Page 146 of Broken Road

George looked to me quickly then answered, “Just a bit.”

“Good, good.” She nodded. “Get some cracks in for me.”

The look of yearning on Jace’s face chopped me in the throat. I threw my arm around him. “You’ll stick up for me, won’t you agori mou?”

He smiled quickly and nodded.

I released him and he opened the bag to show George what they chose for Alex. Ruby and I walked on ahead.

I slung my arm across her shoulders, and she leaned into me.

“You’re going to suffer for the next two nights,” she snickered.

“I am?” I asked, surprised. “Why?”

She gave me a funny look. “The boys are right down the hall.”

“So?”

“We can’t let them hear us,” she hissed.

I laughed. “Remember last night? Consider that to be practice for this weekend.”

“Hmm,” she teased. “So, I’m the only one getting any action this weekend?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Nope. I’ll be taking mine, too.”

“Are you sure?” She teased. “You didn’t have a practice session. Maybe you should just abstain and focus on me.”

I grinned at her wickedly. “Oh, I think I’ll be okay. I’m not the one moaning, and begging, and ‘oh, oh, oh’-ing.”

Her mouth fell open and she pulled away from me. “Vander!” She snapped. “I do not beg.”

I slid a sideways glance at her and took her hand. “Would you like me to put that to the test?”

She snapped her mouth shut and turned away, but not before I saw her smile.

“Is that a no? You would not like me to put that to the test?” I teased.

“Maybe I will say no.”

I pulled her closer. “You threatened me with that before. If I remember correctly,” I dipped my head down to hers, “and I do, that was the same occasion that you begged.”

She laughed and threw herself into my arms.

I grinned down at her, so petite, so fiery.

Her eyes smiled up at me. “I love you. Do you know that?”

A hint of my underlying anxiety revealed itself. “Are you doing okay with everything?”

Instead of answering, she asked, “You love me?”

I nodded seriously. This was not a joke or a game of any kind. “With my whole heart, for my whole life.”

She lifted her chin for a kiss. “Then I’ll be okay.”

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