She played hide and seek with Orren. She spent a lot of her time with Ridhor. Andrei was struggling to get some footing with her.
So much like her mother, Melas realized.
There was the sound of a light slap as skin hit skin and Andrei whimpered. “Ouch.”
“You have your own chocolate.” Zura scolded him.
“Yeah, but I think my muffins need more chocolate in them. What do you think?” He asked, his voice smooth as silk.
Melas smiled. They were baking together.
“I thought you were making banana muffins. Why do you keep stealing my chocolate?”
“I was making banana muffins, but as soon as you started shaving the chocolate for your oatmeal cookies I decided maybe some chocolate banana muffins would be better. Everything is better with chocolate.” He laughed. Andrei’s laugh was a smooth caress that glided over your skin. It was different than the way he laughed with the group, less guarded and forced. Effortless.
“Mama loves chocolate.” Zura agreed. “It’s why I’m making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.” They didn’t do things together like stand in the kitchen and bake. It made her wish she could be in there, an apron around her waist as they chatted away and laughed together.
Sure, she could just turn the corner and interrupt, but it would be intruding on a moment meant just for them. “Why do you think I’m adding chocolate to my muffins?” He laughed again.
“To get mama to like you, duh.” She giggled. “You’re always trying to get mama to like you.”
“Almost as often as I’m trying to get you to like me.” She peered around the corner and watched him bump her hip lightly with his own.
Zura had flour on both cheeks and over her forearms where her sleeves were rolled up. She was wearing an apron that matched the one Andrei had on, though hers went all the way to her feet as she stood on a small stool that made her just the right height to work at the counter. Her curly hair was pulled up into a bun at the top of her head. She could tell Andrei likely helped her because it was a bit too loose and curls slipped free in more than one place, hanging around her face and down the back of her neck.
Ridhor often put her hair up in a bun, but having to do it for himself, her bun often came out looking perfect and kept all her hair out of her face.
Andrei had tried, his attempt was adorable. Zura used her shoulder to push a lock of hair back from her face as she teased Andrei, pushing her glass bowl of shaved chocolate further out of his reach.
It was cute, watching them together like this. It was cute watching Zura with any of them. They had this longing to be near her for no other reason than to make her happy. They all came up with activities and things to keep her busy where they could be included. So desperate to spend any time with her.
She wasn’t overly sentimental, but it did make her heart beat a little faster watching any of the guys with her daughter.
“I like you.” Zura shrugged.
“You only like me for my food.” He mock-pouted, always dramatic. “If it weren’t for my food, I would be out on the street with no one to love me.”
She laughed. “True.”
Melas’ hand shot up to cover her mouth to keep from laughing as Andrei gasped in fake outrage. “Why you little—” He reached out, stepping behind her to prevent her from falling off the stool as he wiggled his fingers under her arms.
Zura erupted in laughter, her limbs flailing as her legs gave out, trying to escape his tickling.
Andrei pulled her back against him to prevent her from falling or hurting herself while he continued his barrage of tickling.
Breathless and realizing she wouldn’t be getting free, Zura shouted, “Okay, okay! I like you for more than just your food.”
He paused, his brow arching. “You do?”
She nodded, her head turned up to look up at him. “Yes. I swear! You’re my friend!” She tried to convince him, his fingers still pressed against her in prime tickle position.
The look on his face melted her heart a little bit as he swallowed hard and a big wobbly smile spread over his face. “I’m your friend?” His voice cracked a little bit and he cleared his throat, still smiling down at her.
Zura nodded. “Yes. Orren told me we get to decide. You guys all decided to be brothers and I decided you’re all my friends.” She grinned up at him.
He gave her a quick hug before stepping away and busying himself beside her. Letting out a long breath, he continued mixing his ingredients in the steel bowl. “Alright, I suppose I can be your friend.”
Shaking her head at his silliness, she scoffed at him. “You better watch it, mister. Maybe I’ll decide we’re not friends.”
Holding his hands up in surrender, he shook his head quickly. “No, no. Please don’t. Friends. Friends is good.”
Smiling lightly, Melas rounded the corner and walked into the kitchen. “Smells good in here. What’s cooking?”
32
MELAS
Ridhor was agitated.
She noticed the tension in his shoulders, the far-away look in his eyes when she said goodnight to him and brought Zura to her room. On her trundle bed, with her arm folded behind her head, she stared up at the ceiling.
In three days they would be leaving.
As much as she would love to pack up and be on her way right now, she was thankful for the grace period. Having some time to figure it out and catch her breath was something she didn’t necessarily need, but appreciated.
Throwing her feet off the bed, she got up.
Zura’s heavy breathing filled the room, letting Melas know she was asleep. Her Nightmares disappeared before dinner, taking off to their home in the dreamscape. They had no parents or family there, which made Melas sad to think about. It made her want to keep them here, but Orren told her Nightmares needed to routinely feed. So, away they went.
Tiptoeing, she closed the door behind her and made her way to the room at the end of the hall.
Ridhor’s room.
Standing outside, she listened for a moment.
