Page 30 of The Warlock's Kiss

His tongue slipped out for a fleeting instant to slide over his lips. “I said you would have to leave with the sun. It could be argued that the sun is not currently visible, and therefore you are under no obligation to go.”

Adalynn studied Merrick for a few seconds before her lips slowly stretched into a smile. “Are you asking us to stay until the storm is over, Merrick?”

“I am simply pointing out a technicality by which you may convince me to allow your stay to be extended.”

His features softened briefly; it was enough for Adalynn to know that, however he’d behaved when they first arrived, however rough a start they’d had, Merrick was a good man at heart.

She grinned. “Merrick, would you be so kind as to allow us to stay until the storm passes?”

Merrick waved a hand dismissively. “I suppose I’d feel guilty if I made you leave in this weather. You may stay.”

“Yes!” Danny pumped his fist before he looked at Adalynn and wrinkled his nose. “Do Ireallyneed to take a bath?”

“Yes,” Adalynn said. “You stink.”

“I do not!” Raising his arm, he turned his head and sniffed his armpit. He jerked his head back immediately. “Okay, so Ido.”

“Then go,” she said, “and don’t forget your bag this time.”

“Fiiiine.” He pushed his chair back, picked up a cracker covered with peanut butter, and held it out to her. “This one is for you.”

Adalynn stared down at the cracker. The peanut butter’s scent was mouth-watering; she could almost taste it on her tongue. Her heart flipped in her chest at her brother’s thoughtfulness. It was a small gesture, but those little things meant more than ever after the Sundering. Even while indulging himself, he’d set a bit aside for her.

“Thanks, Danny,” she said, taking the cracker carefully between her thumb and middle finger.

Danny beamed at her. “Welcome. Guess I’ll go take a bath.” He swiped the remnants of his half-eaten cracker off the table, shoved it in his mouth, and grabbed his bag. As he walked out of the kitchen, he said through his mouthful of food, “See you later, Merrick.”

Mindful of the cracker in her hand, Adalynn pulled out a chair and sat down across from Merrick. His eyes, intent but unreadable, were already upon her.

“Thank you,” she said, “for letting us stay longer. And for what you did with Danny.”

His lips curled upward; Adalynn couldn’t tell if he was smiling or smirking. Either way, the scar across his left eye granted a rakish air to the expression.

“And what was it I did?”

“Distracted him, made him laugh. Let him have one of his favorite foods.”

Adalynn took a bite of the cracker, and she barely stopped her eyes from rolling back in bliss. Her tongue darted out to lick peanut butter off her upper lip.

Had she just moaned?

Merrick’s eyes dipped to her tongue for the instant it was exposed. “He seems to amuse himself well enough. The boy never runs out of things to say.”

“Only because you’re someone new. He’s already talked my ears off about the same subjects more than once.” She slipped the rest of the cracker into her mouth.

“Perhaps.” Merrick slid the jar of peanut butter—which had a knife already plunged into it—from the center of the table to stand directly in front of Adalynn. “Help yourself. I fear it will be all gone the next time your brother gets into it.”

A pang of guilt struck her, and when she swallowed, the food went down thickly. Frowning, she glanced into the jar. How much had Danny eaten? She should have woken when Danny did, should’ve stopped him, should’ve—

“Hewasinto it when I came down,” Merrick said, as though reading her thoughts. “He had one cracker with barely any on it for himself, and then he set the one aside for you. After that, he put the lid on and was done.”

Adalynn’s brows rose as she returned her gaze to Merrick. “Really?”

He nodded.

Pride replaced most of her guilt but couldn’t overpower it completely—despite some of the things she’d said last night, she couldn’t quite let go of the circumstances that had brought them into his home. She smiled a bit sheepishly. “Well, um, thanks, I guess, for not throwing us out.”

Merrick chuckled; it was a deep, rich sound, warmer than she would’ve expected. “Do not thank me too soon. I may yet throw you out. A bored, idle child is a dangerous thing.”

---