Free Octavian's Undoing (Sons of Judgment) by Airicka Phoenix Page B

gold across the walls. Without pausing, Riley went to it, thrusting her hands as close to the flames as possible without burning. She fluffed a hand through her damp tresses, fighting hard to keep her teeth from chattering as the warm swirl of air tried to chase away the chill creeping into her bones.
     
    “Ah home!” he declared, propping his umbrella up alongside the door and joining her by the fire. “Let the slave driving commence!”
     
    Riley laughed. “You are probably the strangest person I have ever met.”
     
    Gideon blinked eyes that were so much like Octavian’s she momentarily forgot herself. “Only the strangest? Not the most handsome or charming or witty?”
     
    “I reserve the right not to answer.”
     
    He huffed incredulously. “Then I reserve the right to refrain from being handsome, charming and witty until you do!”
     
    Shaking her head, Riley opened her mouth to answer when the kitchen doors smacked open and Octavian charged out looking like he was prepared to take on a flock of demons. His features took on a mask of surprise when he caught sight of Riley and Gideon by the fire. His gray eyes shot to Riley almost instantly and darkened.
     
    Gone was the cold, the heat, the room, Gideon and even the air. Everything around them shimmered like heat waves coming off the dessert floor. Riley felt the singe of every second mark every breath she attempted to claim, but breathing was breathing him, drawing him into her veins like a fast acting drug, like taking a reckless swig of vodka on an empty stomach. He went straight to her head and through her body with a sharp burn that left her heady and blissfully lax.
     
    “Hello dear brother!” Gideon shattered the moment by throwing his arms open wide as though expecting an embrace from the figure standing not five feet from them. “Were you waiting for us? You shouldn’t have, not when I can see how busy you’ve been.”
     
    The sarcasm went over Octavian’s head for a moment as he stared at his brother like he’d lost his mind. Gradually, it seemed to dawn on him as he glanced at the emptiness of the room.
     
    “Where have you been?” he asked instead, but his gaze went to Riley again, drawn like he couldn’t quite stop staring.
     
    “Here, there.” Gideon waved his hands in circular motion. “Everywhere.”
     
    Painfully conscious of her wet clothes and the rain dripping from the ends of her hair, Riley tucked a coil behind her ear and turned to the fire, her cheeks rosy from the cold and the glint in Octavian’s eyes. She twisted her hair in her hands, wringing out the water before using her fingers to comb out the knots left behind, all the while feeling her every movement watched. It took a great deal of effort not to give in and look. But she managed to toss her hair over her shoulder, shrug out of her jacket and start towards the kitchen without glancing at the man who was making himself impossible to ignore. She made it all the way to the staff room.
     
    “You’re late!”
     
    Riley whipped around, surprised that he’d followed her. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It hadn’t been raining when I left and—”
     
    “My fault.” Gideon ambled into the room and dumped his lean frame into a chair. “I kept Ms. Masters with my mindless ramblings. Don’t be cross with her.”
     
    Octavian glowered at his brother. “What are you doing here, Gideon? Don’t you have other things to do?”
     
    Gideon beamed, drumming his fingers on the table. “Why, I’m hurt. Must I need a reason to drop by on my day off and visit my brother?”
     
    The annoyance on Octavian’s face was nearly comical, if not a bit frightening, even if it wasn’t directed at her.
     
    “All right. All right!” Gideon threw up his hands. “You’ve caught me. I’m here to flirt shamelessly with our lovely new waitress. Go on.” He held up his wrists. “Throw me into the naughty cage. I won’t fight. I deserve a good spanking.” He glanced