It was quiet on the other side of the door, but there was a dim light on.
No heavy thuds hinting he was moving around, but maybe he was reading or on his computer. She decided to be brave. With them leaving in a few days, she felt desperate to do it right now before they moved and everything changed.
She knew who they were here in Ridhor’s house on a hill. Everything was familiar, even the feelings she tried to sidestep at every opportunity. In America, everything would be new. Everything could change if her memories started to come to life.
No, she decided. She needed to do this now.
Knocking her knuckles lightly on the wood, she waited.
He stirred on the opposite side of the door before it opened quietly. He looked down at her, surprise flickering on his face for a moment. “Are you alright?” His eyes watched her, looking for some hint to what she was doing there.
Nodding, she bit down on her bottom lip before slipping past him into his room. “Did I wake you?” She asked, making her way to his bed and sitting on the edge. She was wearing his shirt from earlier and nothing else. Her legs only bare from the knees down because of how large the shirt was.
Closing the door, he leaned against it and looked at her. “No. I was still up. I don’t think I could sleep for a while yet.”
“Yeah.” She grabbed the hem of her shirt and worked it between her fingers, bunching and pulling the fabric. “Me neither. My mind seems too busy and loud lately. It’s hard to sleep sometimes.”
Ridhor watched her as she leaned back on his bed, scooting up so she was sitting on it with her legs folded under her. His hands fisted at his sides before he shoved them in the pockets of his sweatpants. “I understand. You’ve been through a lot.”
Patting the bed beside her, she kept her eyes on him. “Are you going to leave me over here sitting all by myself?” She internally groaned at the line. It was cheesy, a line someone would feed you that shouldn’
t work but would for no other reason than they wanted it to. Seemed fitting, since it would tell her without a doubt whether he wanted this to happen or not.
That was almost better than her having to seduce him. If she seduced him she would always wonder if he wanted it, or if he gave in because he knew how much she wanted him to. A part of her was still reluctant, unsure if he had a choice with the suspicion of them being mates. Someone else deciding this would happen.
His chest was bare. Raised red scars covered him all over, from the tops of his shoulder to the Adonis belt that dared her gaze to go just a little lower. He told her he didn’t heal like the others, because of that he wore the scars of his battles in a way the other guys would never have to. Flesh not covered in red, raised scars was covered in tattoos. Runes and symbols she didn’t understand wrote a story across his flesh. One she hoped he’d one day share.
As her eyes traced over the firmness of his muscles, taut skin stretched over top decorated with memories of his past, she wondered if it bothered him. If looking down at the constant reminders wore him down or threw him into memories he hoped he’d never have to revisit.
The thought made Melas need to soothe him. Need to trace her fingers across his skin and erase some of those memories for him. Replace them with heated ones that wouldn’t hurt but instead make him smile.
Ridhor kept all his emotions bottled up and hidden away. He carried the weight of everything that happened to or around him.
That had to be lonely.
She wondered if his loneliness was the link that pulled to her and left her helpless to do anything but cave to him, no matter how much she told herself it might be a bad idea. She wanted to go to him in hopes they could chase the deep-seated loneliness out of one another.
Pushing herself up onto her knees, she held a hand out to him.
She barely had to wait. No sooner had she held out her hand, he was crossing the room to take it. Linking their fingers together as though he were trying to show her how well they would fit together. Two puzzle pieces needing to be joined to feel complete.
She wanted to kiss him, she realized. Wanted to taste him.
Before she could, Ridhor reached beside her and opened the drawer next to his bed. “I have something for you and Zura.”
Her brow creased. “What?”
Lifting two identical leather belts from the drawer, he held them out to her. Her eyes went over the little details, noticing one was smaller. It was shorter, thinner, made for a child. The leather excellently crafted and stained a black-brown. There were seven holsters on each. In each holster were throwing knives.
Pulling one free from the belt meant for her, she inspected it. The whole of the knives including the handles was a lightweight metal. The handles etched with rune markings she didn’t understand but recognized from similar runes tattooed all over Ridhor.
“What kind of metal is this?” She wondered, spinning the blade around her finger.
“It’s from the mountains where my people used to live. It’s called beranite. I had some old blades lying around. Melted them down and made these for you. I’m not asking for my blade back, but thought you’d like a set of your own.”
They were beautiful. He made a set for Zura, the thought squeezed at her heart. “Ridhor, this is so thoughtful.”
He grunted, lifting his shoulders.
“She’s going to be so excited when she sees them.”
“Will you need to teach her to handle them? They’re a bit lighter than normal blades, may take some adjustment to what you’ve taught her already.”
Of course, he knew she would have taught Zura to handle a blade. Her palm closed around the handle. It felt warm and right in her hand. Pushing the blade back in the holster, she placed both belts on the bedside table before taking Ridhor’s hand in her own. “I love them. Thank you.”
Melas kept her hand locked with his as her other traced up his chest. She let her fingers move along every little mark and scar, wishing she could will them away. When she felt she touched every one, she dropped her mouth, leaving featherlight kisses over his scarred skin.
He hummed at her touch, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back.
