by Nancy Gideon
The knot of fury she’d been picking at jerked loose inside him.
“Yes!” His roar knocked her back. “Yes, it bothers me. Yes, it makes me angry. Yes, I’d like to punch them, to gouge out their eyes and geld them every time they look at you. Is that what you want to hear? Is it?”
It was.
Her gaze softened. Her lips trembled.
Not wanted, he realized, needed to hear from him.
“Do you know why I don’t?”
Her head shook in answer to his gentle question.
“Because you’re wrong. None of them have ever been where I am. And they never will be. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
Her ragged whisper crushed him.
“Yes, you do. Yes, you do.” He drew her down and kissed her softly. “Yes, you do.”
When he had her tucked in beside him, the top of her head beneath his chin, he added, “I don’t know who hurt you or disappointed you or betrayed you, Syl, but I won’t. I won’t!”
Who had? Row wondered as he held her close. He knew her dalliances with his brothers meant less than nothing to her. So what did? Who had broken her heart? How could he repair it unless he knew that answer?
“You can tell me anything, Syl. You know that, don’t you?”
She didn’t move. That lack of faith stabbed like a broken bottle.
“I’ll teach you to trust me. Will you let me?”
“I’ll let you try,” was her small concession.
“Good enough. For now.” He rolled, coming up astride her, loving the feel of her palms stroking warm and smooth over his bare back and flanks. “Do you believe me, at least?”
“Yes.”
“Is there anything you want to tell me?” he coaxed. “Or ask me?”
Her features were so heartbreakingly beautiful as she whispered, “Not just now. Now, all I need is you to make love to me.”
“I can do that.”
Her lips parted sweetly under his, her response as suddenly tender as it had been fierce. When he lifted slightly, he smiled at the glint of deviltry in her eyes as she suggested, “I was thinking that center spread in the August issue.”
His brows lowered thoughtfully. “Where would we get farm animals?”
She smacked his ass. “That was July.”
“Oh.” Blue eyes grew wide. “Oh!” He grinned. “I like the way you think.”
A celebration.
If she hadn’t been so happily limp from the great sex, Sylvia would have laughed in his face. Hard to do, anyway, with his head tucked in beneath her chin, that scratchy face resting atop one breast while his fingers played lightly with the other.
“Yes,” she drawled. “I can see how excited your family must be to welcome me into the fold.”
“It’s tradition, welcoming a new princess.”
Imagining that welcome had her grimacing out of his view. “Sounds like fun. My new mate earned through blackmail, my former lovers, my catty ex-gal pals, the king who wants me dead. Can’t we just stay here and see if we can find some livestock?”
His laugh blew warm across her skin, a delightfully erotic sensation.
“It’s going to be awful,” she warned. “With all that angst and drama you abhor.”
“I’ll survive it with the most gorgeous creature in the world at my side. It’ll take my brothers a half-hour to get roaring drunk and the females half that time to get horny as hell, and then we can sneak out while they’re fighting or fornicating. Or both.”
“For some animal husbandry time, just the two of us.”
They shared a naughty chuckle then Sylvia gave him a push. “Move. I almost forgot, you being so damned distracting and all. I have something for you.”
He obliged by rolling onto his back, stretched out in all his naked glory. And that wasn’t at all distracting! For a moment her mind went blank of all but lust.
“You got me something?” The delighted spike in his voice pulled her from her ogling, reminding her of her purpose as she sat up and stretched to snatch her coat.
She blushed. “Well, actually, you got yourself something because I had to use your account. And you have Kendra to thank for handling the particulars.”
He brushed all that aside with a boyishly pleased, “I can’t remember the last time anyone gave me a gift.”
Awkwardly, Sylvia fumbled in her coat pocket to draw out the small parcel. “It’s not wrapped or anything.”
“That’s okay. It’s the thought, you know.” Sitting up, he regarded her through a gaze as bright as Christmas morning.
She wanted to throw them both back down into the tangled covers.
“Here.”
Turow opened the shipping box. For a long moment, he didn’t move, that instant lasting a lifetime for Sylvia as she watched his expression. A soft breath gusted from him. He looked up, his gaze glittering, dazzling like the twin jewels the box held.
“How did you manage this?”
“I found the card in your pocket. I know what a sacrifice that was for you. Here. Let me put them on you.”
“No.”
She froze.
“I don’t need them to remind me of who I was. That time’s past.”
Turow picked up the Terriot diamonds one at a time and affixed them in the top of the double piercings in her ears, studying the result before pronouncing, “Beautiful. They’ll mean something different now. Thank you. I can’t imagine a better gift. And I’ll remember it every time I see you.”
Blushing with confused pleasure, she confessed, “You were also very generous to our host, Shalimar.”
“How generous?”
“A thousand.”
“Not enough. Send two more.”
A loud bang on the door.
“Yo, Row!”
“When is he leaving?” Syl groaned as Turow reached for his jeans.
When Row opened the door a crack to peer out into the hall, his brother grinned wide.
“Don’t the two of you ever just read a book?”
“Magazines, actually. What do you want, Col?”
“Cale wants you up at the Lodge. I’d be happy to keep the little missus company until you get back.”
