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“Math can be fun?” I teased.
“I didn’t think so, but it was fun counting snacks!” she exclaimed.
Ah, that did make sense why she thought it was fun now. She was definitely food motivated.
When I stepped into the house, Riddick pulled me into a gentle hug and kissed my cheek. “Welcome home, Ember.”
I hugged him back and tilted my head back to kiss him on the lips. “Thank you. Did you have a good training session with Silverowl?”
He stepped back and nodded. “I did. I’m getting better at using roots to bind someone.”
“Oh, nice, that is a really handy one,” I commented with a nod. Inhaling, my mouth filled with drool. “What is that delicious smell?” Definitely something with garlic.
“You’re probably smelling the garlic bread since I just took it out of the oven. I also made chicken parmigiana.”
“Yes!” I shouted and ran to front bathroom to wash my hands. Lily was at my side, up on the step stool we’d put for her, and washed her hands after me. It was one of our rules. Wash your hands before dinner.
We dried our hands off and hurried out to the dining table, sitting in our normal seats. She frowned down at her booster seat. “I don’t like this. I’m not a baby.”
“It’s just so you’re able to reach the table better,” I said. “It’s not for babies.”
“Hmph,” she said and folded her arms across her chest.
The guys carried out the plates of food and we eagerly dug in. After dinner, Lily and I took a shower, changed into pajamas, and raced downstairs to play a card game with everyone. It had become a weeknight ritual. While they played a second round, I went to my room and finished packing the suitcases for our trip tomorrow.
“Did you think you’d be traveling this often when you left with us?” Riddick asked from behind me.
I shook my head. “I had hoped I would get to travel, but traveling once a month isn’t what I expected.” We had another trip planned for next month to take Lily to the beach so she could see it for the first time.
“You’re nervous,” he commented and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Is it about the trip?”
“Yes. We don’t know for certain what we are going to find there and that worries me, especially since we’re taking Lily.”
“You would worry more if she was out of your sight,” he reminded me.
Folding up a pair of pajamas, I put them in the suitcase. “Yes, I know.”
Turning me around, he pulled me flush against him. “You are a truly beautiful woman, Ember. I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to call you my mate.”
Tracing a finger along his chiseled jaw, I said, “I’m the lucky one. You’re handsome, smart, a great cook …”
He chuckled.
“… and a loving person who accepted Lily without hesitation. And you make the best garlic bread in the world.” Rising up on my toes, I pressed my lips to his.
He kissed me back hungrily, slid a hand into my hair, and tilted my head to get better access. His tongue swept across mine and I became putty in his hands.
Picking me up beneath my butt, he carried me to his room, shut and locked the door behind us, and fell onto the bed, cradling my head as we fell.
Laughing softly, I unbuttoned his shirt while he worked on mine.
“Why did we choose buttons today?” he grumbled when one didn’t want to work on my shirt. With a snarl, he jerked the shirt apart, sending buttons flying across the room.
“Good thing I didn’t like this shirt,” I teased.
He pulled his shirt off and said, “I’ll buy you fifty new shirts.”
After unbuttoning and unzipping my pants, to ensure he didn’t break those, too, I crawled up the bed and lay on my back. “So, what will it be tonight, sir?”
