Page 65 of Seduced
Over her head, I exchange a grimace with Jack. It’snotfreezing, and if Skye finds this temperature uncomfortable, she’s in for a rude surprise. Alaskan winters are no joke. But we’ll keep her warm. The thought has me smiling, and I sling my arm around Skye’s shoulders as we all head inside.
“By the way,” Skye says, “I hid a tracker app on Alice’s phone so we’ll know when she returns to San Diego.”
Jack grabs a stack of plates from the cupboard and starts setting them on the dining table. It’s dinnertime, and whatever Ty has cooking in the kitchen smellsamazing.
“I’m sorry it had to end that way for you,” Jack says, peering at Skye from under his lashes. “It might be a while before it’s safe for you to visit home.”
She pauses, chewing on her lip. “I’m not sorry,” she says finally. “I was never happy there.”
Ty smiles at her. “But you’re happy here?”
Skye’s smile is brilliant. “Yeah, I am.” She looks from one to the other, including us all. “I’ve never been more content in my life.”
“Good,” says Jack, his expression fierce. “Now let’s eat.”
Ty snorts. “Of course, you’re thinking about food while we’re having a moment here.”
Jack grins, then smacks Ty’s ass on his way to the kitchen. “I’ll get the salmon.”
At the sight of their easy relationship, something shifts inside me. I remember what they did together the last time we had sex. With this new configuration, with Skye and both my best friends, there are so manypossibilities. My blood warms at the thought, and I get instantly hard.
The door to the kitchen opens, and Ty appears bearing two plates of salmon fillets. He must have marinated them with ginger and lemon because the smell is out of this world. It’s my favorite food.
I catch his gaze, glance at the plates, then focus on him again. His cheeks flush, and he lowers his lashes as though embarrassed. Heknowsthis is what I like the most, and he made it for me. It’s the nicest thing anyone has done for me in ages, and a warmth spreads through me that has nothing to do with the blazing fire in the hearth.
It’s incredible how our relationships have changed since Skye arrived. We’d always been best friends, but she was the catalyst for us turning into something…more.
Jack steps out of the kitchen and stops, scenting the air. He lowers the bowl of potato salad to the table and groans. “You need to stop doing that, Aiden.”
Skye looks from one to the other, her brow furrowed. “What?”
I rub my palm over my chin and catch Ty’s gaze again. His dark eyes smolder with heat, and he grips the back of his chair until his knuckles turn white.
“Guuuys,” Jack moans. “The food!”
“What’s going on?” Skye demands, her hands at her hips. Then she seems to catch the shift in the mood, and her eyes go wide, her pink lips parting. “Oh.”
Ty moves so fast, I can barely track his movements. He grabs her by the waist and slings her over his shoulder, then marches straight down the corridor toward our bedroom. Skye shrieks in surprise, then dissolves in giggles, whispering something to Ty.
Jack stares after them, stark want in his expression. Then he turns to me.
I lift one eyebrow in challenge.
“Fuck.” He pushes away from the table and stalks after them.
And I follow, unbuttoning my shirt. I have a great idea in mind—the first of many. And since Skye is staying here forever, we’ll get to try all of them.
I can’t fucking wait.
Epilogue
Skye
December 21st—thewinter solstice
“Do the owl again, Skye!”
The children clustered around the big bonfire cheer in agreement. Grinning, I grab Jack’s hand and take a pinch of magic from him, then focus on the dancing flames in front of me. With a push of will, I shape them into wings, beak, and talons, and a fiery owl swoops above the blaze, cruising on the currents of hot air.
