Page 55 of Searching for her Heart
“Several actually. There are the Silverthorn princes in thenorth, and the Highcrest kings and queen in the south. The west are the Barclay kings and queen. Then, of course, there are the high queen and kings.”
“Wow, I had no idea there was anything like that here. Guess there’s still a lot for me to learn, huh?”
“Don’t worry, you have us to help you.”
“Okay, so back to my question, are you really okay giving up your job working with skyreachers to come with me?”
He nods, grabbing my hand. “Yes, Pen, as I said before, I have nothing back there for me. I’ll admit I did enjoy living in Maplewick, especially since my parents aren’t there anymore, but I can be happy anywhere, as long as I’m with you.”
God, this man was too perfect. “Marry me?” I mumble, making him laugh.
“Of course, Red. I’ll marry the heck out of you.” I giggle, thinking how that’s the best response I’ve ever had to that question. The one I normally ask as a joke.
“Do you want to tell me what happened with your parents?” I ask gently, not sure if he wants to open up about it yet.
He sighs before speaking. “There isn’t much to tell.”
“You said you had a falling out? What was it about?”
“They were never able to conceive again after having me. And when I turned nineteen, they had friends who had two sons, who were twenty and twenty-three. They wanted me to join with them, so we’d have a better chance at attracting a mate. I wasn’t completely opposed to the idea, but I had known these guys my whole life, and never got along with them. I didn’t really want to spend the rest of my life living with them. And when they said they planned to join the mating hunt, well, I refused. My parents got so angry with me, telling me I’d never meet a nice girl if I didn’t join them, that they were my only shot at a family and giving our family a good name and giving them grandchildren. We haven’t spoken since.”
“Oh, Ryker, I’m so sorry you had to go through that all alone.”
“It was worth it, as it brought me to you.” I look up at him in surprise and he smiles, leaning down to kiss me.
“One day we can go back there and show them your amazing wife and bundle of children and rub it in their faces.”
He barks out a laugh. “Bundle? How many is a bundle?”
“At least three.”
“Hmm, I was thinking more like six or seven.”
“Ry!”
I swat him playfully in the chest before hearing another sexy voice join our conversation. “I like the sound of that, let’s get started tonight.”
“Brax!” I yell excitedly, jumping up and throwing my arms around him. He hugs me back and kisses me on the head.
“Hi Baby, you have fun with Ryker?”
“Yes! It was so much fun.” I smile over at Ryker, and he winks at me.
“Alright, well, it’s my turn now, say goodbye, you’ll see him again in a couple hours.”
“Bye, Ryker, thank you so much for the amazing date.” He stands and I throw my arms around his neck as he kisses me deeply.
He breaks the kiss but keeps his lips right in front of mine as he whispers, “Love you, Penny.”
“Love you, Ryker.” He gives me a quick peck before turning me and gently pushing me towards Brax.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” he calls to us as he leaves, making me laugh.
“I guess we can do anything then,” I tell Braxton.
He looks down at me with a serious expression. “What? Is something wrong?”
“No,” is all he says as he bends down and grabs my waist andpicks me up, setting my feet on the bench where I had just been sitting. It puts me at eye height with him.
