Ryker led GiGi outside to the front porch to give the new family time alone. His wife had been exceptionally quiet since the birth of little Jolyon.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“There’s no ‘of course’ about it, GiGi. This is the first time you’ve been around a birth since you… since our…” Ryker found himself getting emotional and was unable to continue. He hadn’t allowed himself to grieve. If he dug deep enough, he knew the reason was because he couldn’t let himself fall apart. If he lost it in the middle of an undercover op, he’d have blown his disguise. Maybe he didn’t feel as if he deserved to grieve with all that had happened, all he’d caused with his selfishness. At the time, he told himself he was doing it for the good of the magical community. Now, he wasn’t so sure it wasn’t just a selfish desire to play action hero.
She rested her hand on his arm. “Ryker, look at me.”
He blinked and swallowed a few times before tearing his gaze from the treeline. The compassion and understanding on her face were like a dagger to his gut. His insides clenched, and sweat broke out on his upper lip. With a shake of his head, he inhaled deeply, taking longer to exhale.
“I guess I didn’t realize how much it would affect me, too,” he told her gruffly.
“I know. I found it difficult to go anywhere there were babies and small children for years afterward.” She tucked in against his side and stared out over the property. “We can’t replace him, but maybe we can move forward.”
“Yes.” He rested his cheek atop her head. “That’s my fondest wish.”
They held each other in silence, wrapped in their own pain, yet able to share in the grief at the same time. Minutes ticked away as the sounds of nighttime played an off-beat tune.
“Why haven’t we been attacked by now? They were on the way, and then they weren’t?” GiGi’s question was whisper-soft.
“I’ve got Nash and Knox looking into it. I’m waiting for Alastair to check back in.”
“Have you heard from him since he went to the clearing?”
He shook his head.
Her body tensed within his embrace. “Let’s go.”
“GiGi, we can’t go off half-cocked.”
“He’s the last of my immediate family. I’m not going to let anything happen to him,” she argued.
When she tried to pull away, he held onto her upper arms. “Think about this. If you go there with Beecham’s men present, you put a target on your back.”
“I’m not going to stand by and do nothing.”
They glared at each other in frustrated silence. As she opened her mouth to argue further, the air around them became charged. Their eyes locked, and they held their collective breath, waiting for the arrival of what would be multiple witches. If it was Beecham’s army, then Autumn and her baby were vulnerable to attack.
When Alastair stepped on the porch with a guard at his back, they both released a sigh of relief.
“How’s Autumn?” Alastair asked his sister.
“She has a healthy baby boy. Preston Jolyon Carlyle.”
Taken aback, Alastair could only stare. Finally, he grinned. “How did you manage to make the cut?” He asked Ryker.
“I’m clearly the cooler uncle.”
“Pfft. I rescued her from the dungeon and saved that useless boy she calls a husband,” Alastair argued with a twinkle in his eye.
“I provided the key.” Ryker shrugged. “What can I say? Jolly Ollie is much more fun than stuffy old Uncle Alastair.”
His friend’s eyes narrowed, and Ryker grinned in response.
“I’ll rectify the matter when I see my grand-nephew,” Alastair promised.
“What did you find out about Autumn’s labor causing the earthquakes?” GiGi asked.
“The child will be an earth elemental. Apparently, a Thorne and a Carlyle make a very powerful little witch together.”
“Wonderful,” GiGi muttered. “Let’s hope he has a sweet disposition, or he’ll destroy all of Leiper’s Fork during a temper tantrum one day.”
Lifting his hand to reveal a rolled parchment, Alastair smiled. “I have the solution here from the Goddess herself. It’s meant to counterbalance his magic in the event he loses control. I’ll have both Keaton and Autumn memorize the spell and then put it in their grimoire for safekeeping.”
“Is it from the Book of Thoth?” Ryker removed the spell from Alastair’s hand, unrolled it, and studied what was written there. “Hmm.”
“What?” His wife crowded closer to read the words on the scroll.
“Change a few words around, and you could make him even stronger.”
“What?” Both Alastair and GiGi stared at him in slack-jawed disbelief.
Alastair was the first to recover. “What do you mean?”
“Here.” Ryker pointed. He didn’t dare speak the spell aloud because he didn’t want to activate it. “Switch moderate with amplify, and you could essentially ramp up his power.”
His wife looked like he’d taken a bat to her. “Will the gods and goddesses allow him that much power?”
“Isis gave Knox the power of a God, and Quentin is descended from Zeus.” Alastair didn’t look worried. “As long as he’s as even-tempered as my son-in-law, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
“Jolyon is Autumn’s son. He’s bound to be testy on occasion,” she argued.
Ryker rolled up the scroll and handed it back to Alastair. He faced his wife and pressed his forehead to hers. “Let’s not borrow trouble, sweetheart. For now, we give this to Keaton to do with as he sees fit. Then, we find a bed and get some much-needed sleep. It’s been an insanely long day.”
Alastair snapped his fingers. “I almost forgot.” From his pocket, he pulled a small, intricately made piece of jewelry. The size of the chain meant it was made for a baby. “Isis wanted me to gift Autumn’s son with this anklet.”
