SONG FICTION ~ SKY HIGH HONEY

How is it time for another song fiction already? Has it really been a month since the cabin retreat already? No wonder I’m sad. I need another one. Now. Like, right now. How am I going to be able to wait another year?

Anyway, the song this month is SKY HIGH HONEY, by Matt Nathanson. I quite like Matt as a singer, though I wasn’t familiar with this song. I’ll like to it below. It’s the acoustic version. I honestly don’t know if there are other versions. Either way, it’s a great song. I only wish I knew what to write, lol. As always, I’m stumped. Which means…it’s going to be a chunk from one of my ongoing stories. In fact, I’m in the process of trying to finish the next angel book. Michael has been waiting for some time to get his story written, so…

Here’s the song should you want to listen and the resulting story. As it turns out, it’s not Michael or Greyson… The snippet would have jumped into the middle of their story and well… I just couldn’t do it. So, it’s a continuation of the last Promptly Penned with Devlyn and Ryker. If you want to read that, go HERE, or just jump right in. Never hurts to go with the flow.

“This has got to be some kind of cosmic joke. One I don’t find at all funny.”

Ryker Monroe sighed as he watched Devlyn trip her way across the room, finally bracing her weight against the far wall. He hadn’t missed the pain laced through her voice, he just wasn’t sure if it was because of her injuries, or his presence. He cursed under his breath. Of all the outcomes he’d considered when he’d walked back through Smither’s door, getting partnered with Devlyn hadn’t even crossed his mind. Hell, he’d double checked that she’d been sent off on some lame-ass babysitting detail for the night, if not the next twenty-four hours. The chances of her stumbling across him for the few hours he was going to be at the facility had been damn near zero.

Except for the part where she’d run into Slader and damn near got herself killed—again—before making a hasty retreat back. And the fucking stars had aligned, and she’d ended up assigned to his case. If he didn’t know better, he’d say Karma was finally getting her bitch slap back at him.

A tight feeling squeezed his chest when she swayed, connecting with the wall before drawing herself up. A new patch of blood stained her shirt, the increasing ragged edges roiling his stomach.

He marched over to her, stopping an arm’s length away. “You’re going to give yourself a damn concussion if you don’t sit your ass down. Unless, of course, you already have one.”

She gave him a mocking smile. “Don’t worry, Ryker, even seeing double I’ll be sure not to miss.”

“How comforting.” He nodded at her ribs. “You’re bleeding through.”

“I had to dive through the window to stop Slader from popping poor Ms. Evergreen in the head. Broken glass has a way of leaving a mark.” She grimaced, leaning her back against the wall. “The few rounds I went with Slader didn’t help much. Bastard hits hard.”

Ryker arched a brow, doing his best to ignore the tumbling sensation in his gut at the thought of the mother fucker touching his girl. Not that she was his anymore, but…

He palmed the wall beside her, leaning in slightly. “You let him land some punches? Sounds like you’re slipping, sweetheart.”

The glare she flashed him made him smile. There was something inherently hot about sparring with her. Hell, a good part of their relationship had involved one form of confrontation or another, though it’s also usually ended with one of them pinned to the wall, the loser using every trick to make them climax. And god knows, the woman could get him off faster than any other lover he’d ever had.

She crossed her arms over her chest, nearly tumbling sideways in the process. “My attention was somewhat divided seeing as Ms. Scaredy Pants kept trying to hit me with a damn frying pan from the kitchenette.” She locked her gaze on his. “And I assure you. Slader didn’t get out of there without leaving a fair amount of his DNA at the scene, too. Clipped him in shoulder, though I still owe him a few more rounds before I even things out.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t go for the head shot, once he was injured.”

“I wanted to, but the damn chick wouldn’t stop trying to cold-cock me. By the time I knocked her out, the situation had worsened, and I chose to get her out of there, while I still had a chance. Didn’t stop Slader from emptying a mag into my car as I drove off.” She glanced at her boss over Ryker’s shoulder. “I’m expensing the repairs.”

Ryker tipped back his head, praying for divine intervention. Christ, the girl was more reckless than ever. “I’d hoped you’d gained a bit of…restraint after your last encounter with the man. You should have laid down some cover fire, grabbed the woman and high tailed it out of there without engaging him. How much blood did you lose?”

“I’m still standing, aren’t I? And if I hadn’t gone after the creep, Ms. Evergreen would be dead.”

“You’re lucky you’re not dead.”

“Didn’t think that mattered to you.”

He huffed. “Are we going to keep dancing around this or are you going to let me explain?”

“I can two-step all night.” She tried to push past him but only succeeded in tripping onto one knee.

Ryker lunged at her, catching her before she continued all the way to the floor.

