His taste slipped through my lips, bringing the richness of coffee and chocolate. His heat was nice but not consuming. His touch was gentle but not devouring. There were no fireworks, no detonation, just sweet...
I whimpered as his tongue speared into my mouth against my approval.
“Kestrel.”
My heart galloped at the barely muttered word.
We jumped apart.
Guilt saturated my lungs, even though I had nothing to be guilty about. After all, I’d been told I was to be passed around the Hawks.
So why did Jethro stand rigid and furious above us with his hands fisted by his side? “I see you did as I asked and found her but went against my orders and decided to keep her for yourself.”
Oh, shit.
Kes stood up, his body tensing against his brother’s wrath. “I could say the same thing about you the other night.”
My eyes whipped between the two men. How much did Kes know?
Jethro's eyes flashed, looking over Kes’s shoulder directly into mine.
I saw a question and an answer.
Did you fucking tell him?
Because I didn’t.
My heart bucked against my ribcage. Subtly, I shook my head, giving him my oath that our secret was still safe.
Jethro relaxed just a little. His gaze landed back on his brother—the man he now saw as a rival.
“You can’t monopolise her all the time, Jet.” Kes spoke quietly, keeping his temper in check. I didn’t want to come between family, even if it was the worst family on earth who meant to exterminate mine.
Jethro balled his hands. “You’re forgetting I’m the firstborn son. She’s mine until I tire of her. Only then can she be chased. But until then...” He prowled forward, closing the distance. “She’s fucking off limits. Got it?”
Kes stood taller, his arms locked by his sides. He didn’t look like he would back down. Seconds ticked past, the late summer sky filling with throbbing testosterone.
I waited for the kindling of a fight to erupt, but Kes rolled his shoulders admitting defeat. “Fine. But I’m not waiting until you tire. Fair’s fair, brother. I’ll catch you around.” Prowling away, he turned to wave goodbye. “See you soon, Nila. Remember, my quarters are always open to you.”
The moment he’d disappeared, Jethro rounded on me.
I huddled on my lounger, wishing he wasn’t towering above and blotting out the sunshine like the devil incarnate.
If he wanted to berate me for what happened the other night, then so be it, but I wouldn’t take his temper without drawing blood of my own.
But just like Kes had shed his animosity, Jethro managed the same.
His face settled from rage into normalcy. Bowing, he held out his hand. “Come. There’s something I’ve been meaning to show you.”
* * * * *
My jaw dropped to the floor.
I’d never seen anything so spectacular and perfect and inviting in my entire life.
Is this real? Or am I in a dream?
“What—what is this place?”
