What did that mean? She and Jonah seemed so blissfully happy together that I couldn’t imagine she was speaking from experience. Was she trying to tell me that this—what E and I had together—wasn’t going to last? I didn’t know and I didn’t understand, but neither did I want to hear any more from her and risk losing what little newfound happiness I had. In fact, I found myself wanting to snarl at her for putting these confusing thoughts in my head.
Looking away, I resumed grinding the flowers with vigor. Alice didn’t know Eagle, not like I did. He didn’t have to save me, or care for me while I was sick. She didn’t know him at all. She hadn’t seen the look on his face when I told him I wanted more than just his kisses. She didn’t know what it was like to have him inside her, to be joined to him in every possible way and look up into those dark, unfathomable eyes and see the man behind the mask. Only I had seen those things.
And the more I thought about it, the more I realized it didn’t matter what she thought. Eagle and I would never be like her and Jonah, and that was just fine with me.
• • •
I felt Eagle before I saw him. A prickling sensation that ran up and down my arms prompted me to turn toward the door just before it opened. His large body filling the small space, Eagle’s gaze found mine, and the corner of his mouth quirked ever so slightly.
I smiled at him. All day I’d looked forward to this moment, eager to see him and desperate to be back home.
“You done?” he asked, and we both turned to Alice. She gave Eagle a smile and me an exuberant nod, her short hair bobbing around her face.
I flashed Alice a smile and hurried through the small office, past Eagle and into the hall. Letting the door slam shut behind him, Eagle started forward, grabbing my hand as he passed me. He walked quickly, his steps sure and with purpose, leaving me racing to keep up.
We’d just rounded a corner into a dark, empty hall when I found myself pushed up against the wall. Eagle’s hands were on my waist, lifting me up as his mouth came crashing down over mine.
It was instant, like a switch being flipped on. One second I was scurrying to keep up with him, wondering what was going to happen once we were home and alone again, and the next I was melting beneath him.
With my back firmly pressed against the wall, I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, and kissed him back. I could feel him through his jeans, hard and ready, pressing against me, and even though I shouldn’t be, not with as sore as I was, I rubbed against him, eager for more.
“Not here,” he muttered suddenly, pulling away. But as he looked me over, he made no move to set me down, and I didn’t release him.
“Why?” I whispered. He obviously wanted more and I definitely wanted more.Oh God, do I want more?I’d never realized that once it had happened—sex—that I’d find myself thinking of little else.
“Don’t forget to lock it.” Jonah’s voice carried down the hall, and Eagle and I both turned toward the sound.
“Do I ever?” Alice laughed, and I could hear the jingling of keys. “Jonah?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m a little worried about Autumn.”
At the mention of my name, I stiffened in Eagle’s arms.
“How so?” Jonah asked.
“Eagle ... She’s a bit young for him, don’t you think? And he’s a bit much for anyone to have to deal with, but especially for someone so fragile.”
Feeling a sudden surge of anger, I twisted in Eagle’s arms, wishing he would set me down. When he didn’t, I glared at him.
“I’m not fragile,” I whispered angrily.
Eagle stared back at me impassively, his lack of expression only furthering my annoyance.
Jonah chuckled. “Alice, no one still alive today should ever be classified as fragile. You told me yourself you thought she was strong. And whether or not E is too much to deal with is none of our business. Don’t you go poking that bear. You get on his bad side, and Jeffers and Liv will follow. We can’t afford any trouble.”
“I know, I know. And of course she’s strong. It’s just that sometimes she just looks so ... young.”
“My dear, no one is young anymore ...”
Their voices drifted off, fading along with their footsteps.
“I’m not fragile,” I repeated, snarling.
Eagle grinned at me then, a genuine grin that lit up his entire face and crinkled the corners of his eyes. It was such a shocking and startling sight that I nearly gasped. I’d seen him smile before, at least I thought I had, and I’d even seen him grin, but his grins were usually more of the menacing variety, full of painful promises.
This was wholly different. This was what Alice couldn’t see, what she never would see. Because this grin, it was for me and me alone. It was all mine.