Ryker knew the gift was an oddity, but remained silent. The Goddess had reasons for her actions, and to question her motives wouldn’t go over well.
“It’s lovely,” GiGi breathed as she touched the piece. “What are these symbols?”
“That’s Spring’s department. But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s to keep the baby from reducing the estate to rubble if he cries for a bottle,” Alastair said with a wry half-smile. “I’ll have her decipher them in the morning. In the meantime, you two go get some rest. I’ll stay here with David and John to guard the Carlyle estate.” He’d indicated his security team with a nod of his head.
“Since we are essentially homeless, we’ll head back to Thorne Manor. If you need us, call. I doubt I’ll get much sleep tonight,” Ryker told him. He shot an inquiring look at his wife. When she nodded, he gathered her close and called his magic to teleport them to her family’s home.
As they materialized in the driveway, they paused to look up at the old girl. Ryker had always admired the Victorian architecture of the manor, and with lights pouring from the large windows, it made the place welcoming. Walking into the Thorne house always made him feel like he’d come home.
“What are you thinking?” GiGi asked softly as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“It’s good to be welcomed back here.” He heard the catch of her breath and reached for her hand. “Let’s go to bed and figure out the rest of the world’s problems tomorrow, okay?”
She nodded and walked with him toward the large mahogany door, pausing before turning the knob. “You’ll always be welcome here, Ryker. You always were, regardless of what went on with us. It’s our family, and they love you. You’ll never be without them.”
His throat worked convulsively as he tried to swallow back his gratitude at her easy acceptance. Except for a few cousins, the Thornes were the only people he considered family. GiGi hit the issue dead center regarding the loss of that connection.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” he whispered gruffly. It was all he could manage without bawling like a baby.
Inside, they conversed with Zane and Winnie to make sure all was secure then headed up to a spare bedroom. Once they were alone, uncertainty struck. GiGi avoided eye contact as her hands flitted about.
“GiGi.”
She paused what she was doing and glanced back at him.
He strode to her side and caressed her jawline. He could feel the tension along her neck and gently rubbed the tense muscles at its base.
“This is the first time we haven’t been at odds in years. Finding a new normal will take time. In the meantime, I’m not going to pounce on you like an animal.”
The light frown cleared from her brow when she smiled. “Maybe I’m wondering how to entice you to pounce like an animal,” she teased.
“At any other time, you only have to say the word,” he assured her. “But at this particular moment, we both need sleep.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Wake me in two hours. I swear I’ll be as animalistic as you can handle.”
GiGi laughed at the promise in his low growl. She lifted her fingers and, with a simple wave of her hand, changed into a leopard-print set of pajamas that left little to the imagination. Ryker mentally debated if he was really as exhausted as he’d initially thought.
“Goddess, you know how to tempt a man.”
Her self-satisfied smirk nearly did him in. “Come to bed, darling. I want to snuggle close.”
“Sounds like my idea of heaven.”
As tired as she was, GiGi found it difficult to sleep. Listening to Ryker’s steady breathing brought back the memories of their early years together. He used to cuddle her back to his chest with his arms wrapped loosely around her. Tonight, the position was exactly the same, and those strong arms were tighter, as if even in his sleep, he feared she’d leave. But for her, who’d been without anyone in her bed for longer than she cared to think about, it was odd.
He had been correct when he said they needed to find a new normal. She’d been independent far too long. Another thing she’d revisited today was the loss of their child. Holding Autumn’s newborn brought back all the love and grief she’d felt for her own baby boy. He’d been perfect just like little Jolyon.
A single tear escaped from the corner of her eye and dropped on the firm, warm arm beneath her cheek.
“Why are you crying?” Ryker’s soft, husky question made her jump.
GiGi hastily brushed at her eyes. “The events of today got to me a bit. I’m being a sentimental old fool.”
“Jolyon.” He stated the name flatly as if it were a forgone conclusion.
Twisting in his embrace, she tried to see his expression in the dark. “It isn’t just the baby. I’m finding it difficult to sleep in general tonight. The attack on our homes, the baby, our reconciliation. It’s all replaying through my mind.” She lightly ran her fingernails through his short beard. “But why are you awake? Surely a single tear didn’t pull you from sleep.”
“I slept the prerequisite two hours to recharge my body. Making love with you was too good to pass up. Sleep be damned. A promise is a promise.”
His sexually charged tone sparked an answering fire within her.
“I love a man of his word,” she murmured as she leaned closer to nip his lip.
“Then I’m your man.”
“Yes, you are. My man. All mine.”
He grinned, and GiGi could only assume it was because of her possessiveness. The teasing light dimmed in his eyes, and he rubbed a thumb over her lower lip.
“I don’t want to be an insensitive ass here. If you need to talk about anything, I’m happy to listen.”
Pure love flooded her entire being. He meant what he said. Despite the fact that they hadn’t made love in ages, Ryker would put aside his own wants to ease her mind.
“Nope, I’m good.” She pressed a kiss to the pad of his thumb. “Now, how about we get busy? We’ve waited long enough, don’t you think?”
“That right there is why I love you, sweetheart. You are a woman of action.”
