by Kris Delake
“Whatever,” he said and put his other hand on top of their clasped one. “Fauchet confessed. Liora’s dead. And Kerani is still with us. Thanks to you.”
“And you. Thanks to you.” Rikki swallowed against a dry throat. “Thank you for getting me out of the Guild.”
“My pleasure,” he said. “I promised you a hotel room.”
“You promised me room service,” she said.
“I promised you a different kind of service,” he said.
“Is that what you’re here for?” she asked a little more seriously than she planned. “A bit of service, and then you’ll return to the Guild.”
“No,” he said. “I’m staying with you. I’m not leaving your side. Ever.”
“Even if I told you to go?” she asked.
He looked so fierce. “Even then.”
She smiled. “Good. Because I want you here.”
“Good,” he said in the same tone. “Because I realized something these last few days, Rikki.”
She had to turn her head to see him better. The tousled hair, the blue, blue eyes. She had come to trust that face. She had come to trust him.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I love you,” he said. “You were right, what you said to Liora. I didn’t think I could love anyone. But I love you.”
Rikki felt warm, suddenly, and safe, for the first time, maybe ever. He had told her he loved her. So she could tell him how she felt too.
But wouldn’t it sound like she was parroting him? Like she was just saying it?
Then she decided she didn’t care how it sounded, because it was true.
“I love you too,” she said. “I knew it in my apartment. But I didn’t want to tell you.”
“Because you didn’t trust me,” he said.
She shook her head. “Because I didn’t trust myself.”
He grinned, and the look made all the exhaustion leave his face. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
“You’re extremely trustworthy, Rikki,” he said.
“Yeah, that’s why your friends targeted me.”
“First,” he said, “they weren’t my friends. And secondly, they targeted you because I complained about you. You kept crossing my path. They figured they could use it to show that you were going after Kerani and you were using me to do so.”
“Devious people,” she muttered.
“Yeah,” he said. “But no match for you.”
“I’m devious?” She could be, she supposed. She preferred not to be, though.
“No,” he said. “You’re brilliant. And it was my mistake that I hadn’t realized just how brilliant you are. Forgive me?”
“As long as you don’t expect me to join the Guild.” She sounded like a petulant child, but she didn’t care. “I don’t like it, Misha.”
“I know,” he said. “You don’t have to join.”
“Which means we can’t be together,” she said softly.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because you can’t leave,” she said. “The Guild, it’s part of you.”
He nodded. “It is. It’s where I grew up. But people leave home all the time, Rikki. And I want to be with you. If you’ll have me.”
Silly question. She smiled at him. “Only if you promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked, looking oh so serious.
“Room service.”
He smoothed the hair off her forehead, and then he kissed her. Hard. Passionately. And that woke up all of her.
“Your wish is my command,” he said and proceeded to fulfill his promise. Several times—and in a variety of fun and interesting ways.
About the Author
Kris DeLake is one of writer Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s many pen names. In addition to writing as Kris DeLake in romance, Rusch also writes romance as Kristine Grayson (who specializes in paranormals) and Kristine Dexter (who prefers romantic suspense). In mystery, Rusch writes as the Edgar- and Shamus-nominated Kris Nelscott. In science fiction and fantasy, Rusch is known by her real name. She’s a bestselling double Hugo winner in science fiction. To find out more about her work, including her popular nonfiction blog, go to www.kristinekathrynrusch.com.
The Storm That Is Sterling
by Lisa Renee Jones
He’s her best weapon…
Sterling Jeter has remarkable powers as the result of a secret experiment to create a breed of super soldiers. Now he has to use everything he’s got to help beautiful, brilliant Rebecca Burns, the only astrobiologist alive who can save humanity from a super-enhanced, deadly street drug.
Sterling and Rebecca’s teenage romance was interrupted, and now they’re virtually strangers. But the heat and attraction are still there, and even entrapment by an evil enemy can’t stop them from picking up their mutual passion right where they left off…
Praise for The Legend of Michael:
“Jones launches a new series with this thrilling story of love and determination in a society on the brink of war…Readers will be hooked.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
“Awesome series…plenty of action and romance to keep you glued to your seat…An auto-buy for me.” —Night Owl Romance, Reviewer Top Pick
For more Lisa Renee Jones, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com