She sagged against him, hissing out her next breath when he tried to help her up. “Don’t. Just…give me a minute.”

“I doubt twenty minutes would be enough.” He shuffled her, gently lifting her in his arms.

She stiffened, blinking a few times as she tried to scramble out of his hold. “Damn it, Ryker, put me down. I’m fine.”

“No. You’re not.” He tsked, tightening his grip. “Would you stop fighting me for one second? I promise you can ignore me all you want once you get some rest. Hell, I’ll wear my Kevlar vest, just to be sure, but for now…relax. You look like shit and the last thing we need is a trip to the hospital. Slader would be certain to capitalize on that, and I don’t need a damn shootout over at Mercy General.”

“How inconsiderate of me to bleed at a time like this.”

“Dev.”

Tears gathered in her eyes, but she blinked them away, finally settling. “Fine. Give me twelve hours. And I can walk.”

“Forty-eight and you won’t make it two two feet down the damn hallway before you pass out for good, this time.” He cut her off with a shake of his head as he headed for the door. “My car’s waiting. I’m taking you to a secure location until you don’t look like fucking Casper. Once you’re up to par, we’ll figure out how to stop this before every damn operative has a bullseye on their head and there aren’t any more safe havens.”

“Don’t think this changes anything. I’m gone the second this joint venture is over.”

He sighed, ignoring the stab of pain that followed her vow. “As you wish. But for now, we’re partners. Which means you don’t shoot me in the back the first chance you get.”

She flashed him a devilish smile. “Oh, baby, I’d use a knife, and I’d want to look you in the eyes when I stuck it through your cold, withered heart.”

“Now that’s the old Devlyn.”

He headed down the hallway, not surprised when she passed out before he’d even reached his car. He popped open the door, careful not to jostle her as he placed her on the seat. He reached around, holding back a moan when his arm brushed across her chest as he buckled her in. Now wasn’t the time to think about anything other than getting her somewhere safe.

He glanced at her shirt. The spot had gotten larger since Smither’s office. He cursed, taking a quick peek at the wound. Her ragged flesh peeked out between the line of Sterie Strips, blood still oozing down her flesh.

“Fuck!”

The woman never did take the time to properly bandage a wound. Damn lucky she hadn’t simply bled out on one of her assignments. He rounded the car, opening the trunk. He rummaged through his first aid kit, snagging some QuickClot, wrap and some gauze. She flinched when he poured the powder along the laceration, mumbling something he couldn’t make out before drifting off again. He shook his head, watching as the powder clumped the length of the wound, stopping the worst of the bleeding. Then he plastered on some gauze pads, wrapping them in place before taping the whole thing together. He stepped back, judging his handiwork before closing her door and sliding in the driver’s side. At least, she wouldn’t lose any more blood before he got her home.

A safehouse. Not home.

He didn’t have one of those, anymore. And he sure as hell didn’t share anything with her. He’d definitely burned that bridge. Hell, he’d blown the whole damn structure up. Conflicting emotions warred in his head as he started the car and drove off, heading steadily south. He flicked on the radio, cursing at the soft strum of the guitar as the singer’s voice echoed through the cabin. Great, just what he needed. A ‘leaving’ song. Like he needed a vocal reminder of how he’d screwed up. All the things he should have done differently.

He glanced in the rearview mirror, checking for lights. He wasn’t about to compromise with Devlyn’s safety, and he sure as shit wasn’t going to let her get hurt again. Not on his watch. She groaned in the seat beside him, frowning before she settled again. He reached for her, brushing her hair back from her face. Pale, soft skin skimmed across his knuckles as he tucked the locks behind her ear, giving him a view of her face. Christ, she was just as beautiful as he remembered. High cheekbones. Even features. Though her eyes had looked more green than the blue he remembered.

He drew his hand back, shifting gears as he hopped on the Interstate. Beautiful or not, there was no mistaking the toll her previous injuries had taken on her. On how her left shoulder didn’t move quite as smoothly as it had before she’d been shot. Or the obvious weight she’d lost, not that she’d ever been big, but…she’d been training. Hard.

Memories played in his head, all the reasons he’d decided not to see her once the agency had gotten him back fading into the soft sound of her snuffling beside him. He’d known she’d be angry, but this… Looks like she wasn’t the only one who’d paid a heavy price that night. And it all circled back to Slader. Bastard needed to be put down, and Ryker was more than happy to do the job, personally.

 

And that’s it for me. Please trot on off to the lovely Bronwyn Green and Jessica Jarman to see what they cooked up this week.

3 Replies to “SONG FICTION ~ SKY HIGH HONEY”

  1. You had me hooked with the last installment. This just fills in a few more details and hooks me even more. I hope there will be more. I am liking it.

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