“I am sorry for your loss, Your Highness.” The words may sound like a common platitude, but I find myself genuinely meaning them, despite his admission. Perhaps I should return his honesty and openness with a bit of my own. But I owe this man nothing. He may need something from me, but he isn’t willing to offer me basic human rights in exchange.
Callum rises, his strong thighs flexing beneath the fabric of his pants. “Perhaps it would be better if we ended our agreement.” He must notice the look of fear I’m not quick enough to hide because despite his revelation, I still need him, need this week, if I am going to be able to clear my contract and put distance between my sister and Lady M. “You will still receive your money.”
Unfortunately, money isn’t going to be enough. I promised Lady M information, and with the way she is currently abusing my sister, I know she is not going to let us go without it. There is no way to escape La Puissance or Lady M’s hold over us without more from Callum Reid.
I didn’t make much of Lady M’s request to make Callum fall in love with me, but it may be the only way. If he walks out the door now, nothing about my situation, or Andra’s situation, will truly change. But I would be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that there’s something more worrisome happening in my heart as I take in Callum’s words. The fear of never seeing him again—it chokes the breath from my lungs.
Which is ridiculous. It’s been two days.
And yet I meet Callum at the door, placing a soft hand on hisforearm. I let the neckline of my robe slip and fill my eyes, and my words, with honest hopefulness. “Please don’t go, Your Highness. My services have been paid for, and I intend to fulfill them. Iwantto fulfill them.”
“My lady, I…”
“Caterine is fine.”
“Caterine.”
I have to close my eyes for a second, the combination of my name in his mouth and the sincerity in his eyes too much for me to handle. “I would like to continue our lessons, Your Highness, and I would like to continue to get to know you. The real you. If you are amenable.”
“Because you have been paid?”
I shrug coyly, fingering the buttons of his brocade vest, shifting from honest to flirtatious, moving back to safer territory. “Because I was enjoying our time together.” I let my gaze drift lower. “And I think you were too.”
“I think we both know I don’t need sex lessons.” His hand finds the dip in my waist and he pulls me closer, as if he can’t help himself.
“That only persuades me further, Your Highness.”
His fingers tighten. “Please don’t call me that.”
My hand travels up over the hard planes of his chest, wrapping around his neck. “Let us continue our lessons, Callum, let us spend this time together so, should the need ever arise for my other services, you already feel comfortable coming to me for help.” It’s all I can say without giving up the whole game. Maybe I can find a way for us both to come out of this with what we want. I can alleviate his guilt and make him see that he’s wrong about the Gifted.
Maybe I can still get what I need from him.
“You would be willing to help me in the future?” He lowers his head, his breath warming my neck. “If I ever needed you, Caterine?”
All I would have to do is turn my head an inch to the right and my lips could find his. I long for the contact, ache for it. The thought of pressing my lips to his sends a shiver racing up my spine, that same shiver embedding itself under my skin until the urge to feel his mouth on mine is almost overwhelming.
“Will you let me touch you? Do you trust me enough for that?” I drag a single finger along the hard length of him, the bulge that hasn’t softened, despite the heaviness of our conversation. “Not tonight, necessarily, but eventually?”
“I will.” He covers my hand with his, pressing my palm to his thickness, his eyes fluttering closed.
“So you will continue with our lessons, then?” I run the tip of my nose along the exposed length of his neck, breathing him in. Every inch of him is intoxicating.
“I will, my lady.” His head turns, his lips skimming the curve of my shoulder, over my trio of freckles. “And you will consider helping me when I need it?”
I can’t help but feel I’m going to regret this. “I will.”
I see the way the two of them interact, and it worries me. The way they are constantly reaching for each other, the way they seem to orbit around one another. But perhaps what is more worrisome is the way they behave when they are apart. I have observed both of them, together and separately, and there is no longer a doubt in my mind.
Harry and Grecia are Bonded, and it’s a strong one.
I fear what might happen when they produce a child together. It could be our salvation. Or our downfall.
—excerpt from the journal of Diana Brahan
12
Callum
