“One of many I imagine,” he said before clearing his throat. “What did I say about moving?”
“I haven’t budged! I don’t think I have ever stayed so…still,” Rosa managed. He was standing behind her, and she hadn’t heard him move. He lightly touched her bare shoulders, guiding them back into place.
“Why did Saul drinking with me annoy you so much?” she asked, trying desperately not to think of his hands on her.
“Because you are clever, kind and beautiful, and you deserve more than being another of his doomed conquests,” he admitted, his hands shaking as he fixed her hair where he wanted it. For once in your life be brave, Rosa.
“Saul is not my favorite Vane,” she whispered, and his hand stilled. Her breath caught in her throat as he ran his fingers along her neck.
“Rosa, we can’t…” Balthasar said, his fingers moving down her shoulder despite his words.
“Because I’m a Wylt?”
“It’s one of Eli’s only rules…and…”
“I’m sorry. Forget I implied… I misread…” Rosa cringed.
“No, you didn’t misread anything. It’s not you at all. It’s just too dangerous.”
“I’m not afraid of what you are,” she said, looking over her shoulder at him.
“You are the one that is dangerous,” he interrupted. “You are a distraction and would be a weakness, something they could use against me should the treaty go poorly. I won’t risk your life like that.” He kissed her bare shoulder before he lifted her robe back up about them. “I’m sorry.”
Before she could reply, he was gone, the door closing firmly behind him.
“You idiot, Rosa,” she muttered as she stared at the fire wondering how she would face him again.
Eventually, she got the courage and went to look at her painting. He worked so quickly that to her untrained eye it looked near completion. There was a gleam in her eye that she didn’t fully recognize. She’d been looking at him with open passion and desire.
A sharp pain pierced her chest growing stronger the more she stared at the portrait. He would have known she wanted him, heard it in her heartbeat every time he was near her. You silly, naive girl. How ridiculously good you are at lying to yourself about your own feelings. She drank his wine, her shoulder burning where he had kissed her.
Tears pricked at her eyes, and she hastily blinked them away, “Get it together, Rosa, he’s only a guy.”
She looked at the painting a moment longer before switching off the hallway light.
Outside, someone knocked on her door. Putting down the glass, she tightened her robe around her and opened it.
Snow stuck to Balthasar’s hair and on the shoulders of his coat. His dark eyes filled with unexpressed emotion and she looked away under their intensity.
“I’m not angry, Balthasar, so don’t think you have to come and apologize,” she said quietly, fiddling with the tie of her robe. “I’m not offended that you aren’t interest-”
She didn’t have a chance to finish as he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her up to kiss her violently before releasing her just as quickly.
“You don’t understand, Rosa,” he whispered breathlessly, his eyes filled with fear. “From the moment I saw you step out of the car at Gwaed Lyn, I have craved to be with you. If I let it, this fire will burn me up completely. I can’t allow it, not now, not again.”
Rosa gripped the collar of his coat, bringing him back to her mouth before he could back away from her. Strong arms lifted her, pushing her up against the wall. Her legs wrapped tightly around him as his hand shot out, slamming the door shut against the world.
Her hands pulled at his coat, letting it fall to the ground in a heap. She gasped as his mouth found her shoulder before moving back up her neck.
“What about Eli’s rules?” she asked between kisses.
“Eli’s rules can go to hell,” he said as her hands pushed through his hair.
With his impossible strength, he carried her up the stairs to her bedroom. His shirt buttons tore as she fought at the fabric that separated them. He placed her down on the bed gently, smoothing her hair back from her face as he kissed her slowly, testing the softness of her lips. Blood pounded in her ears as his hand ran under the edge of her robe and along her thigh. Tentatively, she moved her hands down the scars on his torso, admiring the feel of the hard muscles underneath. He moved to kiss her collarbone and chest, his hand resting on her hip.
