Page 105 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

This apartment was his. Maybe, with some work, it could be theirs.

That idea made Ryker smile. Raising his fist, he rapped on the roof. Davis would understand his signal. The car started moving again, and they rolled into the underground parking lot, where the sun’s deadly rays couldn’t touch Brynleigh.

The vehicle stopped, and the door slammed, signifying Davis’s departure. Ryker reached over and unbuckled Brynleigh’s seatbelt. Earlier, he’d told Davis they would be here for several hours. The driver was meeting a friend nearby for lunch and would return to take them to Waterborn House.

But for now, they were alone.

Ryker tugged Brynleigh across the seat and over to him. She didn’t protest as he cupped her cheeks, his gaze searching hers.

“I love you,” he murmured. “And I’m so glad you agreed to marry me.”

Brynleigh seemed to wrestle over her words for a minute before her fingers tightened around his. “Me too,” she breathed, licking her lips. “I… I’m looking forward to our wedding.”

Her voice cracked on the last word, but he assumed she was as anxious for their marriage as him. He just wanted to get it over with, to finally claim her as his in every way.

“So am I,” he whispered.

Her fingers gripped his as if she never wanted to let him go.

Ryker would gladly remain with her. He laid a hand over hers and inched closer. “I want to kiss you, Brynleigh.”

This was the moment he’d been waiting for. The cameras were gone, and for the first time, they were truly alone.

She hitched a breath, and her mouth opened, giving him a peek at her fangs. Gods, the sight of those sharp teeth sent a bolt of want through him. He had always noticed the unnatural beauty of vampires, but none of them had ever affected him the way Brynleigh did.

“You do?” Brynleigh’s cheeks heated, which only added to her beauty.

He loved that she was flustered because of him.

“Yes,” he breathed. He moved closer but still gave her room. “Is that okay?”

Her eyes searched his for the longest moment until she dipped her head in the briefest of nods.

Ryker had dreamed of this moment. Some nights, he had barely slept because his desire to taste her was so strong. And now, he finally could. Holding her gaze, his hand slipped behind her neck as he drew her close. His heart sped up and his entire being focused on Brynleigh.

He slanted his mouth over hers. Their lips met in an embrace that was at once gentle but powerful.

But it was… one-sided.

This wasn’t the kiss he’d dreamed about. Brynleigh was a frozen statue next to him. She didn’t move, let alone breathe.

His heart stalled in his chest. Had he done something wrong? Had he misread her consent?

Those beautiful eyes stared at him, unblinking. There was something in the depth of her gaze that he didn’t understand. Dark. Strange. A flicker of… fear? Was she scared of him? Gods, he hoped that wasn’t the case. He would never do anything to hurt her.

She was his.

Again, Ryker moved his lips tentatively over hers.

She still didn’t react.

This was not how he thought this would go.

Ryker was about to pull away, to apologize and ask what was wrong, when Brynleigh muttered something that sounded awfully similar to “Fuck it” under her breath.

He had no time to be confused because whatever decision she reached meant she was no longer frozen beneath him. She transformed in the blink of an eye. No longer a stone sculpture, now she was a living flame, destined to burn him from the inside out. She returned his kiss with an urgent, fiery passion they had yet to explore.

By the fucking Sands, yes. This was the kiss he’d dreamed of. Brynleigh slid onto Ryker’s lap, straddling him. She threaded her fingers through his hair and moaned his name against his lips.

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