Are they legion? Absolutely.
“Even though you just slept with the enemy?” he jokes. It’s funny because it’s true.
“You did too.”
“Yes, but my family isn’t mentally unstable and going to fly off the handle like your brothers will.”
Also true.
I sit up, grabbing Tristan’s sweatshirt and tossing it on. “Which leads me to my next question.”
“What is that?”
“What is your family’s version of why you hate us all so much? We’re very rational people. It must be just riddled with lies.”
He sits up on his elbows, staring at me. “Rational people? You’re serious?”
I shrug. “Obviously.”
“Lark, there’s nothing rational about a single part of your family. No offense.”
“You can’t insult me and then say ‘no offense.’ Offense taken, sir.”
He grins. “You’re adorable.”
“And you’re stalling.”
But the comment does make me smile.
He sits up fully, still completely naked. “All I know about the story is that it was over a girl.”
“Naturally. All good family rivalries start with a love story gone wrong.”
“Is that so?”
“Yup. It’s a fact. According to my family, you guys did something to get back at my great-great-great-grandfather or something like that. So I’m wondering if our stories align that it was a love story.”
He shifts toward me, his hand coming to my cheek, sliding his knuckles against my skin. “And we’re just doing what then? Giving future generations more of a reason to carry on?”
I pull my lip between my teeth when he kisses my neck. “We aren’t going to do anything, because if anyone finds out, we’ll both be dead.”
He kisses me again, his hands now moving under the fabric of my—his—sweatshirt. “That would be a tragedy.”
“Agreed,” I say softly as he cups my breast.
Then I moan and swat at his hand. “You’re not giving me the story.”
“I don’t care about the story.” His thumb brushes my nipple. “Do you want to talk about our ancestors’ mistakes?”
No. I really don’t.
“I’d rather we make our own,” I say before his lips press against mine.
“Me too.”
He kisses me again, and when he moves to my neck, I whimper softly. “Tristan?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
