Falling for a woman, creating a family, and living happily ever after wasn’t high on my to-do list.
As I slid in between the covers, I tried to hush the Tulya rush both my mind and body were experiencing. My palm slid down my thigh and over to my heaviness on a path it had traveled many times before, but I had to stop myself. It was disrespectful to Tulya. And more so, torturing to me. I’d never wanted anyone the way I wanted Tulya, and we just couldn’t ever—
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, dragging me from my illicit thoughts.
Knowing it was either my mother or Magnum, I snagged it off the table and hit answer call without looking. “Hello?”
“Asleep already?” Magnum asked, a hint of something sinister in his tone.
“Yeah, I’m heading to bed…before I take care of your problems.”
“I’m asking you not to do this, as my brother, Don,” Magnum pleaded. “I love her, man. She makes me stronger.”
A long breath escaped me. My brother was under some serious delusions.
But all I said was, “You know I have to, Mag. She will eventually weaken you, or us,” before disconnecting the call.
It wasn’t because I was afraid of our mother and the havoc she’d bring if I didn’t. It was the Rubian legacy on the line. Our family, namely. The House of Malachite was in the balance. Tulya’s family might hold the direct line to power, but ours captured the economy.
We couldn’t commingle with humans, or the auras and powers would cease to exist, and then it wouldn’t matter how much damn money we had. We’d be dead in the eyes of the Minister.
My unique ability wasn’t one I enjoyed or cared to pass on, which was why I didn’t plan to procreate—unless I honed something better. As we acted and served in the best interest of Rubia, we acquired enhanced skills.
Slamming my eyes shut, I willed sleep to take me before my thoughts went too dark and sinister, my own morals failing me when it came to the redhead across the common room.
“Rise and shine.” I spoke over the brim of my cappuccino as Tulya made her way out of her room, her robe cinched too tightly around her waist. I worried she was cutting off her air supply.
She looked my way and stared right through me.
“I ordered some food and coffee,” I said as a peace offering.
Tulya nodded, making her way to the cart. Her hair was tied back in a bun at the nape of her neck, face devoid of any makeup. She’d never looked more beautiful. In another world, I would wake up next to her every day.
Now, I watched each of her actions like a Peeping Tom, as her lithe fingers lifted the silver coffee carafe—I was both amused and titillated. I scolded my brain and urged my heart to get a hold of itself.
She poured a hefty mug full before taking the pitcher of oat milk and adding a touch of it to the steaming hot liquid. Without another word, she turned on her heel, mug in hand, and walked back toward her bedroom, her ass swaying underneath the plush robe. My hands tingled, wanting to touch and do things they were not permitted to do.
Taking a slug of hot liquid, I told myself to hurry up and find Valerie and extract myself from this situation.
Already in my suit, as if I was here to do official business, I plodded to the cart and snagged a piece of turkey bacon, wondering how I could summon my partner in crime to start our mission. I strolled to the large floor-to-ceiling window and caught the sun in the sky, the ocean in the background, and wondered what the fuck was wrong with me. I could be on a run or sitting by the pool—why did I always have to be so stringent when it came to my mother?
“Ready. Let’s go,” interrupted my thoughts.
Despite her tone being terse and sarcastic, I was thrilled at the reprieve from my own brain.
“I think you’re going to be hot” was all I got from her as we walked toward the elevator.
“Well, if I could wear a skirt like you, I’d do that, but my legs never look quite right in a dress.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please, no reason to act like a jerk. I was simply saying a suit isn’t necessary.”
I didn’t get into how this was my armor against my rapidly beating heart and pulsing emotions. A pair of chinos and a golf shirt would have made this feel like a date, and this way, I was dressed for a business appointment.
“Thank you for the worry,” I came back with, not wanting to insult Tulya any further.
“Not concerned, just stating a fact.”
“It’s December, not July,” I grumbled and she ignored me.
