Alpha Guardians Books 1-6

Chapter Nine-3

Rhys lifted a skeptical brow but handed the bottle and corkscrew over. When Echo smoothly uncorked the wine and poured it into their glasses, Rhys gave her an appraising glance.

“Useful skill,” he said.

“The worse the day I’ve had, the more useful it gets,” she joked, setting the bottle aside and taking a sip of the wine. It was a bold and fruity Cabernet Sauvignon, and Echo could tell that it was an excellent and expensive vintage.

“You got this from downstairs?” she asked, surprised.

“Ah…” Rhys flashed her another devilish grin. “Actually, I nicked it from Gabriel’s rooms. He always has a fully stocked bar in case he brings a girl home.”

“I can’t judge,” Echo said. “He does have great taste in wine, at least.”

“It’s a world away from the wines I had back in Tighnabruaich. I always liked wine, but this is so much clearer and smoother,” Rhys said, swirling the Cabernet in his glass. “Did you pick a film?”

“I saw that Harry Potter was on your list. Have you seen them?” Echo asked.

“Never.”

“Oh, well we have to watch it, then.”

“I’d think a witch would find them too silly,” Rhys said, giving her a speculative glance. “I thought most young witches devoted themselves to hours of magical practice a day, so I figured you wouldn’t like watching something that made light of that.”

“I like them because they’re silly. Magic wasn’t really something I practiced growing up, so it was still fun for me. Actually… if I were going to be honest, Rhys, I don’t have much control over my powers.”

Rhys sipped his wine and nodded.

“I noticed that you seemed unsure of yourself in the fight,” he said. “I figured you’d tell me if you wanted me to know.”

Echo didn’t respond as the movie started, so Rhys dished her up a plate of steak and vegetables without pushing her further. They ate quietly, growing engrossed in the movie and the food. Duverjay’s cooking had been nothing short of excellent since Echo stepped foot on the Manor’s grounds, and this meal did not disappoint.

After they finished eating, Rhys took the whole tray back to the table and pulled a few oversized pillows off the couch, leaning them against the sofa to create a comfortable spot to lounge.

Without interrupting to movie, he drew Echo to his side, tucking her in beside him and slinging a brawny arm over her shoulders. She leaned into him instinctively, and the combination of the filling meal and his body warmth lulled her to sleep.

When she woke, Harry Potter was long over and Rhys was watching a documentary about Martin Luther King Jr., his expression one of intense focus. Echo’s face was buried in Rhys’s neck, the curtain of her hair flowing over them both. Echo was a little embarrassed that she’d clung to him so in her sleep, though it was to be expected. They’d shared a bed for several nights now, and Echo was pretty sure that she and Rhys were entwined most of those sleeping hours.

Echo allowed herself to take in a few drowsing drags of his wonderful scent before she pulled away, rubbing her face. Thankfully, she hadn’t drooled on him during her steak-induced nap.

“Uh… hey,” she said, feeling a little sheepish.

“Hey to you,” Rhys said. Distracted, he turned his head and brushed his lips over Echo’s cheek, close to her ear. A casual enough touch, but Echo was still sleep-addled. Not to mention that her hormones were completely out of whack because of him; currently her gutter-dwelling mind was urging her to discover what his lips felt like on literally any other part of her body.

Echo stiffened at the touch of his lips, and Rhys dragged his attention away from the movie, looking down at her with a frown of concern. His arm tightened around her shoulders the barest fraction, and their gazes caught and held.

Echo gazed up at Rhys, curiosity welling in her chest. She licked her lips and lifted her chin the barest inch, and Rhys’s bright green eyes darkened with carnal interest. He shifted and leaned down, surprising her by dropping a second kiss on her cheek, just beside her ear again.

Then another, his lips brushing her earlobe this time, the soft bristle of his beard teasing her neck. Rhys brought a hand up, fingers cupping the back of her neck, thumb braced against her jaw. He rolled her head back to expose her throat before pressing his nose and lips to her pulse, a deep rumble escaping from his chest.

His lips and teeth teased her neck at the sensitive spot where it met her shoulder, and Echo’s body truly responded this time. She could feel her breasts tightening with need, n*****s drawing to sharp points. Her skin felt too tight, too hot; a gentle throb began to strum low in her body, matching the rising beat of her pulse.

And yet Rhys had barely touched her. He trailed quick, damp kisses over her neck and shoulder, strong, calloused fingers holding her head in place. Echo let out a pent-up breath and hooked a hand over his shoulder, trying to pull his lips to hers.

Rhys didn’t give an inch, instead brushing his lips along her jawline from her chin up to her ear. He teased her ear with the tip of his tongue, nipping her earlobe and blowing a gentle breath into her ear, driving her crazy. Echo bit her lip and pressed closer to him, clenching her thighs against the ache growing there.

Rhys kissed the very corner of her mouth and her lips parted on a sigh. He tightened his grip on her neck, stopping her restless movements as he dragged his bottom lip over hers, then pulled back when she tried to kiss him back.

“Relax, Echo,” Rhys said. She opened her eyes and gazed up at him, blushing at the intense male satisfaction on his face. She wanted him, yes. And he was toying with her, making sure she knew he was in control.

“Just kiss me,” she demanded, her gaze narrowing to a glare.

“Mmm,” Rhys murmured, noncommittal. “Patience.”

He released her instead, shocking her to the core when he grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it up over her head, tossing it aside. He didn’t ask for permission, but his gaze never left her face as he stroked her arms, her hips, her ribs.

Rhys licked his lower lip as he slid his fingers under her bra straps, pulling and releasing them with a soft snap. Echo’s breathing grew ragged as he skimmed his fingertips over the cups of her bra, and she couldn’t resist arching in to his touch.

“I want to take this off,” Rhys said, hooking one of the cups with a finger and tugging it away from her body.

Echo swallowed, raising her chin to issue her challenge.

“Not unless you kiss me first,” she insisted.

Rhys grinned, and Echo knew she’d said just the right thing.