky blue for miles around.
Rayla walks along the lake’s shore, Tanker padding at her feet, her arms wrapped across her middle. She said she didn’t want to wait in the house with me for Millie to return.
“We both know what will happen if I do.”
I nodded, the force of her words barreling into me like a gunshot. Of course, I knew what would happen.
I’d leap at her, smooth my hands down her body and squeeze onto those luscious hips. I’d claim her like the beast I am, the same way I’ve claimed her since the first time she gave herself to me.
Millie has been gone for almost three hours, the way she often does when we visit, disappearing into Summerdrop to visit the library or sit at the diner and read.
But somehow I doubt she’s spending her time engrossed in a book this time. I imagine her sitting in the park, fists clenched, staring dead-eyed at the passersby as she tries to make sense of what we told her.
Sitting up, I narrow my eyes when I see Rayla stiffen. My thoughts suddenly hone down to this moment, and this moment alone. Protective impulses gripping me.
Something moves in the trees, off to the side.
Tanker starts to bark immediately.
I leap to my feet and race over to the lake, barefoot over the grass and the stones, but not feeling a damn thing even as the stones jab into the soles of my feet.
“Are you okay?” I ask Rayla.
My woman stares into the woods, a picture with the sunlight shining behind her, in a summer dress that would draw the eye no matter where she goes. Tanker stands, head tilted, his back legs trembling as he tries to restrain all his terrier energy.
“I’m fine,” she replies quietly.
For a moment I think something is going to leap at us. I’m ready, every part of me honed down to the possible violence, honed down to the primal need to protect my woman.
But then a deer steps out of the woods followed by a little fawn.
We watch silently for a time until they disappear into the foliage again, and then I turn to Rayla, wrapping my arms around her and squeezing her close.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m more than fine. Did you see them, they just looked so beautiful, ” she says, says in a sweet voice. “I’m not sure what I was expecting to come out of the tree. I thought you were going to kill whatever it was. You looked so freaking animalistic.”
“I felt it,” I growl. “Nobody and nothing messes with my woman. Ever. I’ll protect you always.”
Our lips brush against each other, tingling, the first kiss we’ve shared since we told Millie the truth. All the pent-up pressure inside of me fires through my body, awakening my primal beastly nature.
My manhood stiffens and I snarl through the kiss.
“Wait.” Her voice is breathy as she lays her hand against my chest. “We can’t. Not until Millie says she’s okay with this.”
“And if she isn’t?”
Rayla looks at me but doesn’t have an answer.
And neither do I.
All we can do is hope.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rayla
My heart hammers heavily when Tanker hops down from my lap and stands completely still, the same way he did when he heard Millie’s car earlier in the day. It’s been several hours since she left – about two since that crazy moment at the lake – and I’ve been driving myself crazy with thoughts of where she’s gone, of what she’s going to say.
I leap to my feet and walk over to the window. Roman has already beat me there, standing silhouetted by the deep orange sunlight.
I can’t help but remember the way he looked when he was ready to face off whatever came out of the woods, without a hint of fear in him, without a hint of anything but primal rage and protectiveness.
Now we look out at the front of the cabin together as Millie’s car pulls up outside. She steps out and glances over to the front window. It’s too far away for me to make out her expression, but the thought slams into me that she’s frowning.
