Smoke and Fire by Donna Grant Page A

frustration. Then he said, “I left her.”
    â€œThat makes you a proper bastard then.”
    Leave it to Dmitri to state it so succinctly. “Aye,” Ryder said. “It does.”
    â€œThe two of you had something special. Find it again.”
    â€œShe’s moved on with her life.”
    Dmitri snorted loudly and glared at Ryder. “She doesna have a man. That tells me you still have a chance.”
    Did he? Ryder wasn’t so sure. “You didna see the way she looked at me when I shifted. Or hear her scream.”
    â€œGive her some slack. She was in a war zone, Ryder.”
    â€œJust now she practically flew out of my arms when she woke to find me carrying her.”
    At that, Dmitri twisted his lips. “You might have more work than I expected. But answer me this, do you want her?”
    â€œAye.”
    â€œDo you love her?”
    Ryder nodded. “Verra much so.”
    â€œIs she worth fighting for?”
    â€œIn every way.”
    Dmitri slapped him on the back. “Then that is what you need to do. Now. Get your ugly arse in there and remove her boots while I get some food for her.”
    â€œFood?” Had Ryder forgotten to feed her?
    Dmitri rolled his eyes. “I knew you’d forget. You become focused on those damn computers, and you ignore everything else.”
    â€œNo’ everything,” Ryder mumbled as Dmitri walked away.
    Ryder slowly moved into his room. He hadn’t known where else to take Kinsey. As he walked around the four-poster bed stained so dark it was nearly black, he imagined crawling into his bed and having Kinsey curl up next to him like they used to sleep.
    It was a fantasy of his from the first time they’d made love. Once he returned to Dreagan and took a look at his bed, it had been impossible to sleep there and not think of her. Which is why he hadn’t used his bed in three years.
    One of her feet was hanging off the side of the bed. He tenderly grasped one leg and unzipped the boot before tugging it off. He repeated the process on her second foot before placing the boots beside the chair.
    Next, he gently gave her a nudge at her side. Kinsey immediately rolled over, allowing him to tug down the comforter.
    When he saw her blazer, he knew he had to remove it. Ryder grasped the hem at her wrist and pulled upward at the same time he got her to turn back onto her stomach. One arm fell out of the jacket.
    It took some doing to get her other arm from beneath her so he could tug it free. Ryder then folded the blazer and laid it over the back of the chair.
    He turned back to her and had the urge to sink his fingers into her wealth of dark hair. It was so silky smooth that he’d never tired of touching it.
    It wasn’t just her hair he longed to touch. It was her. All of her. To have held her, and had her all to himself for a year had been the most amazing time.
    If only he could reverse time and remain with her. If only he had known Ulrik broke the spell binding their feelings. If only he had returned to her after Hal and Cassie fell in love.
    If only he’d had the courage to embrace the love he felt.
    But love—the soul-deep, life-altering emotion—was new for him. It had terrified Ryder, especially since he was the one always in control.
    Computers—or any electronics—were easy to manipulate and get to do what you wanted. Ryder was at ease around them. Mostly because they did whatever he wanted.
    His feelings for Kinsey, however, were completely out of his control. He couldn’t get a handle on them. Even now, years later, he felt as if he was just learning to walk again.
    Kinsey was unpredictable and stubborn. She was wildly seductive without even trying. She twisted his insides until he wasn’t sure which way was up. All Ryder knew was that with her beside him, the future didn’t look so bleak.
    â€œKinsey,” he whispered and touched her hair.
    He shouldn’t have dared even