Maddox held me tighter. Didn’t say anything.
“I really am okay.” I pressed a kiss to the base of his throat. “Is he one of the new recruits?”
“Yes. Hudson quickly worked his way up the ranks in the Third Order and came highly recommended to join my unit. I have no doubt as to his combat skills. His common sense needs work though.”
“He didn’t know who I was. He was just doing his job.”
Maddox sneered. “I have half a mind to send him back to the Third Order.”
“No. Don’t do that.”
Another sneer.
God, he was so grumpy. I loved it.
“Guess what? Prince Sawyer asked me to help with the autumn ball. Have you ever been? It sounds awesome. I’m nervous though. People seem to like my desserts and stuff, but are they fancy enough for a big, lavish ball? Maybe I should practice my decorating skills, just to—”
Maddox silenced me with a kiss. As his mouth claimed mine, every thought left my head. Well, every thought except for him and how amazing he felt. How amazing he tasted. His tongue traced the seam of my lips before dipping inside my mouth.
I welcomed the kiss and linked my arms behind his neck. He was so tall that even standing on my tiptoes, I barely reached unless he bent to meet me, which he did.
“Is that why you’re here?” Maddox asked against my lips. “To share your good news?”
“Part of the reason.” I grinned as he brushed our noses together. “I just came from the clinic. Damn near had to chain Briar to a chair to get him to stop working long enough to eat lunch.”
“That stubborn male. He’s the one who should be given that ‘s’ word, not me.”
I laughed. “Bothof you are stubborn. Just in different ways.” As he lifted me from the grass, I hooked my legs around his waist and voiced no complaints as he carried me like I weighed nothing. “I thought I’d make you lunch too. If you haven’t eaten yet anyway.”
“I haven’t,” he answered, one arm under my ass and the other at my back, fingers skating beneath the hem of my shirt to touch my bare skin. “I was on my way to the mess hall before I saw you.”
The mess hall was a building in the center of their encampment where they all came together to eat their meals and wind down after a long day. When not training or on duty, many of the knights gathered there to play cards and relax too.
Callum walked around the corner of the nearest building and instantly broke into a smile. “Afternoon, Ev.”
“He lives!” I exclaimed.
“For now,” Maddox mumbled. “That may change the next time he dares lay a finger on my muffin.”
“It wasn’t yours.” Callum crossed his arms, smile growing. “It was in the basket. Fair game.”
Maddox sneered. It had a playful edge to it. “I’ll putyouin a basket and send you out to sea.”
Callum put a hand to his chest. “You wound me, Captain.”
“We must away, fair knight,” I said, pointing forward. “The kitchen awaits.”
“Is that so?” Maddox’s cheek twitched. “Are we on a mission, my muffin lord?”
“Yep. A mission to feed a bunch of ravenous beasts.” I nodded to Duke and Baden, who’d stood from the firepit as they saw me. Quincy bounded up behind them and mirrored their grins once spotting me too. “Or else, I fear they’ll begin to resort to cannibalism.”
“We wouldn’t want that. To the kitchen, we go.”
I released an excited yelp as Maddox took off running, his arms secured around me. Callum laughed and followed us, the promise of food a temptation no doubt.
Being in the mess hall making lunch for the knights made me happy. I had missed cooking for them. Missed their pestering, too, as they called me “small and cute.” Some stole pieces of food when my head was turned and others offered to help. I then sat at one of the long tables with Maddox, Callum, and the others as they ate.
“I should get back,” I said after they’d finished lunch. “Peter and Alice will start to think I got Evan-napped. Or lost.”
