Page 57 of New Nebraska Home

“Hard,” he admitted, keeping his eyes closed. “Osric is working with his family to see what they can do for the halflings in New Nebraska and the Fae who choose to live here in general. He mentioned they had already had talks about some kind of formal education, but that’s a few years off. We need help now.”

“Any ideas?” I asked, running my fingers through his hair. He arched into my touch, and a small, serene smile spread across his lips.

“On how to stop a cult that seemed to crop up out of nowhere and is taking over the minds of what should be rational people? Not a one. All I know is that we’ll keep you and the kid safe until it’s dealt with.”

There was some comfort in that. Between Brock, Cal, and Malik, no one would be able to hurt Leif.

“So about earlier—” I started, and Brock groaned.

“No, don’t say you regret what happened. That was amazing, and I want to do it again… a lot.” The whine in his voice was almost adorable, just like his nose scrunching up as his eyes stayed closed.

“I want it to happen again, too. I just don’t know what it meant.”

“This is a conversation we need to have with everyone, preferably naked.” Brock’s hand massaged my arm, upwards until he got to my neck. He cupped the nape and pulled down as he sat up, making our lips meet in the middle. His kiss wasn’t like it was earlier. This wasn’t about sex or desire. It was affection, pure and simple. “I want to take you out on a date, get dressed up and eat fancy, overpriced food, and then grab a pizza because the restaurant’s portions were tiny. I know Cal wants that, too.”

“Are you and Cal…” My cheeks burned as I tried to figure out how to ask what I was trying to ask.

“Figuring it out just like the four of us are,” he answered, saving me from having to find the right words.

He pulled me into his body and turned us so I was lying on the couch, and he was on top of me. His body was so warm, and being under him, caged in by his firm, lean body and his broad shoulders, made me feel so safe.

“I might not know what’s going to happen, but I know I’m drawn to you, and so is Cal. I also know that dragon can’t take his eyes off of you, and when I am with you and with all of us, I feel stronger. You’re like a drug I just can’t get enough of.”

“Then don’t stop,” I whispered, my body melting into the sofa and my leg wrapping around his.

His lips were pressed against mine again when someone banged on the front door.

I groaned.

“Don’t take this personally, sweetheart, but I fucking hate that goddamned door,” Brock whispered in my ear before getting off of me, leaving me feeling cold and exposed even though I was fully dressed.

“Open up,” a far too familiar voice demanded from the other side of the door.

Brock rolled his eyes as he offered me a hand to help me get to my feet. I went to the door with dread in my gut and opened it to Detective Corkburn and Mr. Zmei.

“Gentleman, how can I help you this evening?” I said with absolutely zero enthusiasm or grace. My grandmother would have been appalled. But if she didn’t like it, she could rise from the grave and deal with these people herself.

“Ma’am, we have a few more questions,” the detective said as he stepped forward. Like I was about to let them in my home.

I was done being courteous and sweet. It wouldn’t work with this detective anyway, and I just didn’t want them in my home. So I moved out onto the front porch, trying not to stare at the blood stain still on the whitewashed wood.

That was another cleanup project I was not looking forward to, but I also didn’t want to be reminded of the death that happened on my property, either.

“What questions can I answer for you?”

“Can you get your… roommates out here as well?” The way the detective spat the word roommates like it left a foul taste in his mouth made my stomach tighten with rage.

I didn’t have to say anything; Brock and Cal walked up behind me. They stood on either side of me, Cal touching the small of my back.

“What’s this about?” I tried again.

“Where were you at the time of the murder?” the detective replied.

For some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Mr. Zmei. The way he watched me made me uncomfortable, as if I were being hunted. “We were home.”

“Where is your other roommate?” Zmei interrupted.

“He went to pick up my brother from a playdate.”

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