Page 131 of The Hero Within
For the first time in years, he actually had one.
And it was wherever she was.
Chapter Twenty-Six
A sudden loudbanging woke her up. Various members of the council had come knocking since their return, but Eden had ignored them all. This was her time. Eden lifted her head off Johnny's chest and scraped her tangled hair out of her face. "I thought I told you all to go away and leave us alone?"
"Eden, open up."
Adam. That was Adam. Eden grabbed the sheet to her naked breasts and shoved herself upright, her post-orgasm languor sloughing off her instantly. He was back from the settlement of New Hope, where Mia's sister and her husband had settled. Finally home.
Except she hadn't figured out how to tell him about Johnny.
"Oh, shit," she breathed. A scalded sound echoed in her throat as she looked sharply at her lover. "You need to hide."
"Where? Under the bed?" he whispered. "Do you think I'll fit?"
She shot a hopeless glance toward the en suite bathroom. "In there!"
"Ashamed of me?" he asked with a nonchalant yawn. He'd spent the past week in and out of bed with her, and he'd finally stopped waking up in a sweat, though he wouldn't speak about what had happened inside the training center. Not yet.
"Of course I'm not ashamed of you!" Eden shot a look toward the door. A large shadow blurred the thin slice of light that streamed beneath it. "I'm trying not to get youkilled."
Johnny rested back on his elbows and arched a dark brow. "He's already smelled me. And he can hear us." He stroked a hand down her spine, smiling a mischievous smile. "I guess we get to discover just how much your brother thanks me forsaving his life two years ago."
The last few words rang out loudly, and Eden slammed a hand over his mouth, but it was too late.
Silence.
A thick,judgingsilence.
Then someone was hissing words outside. Mia, by the sound of it. Probably trying to talk Adam out of murder.
Good luck with that.
"Give me a minute," Eden called, shooting out of bed and trying to locate her clothes. And panties.Jesus.Where—
Johnny pointed up. The scrap of her cotton panties hung from the light fitting. Her face flaming, she leapt up and hauled them down. Johnny lounged in the sheets, looking for all the world like he had no intention of moving.
"Get dressed," she hissed.
Still smiling that lazy smile, he tossed the covers back and slung his legs over the edge of the bed.
Eden whipped a shirt over her head and tugged her jeans on. Adam might have forgiven Johnny for the part he’d played in his warg curse, but there was no way in hell her overprotective, judgmental brother would let Johnny get away with putting his hands on her.
The second she was dressed, she cracked open the door.
"Adam! You're home!"
"Oh, hell no," Adam ground out, his gaze shooting straight over her shoulder and locking on Johnny, who'd just pulled his jeans on. He stabbed a finger toward him. "You fucking bastard. You son of a bitch—"
He nearly mowed her down, but Eden hadn't grown up with an overprotective older brother for nothing.
"Hey," she yelled, slamming her palms against his chest. "It's good to see you too."
Adam slowed, his nostrils flaring as he looked down at her. "What the hell, Eden? You'resleepingwith Johnny Colton?"
"Long story," she shot back.
