Chapter Thirteen

Cortney woke to the smell of freshly baked bread and bacon. A small part of her, the one that wasn’t ravenously hungry, wanted to burrow under the blankets and wait until Draven came looking for her. The other decided it was time to haul her ass out of bed and hit the shower. If the amount of sunlight streaming into her room was anything to go by, it was closer to noon than it was breakfast.

She vaguely remembered Draven slipping out of her bed that morning. Like a true gentleman, he’d held her while she’d slept and done nothing more than kiss her temple once or twice. As odd as it had been sleeping with a practical stranger, the tender gestures had warmed her heart more than a little.

Everything was quiet when she got out of the shower, but the delicious smells lingered in the air, making her stomach growl. An image of Draven standing in the kitchen wearing nothing but an apron flitted through her mind. Now that was a sight she could get up early for. Just because she’d never been a morning person didn’t mean she couldn’t change her ways. She giggled at the thought, only to stop herself short. It wouldn’t matter. She wouldn’t be there long enough to warrant changing her sleep habits.

Dressed in her comfiest jeans and an oversized shirt, she made her way to the kitchen just in time to see Draven close the lid on a picnic basket.

“Good morning.”

He turned to face her, a huge smile lighting his face and making his eyes crinkle a little at the corners. “Yes, it is a very good morning,” he agreed.

“Oh? What happened? I’m sorry I missed it.”

Draven closed the distance between them and kissed her cheek. “Nothing. But you’re here. And that makes it an amazing morning in and of itself. Are you ready for lunch?”

She wanted to bristle at his cheeriness and tell him to point her to the coffee, but her grin broke free at his boyish excitement. “Does it involve fresh bread and bacon?” she asked.

He took her hand and led her to the picnic basket. “And coffee.”

“A man after my own heart,” she said with an exaggerated sigh.

“So, is that a yes?”

“It is. Where are we going?” Cortney asked when Draven took her out through a different door leading toward the back of the building.

“Our private garden. I didn’t get to show you yesterday, and you can’t see it from the turret we were on.” He led her down a long hallway with doors on either side. Most of them were closed, but the few that remained open were unfurnished.

“What are these, bedrooms?”

“Just empty rooms now. Back when the Odyssey lived under one roof, these rooms were designated for the unmated males. The mated couples and families lived in the main part of the castle. After we’ve eaten, I can give you a better tour if you want.”

There was so much history within the castle walls. She’d be crazy not to grab hold of the opportunity and learn more about his people. “I’d like that.”

He took them straight to the end of the hall where an ornate set of wooden doors led to the garden. If she could call it that. She couldn’t have found a more picture-perfect garden in a magazine for the rich and famous. Every shrub, every flower, every blade of grass, it seemed, were perfectly manicured.

“It’s beautiful.”

“But?” he asked, the brightness in his eyes dimming a little as he brought her down a winding path leading around some tall, flowering hedges. The pale pink blossoms sweetened the air with their delicate fragrance.

“No, really it’s stunning, but I’m afraid to step on the grass,” she finally admitted.

“Don’t be,” he said, laughing as he shook his head. “A few of the women enjoy gardening, and tend to all this, but it’s a garden to be enjoyed. The kids love playing hide and seek here.”

She could just imagine the squealing laughter of her niece and nephew as they chased each other around the hedges.

“What’s the matter? Don’t you like children?” he asked her as he led her to the center of the garden.

“I do,” she told him as she settled onto a blanket already waiting for them. “My sister has a girl and a boy. I love them to bits.”

“They’ll love it here,” he said as he pulled a thermos from the basket, then proceeded to fill a cup before handing it to her.

She wrapped her fingers around the mug and brought it to her nose. There was just something about the smell of coffee that made every morning a little brighter.

He handed her a small bottle. “Cream for your coffee.”

“Thank you,” she said as she added some to her cup.

He waited until she had taken a sip before pulling out a plate. “The toast is cold by now, but I hope the sandwiches will still be good.” He took the wrap from the plate and sat it between them.

Cortney looked at the sandwiches he’d prepared and up at him again. “How did you know?” She grabbed a piece of her favorite, toasted BLT, and took a bite. Mayo squished out from between toast. Not too much, but enough that she could taste it. She closed her eyes and moaned. So good.

“I wish I could say it was all me, but I’ll admit, I went to Trista for the information.” His cheeks reddened.

She licked a spot of mayo from her bottom lip and smiled. He was trying, she had to give him that. “It was very thoughtful, thank you. I love this. All that’s missing is a big bowl of peas.”

Draven stopped with his hand midway to his mouth as he prepared to take a bite. “Peas?”

She nodded and smiled. “Yeah, I love them. I could eat a whole bowl of them for a meal and be happy.”

His eyes sparkled, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “I’ll be sure to remember that.”

By the time they were done eating, Draven had her rolling on the blanket she was laughing so hard. The things he’d gotten into as a child would have given her parents a stroke, but then the stakes were a little different when you couldn’t easily die.

She looked up at him from where she lay on the blanket, her laughter dying on her lips. The passion shining in his eyes was enough to melt every stitch of clothing on her body. Her gaze darted to his smiling mouth. He’d taken care of her needs the day before. Twice. He hadn’t, as far as she knew, taken care of his pleasure. She sat, heart racing, and closed the gap between them.

His eyes widened, and he drew a sharp breath before she claimed his lips.