Page 65 of Knightfall
Quinn and I broke apart. I tried to climb out of his lap, but he wouldn’t let me. He held onto my hips. He let me turn enough that I could see Ryan, who had stopped in the doorway and was glaring down at us.
Quinn stood, dragging me behind him. I tried to wipe the tears off my face, but I was sure it was still blotchy.
I wasn’t sure what Quinn thought at Ryan, but Ryan exploded.
“What the sard are you talking about? This was my night. We’d agreed. I just went out for a second to get some goddamned wine so I didn’t shoot my load in two seconds!”
Quinn must have said something then.
“—I wouldn’t do that!” Ryan leaned around Quinn, making eye contact with me. “I didn’t leave you here to teach you a lesson, Blossie,” he whispered gently. “The burgmaster wanted a word, and then one of my fathers, and my uncle—”
My face flushed. Shite. I was so stupid. What an idiot. Of course. His family rarely saw him. And it was a party out there. Of course. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I thought—”
“I know.” Ryan set the wine and glasses down on the dresser with the basin and rag. “Come here.” He held his arms out for me.
I walked around Quinn toward Ryan. The tears started up without my permission. “I would have deserved it, if you had left,” I said, as he wrapped me up in his arms.
“No, you wouldn’t have,” Ryan grunted. “You didn’t leave out of spite or anger. You left because of whatever stupid spell is on you.” He crushed me into a hug.
“I did,” I muttered into his neck. “I really did.”
Ryan latched onto the back of my thighs and lifted my legs so that they surrounded his waist. He hugged me closer, kissing the top of my head. “Little Dearling. I’m not gonna hurt you. Okay? I won’t ever hurt you.”
My tears turned to sobs. I couldn’t help it. I ugly-cried as he held me.
When I opened my eyes to wipe them for what must have been the fifth time, I saw two little raccoons perched on the ground on their hind legs, staring at me. As soon as they realized I was looking, one of them started doing somersaults. The other held out its hands, like it wanted to hug me.
I choked. “Dammit Quinn!”
“What’s he doing now?” Ryan growled, hugging me tighter.
“Making me laugh.”
One of the raccoons ran to Ryan’s foot and started pulling on his pant leg, as if he were trying to drag the half-giant away.
I swiped my arm across my face one last time. “Alright. I’m done crying. Okay?”
The raccoon who’d been somersaulting stopped and ran back to me, chattering happily.
I tapped Ryan on the shoulder. “You can put me down now.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
I rubbed his shoulder, sliding his shirt aside, the sculpted muscle gliding beneath my palm. “I need a drink.” I did. My throat was scratchy.
Ryan sighed. “Fine. But don’t judge me for the hard on.”
“I won’t if you don’t look at my ruined face.”
“Deal.”
He let me slide down slowly. His erection was incredibly evident. Almost intimidating. Half-giant meant half-giant everywhere.
“You like crying?” I hoped not. That was a little too much kink for me.
“No. I haven’t had a naked woman pressed up against me in six years, Bloss.”
“Got it,” I nodded.