“May I?” he asked as he gripped the tie to her gown. She nodded, too nervous to move as he unwrapped her slowly as if to savor the moment. His face was smug as he looked down the shape of her body. “What did I tell you? Made for seduction.”
Rosa’s relieved laugh was smothered as his mouth found the curve of her breast. Her hands gripped his bare shoulders tightly as he lifted her up onto his lap. Rosa touched his face, running her fingers along his cheekbones and kissing them as she had longed to do. She had dreamt of this moment, the reality outweighing anything she could have imagined.
“You are so lovely when that mask is down,” she whispered, kissing his temple.
“I will leave it down, but only for you,” Balthasar smiled, sweet and genuine as he twisted his fingers in her hair. The tender moment passed, and Rosa was kissing him again, pulling him down to her in a driving hunger to have his weight resting on top of her, inside her. He met her demanding hands as she relieved him of the rest of his clothes. He smoothed the hair from her face.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked, the confidence he always exuded abandoning him.
She kissed him roughly, “You know that it is. You can hear it in my pulse, the tremor in my voice…you painted it in my eyes.”
“Yes, but I must ask,” he said, his hand moved to grip her hip tightly. She brushed her fingers down his spine.
“You don’t have to question my motivations. I want you like I haven’t wanted anything else in my whole life,” Rosa said as her legs wrapped around him, bringing him down on top of her. Balthasar didn’t ask her again but covered her face and mouth with soft kisses.
She cried out as he entered her, moving steadily as she held onto him. His eyes pinned her with a look of passion that mirrored her own. It wasn’t just his masculine beauty that she was drawn to but his complicated heart and mind, his words and art, behind all of his physicality that sent pleasure coursing through her. She felt possessive of him, wanting to hold onto the stolen moment forever.
Rosa let her herself go in a heat of yearning and lust until they were both gasping, tangled in neglected clothes and sheets.
“There is something I want to know,” Rosa said an hour later. She lay with her back to him, his warm body beside her.
He propped his head up with his free hand, “Ask it.”
“Why didn’t you bite me?”
“I’m sure I did a few times,” he said, nibbling on her shoulder.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” she rolled onto her back so she could look up at him.
“When we feed, it’s not only blood that we are taking. Have you heard the saying of ‘there is memory in the blood’? Well, it’s true. When we take it, we see people’s memories and feel their emotions as if they’re our own. If I were to take your blood I would know everything about you in a moment, everything you have done and felt,” he stroked her cheek. “I would rather do it the old fashioned way and try to unravel the mystery that is Rosa Wylt.”
“If you ever figure her out, please let me know,” she said seriously.
“I have to warn you,” he said, making her shiver involuntarily as his hand moved down between her legs and stroked her, “it may take a while.”
Chapter Thirteen – The Breaking of Rules
Rosa woke the next morning filled with a drowsy satisfaction. She stretched out an arm, searching for a warm, hard body but found none.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she sighed. Rolling over she found a still warm cup of tea and a note
: Early meeting, enjoy the tea and please do not touch the painting- it’s still drying- B.
She was smiling before she could stop herself. She could still smell his aftershave on her skin and in the sheets.
Downstairs, her lounge room had been reassembled, and the painting was standing on the mantle above the built up fire.
What if you are reading way too much into this, an unwelcome voice whispered in her mind. What if he was only willing to break Eli’s rules for a night to scratch an itch? You had best protect yourself from those burning eyes and get your game face on, Wylt.
Rosa finished her tea, showered and dressed, determined to treat it like any other day.
***
“How are the preparations coming?” Eli asked over the noise of the London traffic.
“Fine, good,” Balthasar answered vaguely as he opened the curtains in his office and looked toward the Wylt cottage. “It’s snowing.”
“Already? How are the stones?”
“Humming. The humans will be able to hear them soon. You’re not worried that the Seelie will try to come early?”
“They might be able to send one but not an army. Keep an eye out for a herald or messenger. They will likely send someone to spy out the land before Ryn arrives. It’s something the pompous bastard would enjoy doing.”