“Screw you, Colin!”
He grinned wider at her expected response. He tried to look around his brother, but Turow made a formidable wall. “Oh, don’t go teasing me,” he called to her.
“She’ll be fine without a chaperone,” Turow grumbled, a little less friendly.
“Just being a good neighbor.”
“I appreciate the offer.”
“I don’t,” Sylvia shouted.
“If you change your mind,” Colin offered with another wide smile, “I’ll be right next door, resting up for a night of debauchery.”
Turow gave him a shove and shut the door on him. Turning back to the nude beauty in his bed he felt the rest of the world fall away.
Oblivious, or maybe not, to his infatuation, Sylvia finger combed her mussed hair. “I’ll be fine. You go play nice with Cale. I’ve got to find something to wear for tonight and,” a big sigh, “take another shower.” She glanced up to catch that goofy look of adoration on his face. “What?”
He shook himself mentally and physically. “Nothing. I won’t be long.”
She gestured to the four walls. “I’ll be here.”
And knowing that filled his heart to bursting.
Cale met Turow at the door to his office, tugging him into a quick, hard embrace as he murmured gruffly, “I’m sorry about your grandma. I just found out. If I’d known, I’d have—”
Turow cut off his heartfelt apology. “You didn’t. It’s okay.”
“But are you okay?” Cale held him back, his brow furrowed with concern.
“I’m fine, my king. Thank you.
Cale patted his shoulders awkwardly and turned away. “I was just pouring some coffee. Want some?”
“I’m fine.”
Tur
ow waited, watching as his leader went about the mundane task that would have been beyond him just weeks ago when he was puking his guts out in the throes of withdrawal. He looked good, almost himself again, hands steady, eyes clear, movements quick and easy. Relief settled deep until Cale turned to him to ask casually, “What are your plans, Row?”
“Plans?” His brain went blank. “To serve you, my king.”
“Is that still possible?” After releasing that nuclear bomb, Cale dropped onto one of the couches and gestured to the other. “Take a load off.”
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one puzzling rather frantically over his ruler’s intentions. Was he being shown the road?
“What do you mean? Do you doubt my loyalty?”
“No. You know better than that. Sit the fuck down.” When Turow settled on the edge of the opposing sofa, Cale continued. “It’s not your loyalty I question. It’s your concentration. Maybe you’d like to take some time to . . . settle in with your new mate.”
Row frowned. “We’re settled just fine. Is there a point, my king?”
“It’s just the two of us. It’s Cale, remember? And I don’t need someone at my back whose attention and allegiance are divided.”
If he’d put a finer point on it, the word would have impaled him. “Explain that to me . . . Cale.”
“You’ve brought an unexploded bomb into the heart of our family. You must know that. I’d still like to beat the shit out of you, but what’s done is done. How do you see this working out? How do you see her fitting in when most will never see her as anything but a betrayer of our people, as someone not to be trusted?”
“Is that how you see her, my king?”
Cale’s eyes narrowed into a fierce squint. “I see her in chains, brother, not having her nails done with my queen, the mother-to-be of my heir. I think she’s dangerous and bad for the morale of our clan.”
Turow came up off the sofa, saying stiffly, “We’ll leave immediately.”
“You will do no such thing!” Kendra swept into the room, much to Cale’s annoyance and discomfort, to swat Turow sharply on the arm. Then of her mate, she demanded, “You will apologize to your brother, your friend.”
Cale scowled in irritation. “I’ll do no such thing. You know better than anyone what a treacherous bitch she is. Are you saying you trust her? That you’d have no problem letting her babysit our child?”
Turow’s heart sank at the look on her face.
They’d have to leave.
But Kendra surprised them both. “I may not trust her, not yet, but I believe anyone can change. If that weren’t true, I wouldn’t be carrying your child. I trust your brother. And I trust the look in her eyes when she speaks of him.”
Turow’s pulse quickened. What look?
“We’re having a celebration tonight,” Kendra continued, dark stare pinning her king, “and she will be welcomed by all. All, Cale.”
“Yes, my queen and conscience.”
“Don’t be cute with me.”
He grinned. “I know you think I’m cute.”
She sniffed at that, but still bent to kiss his smiling lips. “Yes, I do and you are. Now,” she challenged, straightening, “be wise and do the right thing.”
“I thought I was.”
“But you were mistaken, weren’t you, my king?”
He sighed. “Yes, my queen.”
She studied him, looking for any trace of mockery then, satisfied, turned to embrace Turow, planting a soft kiss on his reddening check. “Forgive him. He can be such an ass.”
Smile twitching, he murmured, “Yes, my queen.”
“I look forward to seeing you both tonight.”
When she swept regally from the room, Cale collapsed back into the couch cushions. “Pregnancy hormones. Dangerous business. They almost make me regret letting mine run away with me.” A crafty grin softened his expression. “Almost.” Then the scowl returned as he regarded his brother. “So, I’m being an ass.”
“Is that a question, my king, or a statement?”
“It must be a statement since everyone agrees it’s true.” He ran fingers through his spiky red-blond hair. “I’d just like to have a cup of coffee without having to deal with some unpleasant issue.”
