Chapter Eight
Shooting Stars are Scorching Hot
Lake wanted a cheese omelet for dinner. He stood beside me at the stove, ears perked as he watched me make it. I plated it and added a few slices of the lemon loaf Briar had baked earlier before sitting with him at the table.
“You should know I don’t give my precious bread to just anyone,” I said. “I had to do some major pouting to get that loaf. Big, puppy dog eyes and everything before Briar caved.”
“It didn’t take much convincing.” Briar stood at the counter steeping green tea. He preferred it in the evenings and liked a darker, rich brew in the morning. “I’m incapable of denying you anything, love.”
“You spoil him,” Maddox said as he came into the kitchen, no shirt and pants riding low on his hips, giving a nice view of his V muscles and rippling abs. Dear freaking lord, could he be any hotter?
“Ispoil him?” Briar spun around, light-brown bangs falling over the top of his glasses. “You’re even worse than I am.”
“They do this all the time,” I told Lake. “I’ve learned to just let them go at it. They’ll stop eventually.”
Lake dropped his gaze to his now-empty plate. Different expressions crossed his face: confusion and maybe a touch of amusement too. “Thank you for the meal.”
“You’re welcome. Help yourself to anything else you want.”
“Everything, except for what’s mine,” Maddox said.
“He means the muffins. But if you want one, take it. I’ll make him more.”
When Maddox scoffed, Lake almost smiled. There was a hint of one anyway; a cute little twitch at the corner of his mouth. He rose from his chair and carried his plate over to the sink to wash it.
I eyed the lemon bread left in the center of the table. Lake had eaten a small slice, but the rest sat there in all of its citrusy and sweet glory, just begging to be eaten. I slid my hand across and tore off a piece from the loaf. Then stole another piece.
Briar laughed. “Gods, I adore him.”
I looked over to see all three of them staring at me. “What?”
Lake averted his gaze, cheeks taking some color.
“Nothing.” Briar smiled and sipped his tea. “Eat more of your bread.”
“Don’t gotta tell me twice.” I helped myself to more.
Maddox drifted closer, his eyes alight with humor and a hint of something far more tender. “Come here, muffin.” Right as I stood, he drew me to his chest. “I doubt I’ll see you in the morning. I have to leave at first light.”
“Where are you going?” Fear prickled at my chest, just like it did every other time he set off on a mission or otherknightly business.
“Nowhere for you to worry about.”
“This is me we’re talking about. Worrying is what I do best.” I hugged him close and rested my head over his heart as mine wobbled. “Especially when it involves you and your job.”
There were three orders of knights. The Second Order, Maddox’s regiment, specialized in combat missions. When he left for an expedition, it was usually to fight demons or other enemies of Bremloc. Shit that put him in harm’s way.
“I always come home to you, do I not?” Maddox kissed my hair.
“Not always in one piece,” I muttered, remembering when he was attacked in the dark wood. I held him tighter. “Will it be dangerous?”
He pulled back just enough to trace the line of my jaw and give me the type of heart-stopping smile that made my knees weak. “Not any more dangerous than being around you in the morning before you’ve had your coffee.”
“You butthole.” I lightly slapped his chest, then rubbed the area. And then rubbed it again. His pecs were incredible.
“A ‘b’word now.” Maddox lifted my hand to his lips in that familiar way. “Don’t worry your cute head over it. I’ll return to you by nightfall without a scratch on me. This, I swear.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better. You’re probably running off to fight the demon lord himself. That’s it. You’re staying here. Tell them you’re sick and can’t go.”
