“You ready to eat? I can bring you a plate.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Her voice didn’t sound as tiny and lost as it did when Hannibal first brought her to me. Maybe there was hope she would be okay after such a horrible ordeal.
I made a plate with grilled cheese, fruit, pretzels, and a few cookies and brought it to Rylee. While she ate, I opened a water bottle and set it beside her on the nightstand, along with the Sprite. “Let me or grandpa know if you need help.”
“I will.”
She didn’t eat as much as she usually did, and I didn’t push her to finish her plate. I wasn’t surprised that she finished the grilled cheese and cookies, but left some of the fruit and pretzels. Rylee did drink most of the water bottle as I sat on the edge of the bed and ate, focusing more on her than anything else in the room.
Both Hannibal and Crypt ate everything I placed on their plates, eagerly finishing off whatever Rylee and I didn’t touch. My father always had a healthy appetite. I remembered that from my childhood. Crypt seemed to be the same. They polished off two grilled cheese sandwiches each. There wasn’t a crumb left over.
I lifted the tray as Rylee snuggled against Hannibal, her eyelids drooping until she fell asleep. Hannibal closed his eyes, and I heard his deep breathing a minute later. They were both probably exhausted. “I’m going to take this downstairs.”
“I’ll come with you.”
The prospect was still outside the bedroom door, standing in the hall. He greeted us as we shut it behind us.
“I don’t want anyone bothering Hannibal or my daughter.”
“I’m not stepping away. They won’t be disturbed.”
“I appreciate it.”
The prospect dipped his chin at Crypt.
“We might be gone a few minutes. Grim wants to talk to Rachel.”
“Understood.”
I could never stand there for hours like that. I’d grow bored or have to pee, and that would be it for me. I’d be kicked out for not being able to stand guard outside a bedroom door.
“He’s a good prospect,” Crypt observed as we took care of the trash, placed the dishes in the sink, and put away the tray. I wiped off the counters and left the space as clean as I found it.
“Seems like it,” I agreed.
“Grim made a point to tell me he’s careful who they allow to patch in. This club doesn’t accept just anyone.”
“That’s good to know. “
“Hey,” Crypt began as I started to leave the kitchen. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” I wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk about, but I didn’t have a problem hearing what he had to say.
Crypt faced me. “I haven’t stopped thinking about that kiss or your beautiful smile since the day we met.”
I didn’t expect him to admit that right now. “I’ve thought about it too.”
“I know I told you I came here to see you again, but it’s more than that, Rachel. It’s shit timing. I know. Just need you to know that I want to see if the spark we felt is real.”
He was so cocky. “How do you know I felt a spark?”
“Because of how you respond to me when I’m holding you.” That was all Crypt said before he had me in his arms, back against the wall, and his mouth on mine. And my God, the way he touched me, sent my blood on fire. He held me like he didn’t want to let me go. Devoured my mouth and kissed me like he couldn’t get enough.
I think I moaned. Or made some sort of noise because he growled in response, breaking the kiss to trail his tongue along my jawline, tasting, nibbling with his teeth, and making me shiver with anticipation. I’d never been so thoroughly ravaged by a man’s mouth as he sucked, licked, and nipped at my skin. Open-mouthed kisses trailed up my neck and back to my mouth. His lips claimed mine again, ravishing, taking, and if the wall wasn’t holding me up, I would have lost my balance.
Crypt finally pulled away, staring into my eyes with a raw hunger that nearly stole my breath. “I want you, and I know this isn’t a one-time deal. It’s not a few quick fucks to get you out of my system. You have a little girl who needs you, so we’re gonna take this slow. I’ll be patient. You’re worth it. Just know that if I get the chance to touch and kiss you, I’m taking it. Every damn time.”
