Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 220
Estimated words: 215301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1077(@200wpm)___ 861(@250wpm)___ 718(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1077(@200wpm)___ 861(@250wpm)___ 718(@300wpm)
Being apart is rarer.
“Yeah,” he says, no hesitation. “Not just for your sister.” He watches me set his helmet on my dresser. “It’s our one-year.”
“You’re here for the anniversary sex.”
He glares. “Yeah, Tom, I just really want to fuck you.”
“I mean, you better, dude.”
Phoenix lets out a tight laugh. He rakes his fingers through his dark hair, then says, “Come here.” He seizes my wrist and draws me into his six-four build before I can even make a move. My chest knocks into his, and I clasp the crook of his neck and shoulder, my body warming at his closeness.
Our lips ghost until he presses a teasing, aching kiss against mine. My hand slips up into his hair, and he murmurs, “How long do we have?”
“Not even five minutes, unfortunately,” I say. “She’s already in the building. Of course she’d choose today to move in.”
Phoenix frowns. “Is she fucking with you?”
“No, no, no. It’s a coincidence. Probably the universe telling me I need to be nicer to my sister.”
“Probably,” he nods.
I scoff. “Dude, don’t agree with the universe when it’s trying to teach me life lessons. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
He claims one more kiss from my lips, then groans when his phone vibrates against my leg. He reaches down into his cargo pocket and checks the text.
“Fuck,” he curses. I’m prepared to raise hell on his behalf. He sees the look in my eye. “It’s not a life-or-death situation, Cobalt god. Put away the battle-axe.”
“But it’s so fun to hold.”
He rubs at his eye, tired. I don’t ask him how much he slept. I know Birdie does it enough. “I missed my appointment.”
I frown. “Your appointment?”
“With the psychologist.” He sighs. “I booked it with Harriet back in December, and I thought it was for January fifth, not the fourth.” He explains further, “We made New Year’s resolutions together to try out therapy to deal with our shit. I meant to tell you earlier. I just haven’t thought about it since then.”
My lips rise. “Your loss because I would’ve remembered the appointment for you.”
“Shut up.” He’s smiling off my smile, and when our expressions soften, he says, “I’ve done all the physical testing to figure out my insomnia, but not the mental side, so seemed like I should try it.”
I nod. “It’s a good idea. You said you can’t shut off your brain at night, and maybe it’ll help with that.”
“Maybe.” He sounds more hopeful.
I love that my boyfriend takes New Year’s resolutions as seriously as I do—which are really birthday wishes for him—but I am hard stuck on this joint venture.
“You and Harry,” I blink several times. I’m happy she feels ready to work through the trauma her horrifying mom obviously gave her, but I did not see her joining forces with my boyfriend to do so.
No crystal ball on Earth could’ve predicted this. I would challenge anyone to bring me one that did.
“Your friendship has evolved to therapy friends,” I say in shock.
“If you keep calling her a demon, your friendship is going to be stuck in purgatory.”
“Dude, what friendship?” I recoil.
He stares me down. “You two are going to get on my last nerve.”
“It’s exactly how I feel about you and her. See, she’s the root of all—”
“If you say evil, you’re going face-down on the bed.”
I smirk. “Try me.” He has his arms around my ribs, about to tackle me into the bed—then a knock pounds the doorframe, and we stop in place. Phoenix’s arms stay around me, even as Beckett appears.
My older brother’s lips rise with palpable sincerity. Beckett’s tiny smiles have always been superpowered.
Ever since he’s opened up to me, they hit a little deeper.
His yellow-green eyes shift to Phoenix. “Can you help me with something? It should only be a minute.”
“Sure.” He releases me.
Once they’re gone, I put on socks since today’s adventure is going to call for footwear. I hear a pair of knuckles at my doorframe.
“Everyone is so polite today. Knocking.” I look up. “Ben Pirrip, what can I do you for?”
“You left these in my closet.” He hoists my old sneakers. “Not that I mind storing your Converses, but I figured you’d want them in your new room.”
I try not to think too hard about how I’m in need of shoes and Ben shows up with three pairs. I might actually start believing I have real godly powers, and that’s just too far for me. There is a limit.
“Forgot I had those,” I say. “You can set them near the dresser. Thanks, dude.”
He puts them down. Like Phoenix, his gaze drifts around the charcoal walls. “Foam boards are new?”
“Yeah, they got installed this morning. I haven’t told Phoenix yet, but there’s enough room for a drum kit in the corner. Perks of not sharing a bedroom. Not that I didn’t love our time together.” I hold his gaze. “Priceless, and I mean that. Like times a bajillion.”