“There—done,” she announced, smiling at Melli.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Melli protested. “What if Liosh is trying to find a way to let me down easy and get away and now you have Vorn poking at him.”
“That’s silly—he doesn’t want to get away from you,” Jodi said firmly. “I’ll tell you the minute Vorn gives me the scoop. Now come on, let’s get some tea. Oh, and I have the most amazing cupcakes I bought from that littler bakery Mom’s friend, Kat reccomended. You have to try them.”
Uncertainly, Melli allowed her big sister to pull her into the suite’s food-prep area. Had she done the right thing in asking Jodi to find out what was wrong with Liosh? With the big Blood Kindred feel pressured or coerced by the question?
She certainly hoped not—just as she desperately hoped that Liosh really did still love her, exactly as Jodi said.
Fifty-One
“Of course, I love her. I love her so much it hurts,” Liosh admitted in a low voice, looking down at the drink he’d ordered at the small bar that was closest to the Docking Bay.
He had hemmed and hawed and “beat around the tree” as Vorn put it, when his friend first asked him what was wrong but when the Beast Kindred asked point blank if he still loved, Melinda, he couldn’t help but answer from the heart.
“I do love her,” he repeated vehemently. “Too much to hurt her,” he added in a low voice.
Vorn frowned. “What in the Seven Hells is that supposed to mean, Brother? And if you love her, you’d better show it. Jodi tells me she’s over at our suite this minute crying her eyes out because she thinks you don’t want her anymore.”
“Melinda thinks that?” The very thought of her being unhappy—especially because of something he had done—tore at Liosh’s heart.
“I’m afraid so. She’s telling Jodi you don’t want to taste her anymore,” Vorn said bluntly. “What could have made you lose your taste for your female’s honey, Brother?”
“I haven’t lost my taste for it—I crave it more than ever,” Liosh exclaimed. “But I don’t want to hurt her or rush her, Vorn. She was attacked—twice. And the second attack wasn’t that long ago, you know. I’m trying to give her room and time to heal, that’s all.”
“And driving yourself nearly crazy not touching or tasting her in the meantime, I’m guessing,” Vorn said, looking at him shrewdly.
Liosh sighed and took a long sip of his drink.
“True,” he admitted. “But I refuse to be like one of those Earth males who force a female to ‘get over’ something that happened to her just to meet their own selfish sexual needs. Melinda is going to have as much time as she needs to get better before I touch her sexually in any way ever again.”
“I’d say the fact that she’s crying to my mate over the fact that you don’t taste her anymore is a pretty good indication she’s had as much time as she needs,” Vorn said dryly. “If I were you, I’d go get her and put my tongue between her legs right this minute, Brother—it’s clear she needs you.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Liosh insisted. “Besides, she fears me now, Vorn.” He raked a hand through his hair and took another drink. “She saw me go into Rage—saw me rip that male that attacked her to shreds with my fangs.” He shook his head. “That memory needs time to fade.”
“If she’s so afraid of you, why is she telling Jodi she craves your tongue between her thighs?” Vorn asked reasonably. “Have you asked her if she’s afraid of you?”
“I don’t have to.” Liosh looked away. “I can see it in her eyes every time she gets near me. I don’t want to hurt her, Vorn—don’t want to frighten her any more than she is already frightened of me. I’m just trying to be careful.”
“All right, all right.” Vorn held up his hands. “I won’t try to tell you your business, you know your female better than me. But can I at least tell Jodi to give Melli some reassurance?”
“Of course.” Liosh nodded swiftly. “And I’ll try to reassure her myself tonight. I just need to be careful while I do it.”
“Right.” Vorn nodded and closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating on the silent communication with his mate. “Done,” he said opening his eyes and nodding at Liosh. “Now come on, drink up, Brother—I want to get back to my bride.”
Liosh couldn’t help the stab of envy that went through him at those words. How he longed to Claim Melinda as his bride, the same way Vorn had claimed Jodi! But he didn’t want to frighten or rush her.
He wasn’t sure when he would be able to Claim her, he admitted to himself. He only knew he loved her and wanted her desperately. If only he could find a way to show her without pushing her too far!
Please, Goddess, he prayed, Help me find a way. Help me Claim my bride and show her how much I care…
Fifty-Two
“So that’s why he’s been so stand-offish lately? Because he thinks I’m afraid of him?” Melli asked, surprised.
“That and he thinks you’re still fragile after the, uh, second attack by Jason Sykes,” Jodi nodded. “See? I told you he still loved you. He’s just being sweet and kind and patient.” She took a sip of her tea—she had finally talked Melli into a cup and had given her a cupcake to go with it.
“But…what if I don’t want him to be patient anymore?” Melli asked, frowning as she put down her own teacup. “What if I feel ready to take the next step?”
“Do you?” Jodi asked frankly. “After all, Melli, it’s only been a little over a week since that bastard Jason jumped you again.”
Melli lifted her chin.
“I refuse to let my present be determined by my past,” she said bravely. “Yes, I’m ready, Jodi. I
