Page 86 of Backfire
They were growing at such an exponential rate that I could hear it. The plants wanted me. They called to me, and I couldn’t fight them off.
Somebody, help!
“We need to finish this.”
Oh my god, was that Reese? I searched the thickening greenery for his light eyes, but it was so dark. The light I did have was dwindling by the second.
“I know.”
Devlin! He was big and strong. He could pull me free. But which way did I go?
“I’m not fucking around, Devlin. The ritual needs to be completed. Now!”
Ritual? What ritual. It didn’t matter. Reese’s voice was louder when I turned to the left. I dove and parted the vines with my hands, swimming through the river engulfing me. I had to get to them.
“I know.” Devlin sighed, and I swear I felt his breath on my forehead.
“She can’t control it. We need to complete the second part of the bond so we can help her.”
My heart skipped as I kicked my feet and swam faster. Reese definitely sounded closer.
Devlin’s deep tone echoed down from above. “I said, I know.”
I needed to go up.
“She could’ve died, Devlin! While you may not care about that, I do.”
Don’t worry, Reese., I’m coming. I’m not going to die.
“I get it, Reese.” I felt a hand brush over my forehead as a whisper wafted across my ear. “I like her, too, okay?”
A whoosh of air brushed down around me and sucked me up into a whirling vortex. Then everything was gone. The plants reaching out and horrible sound were gone. It was quiet, and still,and warm? I was lying back against something hard. No, not something… someone.
My head was swaying with the steady breathing of a chest. Devlin’s chest. I recognized the subtle citrus scent. Never thought I’d be happy to be in his arms, but I was.
He felt so good. I wanted to stay tucked in the strength of his arms forever. A smile crested my lips as I murmured and snuggled in closer to his warmth.
“She’s awake.” Reese’s words were followed by the softness under me dipping.
Was I on a bed? Yes, yes, I was. Not only that, but I was in my room. My lids fluttered open in time to see Reese crawl over a pair of long legs. Devlin’s legs. He was sitting behind me, holding me up against his chest. How did we get here?
I remember being in the plant room, Reese was talking about orchids or something. And then… “What happened?”
Devlin’s arms tightened around me while Reese barked out, “You scared us. That’s what happened.”
What the hell was his problem? I didn’t get a chance to ask. Reese sprang forward before I could open my mouth. He cupped my face and started peppering me with kisses.
“Don’t,”kiss, “ever,”kiss, “do,”kiss, “that,”kiss, “again,”kiss, kiss.
“Get away from me.” I swung my arms out, swatting at the lips invading my space. “Weirdo.”
Reese snatched me out of Devlin’s arms and smashed my face up against his chest. “I’ll never let you go again.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
When I tried to wiggle away, Reese flattened his giant hand on the back of my head and held me tightly in place. My cheek was pressed so far into his hard pec that my lips were squished out in a duck face. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.
I rolled my eyes over at Devlin and huffed out a sigh. “Is he on drugs?”
