Page 130 of The Evernight Court

“Storm saysthank you,” he said when he sat next to me in front of the fire. “He devoured it.”

I grinned. “Good. You should have saved some for yourself. It’s really tasty.”

“What do I need honey for when you’re here?” And he said it with a straight face, too.

Impossible not to laugh. “Smooth. Really smooth.” I leaned in to kiss him and he didn’t hesitate in grabbing my face in his hands.

“I mean it,” Grey then said. “Now, finish that. You need to rest.”

Again, absolutely right. I was exhausted, even though he’d been carrying me in his arms while we searched for Valentine.

“What Ineedis to know what your brother is up to,” I muttered, but I turned to the food again. It felt good to have a full stomach, but not so much when that stomach twisted at the thought of Valentine.

“We’ll find him,” Grey said. “If he’s here, we’ll find him, baby. There’s only so many places he can hide.”

I believed him. This was a small Isle and Grey had wings. We would search every inch of this place again until we either found him, or we made sure that hewasn’there.

When I ate, I drank some water from the small streams that trickled out of the ceiling. Grey said it was safe, that the water was clean, straight from that pool at the heart of the mountain. It tasted just like water should. Then he put his jacket on the ground again and we lay down, and he cocooned me in his arms just like I liked.

I faced the fire burning low now, and he was behind me, my back against his chest, his arm under my head.

My eyes drifted shut in no time, even though I didn’t want to sleep.

“I love you,” Grey whispered in my ear, and my heart jump-started, and my muscles tensed even before I realized it.

Grey noticed. Of course, he noticed—I was pressed to him completely.

So, he asked, “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I muttered. “Just that we met a couple months ago. We’ve been together a handful of times.” And I wasn’t even saying that because of him, but because ofme.Because Iwas trying to force myself to be more reasonable, especially the part of me that insisted thatIloved him, too. Like crazy. Like fucking mad.

“I understand that,” Grey whispered, turning my head up so he could kiss my cheek. “But you should see yourself from where I’m standing. Thenyou’dunderstand, too.” And he planted kisses all over my face.

Heat underneath my skin.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, baby, I can stop saying it,” he said, and I hadn’t been more panicked even when that red dragon was about to eat me.

“No!” I blurted way too fast and spun around to face him. “No, no, that’s not what I mean. I’m not uncomfortable at all.”

Grey chuckled. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Very sure. Just…just keep saying it.” Because turns out I loved those three words together like that whenhesaid them.

“But we only met a few months ago.” He was full on laughing now.

I slapped his chest then snuggled closer, hiding my face under his chin as I laughed, too. “My, my, Grey. What happened to the grumpy Evernight who doesn’t speak or smile or laugh? You know, the one everyone fears?”

“That’s for other people,” Grey said, kissing my head.

I liked that. “And I get the full version of Grey?”

“Exactly. Thefullversion.” Keeping his hand on the small of my back, he pressed himself to me to show me that he was hard. So fucking hard I felt him all the way to my bones.

The way my body fired up within a second was incredible. The smile died on my lips instantly.

“I thought you said we needed to rest,” I said, already breathless, running my hands down his naked chest. Fuck, he was ripped. I loved the shapes and curves of him that myfingers glided over so smoothly, until I reached the waistband of his pants. His abs clenched instantly.

“I keep forgetting what it’s like to be near you,” Grey whispered, licking my lips. “We can rest if you want, baby, but I need to be inside you again until you’re full of me…” He pulled my lip in his mouth, sucking hard while I moaned and my back arched. “Until this beautiful pussy is dripping with my cum.” His hand was between my legs, fingers rubbing me over my pants. His words shocked me and turned the pleasure up a notch instantly.

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