Page 64 of Lunar Desires
Giddiness hit me right in the heart. “Riley!”
“I’m not a real boy yet, am I?” he said in a higher pitched version of his voice.
“What the fuck!” Jake cried, hitting the brakes.
I leaned in closer, the muddy doll wearing his lovely face. There was even a silver streak in the scoop of mud where his hair should be.
“Afraid not.” I licked my lips, beyond bemused.
Also grateful for our soul bond and its rule-bending.
Riley dipped his head. “Crap.”
Jake caught my eye. “Well, it sort of worked.”
I returned my attention to Riley. “Are you alright?”
“I will be,” he answered, not looking up.
Jake took off again. “Love the optimism.”
Even as a doll, Riley’s light still reached the deepest recesses of my core.
He lifted his tiny head. “This is better than being a puddle.” He shivered, more liquid mud oozing from his body, spreading across my trousers.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Everything will be alright.”
He nodded, tiny droplets of mud falling from his head. “Your poor nose.”
“It can be fixed.”
“Should’ve asked Isaac to heal you.”
Man, he sounded utterly adorable. “You come first.”
His sigh was a squeak. “I don’t like you being hurt.”
“Ditto.”
He giggled, the noise like a dog’s chew toy. “How ridiculous is this?”
“You’re never ridiculous,” I answered, recoiling from my cheesiness a tad.
“Aw, what a cutie,” Jake said.
“I’ll say.” Riley’s tiny lips spread into smile. “I’d kiss you if it wasn’t like tasting the back garden.”
Jake snorted.
I chuckled, the mansion appearing on the horizon at last, like the best beacon in existence.
Chapter 19
RILEY
Isat on Drake’s shoulder as he ran from the car into the mansion.
Ollie greeted him at the door, in his usual white vest and blue jeans combo, his muscular dark-brown arms folded tightly across his chest. “What happened?”
