After the Storm (KGI #8)(88)

“Well? What do you think of the wives?” Donovan asked.

“I like them,” Eve replied. “They’re nice.”

Donovan nodded. “They’re the best. No better women anywhere. Fierce. Fighters. Loyal to their bones. They’ll be good friends to you, Eve.”

“I hope so,” Eve said wistfully. “But Donovan, what about Shea? What was that all about? Her communicating with Nathan.” She shook her head in confusion.

Donovan chuckled. “It’s a long story, one I’ll have to tell you sometime. The condensed version is that Shea is a telepathic empath. She and Nathan can communicate telepathically. I know it sounds crazy, but Shea—and her sister Grace—have extraordinary abilities.”

“Wow,” Eve murmured. “You guys certainly don’t lead boring lives.”

Cammie yawned and Travis walked to the couch, holding his arms down for Cammie.

“Ready for bed?” Travis asked Cammie. “I’ll go tuck you in and turn in myself. I’m pretty tired.”

Cammie held up her arms for Travis to pick her up, but Donovan stood, lifting her into his arms.

“You shouldn’t be carrying her yet,” Donovan cautioned. “I’ll take her to your room and get her tucked in. You can crawl in with her afterward.”

Eve watched them go, an ache blooming in her chest as she watched Donovan herd Travis and Cammie to bed. Just like a father pulling bedtime duty. The future flashed before her eyes. Donovan tucking in their own children. Nights spent snuggled on the couch watching movies and just . . . being.

She closed her eyes, savoring the wonderful sensation that hope for the future brought with it. No matter how unlikely it was that she’d enjoy such a future. It still didn’t stop the instant coil of hope that warmed her veins. And she briefly considered that she could be setting herself—and Cammie and Travis—up for a far worse hurt than that wrought by her stepfather.

CHAPTER 26

EVE watched Donovan stride purposely back into the living room, a contented look fixed on his features as if he’d found pleasure in the simple task of putting Cammie to bed with Travis. It instilled a fierce wave of longing deep inside her, in places she hadn’t shed light on in so very long. He gave that to her. Hope for better. For the future. Their future.

As he approached, he didn’t sit back on the couch with her as she might have expected. Instead he stood over where she was nestled comfortably and simply extended his hand down to her, his palm up, inviting her to take hold. His eyes were warm with affection. She liked to think it was love. But she knew it was too soon for that even as she acknowledged that she herself was solidly in love with him. But she knew, or rather she hoped, that he cared for her. He’d said as much. It wasn’t like she was fantasizing. It was just that the idea of assuming anything set her up for inevitable devastation.

“I don’t know about you,” he said as she slid her hand over his. “But I’m ready for bed.”

She smiled up at him. “Tired, are you? That’s too bad.”

He gave her a look that sent a quiver through her belly and up to her br**sts, her ni**les forming taut peaks. But he also looked pleased by her playfulness. And she supposed it would please him since she hadn’t exactly been a ball of laughs since they’d met. But he was changing that. He was changing her. One day at a time. One hour at a time. Each minute that she spent with him she treasured deeply.

“I said nothing about being tired. Only that I was ready to go to bed. With you. Sleep, however, is not on the agenda. At least not right away. But later?” He gave her a lazy smile, his eyes gleaming with purpose. “Yeah.”

A delicate shiver danced over her skin as she let him pull her to her feet. She slid against his body, nestling herself under his arm. His strength vibrated against her, warm and reassuring. She let out a contented sigh as he turned her toward his bedroom.

“Not nervous, are you?” he asked when they entered the room. Had he sensed her hesitation? Just that tiny bit of nerves quaking over her?

He closed the door silently behind them, providing a barrier between them and the rest of the world.

She shook her head and then nodded before shaking it once more.

He chuckled. “Decisive tonight, aren’t you?”

“This is new to me,” she blurted.

His smile turned as warm as his eyes and he pulled her around so they were facing each other, his head lowered, his fingers tipping her chin up to meet his gaze.

“I know it is, honey. I’m not likely to forget what you gave me last night. That I was your first lover. It’s a gift I’ll treasure forever.”

She blushed, her cheeks going warm beneath the heat of his gaze.

“Are you tender today?” he asked gently.

Her cheeks flamed with heat even more, and she ducked her head, pulling from his grasp.

He laughed softly and nudged her chin back up with a tender touch.

“I don’t ask to embarrass you. I just want to know if you’re up for what I have planned.”

She smiled, suddenly shy as his thoughts were broadcast in his smoldering stare.

“I’ll suffer through it.”

“Ah, such a grand sacrifice,” he said, amusement twinkling in his green eyes. “I will endeavor to not make you suffer too badly.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” she said breathlessly.