The color of her complexion under the sharp lights would have been hilarious, if I wasn’t regretting my decision to stay.
“A person!” she hissed, swatting his shoulder playfully.
It was only then that he realized they weren’t alone. I probably could have made my presence known sooner, but seeing them without filters, without reservation had given me a clear picture of just what I was in for.
They were no longer children and, in my absence, had forged a relationship I didn’t know how to comprehend, nor had aright to question. It was clear in the solid set of Ames’s face as he gingerly set Lenora down.
“Father.”
No warm greeting.
No smiles.
Unlike his brother, Ames had cut himself from me. I wasn’t upset. His reaction was exactly what I deserved.
“Are you staying?”
“He is!” Lenora exclaimed for me, face lit with delight.
But I only saw her lips still wet and swollen from my son’s. I had to tear my gaze away only to find the other man watching me. Hot and observant. The arm around Lenora’s middle tightened with a possessive warning I understood completely.
She is mine,it said.
“I plan to,” I answered.
If I thought that would appease him, it never showed. His head cocked once like he was waiting for thebutin my statement. When it didn’t come, he turned his attention to Lenora.
“You weren’t wearing your hat.”
The smile slipped from her face into a sulky pout. “I hate it. I like the sun on my face.”
A finger skimmed the peeling skin on her nose. “I warned you what would happen if you didn’t take care of yourself.”
“I was only out there a minute,” she argued.
The same big hand dropped to her throat, and he pulled her in for a harder, claiming kiss.
“You know the punishment,” he growled against her mouth. “Go upstairs.”
I didn’t understand the context, but I fully comprehend the implication and my damn cock twitched in my pants. It panged with a reminder that I hadn’t been with anyone in months and the image of Lenora taking her punishment like a good girl…
I shouldn’t.
I was her godfather. In the eyes of the church and God, my very thoughts were blasphemous. I made an oath to her parents and the holy church to protect her, not fantasize the type of punishment she was in for.
Still, it was unavoidable when she slipped past me, pausing only briefly to meet my eye and murmur, “Welcome home, Uncle Marcus.”
Then, she was gone and I was left with the lingering scent of her mixing with the sour stench of sweat.
“You shouldn’t lie to her.” With a disgusted glance at me, Ames moved to retrieve the gloves he’d tossed aside. “We both know you’re going to leave. You’re just setting her up for disappointment.”
“It wasn’t a lie,” I lied.
Ames grunted, but the disbelief was clear in the single sound. The gloves were tossed onto a bench and he started towards me. I thought for a moment, he was going to hit me, but he stalked past without a word, leaving me alone with thoughts of Lenora upstairs, waiting for him.
Chapter Six
Marcus
