Studying her, I listen as the rain slaps against the glass. Does she feel safe with me? She’s open to my touch, and that … that knowledge is dangerous. I drag the back of my knuckles along her tummy once more, and watch her body chase the sensation. The little lines at the bridge of her nose deepen, and a low sound rises from her throat. She draws her lower lip between her teeth, and my desire to watch her grows. I tease the sensitive skin above the boxers and watch her chest rise and fall in short, rapid inhales.
“Slade,” she whispers. “I … I …”
My fingers graze the band and I fist them in an effort not to cross a line. It’d be so easy. I nearly come undone at the thought. My fingertips dance lower?—
A door slams. “They didn’t have fresh peaches. Who the hell doesn’t have fresh peaches in the summertime.”
Thea yelps, smacking my hand away while scrambling to sit up as Stefan walks through the front door. Thefrontdoor. He’s fired.
She fumbles for the blanket and pulls it over her while inching away from me.
I snarl.
Stefan saunters through the open living room on his way to the kitchen. “Stupid damn bags.” He grapples with the multiple bags draped over each wrist, and between his hands is a large box. When he notices us, he freezes. “Oh, Thea. Slade.” He grimaces when he sees my face.
“Something wrong with the service entrance?” I scowl at him.
He shakes his head. “Nah. But the front door is wider. Is Edmond back yet?”
Thea pinches her lips together and shakes her head.
Stefan’s eyes dart between us. At the ridiculous amount of space now between us on the couch before he glances at the TV. “They didn’t have peaches.”
“How sad,” I deadpan.
He frowns. “I better put this away.”
Thea jumps up. “I’ll help you!”
She’ll what? Is she running away? She rushes to Stefan, smiling at him as she takes the box and follows him to the kitchen.
Damn peaches. She let me touch her; would she have let me keep touching her? Stefan and his stupid peaches ruined a near-perfect moment. I’m half tempted to ban the fruit from the house. I’m left on the couch watching hell knows what and wondering how I’m going to get Thea out of EV permanently. If I could, would she want me? Would she stay here? Does it matter? There’s no way I can leave her to other men, whether she wants me or not. And using her for my agenda—it’s falling apart.
I stand, shutting off the TV before rounding the couch, intent on heading back to my office, but then there it is. In the front hallway, where Stefan just came through.
Another one. Just like the others. And the ones before that.
A dandelion is propped on the decorative stack of lake photography books on the entryway table, and I stare at it,grinding my molars. I march over and snatch the weed. It must be a day or two old, but the stem still bends without resistance. The fluff puffs away as I close my fist over it and squeeze until the thing crumples into nothing between my fingers.
I don’t look at what’s left in my palm. Instead, I wipe my hands on my pants and turn on my heel, walking back to my office without a word.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
SLADE
“Haven’t seen you in several weeks,” Knox says as I enter the security area at EV.
I don’t want to be here, but the Severing requires fifty-one percent of the members to initiate a member of the Eight, and I doubt my grandfather would take my no-show lightly.
I nod, not interested in discussion. Not this evening.
Kenji slaps me on the back of the shoulder and snickers. “He’s been playing house. Going to be cut short though with your trip to D.C. coming up.”
I frown.
“Knoxy-poo has been playing babysitter. He’s barely been around either. If we didn’t require full security tonight, Graves would have you back on his daughter.”
Knox growls.
