Page 60 of Rivals & Revenge

"He likes kissing me." Tierney blurted.

Connor laughed. "That's good. What about you?"

Silence stretched between the two, almost at the edge of being uncomfortable, and I nearly left them to their conversation. But fuck if I'm not a nosy bastard. So, I leaned against the wall and waited for her to continue.

"When he touches me it's like—blinding passion and fire and magic. He sets my whole being ablaze, body and soul. I've never felt anything like that."

My heart swelled at her words. Knowing she felt the same way I did made me feel like King Kong on cocaine; larger than life and invincible.

"So, you two are together now?" Connor probed gently.

"He hasn't asked me to prom. If that's what you're asking, Mom." she said, throwing in her signature snark.

"He told me he wanted to fuck me, but I'm not ready for him. The worst part? I don't even really know what he means by that."

"Are you a virgin, Tierney?"

My pulse hammered as I waited for her answer.

Her reply never came, but she must have nodded because Connor replied.

"Oh, sweet girl. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them."

She barked out a harsh laugh. "I don't know shit about fuck when it comes to relationships. If that's even what this is."

"Sounds like the two of you need to talk."

"Two things Larissa. Number one, someone is actively trying to kill all three of us. Probably not the best time for a chat."

"And two?" Connor prompted, irritation rising in my chest as I realized she'd never bothered speaking so politely to me.

Tierney blew out a harsh breath. "Two. What if Ahren doesn't want someone who doesn't know—things?"

The sheets rustled softly and Tierney let out a shuddering breath.

Fuck. I wanted her so much it hurt. My arms physically ached with the need to touch her. I agreed that this was a shitty time to have an important conversation, but her fear, the part of her that put up walls to keep people out, that part of her was quietly laying bricks in the wall between us. If I waited too long, she might be unreachable.

I left the hallway and headed to the kitchen to make hot drinks for them and pour myself two fingers of Wolfsbane.

Tierney was in the wooden chair when I entered the room. Connor seemed to be trying to fall back asleep, her eyes snapping open when she saw me enter.

"Just rest." I said softly, sitting the drinks next to the sink.

"Shower!" Tierney called out, pressing a kiss on my cheek and dashing out of the room.

I lowered myself onto the foot of her bed. "How are you feeling?"

"If everything would stop echoing through my head like an empty concert hall, that'd be great."

That earned her a smile, though it faded sooner than I'd have liked. "Are you feeling up for answering a few questions? The clock is ticking."

Tears welled up in her eyes. The tough as nails doc who didn't flinch in the face of mine nor Tierney's injuries choked up as I pulled my phone from my pocket and showed her the images of the messages written on her body.

"She said I had twenty-four hours. That was just over three and a half hours ago."

She nodded, her professional, un-fuck-with-able mask slipping into place. "What do you need to know? I don't remember much."

"What did she look like? Did you hear a name?"

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