“Okay.”
“Your parents will be here in a couple of hours. You’re all three scheduled for a late flight tonight, back to South Carolina, and Robyn can go with you or—”
“No!” Abby stood so fast, I hardly saw her move. “I’m staying here. With you.” She pulled her nightshirt off and dropped it on her way to the suitcase lying open in front of my dresser, and suddenly, her parents were the furthest things from my mind.
“They’ll just have to cancel my ticket, because I belong here. With you.” She bent in front of her suitcase, then stood with a pair of jeans, and I realized I hated her suitcase and the fact that I only ever saw her when she had a reason to use it. I wanted to see her clothes not just on my floor but in my dresser. In my laundry hamper. Hanging from my shower rod. But that had only ever been a remote possibility, and it was even more remote now.
“Abby, you don’t work for me anymore. I’ve already transferred your Pride membership back to your father.” I’d done that over the phone the day before, when I’d called to tell him I was sending her back. “He’s your Alpha now.”
“What?” She dropped the pants, and I realized she was wearing nothing but a pair of purple lace panties. I had to swallow a groan. “No! I never agreed to that.”
“You were expelled. That doesn’t require your approval.”
“So, tell him you changed your mind and you want me back.”
Oh, I wanted her, all right. But… “You know he won’t give you back to me.” Under my leadership and authority, she’d committed atleastthree crimes, any one of which could get her executed if she were a tomcat. The penalty for a tabby wouldn’t be so severe—we couldn’t afford to lose any women—but it would be permanent and likely painful.
The very thought kindled rage deep in my gut and made claws want to burst from my fingertips.
The Alphas who hadn’t wanted Faythe among their ranks—mostly my late stepfather’s allies—would want to set an example with Abby to make sure future tabbies didn’t think they could just run amok in the new world order. The fact that I couldn’t serve on the board that decided her fatethoroughlypissed me off.
“So, there’s no way out of this?” Her focus volleyed between my eyes, searching for some overlooked possibility. Some miracle that would keep us together.
“No, and there probably shouldn’t be. Your dad’s in the strongest position to help with your defense, and the best thing I can do for you right now is let him.”
“So, then, this is it?” She came closer, and I struggled to maintain eye contact with her so close to naked, and close to my bed, and close to leaving.
“For a while, anyway.” I had no idea what would happen after her trial. Whether or not her father would let her leave the territory. Whether he’d let me visit. And frankly, I wouldn’t blame him if he refused.
I’d failed her on every level.
“How long until they get here?” Abby closed the distance between us and went up on her toes to kiss me.
“A couple of hours?” I guessed, as her hand slid beneath my shirt and her mouth trailed down my neck, her tongue darting out to taste my skin in hot little increments.
“I know exactly how I want to spend it,” she murmured against my skin, and I groaned beneath her touch.
Abby pulled my shirt up, and I lifted my arms to let her remove it. My tee hit the floor near hers. Her kisses continued down my neck while I slid my hands over her shoulders and down her arms. She felt amazing. Warm, and smooth, and soft. She smelled like strawberries and tasted like…Abby.
That was the moment I realized that no matter what her father said, I wouldnotbe able to let her go.
EIGHTEEN
Abby
Jace tilted my face up, then leaned down to kiss me, and desire exploded deep inside me. My breasts ached in anticipation of his touch. I’d never wanted anyone or anything the way I wanted him, and I couldn’t seem to touch enough of him.
And I could see from the bulge straining against his zipper that the feeling was mutual.
“Come here,” Jace whispered against my neck. He tugged me toward the armchair in one corner of the room, where he sank onto the edge of the cushion and pulled me close so that I was framed between his thighs. I could feel the heat from his skin through his jeans, but that wasn’t enough. My body demanded more.
He reached behind my head to tug the rubber band from my hair, and curls fell across my back and over my shoulders. “You aresobeautiful.”
No,hewas beautiful. I skimmed his chest lightly with my fingers. I was still getting used to the fact that I could touch him whenever I wanted, and that privilege was about to be ripped away from me.
Surely, separating me from Jace was crueler than any other punishment the council could come up with.
Jace leaned forward and anticipation made my heart race. My eyes closed as he lifted my left breast. He dropped a kiss on my nipple, and when I groaned, his tongue darted out for a taste.
