Bijou was tempted to follow him, to hash this out right here and now. Something kept her rooted to that damn sofa, though. Fear, perhaps. What if she apologized and he rejected her? Told her to get lost? She wasn’t sure she could handle that from him. It was easier to remember the good times they’d had, to pretend they had simply drifted apart rather than risk him refusing to ever speak to her again.
A sense of longing overwhelmed her, but it wasn’t for the male who’d left. No, Bijou missed her mother. Had she still been alive, Bijou wouldn’t have hesitated to talk to her about this, get her mother’s opinion. She’d always looked to her mom for guidance.
“Hey, you okay?”
Her eyes shot up to see Blaz bending over her, his expression reflecting his concern.
“I’m fine,” she blurted, though she was anything but.
He obviously didn’t believe her, but he nodded anyway, gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“All right, children. What do you say we make this worthwhile?”
The voice preceded the male, and a second later, Apollo stepped into the room. The healer seemed larger than life, although Blaz, being the tallest in the room, stood a good three or four inches taller.
“What’s at stake, Doc?” Blaz countered.
Bijou watched as the two males locked eyes for a moment. Intimidation. That was what they were doing. Daring the other to up the ante.
Chuckling softly at the excessive testosterone being tossed around, Bijou got to her feet. “I think I’ll call it a day,” she told them. “Good luck to you all.”
More ribbing ensued as the five males began hassling one another, their voices booming through the open space. The sound trailed after her even as she made her way around the open area and down the hall to her bedroom. When she passed Oliver’s door, she paused for a moment, considered knocking and telling him what was on her mind.
As was usually the case, she didn’t, choosing instead to tuck her tail and move on.
One of these days, perhaps she’d get the nerve to settle this between them. And if not, maybe she’d simply move into the Lair and see how long it took anyone to notice.
Yes. That was likely the best idea she’d had in a long time.
Kaj wasn’t sure how long they’d beenin the hot tub, but he was content to remain right where he was for as long as possible.
With Acadia propped on his lap, his arms wrapped securely around her, he was at peace for the first time in a long time. In fact, the only times he’d ever been this content had been when he was with her. However, he’d never simply held her like this. Not unless they were in bed, succumbing from exhaustion, usually after an intense bout of mind-numbing sex.
But he wasn’t after sex. Not this time.
No, he’d told himself he wanted to spend time with her. Didn’t matter what they talked about or even if they talked at all. Kaj merely wanted to be in her presence.
“I think we might prune in here,” she finally said, her voice soft and relaxed.
“It’s possible. Would you like to get out?”
She chuckled. “No.”
“Me neither.”
Her hand slid over his arm, gliding up and down over his skin. The lightest of touches that did so much to his body.
“I miss you,balisra,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her shoulder.
“I miss you, too.”
“I should probably get you up to your bed.” It wasn’t that he wanted to leave her, but the sun was inching higher in the sky beyond the protection of all those shutters and thick drapes, and they both needed their sleep.
“I want you to feed first,” she said, her tone firm as her hand held his arm to her torso.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
