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Eden turned and sashayed over to him. She pouted out her full bottom lip and fluttered her eyelashes.

His cock stirred at the sight of her, and he couldn’t help but stare. She was all curves, fullness, and softness. He’d imagined stroking his hands over her bare skin hundreds of times, sucking on her bottom lip, and hearing her moan his name.

Eden tucked her fingers under his collar and pulled him closer. “You’d really help little old me with my problems? You can pay off my debts to make everything right? And what would I have to do to pay you back?” Her gaze flicked over him.

Sarcasm oozed through her words, but Blaze remained where he was, inches from his longed for target. “I’d do it. If it would help you out of a mess.”

“Nice offer, but I’ll pass.” Eden dropped her hold on him and pushed him away lightly. “This is my screwed up family. I’ll figure things out. I’ve done it before. And I’m sure my mom will dump me in the shit several more times before I finally shake her loose.”

“Why can’t your mom pay her own debts?”

“Because she’s in—”

“You say another word, ELVIS, and I’ll carry out that threat to rip you apart,” Eden said.

His response was to pulse the lights violently around the room.

“Good little spaceship,” Eden said.

“Where’s your mom?” Blaze said.

“Nowhere you need to know about. She can’t deal with her debts. She has... issues.” Eden pulled her hair off her face, exposing her long, slim neck. “I must have signed that debt paperwork years ago, when I didn’t know any better. When I thought my mom was the center of the frickin’ universe. I learned quickly how wrong that was.”

Blaze took a step toward the door. He wanted to help Eden, he wanted to be in her life, but how many times could a guy get kicked in the nuts before he learned his lesson? She was always shoving away his offers of help. She’d flash her intoxicating fire at him but extinguish it just as quickly.

The mobile comm link on his wrist buzzed. Blaze checked the message and grimaced. Besides, he had his own family dramas. He shouldn’t get mixed up in Eden’s problems.

“I’m not in the mood, Blaze. I could do with a rest. Can we catch up another time?” Eden said.

The loneliness that haunted her face made him want to pull her into his arms. He wanted to tell her she wasn’t alone, and he had her back. He’d help however she needed it. But there was no point.

“Sure. You take a break. I’ll keep an eye on the snake. And I’ll get the gear ready for our trip to the sanctuary,” he said.

“You’re always playing the good guy,” she muttered.

He shrugged. “I’m playing at nothing. That’s what partners do for each other.” His mobile comm link buzzed again. He opened the message.

We have a family meeting in an hour. Don’t miss it.

Blaze sighed, and a heaviness settled on his shoulders. That was all he needed, his parents riding him again. They were a constant reminder he was running out of time and there were decisions to be made. Decisions that would take him away from the Apocalypse and away from Eden.

“It looks like you’ve got your own problems to deal with,” Eden said.

He lifted one shoulder. “You know family. They screw you up.”