“Right. Like how many are there? How widespread? How powerful? What kind of power do they have? The guys Anson’s working for are obviously shady, to put it mildly, but are there good ones, too? Like, I don’t know, Bill Gates? The President?” She stopped when she realized Sam was smiling at her almost indulgently. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—I’m not part of this. Of the Society.” Except she was. She might be new, but she belonged to the Society as much as Quinn or any other goddess now.
But Sam, Nick, and Quinn…they were a team, with a history of working together, and that made her feel like an outsider. She also knew they weren’t the kind of people to stay out of something like this, especially after their history with Anson.
“You’re dead right,” Sam said. “I’m itching to research them—and more. I want to know how much of a threat they are, or if an alliance can be built. But honestly, Riley, the transfers have to be a priority right now. We’ve set it in motion and I don’t know what would happen if we don’t see it through quickly.”
She nodded, her heart sinking. The last thing she wanted was to leave Sam again, but she couldn’t get in the way of what they were doing. “I can start driving back tomorrow. Marley said she’d put me up as long—”
“Are you crazy?” Sam interrupted. “You’re not going back to Boston.”
“But—”
“You’re staying with me. With us. Anson’s still after you, and frankly…” He looked up and away, out across the parking lot. “Uh, I could use a friend right now.”
Riley could tell that was a tough admission for him. She slipped her hand into his, relieved when he entwined their fingers. “Nick and Quinn are your friends.”
He shook his head. “There are things I can’t talk to them about.”
“You mean the power residue.” She walked them back to the bench and sat.
“Yeah.” He blew out a breath full of relief. “What we’re doing…it’s similar to how a leech is made. I knew about the risks, and I don’t regret taking them, but I never counted on feeling this.” He pressed his fingertips to his chest. “I crave it. With only this tiny taste. And I’m not even near Jennifer’s power source. I’m scared about what will happen with Chloe, and the ocean being right there…”
His hand tightened on hers. The angle put pressure on Riley’s raw wrist, surprising her, but she managed to hold back the moan of pain. She’d moved carefully to avoid letting anyone see the damage to her skin, and especially now, she didn’t want any more of the attention. It was Sam’s turn.
“I know nothing about this, so I can’t reassure you that everything will be fine. But one thing I do know.” She shifted to look into his eyes. “You and Anson are completely different. You won’t abuse this.”
“I don’t intend to.” He sat lost in thought for several moments. Riley wasn’t sure what else to say.
Noise from inside the restaurant signaled the front door opening. Riley glanced over her shoulder and saw Nick and Quinn walking toward them, holding hands.
Quinn held out a square container to Riley when they got close enough. “I had them box your leftovers. Seemed too much to leave behind.”
“Thanks.” That meant they’d paid for her meal. She flushed. “I’ll pay you back. I have—” She stopped, acutely aware of how little she did have. “I’m sorry I walked out. I didn’t mean to stick you with the bill.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Nick moved a toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other.
“It’s our treat,” Quinn assured her so matter-of-factly, Riley would have felt shrewish to argue.
“Thank you.”
Nick pointed with his toothpick. “There’s a hotel down the road. We’ll go get some rooms and drive to Chloe’s tomorrow.”
Riley winced as they walked to the cars. Her funds were low, but no way was she asking anyone for money. Quinn looked worn out. Nick would probably check them in and rush them up to their room. Maybe Riley could go to the restroom while Sam registered himself, then sneak back out to sleep in her Beetle.
But Sam stopped her before she unlocked her car door. “It’s not a good idea for you to room alone. I can’t protect you that way.”
She smiled despite her embarrassment and worry. “So you’re my protector now?”
“You obviously need one. So, yeah.” His mouth quirked up on one side. “If I promise to behave myself, will you share a room with me? I’d normally suggest you room with Quinn, and Nick and I could share an adjoining room, but…”
“Yeah, no way he’s letting her out of his sight. That’s obvious.”
Nick’s window squeaked as he rolled it down. “Get your asses in the car!”
“We’ll split the cost of the room, okay? That should help both of us, too.”
It hadn’t occurred to Riley that Sam might not have much money, either, despite the crappy bar he’d worked in and the fact that he drove a used Saturn against his will. But she wondered if his reasons could be excuses, and hoped they were.
Chapter Eleven
Recent surveys have indicated that sexuality may be complicated by power use, as well as connection to or distance from power sources. This is a private and personal aspect of most people’s daily lives. However, the Society has made counseling available should any goddess or her partner feel a need to work through any issues that arise.
Sam stood in the middle of the tiny hotel room, listening to the shower hiss on the other side of the bathroom door. He was worn out, yet charged by the low hum of energy from the transfer. He suspected that energy was boosting his awareness of Riley, too. Dinner had been mild torture, starting with the full-body hug when she’d first gotten out of the car. Her warm-honey scent had soaked into him through dinner. Whenever he spared her a glance, all he could see was glistening lips and smooth, graceful hands.
And now she was in the shower. Naked. Tilting her head back to let the water soak her hair. Raising her arms to run her hands over it, lifting her breasts. Nipples stiff from the spray…
He jumped when a triple knock sounded on the room’s gray-painted steel connecting door. His body went hot from embarrassment. Jesus. He swiped a hand down his face and hoped the lust didn’t show when he opened the door a crack.
Quinn stood there, a blanket around her shoulders. “Hey. You okay?”
“Fine. Are you?”
She waved off his concern. “Yeah, just chilly. How are Riley’s wrists? Does she need me to take a look at them?”
Sam frowned, not getting what she meant.
Quinn rolled her eyes. “Her wrists. She was very careful not to put pressure on her lower arms while we ate dinner. She didn’t touch the table with them at all and had trouble cutting her meat. She winced a few times, too. You didn’t notice?”
He hadn’t. He’d been so wrapped up in everything they were talking about and his own issues.
He was such an asshole.
“She’s in the shower,” he told Quinn. “I’ll check on her.” He probably shouldn’t go barging in. A full-body image popped into his head again, and he ground his teeth. Why the hell had he thought it was a good idea to share a room?
“Can I come in?” Quinn didn’t wait for an answer. She pushed the door open and slipped past him. When he turned around, she’d already sat in the desk chair and propped her feet up on the foot of one of the double beds. “Not a bad place, huh?”
Besides the hideous maroon, gold, and brown pattern swirling across the polyester bedspreads and curtains, the chipped pressboard furniture, and the crack across the bottom of the bathroom mirror? Sure. The carpet didn’t crunch when he walked on it, he hadn’t found evidence of bedbugs, and the bathroom was free of mold.