Blaze (Virtues & Lies 3)

A lingering silence settles between us where he draws me closer than ever. As nice as it feels to be held like I am all that exists, we don’t fit. The heat of his embrace and the feel of his hands on me are a comfort that only soothes the surface of my pain.

Our bodies don’t mesh—they don’t piece together like mine did with Casper’s. His touch doesn’t turn me over and leave me yearning for more of it. It only makes me long for something I won’t have ever again.

Casper was my once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. My Halley’s comet. Nothing will make me burn like he did. No one.

Still, I don’t pull away. The momentary reprieve of the loneliness inside me is too welcomed.

Ryan leans away, slowly stepping back. He clears his throat, tugging on the long hem of his T-shirt and that of his hoodie before he adjusts his

weathered denim jacket. “My brother said that if you keep getting these contractions—”

“Braxton Hicks,” I correct him. “You have a brother?”

“Half. He’s a heart surgeon.”

“Wow, but what does a heart surgeon know about babies?”

“His wife is pregnant for one, and they don’t start at the top. He’s had to do the rounds. Luke was our squad’s medic…”

“Oh.”

The fondness with which he speaks of his brother softens him. It makes him look at me differently, like I’m not simply a task he’s been burdened with.

A lopsided grin lights up his face. “You’re looking at me like I’m more appealing now.”

“I didn’t know you had a brother.”

“Half.”

“A half-brother.”

“It’s easier not to mix personal and business…” he says, but he comes closer.

Hands fisted at his sides, he roves down my body with his gaze, lingering on my belly.

With a chuckling sigh, he asks, “You’re sure you’re not going to pop a baby out on me?”

“Pop a baby out on you? Jeez, let me think about that for a second…” I sit back into the warm seat, my body sighing in delight. “No, I think you’re good.”

RYAN

The coffee is shit, and the river trail is bumpy as fuck. I have no idea how the Lexus is faring or how Fleur is doing. She was asleep when we stopped at the services and I swapped back with Lucian.

“Pick up!” I growl at my phone. The loudspeaker isn’t exactly amazing since it got drenched the other night, but it will have to do. “Come on, you fucking dickhead!”

“I can’t talk.”

“Where are you?”

“Stalking.”

“You said to call if anything went down, well…”

“What’s happened?”

“I think it’s time.”

“It’s too early,” he murmurs, his voice a low gravel that tells me the predator has set eyes on his prey. “Has she told you it is?”