“But you can’t go back to Drazlan. I just can’t agree to that, Saia.”
“I’m not going back.”
“And what about Ranuit Pi? You said Olo thinks he’ll beat you? Um, no, sorry babes, but you aren’t marrying him. I understand why you don’t want Taio to know, but we can tell Eva. She seems to be the only one who can talk sense into your brother, she’ll know what to do. I’ll ask Taio if I can stay longer and we’ll come up with a plan together.”
She shook her head. “They already have a plan.”
“Okay, great, let’s hear it.”
“During the party, Taio is going to speak with Ranuit Pi alone. He is going to come to an agreement with him, regarding my care.”
“That’s not the kind of plan I had in mind.”
“I know, but it is the only way.”
“It’s not the only way.”
“Yes, it is. He’ll speak to Ranuit Pi and I’ll be safe on Syntorian, away from Olo.”
“And what if Ranuit Pi decides he doesn’t care about his agreement with Taio and starts thumping on you anyway, then what?”
“Justin, it has to work out.”
“Let’s pretend this plan of yours works. Taio talks to Ranuit Pi, and this guy who has been at war for—how long?”
“Um, generations.”
“Oh, right, generations. So this guy who’s been at war for generations decides, ‘Hey, beating people is what I do best, but since I have an agreement with Taio—who means nothing to me—I’ll uphold my end of the bargain and not beat my wife.’ What about Olo? He just has free reign to beat you and your mom until you bond?” He chuckled, but the sound didn’t hold any amusement. “Some plan.”
“I have a plan to stay away from Olo too,” she pointed out.
“Awesome. Let’s hear it,” he said sarcastically.
“During the engagement party, I’m going to ask Ranuit Pi to move up the bonding ceremony. I want it done right after the party.”
“Uh huh.”
“And I’ll convince him to let my mother come with us.”
“Oh, it gets better.”
“We’ll have protection on Syntorian from Olo.”
He was quiet. She could hear how ragged his breaths had become.
“Justin, I know it’s not the kind of plan you would have come up with, but it will work.
“I don’t want you to go,” he finally said.
She wrapped her arm around his chest, melting into his embrace. “I would be happy to stay here with you.”
His breath hitched before his chest began to rise and fall sporadically and his heart thumped at an uneven pace beneath her ear. He seemed to want to be with her just as much as she wanted to be with him. This was so right. This was what love was supposed to feel like. This was how life should be spent, in Justin’s arms.
“I’d want nothing else,” he whispered so low she could barely hear him.
There was nothing she could do to get out of bonding with Ranuit Pi, but she could live in the moment and enjoy Justin while she had him.
“Do you mind if we change the subject and talk about something else?” she asked. “We don’t have much time together and I don’t want to dwell on what can’t be changed. I don’t want this to take up what little time we have left.”
“Saia, I don’t know what else to talk about. I can’t stop thinking about what might happen—what will happen.”
“Shh.” She ran her hand up his arm, playing with the black hairs that were plentiful there. “How was your life on Earth?”
He became quiet again.
“Justin, please. I want to remember everything about you. I want to know all about your life.”
He took a deep breath. “I owned my own business. I built houses for a living. It was pretty typical.”
“Were you happy?”
He hesitated before answering. “I thought I was. But when I think back on it now, I was really lonely. I surrounded myself with a lot of friends…women to try to fill the void. When I was younger, we didn’t have much, but I remember the house being filled with so much love. There was always laughter, singing and games. My mother and grandmother made sure my sister and I experienced life to the fullest.”
“It sounds like you had a very happy childhood.”
“My mother always said, ‘I’m creating memories.’ And she did. She created a lifetime of memories for us.”
“What happened to your family? Were they taken by the Loconuist?”
He didn’t reply.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.”
“It’s all right. I really haven’t talked about them to anyone.”
“We can talk about something else. I don’t need to know.”
He cleared his throat. “My mother was killed by a drunk driver when my sister and I were thirteen. My grandmother raised us after that, but she passed away a day before our eighteenth birthday. My sister…moved out of the country to study fashion design in Paris. I don’t know what happened to her after the invasion.”
She kissed his chest and stroked his cheek. “Oh Justin. I’m so sorry.”
“Everyone knew me as a happy-go-lucky guy. They expected me to be the life of the party. After my grandmother died, when I was feeling my lowest, my so-called friends didn’t want to hang around me. They said I was bringing them down. I hated being alone in our empty house, so I pretended I was over my grief, that I was fine, and kept the house filled with whomever. It didn’t matter.”
“With females?”
“Yeah. I didn’t like being alone. Saia…I’ve been with a lot of females. That’s the main reason Taio wants me off Sonis.”
“You don’t have to explain it to me. I know what it’s like to be lonely. My mother has been the only constant loving figure that I’ve had in my life and I can’t imagine losing her. I suspect I’ll have my fair share of very lonely nights too.” She raised her chin to look at him. “Do you think you’ll ever find your sister?”
