“I love you, Kara.” A soft kiss skims my temple.
“I love you too,” I whisper, confusion tingeing my tone.
“Are you two always this fucking romantic this early in the morning?” A groan accompanies Ryder’s complaints as he shifts until his face is buried into my messy hair. His big hands push across my ribs, holding me against his chest.
This journey has definitely made me realize that Ryder isnota morning person.
The tan fabric of the tent moves and, for a second, anxiety floods through me at who might see us this way.
But then it disappears.
We are who we are.
And we’re happy.
I’ll never let someone else judge and determine my happiness.
Darrio’s frame blocks out the sunlight, casting his features into shadows before he lowers the flap of the tent once again. For a few slow seconds, he only stares at the three of us.
“I missed the fun?” he asks, his serious eyes look to his brother and then to Ryder.
He’s fully dressed, but not at all as I would think a commanding general would dress. Dark jeans and a fitted white shirt hug his perfect body.
“Come here,” I whisper, shifting until I’m almost sitting up.
He assesses the two men at my sides, and I start to wonder if he’ll brush me off.He’s trying for me, trying to be less tense. I can tell he is.He isn’t the snuggling type. He definitely isn’t one for group sex.
And yet, long strides bring him to me and I pull him down against my body the moment his hand touches mine.
His weight settles against me, sending a warm and comforting feeling through my core.
“Good morning,” I whisper before kissing him slowly. My fingers push against his jaw, the coarse hair of his beard is rough against my fingertips before soft hair tangles in my hands.
His forearms settle on either side of my face, slightly holding himself above me.
Daxdyn pulls on his jeans, as I lie lazily on our pallet of messy blankets.
Ryder hasn’t moved an inch, so I shouldn’t feel too bad for not wanting to get up.
“Are you ready for today?” Rough fingers skim down my side, slowly, against the curve of my breast before trailing down my ribs, but Darrio never breaks eye contact with me.
Am I ready for today?
I look to the three men who surround me and I suddenly realize they are my family. These three amazing men are the family that Daxdyn wants so badly. The four of us are an unconventional but perfect family.
I can’t help the happiness that fills my body right now. I shouldn’t be happy the morning we intend to go to war, should I?
I shouldn’t wonder if this is the happiest I’ll ever be in my entire life.
But I can’t help it.
Because it is.
Chapter Eighteen
Rising Courage
The clean-up of the camp is surprisingly quicker than I expected. I suppose magic has that obvious effect on life.
