Chapter Fifteen

Cortney waited in the living room, fighting off sleep. After they’d gone back inside and showered, Ryland had called Draven away on Odyssey business. He’d returned a short while later with a frown marring his handsome face, telling her he would be back in a a few hours. With a quick kiss, he’d handed her the keys to his car, and suggested she and Trista go for a ride and get the stuff she would need for her month at the Odyssey.

That had been hours ago. The sun had set, and her eyelids were heavy, but she didn’t want to go to bed without saying goodnight. She’d already made up her mind that she would go to his room, but she didn’t want to make herself at home. What if he didn’t want her in there when he got back?

She pulled her sweater tighter around her, stifling a yawn. When she and Trista had gone out, she’d had Trista drop her off at her parent’s house so she could fill them in on what was going on. Their reactions to her news about spending a month with the phoenix shifters went over about as well as she’d expected. Her father had yelled and screamed, threatening to go to the Odyssey and shoot every one of them. Of course, he never would. He was a pacifist through and through. He didn’t hunt, and when he fished, he always released his catch, but when it came to his children, he was a papa bear through and through. Her mother had gasped and cried, and then called her sister, who also joined in the drama over the speaker phone.

By the time Trista came back an hour later, she was more than ready to head out. She’d managed to calm her parents, if only just, with the promise to see if she could arrange for them to come to the Odyssey and meet Draven. She didn’t think it would be an issue, but she’d ask just to be sure. Besides, giving them a few days to digest the idea of her possibly mating a phoenix would give them all a bit of peace of mind.

Cortney looked down at the unopened book sitting on her lap. Reading wasn’t going to happen. She was just too tired. Grabbing the throw from the back of the couch, she covered herself. She’d just close her eyes for a few minutes, and if he still wasn’t home, she’d go up to her room.

***

Every one of Draven’s muscles ached. When he’d opened his door to see Ryland standing there, his heart sank. He knew even before the man spoke that something had to have happened. Otherwise, Ry would never have interrupted his time with Cortney. One month wasn’t nearly enough time when so much was at stake. He needed every moment he could get for the budding feelings she might have for him to grow. He already more than liked Cortney. She was strong and spunky. She gave him attitude, and he loved it. There was no doubt in his mind she was meant for him, but he had to convince her of that.

Even though the PMAC brought the mates together, it didn’t guarantee a thing. If the female chose, at the end of the month, she could walk away and never look back. Nothing bound her to the phoenix other than intense sexual need, and even though that was a powerful thing, it wasn’t enough to build a future. Luckily, suitable mates usually had personalities that meshed well with the phoenix.

He smiled as memories of their picnic rose to the forefront of his mind for the hundredth time since he’d left her after lunch. He made his way to his room, hoping like hell she’d chosen to sleep there for the night. Disappointment flared when he found his bed as he’d left it that morning. Empty.

What he needed was a shower, then to find his mate, and then sleep. In that order. The cuts and bruises he’d received while engaging the leader of the trespassers were all but healed, but he didn’t want to go to her with dried blood on his hands, smelling of sweat, and filth.

His muscles ached with the tension balling them up. The phoenixes had refused to speak to him in human form. After a half-assed battle, they had retreated. Something told him this wasn’t over. There was no reason for them to be encroaching on the Odyssey lands. None other than two human women who had yet to be claimed.

Fear for Cortney’s safety filled him. Neither she nor Trista had the phoenix within them to help speed healing or to bring them back to life if need be. Had the strangers made their way to the Odyssey, they would have been vulnerable.

By the time he was done with his shower, most of the tension had washed down the drain along with the water. He toweled off and slipped a pair of track pants on and made his way to her room.

Opening the door, he padded to the bed, only to find it empty as well. His heart stuttered. She’d gone back to town. Had she not come back? She hadn’t wanted to be there initially, but after the time they’d spent in the garden, he’d thought that maybe she was softening to him a little.

Rushing down the stairs, he glanced in his study on his way to the kitchen. Maybe she was hungry and needed a snack. Heaven help him, if he found her, he’d make her a damned bowl full of peas just to see her smile.

He was about to step into the kitchen when a glow of light coming from the living area down the hall caught his attention. The sight that greeted him when he walked in had his heart melting a little. The afghan that was normally on the back of the couch lay on the floor. Cortney was curled up in a little ball on the sofa. She had the hood of her sweater pulled over her head, and her hands tucked into her sleeves The only thing covering her ass was a pair of silky shorts, and on her feet were the brightest, fuzziest pink socks he’d ever seen.

Grabbing the blanket off the floor, he tossed it to the other end of the couch before scooping her up into his arms.

“Draven?”

“Shhh, go back to sleep. It’s late,” Draven told her as he carried Cortney out of the room.

She pressed a soft kiss to the side of his neck and sighed. “I must have fallen asleep while waiting for you.”

“You didn’t have to wait up,” he whispered and kissed the top of her head.

“You know I can walk, right?”

“I’m already there,” he told her. The fact was, he didn’t mind carrying her. If anything, it gave him an excuse to hold her close—one he would use every chance he got.

She pulled her head off his shoulder as he reached the top of the stairs. “Where are you taking me?”

He knew where he wanted to bring her, but it was her call. “Wherever you want.”

She hesitated and glanced up at him. “Your room, please.”

“My room it is.” He didn’t stop until he reached the bed before setting her on her feet so that he could turn his comforter down.

Cortney gave him a little grin, then pulled her hoodie over her head and set it at the foot of the bed. The pajama top she had on was covered in tiny yellow ducks. The same, he now noticed, were on her shorts. He chuckled as she scooted to the middle of the bed, giving him a view of the ducklings on her ass.

“You’re not laughing at my ducks, are you?” she asked as she snuggled under the blankets.

“They’re adorable. Just like you,” Draven said as he flicked off the lamp and climbed in after her. “I’d love to hold you…and your ducks, if you’ll let me.”

She giggled and slid closer. “My fingers are cold,” she warned just before she placed them on his belly.

“Lucky for you, I’m a phoenix, and I tend to run warm. That feels nice.” Yeah, no. Her hands were like ice, but if she wanted to put them on his body, he sure as hell wasn’t going to say no. “Good night, Cortney.”

He felt her grin where she rested her cheek against his shoulder. “Good night.”