Satisfied, she moved her hand up to wrap around the back of his neck. Even on her knees on the bed, she still had to tilt her head to look up at him.
His hazel eye danced with flames as he looked at her, his pale blue icy in contrast. He traced a line down her face from her forehead to her lips with his nose before his teeth clamped lightly on her lower lip. He held on, nipping her lip for a moment before drawing it into his mouth.
If she weren’t already on her knees, they would buckle beneath her. His strong palm pressed to the small of her back, clutching her to him lightly as he parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside.
Her eyes rolled back as she held onto him, their hands still entwined between them as his tongue explored her mouth, surging in and out before flicking light enough to make her toes curl. All the breath was sucked from her lungs as he deepened the kiss, her heart hammering against her chest as she held onto his neck, wanting more but unsure how to take it.
Pulling back, he looked at her while she sucked in a shaky breath. His nostrils flaring as heat pooled in her belly.
Letting go of her hand, he traced his fingers down the sides of her thighs before grabbing onto the hem of his shirt. He pressed his lips lightly to hers before tugging the shirt over her head.
Taking a step back, his gaze moved over her. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” His voice was thick with lust as his eyes met hers again.
Closing the space between them, he pushed her back onto the bed.
She bounced against the mattress, a light giggle escaping her lips as he climbed on, the bed dipping between her legs. His fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties. She marvelled at the heat of his skin against her before he pulled them off in one fell swoop.
Completely bare, she looked down at him, a blush colouring her cheeks.
Pressing a kiss to one ankle, then the other, he kept his eyes glued to hers as he kissed his way up the length of her legs. Every inch of her flesh tingled in anticipation. She wanted to grab onto him, speed things along, desperate to feel him inside her, but each controlled movement told her he wanted to take his time.
Throwing her head back, she moaned when he pressed a wet kiss to her thigh, so close to her core she could feel the brush of his beard against her. She quivered at his touch, throbbing for him.
“Are you sure?” He murmured the words against her skin.
Was she sure? She came here for exactly this reason. She couldn’t have made it more obvious she was sure if she walked into the room, dropped trou and stuck her bare ass in the air for him to mount. His asking only made her even more sure.
It was so Ridhor; brute strength on the outside but gentle and reassuring on the inside. The perfect, wonderful balance.
He lifted his head to look at her when she didn’t answer right away, giving her space to think.
That too made her smile. “I’m sure.”
He didn’t rush in, instead, he moved slowly, giving her time to change her mind.
Christ, this man was wearing away at her. He was getting into the soft parts of her she kept hidden and out of reach.
It felt like an eternity before his lips touched her again. They planted in the crease where her thigh met her mound. His hot breath combined with his wet kiss had her sucking in a breath and fisting the sheets. Her legs parted just a little bit more urging him on.
She was hot and ready for him, she had been for weeks. There was no way she was turning back now.
“Ridhor,” she moaned his name, needing to push him forward, hoping he could hear her desperation.
His tongue hit her sensitive flesh, sweeping between her folds from her entrance to her responsive bud. She felt like she touched a live wire as he closed his mouth over her and slowly sucked her in. Her hands shot down to
tangle in his hair, her fingers freeing his hair from the bun on the top of his head.
Wrapping his hands around her thighs, he hitched her legs over his shoulders and pulled her down to meet him. His mouth slammed against her centre. He pulled at a string, each nip and suckle slowly unravelling her. Her legs clenched around his head as he worked her into a frenzy, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe. Heat overtook her, wrapping her up until she could feel sweat on her brow, lava in her belly and the lick of his breath on her sensitive flesh.
“Ridhor,” she bit down on her lip, a scream threatening to rip through her. The pressure building and building until her back arched and her legs shook. Sucking in a sharp breath, a moan ripped from her chest as she lost herself in a wave of pleasure.
Before she could even come down, she felt the thickness of his finger enter her as he continued to nip and suck. His tongue slid through her folds as he pushed another finger in to join the first.
“Christ.” She hissed through her teeth, the pressure building so quickly she thought she would pass out when the next wave hit her. “Ridhor.”
And she exploded.
She could feel the slickness between her thighs as he lapped it up, keeping his mouth pressed to her as she rode the wave of ecstasy. Her legs were jello as she unclamped them from his ears, her hands slipping from his hair as she relaxed back into the mattress.
Ridhor smiled up at her, wiping his forearm across his swollen lips as he crawled up the bed like a jungle cat towards her; agile and smooth. He supported his weight on his hands planted beside her head as he peered down at her. “Are you okay?” His hands gently brushed sweaty tendrils back from her forehead before his fingers traced her brow.
Her eyes suddenly felt heavy, her body exhausted from two orgasms in quick succession. She grinned, another moan escaping her mouth. “I’m better than okay.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, then each eyelid, each cheek, the tip of her nose, before finally capturing her lips. The kiss was soft and gentle, a mere brush before he deepened the kiss. She could taste herself. It should turn her off but it only caused the fire to start burning in her belly again.
Hidden In Darkness (A Seven Realms Book Book 1) Page 27