“I try not to think about it. I don’t want to imagine she’s out there stuck in a brothel like Jess was or with some asshole using her in the vilest of ways. In my heart, I feel like she’s still alive. I don’t know if it’s denial or if I can really tell. I just don’t want to even think about it.” He sniffled.
“I’ll pray to the Ancients for her safe return to you.”
“Thank you.” He clutched her tightly. “I never want to let you go.”
“Then don’t.”
Chapter Twelve
It had been hours ago, but JB couldn’t get the time he’d spent with Saia out of his mind. They weren’t strangers. They were long-lost friends, catching up on old times. They’d stayed up the entire night talking. There hadn’t been any lulls in the conversation. No awkward silences. No fear of revealing information too fast or too soon.
It had been right.
Perfect.
He didn’t touch her again sexually. He hadn’t needed to. What he shared with Saia went beyond anything he’d ever experienced before. It took every sensible nerve in his body to tear himself away from her side. If he could have kept her in his arms for a lifetime, it wouldn’t have been long enough.
By the time the suns rose and cast an orange light against the sky, Saia yawned and his eyelids drooped. JB had descended her balcony stairs and followed one of the garden paths that led to an unoccupied royal guest apartment.
That was the easy part.
He worked on the balcony door that he swore he had rigged. Where was the piece of cloth he had put in the door the night before? He had stuffed it in the lock, making sure it couldn’t close.
“Justin.”
Shit. Ship.
He straightened. “Uh, hey. What’s going on?”
“I have secured the door.”
Damn.
“Okay, sorry. I know I should have asked if I could come through here again, but it was an emergency. If you open the door for me, I won’t touch or mess with anything.”
“I trust you not to disturb the contents of the apartment.”
JB raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “So what’s the problem then?”
Out of nowhere, a purplish haze appeared in front of him. “I know where you came from.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. “You do?”
“I’ve seen the way you and Saia have interacted with each other. I’ve noted the increased heart rates whenever the two of you are in the same room.”
“How?”
“You humans are so easy to read. It’s how Eva reacted when she began falling in love with Taio. Why did you spend the evening with her? You have never stayed this long with the other females you’ve visited.”
JB’s mind worked overtime. If Taio knew JB was in love with Saia and he’d spent the night with her, well…he was as good as dead.
“I like my neck attached to my head, so I plead the fifth.”
“What does that mean, ‘plead the fifth’? I have never heard that saying before.”
“It means that I’m not talking.”
The air around JB crackled with energy. The hair on his arms stood up. JB took a step back. “You will answer my question, Justin Blake.”
“Whoa, it’s never good when someone calls you by your entire name.” A low humming began in JB’s ears and his skin literally vibrated. “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you, just stop whatever you’re doing!”
The sensations ceased. “If you lie to me, I will fry you from the inside out.”
You might fry me anyway. JB squeezed his eyes shut and cringed. “I love Saia,” he blurted out. When he didn’t feel static on his skin or his insides burning, JB cracked open an eye. “Did you hear me?”
“Of course I heard you.”
JB straightened. “And you’re not going to kill me?”
“No.”
JB gaze shifted from side to side. “Um, why not?”
“I hadn’t intended too, but if you wish.”
JB’s skin began to burn. “Holy shit! Stop!” He backed away from Ship, rubbing his arms, trying to stop the pain.
The pain stopped but JB kept his distance from Ship.
“You tried to kill me!”
“I was not trying to kill you. I was merely making a point that if I wanted to, I could. You seemed overly concerned about it.”
“I was concerned because I thought you would when you found out I’m in love with Saia. Since you’re close to Taio, I figure you have standing orders to kill me if I got near her. That didn’t mean I wanted you to actually do it.”
“In my opinion, Saia is an adult, she can fraternize with anyone she chooses.”
“Really? I got the impression that she was on lockdown. She has guards following her wherever she goes. Taio and her mom keep a pretty tight leash on her—she’s not alone often.”
“I agree.”
“I like you, Ship, but I hate when you’re cryptic. Feel free to elaborate every now and then.” Ship didn’t respond. “I mean now—feel free to elaborate now. How can she be free to fraternize with anyone she chooses and be on a tight leash?”
“I said ‘in my opinion’. Fainia and Taio think otherwise.”
JB ran a hand across his face. Ship was giving him the worst headache. “So am I in trouble or what?”
“Trouble for what?”
JB exhaled slowly. “For spending the night with Saia.”
“I suppose if Fainia found out, there would be repercussions for both you and Saia. If Taio were to find out, I would have to comfort Jess and Eva regarding your death.”
“Are you going to tell them?” JB put up a hand. “Yes or no, please.”
“I have a question to ask first.”
“Shoot.”
“What are your intentions with Saia? You said you love her. What does that word mean to you?”
“Ship, I don’t know what my intentions are with her. But I know that she’s special and I don’t want to do anything to hurt her. What does love mean to me? It means I’d do anything I could to keep her safe from harm. It means that when she hurts, I hurt. It means I don’t know what I’ll do when we have to separate. It means I wish I could steal her away. It means—”
“You may stop, I understand,” Ship said. “You may pass.”
“Really? That’s it? You're not going to tell on me?”
