Page 123 of Shattered By the Currents

“Would you do anything for me?”

“Anything.”

“Forgive yourself.”

He should have seen that coming. “No promises…but I’ll try. How areyoudoing?”

“Excited to get back to work today without a shadow.”

“I’m still not?—”

“It’s happening, Connor. Xander and Nathaniel aren’t a problem anymore. Deep River is safe. Plus, you need to get back to work or that anonymous benefactor will stop funding your lavish lifestyle.”

He laughed, but other than the lavish lifestyle part, it was true, hedidneed to get back to work. Ryan had trainingscheduled for them this morning that he knew was going to kill him. And shit, he loved those trainings. Plus, it would feel good to get back into a normal routine.

But how the hell was he supposed to leave Raven after last week? “You’re still hurt.”

“I’m not. I’m fine. Exactly why I’m going to visit Mom and Dad after work, then make my own way to Trap.”

“I’lltake you to visit your parents.”

She pushed him onto his back and leaned over him. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’ll be going straight from work to the bar to have drinks with the guys.”

“Raven—”

“Why are you so argumentative?”

“Because you’ve suddenly become unbelievably stubborn.”

“I’ve always been unbelievably stubborn. I was just holding it in until you were locked into this relationship.”

His lips twitched. “Really?”

“Yep. Surprise and bad luck. Now, we’re going to shower. Then I’m going to drive myself to the community center while you drive yourself to the firehouse so that Ryan can slaughter you.”

“How do you know about that?”

“I heard Joel complaining yesterday. He said something about needing two breakfasts for that one.”

Connor laughed. “He eats two breakfasts every day. Says he’ll perish if he doesn’t.”

“Maybe he will.”

“And maybe pigs will fly.” His small smile faded. “You need me today, you call. Okay?”

“I need you, I call.”

He still wasn’t happy. But at some point, he needed to get okay with her being out of his sight.

He lifted his head and kissed her. He was just rolling her to her back and settling between her thighs, deepening the kiss, when she slid out from beneath him.

He growled. “Hey.”

“No time for that,” she called as she waltzed to the bathroom. “We have work.”