Ro hoped that Darvid didn’t ask for more information because she didn’t wish to be identified as different this fast. Being unknown was better; nobody here had any idea about her past, and she’d rather keep it that way.
“If you’ll be staying for a while, maybe we could get to know each other better.” The boy was handsome like a young fawn, big brown eyes and coppery skin. “Hand me your phone, I’ll input my number.”
“Not a chance in hell,” said Slay just as Rowena replied, “I don’t have a phone.”
I should get one.
He smirked as he kissed the side of her head and plucked the two bags off the counter. “I can’t leave you alone for five minutes, woman. You’re already making me sweat the competition?” To the young man, he added, “Take a hike, Halek.”
The boy glared at Slay. “I work here, you should be the one to leave.”
Ro ignored the interplay, pondering why that surname sounded so familiar. “Wait, are you Sheyla’s little brother? It really is nice to meet you!”
The boy grinned. “So you didn’t mean it when you said it before?”
She laughed more with her eyes than with her mouth and decided not to answer. Slay nudged her gently. “Enough flirting, I’m starved. Let’s go already.”
“Are you jealous?” she asked, delighted.
“Yes.” A blunt response, spoken with a delicious little snarl. “Darvid is harmless and I still want to pull his head off. He should’ve been able to smell me on you.”
Rowena blinked. “You know that’s weird, right?”
“It’s an Animari thing.” Slay nudged the door open, perfectly casual.
“How did you find me, by the way?”
Since his hands were full, she linked her arm with his, something she’d seen couples in Hallowell do. Back then, she was so busy, drilling with the troops, keeping morale up after Ded nearly died, that she hardly had time to breathe.
At last I can make up for lost time.
“Another Animari thing. I could find you in a forest in the dark,” Slay said.
“Should I be happy about that or concerned?” Ro teased.
“I’ll let you be the judge of that.”
As they headed back to the apartment, she decided it was reassuring. Ro hurried ahead to key open the door, noticing that Slay never questioned how she knew the code. She held the door for him and hurried in after to watch in delight as he unpacked the first meal she’d ever bought on her own. Not with my money, but one step at a time.
“Ready to eat?” Slay asked, setting out the food.
She picked up the two cups, peering at them with great interest. “I’m so excited. Do you want the lemon twist or green goer?”
“The fuck is that?” Slay asked.
Rowena shrugged and set one down with a grin. “Too slow, I’m taking the lemon twist.”
“Whatever you want, love.”
Her heart twisted in the best possible way. “You’re so getting laid after I digest my food.”
“Promise?” With a grin, Slay took a huge bite of the turkey sandwich.
He recalled the grim days after the bombing when there was hardly any food to be had, just endless pots of that awful soup. Thanks to Ro, returning to Ash Valley hadn’t been as terrible or tragic as Slay had feared. Even the awkwardness with Dom and Pru had been blunted by the fact that they didn’t need to feel guilty about being happy together when he was miserable and alone. Thanks to Ro, he was neither, anymore.
“I might take a nap too. But once I’m rested, definitely. Maybe even twice.”
“How am I supposed to eat when I’m so hungry for you?” Slay pounced on her, tugging her into his lap and biting gently down the side of her neck.
It wasn’t until afterward that he realized he could’ve scared her with that maneuver, but instead she clung to him and giggled, waving her sandwich around.
She really fucking trusts me.
“Eat your food.” She pushed the turkey club against his mouth and he snapped up half of it playfully.
“You thought I wouldn’t? Don’t underestimate me.”
With mock defiance, she maintained eye contact and devoured the rest and then she fed him cut pieces of fruit: orange segments, apple slices, grapes, and cubes of melon. Slay savored each morsel, licking the juice from each finger. He couldn’t remember when he’d been this happy, no complications, nothing to fear about the future. His only worry was whether she’d stay with him for good.
“I would never,” she said with overly innocent eyes.
Those eyes…
Ro could entice an entire legion to their doom with a glance. Lucan had lost his mind because she didn’t love him, and Tycho Vega let an obsession with her drag him down the path of cruelty and madness. Some assholes would blame Ro for that, because she was beautiful. And Slay would like to punch all of them in the nuts. Then he lost coherent thought when she kissed the spot behind his ear and it took him a minute to remember what he was about to say.
“You know, back in Golgerra when they said you could be queen, it scared me shitless.”
She cocked her head. “What? Why?”
“Because then everything would be on your shoulders. You spent most of your life there, and I want more for you now.”
“That’s so sweet,” she said.
Slay enjoyed the kiss she gave him—on the mouth this time. “But I was completely willing to be your knight, if you’d chosen to take on that responsibility.”
“You’d carry my banner and fight for me?” Her silver-gray eyes shone like moonlight.
“To the death, my queen.”
Slay gazed at Ro until he couldn’t see clearly; her face blurred when he leaned in to kiss her. With Animari reflexes, he caught the half-empty fruit container and put it aside as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Slay pulled her astride his lap, already hard as a steel pylon. Ro squirmed while they kissed, and he tasted the sweetness of apples and grapes on her tongue.
Gods but she feels good.
“I thought you planned to take a nap,” he whispered, running his teeth along the sensitive skin of her throat.
“Suddenly I’m not sleepy. You were starving before. Still hungry?”
“You have no idea,” Slay growled.
Boldly she stood up and pulled her new dress over her head; Slay was amused when she folded it with tender, loving hands and placed it carefully on a side table. It was so typical of Ro. Even in the middle of passionate foreplay, she was careful with things that were precious to her.
Only when she was done did she finish stripping off her sexy new underwear and settle on his lap again. He loved her this way, naked and fearless. Gently he ran his hands down her back, framing the graceful curve and the delicate flare of her hips. She had the softest skin, pale in contrast to the gold of his. When summer came, she’d probably burn.
When she shifted, slowly gliding her pussy against his eager cock, his eyes almost rolled back in his head. So good. Trying to control himself, he held her hips and let her move as she wanted. At this rate, he might come before getting inside her and that was completely fine.
“That’s gorgeous, Ro. Use me.”
“Would you kiss me?” she whispered.