The climate was intoxicating, and Adria was enjoying every second of it.
She had never visited her mother’s birth country of Brazil, but Adria had always tried to imagine her mother as a girl. Didshe love the jungle as much as Adria? Did she marvel at the sounds and breathe deeper with every scent?
Going to visit X would be a monumental step. Adria knew she would be closer to her mother than she had been in years. Maybe when they arrived, X would be able to find a way for Adria to see her.
“Can’t sleep?”
Bryson’s cocky voice made her muscles tense, and feeling his gaze on her caused heat to coil in her gut.
She turned, his dark eyes shining in the moonlight. He wore gray sweatpants, and his lean form stood unashamed in the doorway.
Adria tore her gaze away from his slutty waist and tried to focus on something—anything—else.
She settled on turning around and looking out over the horizon, saying, “It’s been a long day.”
He moved to her, wrapping his arms around her body, grabbing the railing in front of her. Surrounding her with his scent.
Chin resting on her shoulder, his voice rumbled against her cheek. “Why did you avoid us today?”
Adria leaned her head back against his shoulder. “I wasn’t ready to have the tough conversation yet.”
“What conversation?”
Adria watched the stars and the moon above her, feeling Bryson’s body mold around hers. Kaydon engulfed her and made her feel safe and secure. Seth was soft and gave into her in all the right ways. But with Bryson, it was like her other half. A perfect fit.
“About how this is all going to work. I mean, if we live through the next few months. What is being together even going to look like?”
Bryson was quiet behind her for a long moment before saying, “What do you want it to look like?”
Adria shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“Then we will all just figure it out together,” Bryson said, curling his arms around her, pulling her into him.
Figuring something out wasn’t a concept Adria was used to. She planned everything, had contingencies, and contingencies for her contingencies. Now she was in a relationship with no rules and no plan.
“What did you think of Daniela?” Adria asked, careful to keep any tone out of her voice.
Bryson shifted behind her. “I thought she was terrifying, and not in a good way.”
Adria tried to hide the relief she felt.
He buried his face in her hair. “Don’t hire a priest just yet.”
She slapped his arm. “Not funny.”
His arms tensed around her. “Speaking of avoiding conversations, I have a request.”
Adria reached up, trailing her fingers along his forearm. Encouraging him to continue.
“I want you to take care of Seth and Kaydon. Be their Domme, while I?—”
His breathing caught behind her, and she felt his body tense.
“Get my sea legs back,” he finished.
She almost laughed, but when she twisted in his arms, she saw how serious he was.
Her finger traced the length of his jaw, hating the sadness in his eyes. “You’re their Dom, Bryson. Just because I’m in the picture—it doesn’t change who you are to them.”
