Page 61 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck

Drest stepped over the broken umbrella and ushered me toward the front door. He stopped and retrieved my heels and then hurried me to the door, only to stop just outside of it. “Wait. How did you get the door to open?”

“I unlocked it,” I said, not following.

“Yes, I get that,” he responded. “But how?”

A small, nervous laugh came from me. “What? Did you weld it shut with magik?”

“Yes,” he said blankly. “I did. And it shouldn’t have opened until I released the spell.”

“Wait, you really did solder it shut mystically?” I asked.

He nodded. “I did.”

Torid came rushing toward us from inside, clearly having used the back entrance.

“Anything?” asked Drest.

I held my breath, unsure if I wanted him to have found evidence of a robed man or not. If he did, it meant I hadn’t imagined it—but it also meant a robed man had been at the back door for God only knew what reason.

“Noooossss,” responded Torid.

I frowned. Was I still so traumatized by what my uncle had done that I was imagining robed men? Had I even seen them to begin with, years ago, with Nile?

Drest held my heels in one hand and took my hand with his other. He winked and offered a warm smile. “Let’s head on in, hon.”

ChapterTwenty-One

Rachael

I flippedthe main light off in Astria’s room, leaving her night light on, and closed the door, knowing she was in good hands with Torid. Once we’d gotten inside, Drest had insisted on checking all the doors and windows, more to set my mind at ease than his, I’m sure. And Torid had followed me up to Astria’s room.

Amice had been right. She really could sleep through anything.

As I turned around, I found Drest there. My breath caught.

He took my hand in his. “Sorry. I thought you heard me.”

I shook my head.

“Is she asleep?” he asked.

I nodded.

He grinned.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” I said softly. “The screaming and worrying you bit. I really thought I saw someone.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Rach,” he said. “I’m just thankful you’re okay and that you weren’t in danger.”

I was fighting so many emotions that I wasn’t sure what I felt at the moment. “Ever notice you’re always there when I need you?”

“And I always will be,” he said with a wink as he kept hold of my hand and began walking down the hall in the direction of my room.

“Drest?” I asked, tugging lightly.

He looked back at me over his shoulder. “We’ve wasted enough time, Rachael. I want you. No. Ineedyou, and tonight, I’m taking what I need.”

My breath caught, and heat flared through me at the idea of being with him sexually. “We shouldn’t.”

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