AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My fingers toy with the short, silky strands of his hair. “Ever what?”
A gust of breath tickles my neck. “Ever fill it with something more than just music.”
We’re holding on to each other. Hugging. I’m not even sure how that happened or if I should step away. I close my eyes and sink into it instead. The steady beat of his heart thumps against my chest. His big hand slides along my spine, stroking me.
I could stay like this forever, but I can’t ignore what he said. I lean back to meet his gaze. His is troubled. Setting my hand on his cheek, I speak with quiet conviction. “You’re more than just your music, Ryland. You always were.”
A small jolt goes through him, and his nostrils flare on an indrawn breath. The way he looks at me, with wide, pained eyes, has my heart skittering. Those blue eyes fill with something else, something deep and tender. His hand slips under my hair to my neck. “Bren. What you do to me…”
Then he’s kissing me. Slow and soft and so damn good, I forget where we are. I kiss him back, swallow down his moan. My bones melt. I am liquid heat and wanting.
“I love kissing you,” he says against my mouth. “I could do it forever.”
Forever.
He’s devouring me. Slowly taking me apart. I let him do it. I want more.
A polite but pointed throat-clearing catches my attention. Rye and I separate enough to glance over at a guard who gives us a censorious—if slightly amused—look. Right. Public museum.
Rye’s answering smile is not the least bit repentant. He drapes an arm over my shoulders and leads me out of the temple.
We don’t speak for a while but simply look at artifacts and artworks.
“I’m having fun,” I announce as we enter the Arms and Armor wing.
“You don’t have to sound so shocked about it,” he teases. “I’m a very fun person to be around.”
“Yes, I know,” I deadpan. “Except when you’re around me.”
Rye flinches. And I realize what I just said. “Shit. I didn’t mean that.” Flustered by my utter boobery, I wave a hand in the air. “I meant before. The way we were before.”
Rye sucks the inside of his cheek, as though he’s figuring out how to answer. His eyes meet mine, and I’m struck anew by how gorgeous he is. I don’t know why it hits me so hard now; maybe it’s the pure filtered sunlight that fills the room and illuminates every inch of him. Maybe it’s simply that I can’t look at Rye and not feel an overwhelming attraction.
He’s beautiful in his raw and utterly masculine simplicity. Clean lines, strong bone structure, the dark blond of his hair spiking up in wild disarray. Faint laugh lines grace the corners of his expressive dusky-blue eyes. Even when he’s serious, it’s as if his natural inclination is toward happiness and any other emotion is just temporary.
“That’s why I wanted you to come out with me,” he says. “I don’t want us to be stuck in the past. We’re not those people anymore. We’re…new.”
“New, huh?”
He nudges me with his shoulder. “New and improved.”
“Goof.”
Grinning, he gives me a swift, affectionate kiss on the cheek. “You need goofy in your life.”
“Because I’m so serious?” I say it lightly. He’s not telling me anything I haven’t heard before or thought of myself.
“You can be, and someone has to brave that death glare of yours to remind you how fun it is to let go.”
“I suppose you’re the brave someone in this scenario?”
“Of course. Sir Ryland, the noble sex knight. Able to tame the savage Brenna beast one orgasm at a time.”
“That is painfully bad.”
His eyes twinkle with good cheer. “And yet you’re laughing.”
“Yeah, at you.”
“Good enough. Face it, Bren. You need me.”
It hits too close to a tender spot I’ve been trying to ignore.
Rye, being observant as hell when it comes to me, notices. His happy expression slips away. I’ve made it awkward again, and I don’t know how to fix it. A stupid joke would be obvious, and frankly, insulting to Rye’s intelligence. But what can I say? You’re coming to mean too much to me, and I’m not sure I can take that.
Rye’s deep voice breaks the silence. “Can I ask you something?”
I stop beside a group of knights on horseback with lances up and at the ready. “That question never bodes well.”
“Probably not.” He rubs the back of his neck before turning the full force of his attention on me. “Back when we were having tea with Killian, I said I’d go to his dad’s birthday party, and you flinched.”
I flinch again, sliding my gaze away. “Did I?”
He’s closer now. I can feel him even though he’s two feet away. “Bren, come on. It’s me you’re talking to. You flinched and made a face, the one that says you have to deal with an uncomfortable situation but will try your best not to let it get to you.”
