Page 40 of Awakening Storm

Unable to resist and thinking this may be their final day together, he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her lovely lips. She tasted even better than he’d remembered. “If we get out of this . . .”

Her hands slid up to his biceps, where she dug her nails in, seeming unwilling to forgive him. Then her eyes flashed with lust, and she moved her palms to his chest and up to his jawline. She matched his movements and passionately kissed him back, tangling her tongue with his and finishing with a long, sensual pull on his lips.

They were both breathing hard. “That’swhen. When we get out of here. Wewillfinish this.” She met his gaze with a promise.

He threaded his hand into her hair and brought her close for one more kiss. “Okay.When.”

Dillon cleared his throat. “Now that that’s settled, what’s next?”

Aidan held on to Rhianna as he answered. “We head out.”

“I know you’re coming up with a plan,” Dillon added. “Just wanted to make sure you include us.”

“Yeah,” Steve said, still groggy. “We’ll help. Tell us what to do.”

He turned away. “Sure.” He stared at the guys, silently daring them to contradict him “Bring your weapons.”

A few minutes later, he ushered everyone out the door, then paused. “I want to prepare you . . . If we encounter Theodora, itwillget ugly. You don’t have to go.”

They looked around at one another.

“One corner of Hell is as bad as another,” Dillon said. “I’m in.”

Steve nodded.

“Damn right,” Sean agreed.

“Okay,” Aidan said. “Just don’t expect me to save all your asses.”

Although he knew it wasn’t in him to leave a man behind.

* * *

It had taken them anhour or so to make it to where they had entered this pitiful world. She had a vague feeling that time may not pass the same in this world. So she couldn’t be sure.

Whether they made it or not, she was thankful that he was trying. At least they were doing something other than waiting for the next Game Day. It gave her hope that they could do it, that they would get out of here.

“Hand me your sword,” Aidan said to Rhianna. She held it out to him as he pushed on the elastic wall with his hand. Once he was holding the hilt of the sword, he nudged the barrier with the tip of the blade. He hesitated.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

He pressed his lips together. “I’m just wondering what will happen if Icanslice through the barrier. Will it lead us out of Riam and directly to our world? Or does it lead elsewhere?”

“At this point, it doesn’t matter. It’s the only option we have,” she said with a frown.

No,he thought,it’s the first option we have.

And the easiest. But it was worth testing the theory because other options involved confronting Theodora face-to-face, which was a far more dangerous prospect.

Steve stepped toward them. “What do you think will happen? Perhaps it will exhale us like a balloon does air.”

“Whatever occurs—” Aidan’s brows came together and he scowled at the men “—we get Rhianna out. If something happens to me . . .youget Rhianna out. Understood?”

The three men nodded. “Understood.”

Aidan thrust the sword into the fog that hovered around the barrier. The steel bounced off the elastic structure, almost flying out of his hand.

“Try it slowly,” Rhianna said. “You might be able to use the point to tear it.”