“She won’t be your issue, Cale. You have my word.”
Weary eyes regarded him long and steadily until finally, Cale nodded. “Okay. That leaves another traitor in our midst to deal with.”
Turow straightened. “Do you doubt me?”
“No. You’re the only one I am sure of. I don’t know what to do, Row. They’re our brothers, princes in the House of Terriot. And one of them wants to grab my crown so he can trade favors openly with James and those monsters in the North. I can’t let that happen. I can’t. It’ll destroy us all. I gave them until tonight to come forward. If no one does, what then? Lock down our compound? Pull everyone back inside? Live like frightened animals in an expensive cage? I don’t want to live like that. I don’t want our next generation to grow up like that.
“Colin’s making real progress in New Orleans toward solidifying a truce for our clans. If we can’t control our own people, how can we expect them to trust us as an asset instead of fear us as a threat or a liability?” He exhaled heavily then placed everything on the table. “Does she know more than she’s telling you?”
Row drew a constricted breath. “About what? About the fact that we barely escaped with our lives after she saved mine? That her mother is dead, and that we left her to burn? That she’s living in fear, surrounded by those who hate her? I think she knows plenty.”
“Would she tell you if you asked her?”
Outraged, he gritted, “You mean during pillow talk?”
Cale dropped his gaze but didn't withdraw the question.“I’ll talk to her,” Turow offered stiffly. “That’s the best I can do.”
“I’ve got to make a move soon, to either pull back or plunge ahead. I made promises to our people. I need to start keeping them, and that means doing things I don’t like.”
“Do what you need to do, my king. I’ll have your back, as always.”
As he pledged his word, Turow prayed he wouldn’t have to break it.
“Now,” Cale commanded, settling in to do harsh business, “tell me absolutely everything you remember about Las Vegas.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Wearing one of Turow’s shirts and the ugly, yet very comfortable yoga pants, Sylvia paused in brushing out her hair. Who’d be knocking on her door? Caution quickened a cool shiver in her belly.
“Hey. It’s Colin.”
She approached warily. “What do you want?”
“Just to talk. Can I come in? Or are you afraid I’m so damned sexy you won’t be able to control yourself alone with me?”
She jerked open the door and held it wide. “I’ll do my best.”
He grinned at her, green eyes full of smug mockery. As he moved past her, she couldn’t control the quick, appreciative sweep of her gaze from towering height down sturdy, strong form. Yep. Pretty damned sexy with all the three D prerequisites of a Terriot prince–dreamy, damaged and dangerous.
“I see he’s keeping you in high style. Or is that under high security? I would have done better for you.”
Sylvia snorted. “You never did anything for me, Colin.”
He turned to flash that devastating-another of those Ds-crooked smile. “Liar.” His voice lowered to a breathy growl. “Oh, Colin. Ooooh! Do me, baby. Do me, again!”
“You are a pig.” She smacked a hard bicep as she nudged by him, but her lips plucked at a smile. “And you were hot stuff . . . in your younger days.”
“Oh, ouch! I’m still hot stuff.”
“Is that why you’re here? To discuss your heat index?”
“I’m not going to be here that long.” Before she could point him to the chair, he dropped down on the bed she shared with his brother and stretched its length like a big, powerful animal. Which, of course, he was. She took the c
hair.
“Again, what do you want?
“Advice.”
Nothing could have surprised her more. “From me? On what?”
“Romancy stuff.”
She laughed. “Colin Terriot wants dating tips from me? Get out of here, you ass.”
“I’m not kidding around.” He shifted uncomfortably, the mockery on his face a tense façade for something deeper.
Funny, she hadn’t thought Colin deeper than the sweat ring around a bar glass.
Sighing, she shook her head. “I am the absolute worst person on the planet to go to for counseling on your love life.”
“Love life.” He smirked. “What’s that? I can bed and bang anything I want, but I’m thinking I might want more. That I might want what you have.”
“You want a threesome with me and Turow?”
That cracked his reserve. They shared a relaxing laugh then he got serious. Really serious. And sincerity made him alarmingly hot. Some poor girl was going to fall hard and never recover.
“You should talk to Kendra,” she suggested.
“Noooooo. She’d have no idea what a tough chick like you would want from a guy like me.”
Someone was teething on his heart or he wouldn’t be here, baring nothing but his soul. Curiosity overcame her need to torment him.
“Who is she? Do I know her?”
“No. She’s not one of us.”
“One of us? Meaning what? Human?”
“She’s a Guedry.”
Sylvia straightened. “Holy hell, Colin! You’re fucking a Guedry?”
“I’m not. Well, I was.” He flushed awkwardly and rumbled, “I am, kinda. What difference does that make?”
“A Romeo and Juliet kinda difference.” She slumped back in the chair, stunned. “I guess now I know why you consider me an expert. Don’t you think one leper is enough for this family to endure? You want to try sticking that down their throats? Ha! At least it would take the heat off me for a while.”
“Her being a Guedry isn’t the problem. At least, not to me.”
Sylvia studied him for a long moment before marveling at her conclusion. “Oh, my God. You’re in love with her.”