She released a low, sultry laugh and reached between them to stroke the length of his erection. “Oh, I do love action.”
As GiGi encircled and caressed him, slowly running her palm to the tip of his penis and down to the base in a sensual, repetitive move, Ryker moaned her name. She explored his muscular chest with her free hand and placed lingering, loving kisses wherever she touched. Taking the tight bud of his nipple between her teeth, she gently bit down. His body’s reaction was swift, and his dick twitched within her grasp.
“Dear Goddess, woman! I forgot how good that felt.”
“Mmm. How about how good this feels?” She took him into her mouth, gently sucked, then swirled her tongue over the head.
“Yep,” he croaked out. “That, too.”
She worked him with her hand and mouth until his hips bucked and he shuddered his release. Ryker panted through his recovery, and GiGi crawled up his body to nuzzle the column of his throat.
“How’s that for action?” she teased.
His wide grin spoke for him. “In approximately… one minute… when I… can breathe again,… I’m going to… rock… your… world,” he assured her.
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
She squeaked her surprise when he tumbled her onto her back.
“Start the countdown.”
“Sixty… fifty-nine… fifty—oh!” She released a happy sigh when his lips claimed hers. Ryker was the best kisser. The perfect amount of aggression without banging teeth or making her feel as if she were fighting for survival, but with enough passion to steal her wits. Nor was it sloppy wet or clammy, but contained enough slip to make the dance of their tongues effortless and erotic. He always tasted of fresh peppermint. When he pulled away, his lips lingered the perfect amount of time, and the small nip of his teeth on her swollen lip sent a shockwave of lust straight to her lady bits.
His large, warm hand covered her naked breast, and GiGi had the presence of mind to acknowledge he’d magically done away with her clothing.
“Smooth move, babe,” she said, voicing her approval.
“Well, as sexy as your sleepwear is, it was getting in my way.” His mouth closed over her breast as he kneaded the fullness.
“I’ll give you one hour to stop doing that,” she moaned.
His husky chuckle added to the wetness at the apex of her thighs. Wicked and knowing, Ryker’s light laughter turned her on like nothing else. That sinful sound of amusement promised her all sorts of wonderful pleasure, and her body had a Pavlovian response.
He explored every inch of exposed skin with his hands and mouth, both front and back. Cupping and massaging the muscles of her ass, he teased her core with a thumb or a finger across her clit. The touch was intermittent and pushed her to the limit. She was a moaning, groaning, gooey mass of want, and when he turned her flat on her back and slowly entered her, GiGi wanted to scream her encouragement.
“Please, Ryker,” she breathed out. “Please.”
The feeling of fullness produced by their joined bodies expanded out and swept her nerve endings. When he would’ve withdrawn to thrust again, she tightened her thighs around him and held him in place.
“Wait. I want to savor this moment.”
Instead of pulling back, he shifted his hips forward. Her name on his lips was like a benediction. A spiritual and near-religious awakening of her soul. Their eyes met and held, and in those heart-melting eyes of his, GiGi saw the depth of his love. She imagined her eyes were the mirror of his, differing only in color.
He began to move again, slowly at first and increasing his pace to match the thrust of her own hips. She looked down to where their bodies became one. What she expected to see, other than the norm, she didn’t know, but surely it should have been something more magical than mere body parts for the sensation and pleasure she experienced.
She ran her hands up the sinewy forearms braced on either side of her, and up over the bulkier brawn of Ryker’s biceps and triceps to where his shoulder met the column of his throat. She traced the corded muscles there for a second before lacing her fingers in the thick curls at the base of his neck. Digging in, she pulled him down for one of the kisses that never failed to sear her insides.
He bent his arms and rested his weight on her, never losing rhythm. One hand cupped the back of her calf and dragged it above his hip while he fingered her intimately and drove her to the brink. He lifted his head, his lips a mere inch from her ear, and whispered, “Come for me, GiGi.”
His softly spoken words were roughened by his desire and sent her straight over the edge. She experienced her most powerful orgasm to date. She flung her arms wide and arched up as the magic from within her cells struggled for release. Light shot from her fingertips and lit the room with a soft rose glow.
Ryker’s strong arms held her tightly to his chest as his orgasm followed closely on the heels of hers. She could feel the cool night air pick up speed as the current flowed around them, lifting them both a foot off the bed.
Lamps and vases rocked back and forth on hard surfaces, and the filmy, cream curtains blew parallel to the floor. She may have heard someone outside yell, “What the fuck?” before she got control of her magic and settled them back on the mattress.
“Oops, my bad,” she whispered.
She felt Ryker’s lips twitch against the skin of her throat and found herself unable to contain a giggle.
“What do you suppose happened out there?”
He chuckled as he rolled onto his back. “A mini tornado?”
She bit her lip to keep the laughter at bay, and when he shifted to his side and rested his head in the palm of his hand to stare down at her, she remembered why this magnificent man was perfect for her. The deviltry in his eyes spoke to her as nothing else ever had.
“I love you, Ryker.”
“That’s good because I’m not going anywhere ever again, and you’re stuck with me.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“And?”
“And I love you, too, sweetheart.”
“Excellent.”