“Now, now, Father. You had best be careful talking about our honored guest in such a manner. How are the kids enjoying their break?”
“Saul has been helpful with final negotiations. People like him are more at ease with him than with you. Although, Blackfox’s widow is looking at him like she wants to eat him alive.”
“They prefer him because you haven’t made Saul your executioner for the last four hundred years,” Balthasar said with only a twinge of resentment. “And I will give him to Eliana gift wrapped if it means her people won’t seek revenge on us.”
Eli laughed brightly. “No one would ever take Saul’s threats seriously, and your reputation will always work in your favor. I’ve let Lily and Pearl have their head while we are here.”
“Is that wise?” Balthasar knew what qualified as entertainment for Pearl. He could only hope that Lily knew how to get rid of the bodies.
“I have one of Riverclear’s men keeping an eye on Pearl to make sure she is discreet with her hunting habits.”
“Lily needs to put her on a leash; a tight one, with a choke collar.”
“She is young and impetuous. She’ll calm down and fall in line. Or she will slip up and get put down,” Eli said nonchalantly. “How is our Rosa?”
Balthasar’s memory gifted him with an image of her with her back arched, her mouth opened in a silent scream of ecstasy.
“Rosa is in magnificent form.” He cleared his throat to remove the hitch in it. “She’s recovering well. Making another grand mess in the ballroom today I have no doubt.”
“You sound as if you are smiling, Balthasar,” Eli teased. “Anything else you want to tell me?”
“Only that you were right. She brings life to this place. That’s all.”
“She is a Wylt; it’s their gift. Keep an eye on her but stay focused. Are we going to have enough food and alcohol?”
“Cecily and Goode plan on going to Penrith for whatever extras they need.”
“Excellent, I will fly home tomorrow night, so if there’s anything they cannot find, tell them to email me.” Eli hung up after Balthasar reassured him yet again that he would have everything ready.
He hadn’t considered that Ryn might send someone early. His eyes drifted down once more to the snow covered Wylt cottage. It would be the first place a spy would reach on their way to Gwaed Lyn. He would have to insist that Rosa spend the night inside the mansion, in his bed, for her protection.
Very chivalrous of you, Balthasar, but who is going to protect her from you?
***
“Everything under control in here?” Balthasar asked, interrupting Rosa’s attempt at wrapping as much greenery around herself as possible. She looked over her shoulder at him for only second, but it was enough to see the gleam in his eyes. She turned back to Julie, quickly hiding her burning face.
“We should have it done by this afternoon, sir,” Cecily said as she gave Rosa a curious look. “The rooms are ready to go, and Goode and I will head out to Penrith soon.”
“Excellent, Eli will be pleased,” Balthasar replied as he watched Andrew unwind the bunting from around Rosa. They were both giggling, and for a second she thought she detected a look of jealousy. You’re imagining it, Rosa, let it go. He has no right to be jealous.
“You seem to have it under control,” Balthasar said quickly. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“What on earth has gotten into Balthasar Vane?” Cecily shook her head at his retreating back. She turned and saw Rosa checking him out, silently thanking his tailor. “Anything you want to tell me, Rosa?”
“Huh? Nope, nothing to tell. I don’t know why he is moody. He’s always moody.”
“He wasn’t moody! If I didn’t know better, I would think he wanted to talk to you.”
“To me? Doubtful, very doubtful,” Rosa said with a quick shake of her head. “What would he want to talk to me about?”
“You’re both acting very strange this morning. First, you walk in grinning like the Cheshire Cat who has been rolling about in stolen cream and now he is looking all at odds with himself.” Cecily put her hands on her hips.
“He’s under a lot of pressure I imagine. Perhaps he’s just a bit flustered. I slept well last night, that’s why I’m in a good mood,” she babbled.
