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He patted my back. “I know.”
I wokeup on a soft bed with an IV pulsing in my arm. It hurt, but I didn’t have the wherewithal to even complain. I lifted my head. Where was I?
“Hey, Addalee.” Ryker ran over to me, his familiar face easing my initial panic upon waking somewhere unfamiliar. “Easy. You’re up. Hello. You should keep resting. Cruise really dosed you.”
I swallowed. “How? With what?”
“They have a whole organization. It’s a long story. They’re going to let me participate. It finally feels like I can do something to help you. When you’re better, we can help others. I’m glad to be here.”
I rubbed at my eyes and then gave up, reclining back against my pillow. My demon slept, silent for once. Even if I felt tooloopy to sit up, it was remarkably nice to be without her, if even just for a moment.
I loved looking at Ryker, always had, but even more so without her discoloring the view. I loved how he looked like a skater boy, even though he wasn’t one, with heavy locks of his blond hair hanging recklessly into his eyes. My lips curled, and I really just stared at him, taking in all that was so familiar and yet so wonderfully him.
“You’re really beautiful, Ryker.”
He took my hand in his and squeezed. “That’s what I’m supposed to say to you.”
“I think we both know I am not beautiful right now.” I brought his hand to my mouth and kissed it, his skin warm against my lips. I’d never kissed him before on the lips, and he audibly gasped. But for just a moment, we simply stared at one another. “Why did you go to her?” I asked.
He blinked. “I could give you a lot of excuses. I think I was scared you didn’t want me. I didn’t think you did, truly, and I just wanted…someone. Something that was mine. Something to hold while I figured out what to do with my endless love for you.”
My lips thinned, and I shook my head, knowing I was about to ruin things.This is so me. Seeing it coming, however, didn’t stop the upcoming damage. “Nathan asked me to go on a date with him when this is over. I told him I would.”
Of course maybe dates planned during stressful kidnappings don’tcount?
Ryker brought my hand to his mouth, kissing my fingers roughly. “Okay. I don’t get to decide who you date. I actually like Nathan. Cruise, too, for what it’s worth. But maybe you could go on a date with me, too? How about that? Would you? When this is over, and when we’re not feeding you through an IV, would you go on a date with me, Addalee?”
I smiled at him. My hand tingled from where he kissed me, the skin almost electric from his touch. “You’ve been taking me on dates for several years now. Twice a week, remember? Sometimes, it was the only time I ate.”
His face fell. “I’m such a fucking idiot. If I knew, I would’ve fed you every day. Those weren’t dates. Those were excuses to see you. I mean a real date, one we plan. I’ll pick you up, take you somewhere that makes you saywhoa. Afterward, I’ll bring you home and kiss you until you can’t think straight. You know…a date.”
I lifted an eyebrow, considering him carefully. “Just a kiss?”
“Gotta start somewhere.” He smoothed his fingertip down my nose. “What do you say?”
“Okay, Ryker.” If I lived through it, I would havetwodates—more than I’d imagined for years. It was nice to fantasize, even if things didn’t work out that way.
“Good. Now, go back to sleep. You’re worn down. They took blood work, and it came back anemic. You have next to no vitamin D. Nathan listed a whole bunch of stuff you’re short on, actually. Sleep while she’ll let you, and we’ll go from there.”
They wouldn’t be able to keep her away very long. I closed my eyes, but sleep evaded me. Typical. When I could actually sleep, I didn’t. Eventually, Ryker left. It made sense, as he had things to do. Cars to tow. Family to see. It seemed more shocking he managed to be there at all. The door opened and closed, and I opened my eyes to see Danvers crawling into the bed next to me. Our IV poles clanked into one another before coming to a stop, as if they too simply shared a visit.
He wrapped his arms around me, so I buried my face in his chest. We really didn’t know each other well enough for that sort of intimacy, and it shouldn’t have felt needed. Despite that, he offered warmth, deep, even breaths, and he smelled like soap. He squeezed me tighter, and I sighed into the pressure. Whenour demons woke up, we wouldn’t want to or be able to touch, but oh, how I needed it. He must, too.
I closed my eyes. Sleep waited, and I drifted away.
Chapter
Eight
Iwoke up in Danvers’ arms. He still breathed evenly in my ear, so I lifted my head to regard him. At some point, we’d been spotted. I vaguely remembered hearing the whispers in the room.He’s with her. Can’t keep him away from her. Leave them alone.
I didn’t know who discussed it, since none of it seemed important enough to wake up fully to process. I basically slept through it, and so had Danvers, since he clearly hadn’t stirred.
With a gentle touch, I stroked his cheek. Tenderness wasn’t in my repertoire when my demon came online, and touching in general was a no-no. Cruise said it was part of how they kept us under their control, how they kept us needy, without us even knowing they did it. If Danvers could also still need touch, and have that need met, it meant I wasn’t alone.
I wouldn’t ever be able to explain my urge, but it hit me with the force of a freight train, and I gave into it immediately. “Danvers,” I whispered. “Can I kiss you?”
He had to say yes. I wouldn’t force my kisses on someone unconscious, especially if I didn’t know if he would even want it anyway.
