Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,72

in his big-shouldered tapering silhouette and bit my bottom lip. His eyes shifted to me, and he sighed in frustration before grabbing my chin and rotating my head so that my gaze was away from him and on our intruder. Jules leaned against the door frame with a smug smile on her face. She peered at us with a strategic coldness.

“I guess your all-night picnic with Jacob ended in Cyler’s bed,” she sneered while looking me up and down. “How devastatingly scandalous !”

I still wore my outfit from the day before. The thin blue straps became loose and stretched in my sleep, causing one to slide off my shoulder, revealing my generous cleavage. We looked downright disgraceful, despite our formerly innocent intentions. I briefly thought of Cyler’s sleepy yet demanding grasp on my butt, and the heat of embarrassment filled me.

“Get OUT!” Cyler ordered while throwing a pillow at her. Jules laughed as she walked away while humming to herself. I turned to face Cyler, but he avoided my gaze.

“We’ve got to do something about her. I’m making her new home a priority on Kemper’s building list!” His yelling caused me to flinch. I scooted closer to him and bravely wrapped my arms around his waist. Anger spilled through him like a stain, and I desperately tried to fix the blemish that was Jules Black.

I rested my chin on his shoulder and felt him relax under my hold. A small part of me liked that I could relax him. It gave me a sense of power I've never felt before. Eventually, the anger fled his body, and he began to sit without the hold of fury and a monotonous craving formed between us.

“Ignore her, that's what I do,” I mumbled in a gentle tone while breathing in his scent. The hint of smoke stuck to his clothes, reminding me of the infected walker. I pulled away and peered into Cyler’s eyes.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked while scrutinizing his appearance .

“Better than I’ve slept in years, babe.” The reply was followed by a cheeky grin and knowing look. His long hair was crimped and frizzy, showing evidence of his excellent sleep.

“I slept well, too. You make me feel safe, Cy,” I said truthfully, while shifting the blankets over my chest. Cyler eyed me and lifted a hand to adjust the strap of my dress. With tentative fingers, he pulled it higher up on my shoulders. His large hands lingered near my collarbone, lightly stroking the frame of my neck and causing a series of fireworks to erupt and shatter my senses.

“You can’t say things like that to a man, babe.”

“Why not?” I asked, although already feeling the hidden meaning of his words. Once again, I was dancing between the line of what was right and what I wanted.

“Because he just might fall in love with you.” His voice was hoarse and spoke volumes about the intensity of this moment. I felt like Cyler and I were standing on the edge of the cliff, and both of us were daring the other to jump; to admit that there was more between us than friendliness.

However, neither of us leaped and said what we wanted to. We separately got ready for the day, then made our way downstairs in time for a late snack. Awkwardness hung between us like a heavy fog.

After sleeping most of the day away, I felt refreshed despite Jules’ intrusion. Downstairs, Kemper was typing away at the kitchen table, and Cyler immediately began discussing with him plans to relocate Jules into a new home—on the complete opposite side of the province.

Maverick was cooking omelets and taking our orders when my tablet rang throughout the room, causing everyone to halt what they were doing immediately.

The only person that called me was Josiah, and we hadn’t spoken since I was abducted and used as a pawn in the Emperor’s games. Everyone stilled and stared at me, eager to see what I would do. An inner conflict made me pause. Josiah was my oldest friend, but his betrayal still stung .

The guys intently watched as I glided over to my tablet and answered the video call. In another time, I might have excused myself and relished in the privacy and comfort of Josiah, but I didn’t feel those familiar flutters of lust or even familiarity. I didn’t know him, not really.

Besides, even from across the tablet, fear spread through me like a vibrating tone, reminding me of how he clutched me and