“And she said a bad word,” the little tattle-tale interjected.
“I’m fine,” she assured her wary mate. “Amos Barstow is in Parrish Falls with some of his men. Dwight and Jeb Parrish are looking for us.”
Knox grunted, unfazed. “You didn’t say where we are, did you?”
“No. Only that we’re in a secure location that belongs to the Order.” She reached up to smooth the furrow that creased his brow. “Carla’s my friend, Knox. I would trust her with my life.”
He nodded, but his expression remained grim as he tunneled his fingers into her hair and pulled her deeper into his embrace.
Riley glanced up from his decimated stack of pancakes. “Is Aunt Leni your girlfriend, Knox?”
His answering chuckle vibrated against her cheek. “Yeah, buddy. She is.”
Leni tilted her head up, smiling at her mate. She was rewarded with a tender brush of his lips against hers. The contact sent a fresh current of arousal through her veins and into her marrow.
From his perch at the counter, Riley smacked his hands over his eyes and exhaled a long, beleaguered sigh. “Are you guys gonna kiss all day?”
“Maybe,” Knox growled. To Leni, he murmured, “You taste sweeter than usual.”
“Blueberries,” she replied. “This Darkhaven’s kitchen is stocked with everything imaginable. Much like the rest of the place.”
He grinned. “Interesting. We may have to sample a few other flavors later. Although, I doubt I’ll find anything I like as much as cedar and sweet, warm cream.”
His hand moved down to her backside, hidden from view of the impatient boy at the counter. There was no mistaking the hot glimmer in his stormy blue-gray eyes, nor the undeniable hardness of his body as he held her in his embrace.
“I’m finished!” Riley announced, pushing his empty plate away from him. “Can we go play outside now, Aunt Leni?”
Knox arched a brow at her. Although he didn’t voice his disapproval, there was wariness in the subtle change of his expression.
“I did promise him,” Leni said. “We’ll be fine right out back. You know I will be, and I’ll keep him close to me at all times.”
He didn’t look fully convinced, but he gave her a faint nod. She rose up and kissed the stern line of his jaw.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, Riley.”
In a few minutes, they both were dressed in snow gear, mittens, and boots. Leni took Riley out to the wooded backyard behind the wooden deck of the compound’s sprawling house, where they proceeded to roll the body and head of a rotund snowman.
Leni didn’t even hear anyone approach.
She didn’t realize she and Riley were no longer alone until a snowball lightly hit the back of the boy’s fluffy down-filled coat.
Startled, she whirled around to see where the playful assault had come from.
Knox stood on the deck behind her. He was covered from head to toe in UV-blocking black fatigues and gloves, with a Kevlar face mask and dark sunglasses to complete the look.
Leni smiled, instantly relaxed, and more than pleased.
“You’re right,” he said, gesturing to his daytime-proofed attire. “This place is stocked with anything we could possibly need.”
He stooped down to pick up more snow between his gloved hands. The snowball he tossed came right at her, but Leni swiftly blocked it with the power of her gift. As if stopped in midair, the snowball bounced off the energy field that protected her and fell to the ground without making contact.
“You’re no fun,” Knox drawled.
She grinned. “That’s not what you said last night.”
Scooping up a handful of snow, she made her own projectile. She let it fly, even knowing she stood no chance of hitting him. He dodged it with effortless speed and grace.
Then he lowered his head and leapt off the deck to tackle her.
