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 the bed, suddenly very aware

in front of Ryder. Strangely, it felt more natural with each passing day. The vulnerability that once made me uncomfortable was fading, replaced by something that felt oddly

a shower, but I wanted one

before the fight. It was strategic-I couldn't afford to let my opponent catch any trace of distraction or

as I ducked my head under the hot

but the possibility is there," Ryder muttered as he stepped into the shower behind me. I almost rolled my eyes at his

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.

you fight yet, but I'd rather not see it at all," Ryder replied, his displeasure evident in both his voice and the tense line of

lighten the

"He should be."

so I could rinse the shampoo from my hair. "I still can't believe he and Penelope became mates. Wonder how Keira feels

question, my heart rate accelerating as unease washed over me. Was he

isn't. She's a

still fight,"

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Chapter 108

a final rinse, Ryde turned off the shower and handed me

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

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

the bedroom door with more force than