LITMIR.BIZ

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Jackson?” She stared into the darkest, most intense eyes she’d ever seen. Eyes that bored straight through to her very soul, as they had the last time he’d pinned her with that same passionate gaze. Heat laced with the adrenaline charging through her system.

      He moved closer. “I was feeling…restless.”

      She inhaled deeply, his rich, earthy scent invading her lungs. Her body betrayed her. Even as she struggled to maintain the scowl, her heart rate accelerated.

      He placed his hands against the wall on either side of her head, effectively caging her between his body and the wall. “I thought I’d check up on you.” He nuzzled her neck, just above her frantically racing pulse. “Make sure you guys were okay.”

      She fought the urge to melt into his arms. “How thoughtful of you.” Definitely too breathless.

      He pulled back, his customary cocky grin firmly in place. “You are a stubborn woman, Ryleigh Donnovan.”

      She lifted a brow. “And don’t you forget it, Mister Maynard.”

      His laughter warmed her in ways she didn’t want to think about, wasn’t yet ready to face.

      His expression sobered quickly as he glanced at Mia’s door. “Is she all right?”

      The concern etched in the depths of his eyes touched her as nothing else could have. His tenderness toward Mia had helped him worm his way into her heart, even when he frustrated her nearly to death.

      “She has nightmares, says there’s violence coming to Cymmera. I don’t know if it’s just bad dreams or something…more.” She really wasn’t ready to contemplate the possibility Mia knew the future.

      Jackson cradled her cheek in his hand. “It’ll be all right. I’ll have Kiara talk to her and check her over.”

      Relief lifted some of the pressure from Ryleigh’s chest. “Thank you.”

      Kiara was the strongest healer in Cymmera. It didn’t hurt that both Ryleigh and Mia liked the soft-spoken woman. And her daughter, Sadie, was adorable. A small glimmer of happiness surfaced at the thought of the rambunctious toddler. Yes. A visit to Cymmera this weekend would be good for her as well as Mia.

      “I miss you, Ryleigh.” He traced the line of her neck with his finger.

      “I miss you too.” What could she say? It was true. But it didn’t matter, nor would it change things.

      “Come home with me.”

      “You know I can’t. Not yet.”

      “Yet?” He grinned and held her gaze.

      She bit her lower lip to keep from smiling back at him.

      Jackson groaned and pushed away from the wall. He turned his back on her and wandered down the hallway into the living room but didn’t bother turning on the light.

      Ryleigh followed but remained silent. This was a sore subject between them. Now that Jackson had taken his father’s place as King of Cymmera, he wanted Ryleigh to rule beside him.

      He finally turned back to face her. “I need you with me, Ryleigh. I need you to take your place at my side.” He raked a hand through his thick, dark hair.

      Even in the dim light cast from the hallway, Ryleigh could make out tufts sticking up. She took a few steps closer to him, reached up and smoothed his tousled hair. “I know. But I can’t now. You know that, Jackson. You said you understood.”

      He gripped her wrist and brought her fingers to his lips. “I do understand. But it doesn’t make it any easier to be without you.”

      “It’s not easy for me either, you know.”

      “Oh no?”

      “No. I miss you. All the time. I think about you constantly. The urge to be with you is overwhelming.”

      He pulled her into his arms.

      She lowered her voice even more. “It scares me. I’m afraid of losing myself.” The confession didn’t come easy. Jackson was a strong man. A warrior. It would be easy to lose her own ambitions, her sense of self, her independence. She lay her cheek against his chest, letting the steady, rapid beat of his heart soothe her.

      Jackson rested his chin on her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pressure you. The desire to claim you is almost irresistible now.”

      She wanted Jackson so badly, wanted to be with him all the time. But her first responsibility was to Mia. She had to stay in her own realm until Mia was strong enough to survive permanently in Cymmera. She’d already resigned herself to the fact she’d one day live there. It seemed her destiny and Mia’s surely lay in that direction. But she hadn’t yet found a way to wrap her mind around her role as queen. It was just too far-fetched.

      Jackson pulled back. He smoothed a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Come with me now.”

      “We just went through all of this. I ca—”

      “Not forever. Just for tonight. Come with me for a while.” He tugged on the hair he still held. “We’ll work on your training, since you’ve probably forgotten everything I taught you.”

      Ryleigh laughed, relieved he’d let the difficult conversation drop. Mia should sleep the rest of the night, didn’t usually get up twice. On the off chance she did, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs would be there. The couple had been kind enough to take them in, and they would take care of her until Ryleigh returned. She shrugged. “Sure. I guess I could go for a little while.” She wouldn’t sleep anymore tonight anyway. “Let me change quick.”

      “Fine, but hurry up about it. I don’t have all night.”

      “Yes, dear.” She rolled her eyes but figured he couldn’t see in the dark.

      He swatted her behind.

      She may have figured wrong.

      “Don’t roll those eyes at me, smart ass. As usual, you underestimate my special powers.”

      She laughed, not quite sure if he really could see more clearly in the darkness or just knew her well enough to expect the gesture.

      Jackson followed her down the hallway to her bedroom.

      She opened the door but then stopped short and glanced over her shoulder. “Give me the bat, though. I want to put it away first. Otherwise I might forget, and I won’t have it if I need it.”

      Jackson frowned. “What bat?”

      A chill prickled her skin. He didn’t seem to be playing. “I propped a baseball bat outside Mia’s door when I went in to her.” It only took a split second to realize he didn’t know. She reached for the light switch.

      This time, when he clamped a hand around her wrist, his grip held none of the tenderness his earlier touch had. “Shhh…” He pulled her against him and pressed his lips close to her ear. She strained to hear his whisper over the blood roaring in her ears. “Go get Matt up. Now. I’ll get Mia.”

      She opened her mouth to protest, but he clamped his hand over it. “Now.” His urgent whisper propelled her toward the Jacobs’ door.

      * * * *

      Jackson resisted the urge to search the house. It wasn’t easy. As he crossed the few feet to Mia’s door, his hand itched to grip his sword, but he ruthlessly tamped down the need. He had to get the girls to safety first.

      He threw Mia’s door all the way open. Darkness crouched in the corners despite the overhead light. “Mia.” He called her name as he crossed the room, hoping not to frighten her, even as he pushed back the covers.

      Her eyes shot open before he could call her a second time. “Jackson?” She sat up and swung her feet off the bed. “What’s wrong? Where’s Ryleigh?”

      “Come with me. Quickly. Stay quiet.” He grabbed her upper arm and pulled

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