“You’d better not be the one flustering him,” Cecily said cautiously as she led her away from the hearing of the others. “For your sake more than his. Be careful, Rosa.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about. We’re friends,” she shrugged, “that’s all.”
“There is nothing wrong with that, but guard your heart. The Vanes are not like other men,” Cecily added meaningfully. So she knows after all.
“I know, don’t worry. For the last time, there is nothing going on between me and Balthasar Vane,” Rosa assured with a smile. “Now what else do you need help with before you go?”
***
Pearl woke from her nap with Lily still holding her hands tightly. It had been a wild night, the first she’d had in months. There was blood on the sheets and a dead hooker in the bathroom. Lily was always so much more fun when she was away from Eli’s control.
Pearl had tried to convince her to leave him for years, but she never had any success. Some debts run too deep, Lily had told her. Pearl wanted to rule beside Lily and to do that they were going to have to get rid of Eli and Balthasar.
Blackfox hadn’t been her only ally against Eli’s attempted treaty with the Seelie. Very slowly she climbed out of bed and found her clothes. Stepping around the corpse in the bathroom she brushed her teeth and reapplied her makeup. Fifteen minutes later, dressed in a white suit with an arctic fox stole about her shoulders, she stepped out of the elevator and crossed the foyer of the Ritz.
The Riverclear thug sat reading a paper, a cup of untouched coffee on his table.
She sat down opposite him and lit a cigarette. “If you don’t want me to rip your limbs off one by one, I suggest you get your boss on the phone. I want to set up a meeting.”
***
Rosa rolled the thick dough in her hands, testing its elasticity before she dumped it out onto the floured bench top. Vera had gone to bed for the night, giving Rosa free rein of the kitchen. She needed to think, and baking always worked best.
She tried not to think of Balthasar as she placed the dough back onto the floured board. She wondered what her friends would be doing. She had received no emails, but a few updates on Facebook of brown bodies and fancy cocktails in Ibiza told her all she needed to know. They were doing normal people partying, not worrying about a guy way too old and complicated for her. She coated the dough with melted butter before sprinkling it with
sugar and cinnamon. With a quick dexterity, she folded the dough sides over onto each other. The back door opened as she had started to cut the dough with a large knife.
“So this is where you are hiding,” Balthasar wiped the snow off his head before taking off his gloves.
“I’m not hiding,” she said, trying to cover up the flutter in her voice. “I’m baking cinnamon rolls.” Rosa put the knife down and started to twist them up. He sat down on a kitchen barstool to watch her.
“Are you all right? You seem a bit…”
“What?”
“Defensive. I’m sorry, are you angry with me?” he asked, genuinely confused.
“I’m not angry with you,” Rosa said as she placed the rolls on her baking tray. “Look, Balthasar, I don’t know what you want me to say or how you want me to act right now. We had a night together, it was awesome, and I don’t regret it.”
“But…”
“That’s just it, isn’t it? There is a massive but. How about…but I work for you? But I am a Wylt and a one-night stand? There are a million buts. I don’t know your intentions. I don’t know where I stand with you now, let alone when Eli comes back.”
“I can’t believe you think I’m a one-night stand sort of person,” he folded his arms. “Is there anything about my character that would imply such a thing?”
“Even half Unseelie hybrids have urges,” Rosa said as she put her trays in the oven and started wiping the flour off the marble countertops.
“Then allow me to set the record straight, Rosa Wylt. Firstly, I would never do you the discourtesy of using you to satisfy my urges, as you so delicately described them. I didn’t have sex with you because I wanted the sensation. It was because I wanted you.” Balthasar took a step closer to her, “Yes, you are a Wylt. Neither of us can help that. I don’t see you as some forbidden fruit either before your mind decides to make that ridiculous leap. As for where you stand right now, it is in front of someone who you’ve been driving crazy all day with your indifference. Someone who has been dying to kiss you all damn day because they feel like they are going to explode unless they do.”
Wylt: Book One The Blood Lake Chronicles Page 15