“No, I don’t have plans to say anything, but if I am asked, I will not lie for you.”
The door lock clicked and JB turned the handle and made his way through the apartment. “So is this our little secret?”
“I do not keep secrets.”
JB stopped before he exited. “But you said you wouldn’t tell.”
“If this were something that affected the security of Sonis or well-being of Taio, Eva or Josanis, then I would inform Taio. Two consenting adults who are getting to know each other hardly qualify as a security threat.”
JB shook his head. “You’re talking like you actually saw and heard us.”
“I did.”
“That is so incredibly weird.”
“I didn’t stay. I just wanted to confirm something.”
“And that was?”
Silence.
“Great, tell me you’re eavesdropping then take off.”
JB made it back to his room without bumping into anyone he knew. He got into his bed fully clothed, too tired to undress. Even as he slept, he missed her. His tossing and turning was proof.
Finally, he threw off the covers. It was no use trying to sleep any longer. His arms felt empty without Saia.
What he needed was to steal a few more minutes alone with her.
He reached for his com-link.
Ding. Ding.
JB’s hand froze in midair. He peeled himself from his bed and went to the door. The monitor showed a picture of Kane standing in the hallway. He opened the door for him.
“You’re late,” he said gruffly.
JB blinked a couple of times. “Uh, late for what?”
“The bonding ceremony for Jess and Rasha?” Kane replied sarcastically after JB hadn’t made a move.
Realization hit him. “Is that today?” He’d forgotten about everything since Saia.
Kane nodded and looked JB up and down with a disapproving eye. “It looks like you’ve been up all night partying, but since I know you’ve promised Taio and Eva you’d leave the females alone, I know if you did have a party, it was a solo one, because you would not go back on a promise.”
JB ran a hand across his face, feeling the stubble on his chin and cheeks. “I had a hard time getting to sleep,” he mumbled.
Kane crossed his arms. “Uh huh.”
JB gave a half-shrug. “Well?”
Kane raised a brow. “Well what?”
“Well, are we going to get on with this date or are you going to spend the rest of the morning admiring my devilish good looks and boyish charm?”
“Something is so wrong with you,” Kane said, trying to hold back a smile.
“If you keep talking that way you’ll hurt my feelings. And just so you know, you don’t want to hurt my feelings.” JB leaned closer. “Truth be told, I give out on the first date,” he whispered.
Kane threw his head back and roared with laughter. “I’ll have to keep that in mind. Come on, you idiot.”
JB stepped out of his room and initiated the security. “I spread my legs for compliments and food.”
Kane flicked his gaze at JB as they began to make their way to Jess’ apartment. “Truth be told,” he said, mocking him, “I hear you spread your legs for much less.”
“I think I may have a bad reputation.”
Kane chuckled. “JB, you’ve got a rep from here to Laconia.”
“Huh. I’ve got to do something to change that.” They rounded the corner leading down a long corridor.
“Like what?” Kane asked jokingly.
“I’m going to find someone who’ll make an honest man out of me.”
Kane stumbled on his footing.
“What? You don’t think I can do it?”
Kane choked, beating on his chest with the palm of his hand. “I’d love to see this.”
“I already have someone in mind.”
Kane slowed as they approached Jess’ door. “Here?”
JB nodded and pressed her doorbell.
Kane put up a hand. “Man, I don’t even want to know who it is. Keep me in the dark for as long as possible. Taio will kill you.”
“She’ll be worth it.”
Kane groaned as Jess’ door slid open—and JB’s jaw dropped. He’d never seen Jess look the way she looked now.
“Jess, you…you…” Kane said, trying to find his words.
Jess took a step back and looked down at her gown. “Do you hate it? Do I look stupid?” She picked at the dress. “I knew it. I look stupid.”
She wore a white formfitting gown. The hem brushed the floor. It was plain but she was radiant.
JB grabbed her hands in his. “You look beautiful.”
Jess shuffled her feet. “I look ridiculous. I told Eva that I can’t pull this off.”
Her soft curls brushed her shoulders. Her work boots were replaced with slippers. And the permanent scowl she’d worn just months before had disappeared.
She looked like a brand-new woman.
Kane tucked a curl behind her ear. “I wasn’t expecting you to look so beautiful. You made me stupefied.”
“Really?”
“You clean up good, Jess,” JB said.
She punched him on the arm—hard.
“Is that them?” Eva yelled from Jess’ bedroom.
“Yes,” Jess yelled over her shoulder. She stepped back, allowing JB and Kane to enter her apartment. “I can’t remember the last time I even wore a dress.”
JB gave her an approving look up and down. “I always pictured you in a dress. But in my dreams, your dress was black and a lot shorter. You usually had on fishnets and red heels…”
“And I’m sure there was porno music playing in the background too,” she said.
“Of course.”
She rolled her eyes at him.
Sa’Mya came out of the bedroom first. “I think she’s gone crazy.”
“Who?”
Kane barely had a chance to ask before Eva came out, pushing Sa’Mya aside. “You guys are late! Come on, time to get dressed.”
Dangerously His: 4 (Loving Dangerously) Page 11