He nodded and waited as she searched for a shop on her phone, plugged the address into her navigation app, and led them downtown.
That night,Rory, her friends, and Sam sat in a local pizza place, talking about nothing of importance. Mainly how their days went, what they were doing for the upcoming weekend, and whatever else they could think of.
Sam hadn’t said much since leaving the museum, and it worried her, but she didn’t press him. Unless he was like this tomorrow, then she’d bother him until he talked.
“Have you made any headway on finding a way back to Vincula?” Sera asked out of the blue.
Rory finished chewing her pizza and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “No. Sam and Lauren met—” Sam grabbed Rory’s leg under the table and squeezed. She understood his message loud and clear.Don’t talk about their meeting with Adila. She coughed to cover up her pause and took a drink of water. “With me, and we’ve decided I’ll wait here.”
She was suddenly nervous to mention Caius after Sam’s behavior.What was going on?“Let’s not talk about it,” she added. “It’s depressing.”
The conversation carried on, but Rory felt apprehensive the rest of the night, even when she and Sam loaded into the SUV.
As soon as they pulled onto the road, she couldn’t hold back any longer. “What was that about?”
Sam’s jaw tensed as he stared straight ahead. “I am not sure, but Sera lied about her day.”
Rory scoffed. “You acted like she killed a kitten. All she said was work was boring. Maybe she had a terrible day and didn’t want to bring the group down.”
“Something is not right,” Sam insisted. “I am not sure what, but there was something off about the little one tonight.”
Rory sighed and leaned her head back. “Are you always in commander mode?”
He looked incredulous. “Are you always in danger?”
“Touché,” she muttered and looked out the window, watchingthe city blocks turn into rural roads as they traveled toward their house.
“Are you okay?” She didn’t expect him to answer, and he exceeded her expectations. Not only did they ride in an uncomfortable silence, but when Sam put the car in park, he jumped out and stalked inside before Rory even shut her door. Her stomach dropped. Today rattled her friend, and she didn’t enjoy seeing him like this. She’d ask Caius about it tonight.
Something sounded behind her, and she whipped around, staring at the gravel road that doubled as their driveway. There were no headlights or other sounds, but she stayed still, listening.
She didn’t know how long she stood there, but the door opened, making her scream. “Come inside,” Sam said from the porch. “And stop screaming.”
“You scared me,” she griped, brushing past him with one last glimpse over her shoulder.
41
Rory grinnedat the wildflowers spread across the massive museum floor.
“Hello, Miss Raven,” Caius’ seductive voice said, and she turned to find him standing bare-chested in a pair of grey, low-slung sweatpants. He was different, and she hurried toward him when she realized what it was. “The veins are gone.”
She examined his chest and arms, running her hand over the smooth skin. His chuckle drew her attention upward, and his smile made her panties melt. He was truly happy, and it was the best thing she’d seen since leaving Vincula.
“I took your advice.” His biceps flexed when he ran his hand through his hair, and she tried not to drool. “Instead of focusing on my anger,” he said in a husky voice as he closed the distance. “I thought about the way you came on my fingers.”
Her nipples hardened, and she clutched the bottom of her nightie. “Lust? I told you to think happy thoughts, and you went with lust?”
He laughed, and she noticed the slightest indent on his chin. How had she never noticed that before?
“I thought of you laughing with your friends and glowering atme in the deli when I said you’d be my wife; the way you took my breath away when I saw your short, brown hair because just when I thought you couldn’t get more stunning, you did.” He trailed his hand down her arm, and a ball of emotion gathered in her chest. “I thought of every part of you because everything you do, everything you are, makes me happy. The strength to break free was never in me. It was always you.”
She fought not to cry as she sniffled. “Are you trying to get laid?”
His chest vibrated against hers with his deep laugh, and his hand moved down to the bite mark on her neck.
“Don’t even think about biting me again.” She withdrew from his arms. “It hurt, and have you ever tried to explain why someone bit you without saying you fucked? I have, and it’s not fun.”
His smugness only agitated her more. “It’s not funny.”
