Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

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Don't Poke the Luna

Chapter 108

Xena's POV

"Time to get up for breakfast," Ryder's voice was a gentle murmur against my ear, his breath warm against my skin.

“No,” I grumbled, pressing my ass against him, feeling his chest rumble with quiet laughter. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, tempting me to stay wrapped in this cocoon of warmth.

"You need to get up and eat a good breakfast. You've got a fight to win today," he said, his fingers tracing light patterns on my bare

shoulder.

That got my attention. "I'm looking forward to it!" My voice carried an undeniable edge of excitement.

Ryder's arms tightened around me, his tone more serious than I'd expected. "You need to focus. Winning this fight will show everyone else not to challenge you so easily."

I rolled over to face him, studying the concern etched into his features. "Who else would dare challenge me? Besides, I'm the one who issued this challenge."

and pulled myself up from

each passing day. The vulnerability that once made me uncomfortable

need a shower, but I

from my skin before the fight. It was strategic-I couldn't afford to let

as I ducked my head under the hot spray of water, the

but the possibility is there," Ryder muttered as he stepped

might defeat me?" I asked, working shampoo through my hair while Ryder washed his body. It struck me as strange-intimate yet not sexual-just two people sharing a shower and a conversation. We'd reached a level of comfort I never thought possible. I'd always assumed shared showers were inherently erotic, but this felt different. Domestic,

but I'd rather not see it at all," Ryder replied, his displeasure evident in both his voice and the

to lighten the mood.

"He should be."

my hair. "I still can't believe he and Penelope became mates. Wonder how

as unease washed over me. Was

Penelope isn't. She's a

you still fight,"

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Chapter 108

I forced my dad to teach me. After a final rinse, Ryde turned off the shower and handed me

of today," Ryder said coolly, his back to me as

"That's fine. I can find my way downstairs. I hadn't done anything wrong-he'd known about this fight for over a week, and I'd

walked out, closing the bedroom door with