Page 83 of Wedded Witch
A sharp knock on the door pierces the quiet, and my heart skips a beat. I look at Kel, but he stirs only slightly. The knocking comes again, more insistent this time. A sense of dread pools in my stomach, like something ominous is about to unfold.
Kel groans, finally roused by the persistent sound, and pushes himself up.
“I’ll get it,” he mutters, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he swings his legs over the side of the bed.
I cover myself with the sheets, suddenly conscious of how exposed I am.
The soft fabric provides little comfort against the growing storm outside.
Kel strides to the door, and I can’t help but steal a glance at him—his broad shoulders, the way his hair falls into his eyes, the delicious monochrome ink that snakes its way down his back. But the moment is cut short as he opens the door, and my heart plummets.
Ri stands there, his face thunderous, eyes locked on me with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. The anger in his gaze flares, almost palpable, like the storm brewing outside.
I can’t help but shrink back against the pillows, the covers clinging to me like a protective shield.
“What the hell?” Ri snaps, his voice low and dangerous, cutting through the tension in the air.
“Ri,” Kel starts, but before he can finish, Ri storms inside, his presence filling the room with an electric charge.
“Do you think this is a fucking joke?” Ri’s gaze is still fixed on me, and I feel exposed under his scrutiny. The air in the room thickens as he steps closer, his fists clenched at his sides.
“A storm is coming in, and it’s not just any storm. You need to get dressed and come with me. Now.”
I glance out of the window, the dark clouds rolling in like an angry tide. Sure enough, streaks of lightning illuminate the sky, revealing the torrents of rain racing towards us.
My heart races in sync with the rumble of thunder echoing in the distance.
This isn’t just a normal storm.
Kel steps between us, trying to diffuse the tension. “We were just?—”
“Having a good time?” Ri interrupts, his voice sharp. “While the rest of us are trying to protect the town from storm damage? I hope you’re finished with your little vacation.”
My cheeks flush as I grip the sheets tighter, the remnants of our earlier intimacy now overshadowed by Ri’s anger.
“Ri—” I close my mouth as soon as I’ve opened it, immediately regretting my decision to speak. How on earth would I placate him? With the clichéd ‘it’s not what it looks like’?
“Please.”
“Don’t.” He cuts me off, turning his gaze back to me, the anger in his expression softening just a fraction as concern creeps in. “I don’t want you out here when things get worse. We need to get moving.”
With a deep breath, I push the sheets off, revealing the sleep shorts and cami I threw on after Kel and I had... well, after everything that just happened.
“I can help,” I say, my voice steadying as I meet Ri’s gaze. “We can all help.”
Kel’s eyes flicker between us, and I can sense his unease, but he nods in agreement. “Yeah, Ri. We should stick together. If the storm’s as bad as you say, we need all hands on deck.”
Ri’s expression remains stoic, but I can see the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. “Fine,” he relents, crossing his arms over his chest. “But hurry. We don’t have much time.”
As I scramble out of bed and reach for my clothes, I can’t shake the feeling that this storm is more than just a natural phenomenon. Something darker looms in the distance, just as threatening as the storm clouds rolling in.
As I return from the bathroom fully dressed, Ri’s eyes are on me, assessing, calculating. My skin heats under his gaze and desire pools low in my belly.
I have no business being attracted to him right now, so I take a steadying breath, willing myself to push through the awkwardness that lingers in the air.
We may be facing a storm outside, but it’s the storm brewing between us that unsettles me the most.
“Let’s go,” I say, trying to keep my voice firm as I pull my jacket on over my shirt, glancing at both brothers. “Together.”