Page 108 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

Tendrils of Doubt

What the hell was wrong with Brynleigh? She’d worked so hard to build up her boundaries, only to let Ryker completely demolish them in a single moment. A very good, pleasurable moment, but still a moment.

Many things could happen in a moment. People were born. Others died. Lovers declared their affection. Killers took their final blows.

And Brynleigh?

She gave Ryker control over her body. She let him bring her to immense pleasure.

A thousand curses ran through her mind. She barely paid attention as Ryker led her into the elevator, barely noticed that he still held her hand. All she could do was think about what they’d done in the car. She needed to rebuild the wall between them, and this time, she would respect them.

It didn’t matter that Ryker made her feel better than anyone else or that she’d come harder on his fingers than she’d ever been able to do alone.

It didn’t matter that when they’d kissed—really, truly kissed for the first time—it was like the world exploded behind her eyes.

And it really didn’t matter that his touch sparked things within her that she had absolutely no business feeling.

This was a game. She had one purpose. One reason for being here.

Brynleigh was just having a gods-damned difficult time remembering what that was.

Get through today. The thought churned through her mind. She could do this. In less than twelve hours, after dinner with Ryker’s family tonight, Brynleigh would return to the safe house.

That was good. Once she was on familiar ground, she would have an easier time remembering her purpose. It would ground her. And after spending the past week in The Lily and what they’d done in the car, she needed that more than ever.

By the time the elevator dinged, Brynleigh was ready.

In an action that was becoming as familiar as tying her shoes, she collected all her emotions—there were more every gods-damned time she was around the captain—and got rid of them.

Just in time, too.

Ryker’s thumb brushed against the back of her hand as they stepped out of the elevator. He led her down the hallway, pointing at several doors and naming the neighbors who lived in each space.

It looked like a clean, comfortable building, although the designer didn’t seem to realize there were other colors besides brown and beige. Everything, from the carpet beneath their feet to the ceiling above their heads, was a dull, muted shade. It wasn’t Brynleigh’s favorite, but since she had no actual plans to reside here—Ryker would be dead before she officially moved in—it didn’t matter.

They were halfway down the hall when a loud bark came from further down. Brynleigh tensed, but Ryker didn’t seem concerned. In fact, he seemed… happier. They rounded the corner as a door opened at the end of the corridor.

An enormous inky lump of fur the size of a bear cub barreled towards them. It woofed, and then, two massive paws landed on Brynleigh’s chest. She stumbled back at the impact, her back slamming into the wall. A slobbery tongue ran up her face, and the black furry monster nuzzled her cheek.

“Down, Marlowe.” Ryker’s stern voice left no room for discussion. “Let your new mom say hello.”

Brynleigh’s eyes widened as the bear—no, the dog—listened immediately. Marlowe sat in front of her, his tail thumping against the ground in obvious delight. His pink tongue lolled out of his mouth, and he looked up at Brynleigh with big, brown eyes.

“This is Marlowe?” She peeled herself off the wall. “You said he was a dog, not a bear.”

Fae couldn’t lie, but this animal was… enormous. Far bigger than she had expected.

A booming laugh left Ryker’s lips and echoed around the hallway. “Marlie is an Eleytan Mountain Dog. They’re…”

“Gigantic,” Brynleigh finished for him. She hadn’t known they made canines this huge.

A tall, red-headed fae with tattoos on his neck and arms jogged out of the open doorway, holding an empty blue leash in his hands. “Sorry, Ryker. I tried to keep him in, but you know how he is.”

“No worries, Atlas, no harm done,” said Ryker.

Pieces clicked into place. Ryker had spoken about the earth fae several times, and now she could put a face to the name.

Ryker slung an arm over Brynleigh’s shoulder and kissed her cheek. “Atlas, this is my beautiful fiancée.”

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