“No, we didn’t and we’ve not communicated that clearly, so that’s on us,” Jaxon argued.
“If you say so.” I didn’t want to fight about it or even talk anymore. I wanted to crash, too much crazy wearing me down and I was thirsty too, but I couldn’t handle that right then or them.
I left, realizing I could handle that and didn’t go to my room, my subconscious not keeping up with my conscious, and then I was knocking on someone’s door.
“Inez?” James asked as he opened it up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “What’s wrong, sexy bite? Trisha said the party took a bad turn.”
“Can I stay with you tonight?”
He didn’t hide his shock well but then nodded, letting me in. He closed the door behind me and locked it. “There are a lot of things I want to be to you, Inez, but a regret isn’t one of them.”
“Didn’t come here for that,” I promised. That wasn’t to say I didn’t want to have sex with him. I did. I liked James way too much. “I was thirsty and your blood won’t set me on fire where I lose my head.” I turned and headed for the bedroom of his suite. “I just don’t want to feel lonely tonight. You agree with me and you won’t ever want the cow.”
“You lost me on that but okay,” he mumbled as he came with me. He groaned when I kicked off my clothes but kept on my undergarments. “How do they sleep with you naked and not touch you?”
“We’re friends,” I answered, getting he meant the other cat shifters.
“Uh-huh,” he grunted and got in bed first. “Come here, Inez.”
I nodded, sliding in next to him. I turned so I was laying on him, but then I realized that was tempting and I was drunk, so my hands might wander. Plus, I could look up at him and that did things to me inside. Instead, I turned on my side and pulled him with me.
“What can I do?” he whispered as he snuggled in to spoon me.
“Nothing,” I rasped. “I can’t change that I’m a princess, no one can.” I closed my eyes as tears formed because that was what I’d been wishing for again. More than that, I kept wishing I was a cat shifter when I looked at James. He might love me then and want to be with me.
Only me. No sharing with friends. No passing me along or trying to add men to my bed. No, shifters were possessive and normally mated one they loved fiercely, even after they got the milk and cow. That sounded so nice, so perfect.
Way better than two husbands with the way things turned out, and two more soon that I doubted would be any different.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Inez,” James whispered, his lips pressed against my ear.
But I didn’t. I had sobered up enough that my mouth stayed shut and I fell asleep burying my thoughts and desires deep, deep inside.
I woke slowly, easily, and not worried or startled for once. It was nice.
“Shit, Inez, I really like waking up this way,” James murmured in my ear, his stubble scratching my neck as his hands moved a bit. The fingers of his right hand were teasing the waist of my panties and I liked it too.
“Me too,” I admitted, snuggling into the pillow.
“What are you thinking?”
“Something I shouldn’t be and can’t change.”
He flinched before kissing my hair. “Yeah, I’ve thought the same thing.”
Really? Wow, I was shocked he got what I meant too. I sighed. “Life would still be a mess. I mean, there’s Vance and your cousins. It would still be complicated and not fix everything, right?”
“No, it wouldn’t, sexy bite,” he breathed in my ear. “And I like the person you are. You might not have been the Inez we know if you were something different.”
I nodded, letting out a shaky breath. I hadn’t thought of that. That was a really good point. If I was a shifter, my life would have had a completely different trajectory. “We might never have met then.”
“Or you could have died in one of the cities that got bombed,” he rasped, hugging me to him. “This is better.”
“I—” I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but I flinched when someone pounded on the door.
James sighed and moved over me to get out of bed. He leaned down and tossed me my clothes. “So there isn’t more drama than there’s about to be.”
I nodded, understanding he knew who was at the door and they were there for me. I yanked on my shirt and shorts, no clue where my shoes were, but didn’t care. Yawning as I slid out of bed, I wished yet again I had a hair tie.
“I want to speak with my wife,” Jaxon said from the door.
“Nothing happened,” James muttered. “She just needed a place that was neutral.”
“You are not neutral,” Jaxon snapped.
“No, but I’m also not one of you idiots,” he threw right back.
I walked right by them, shaking my head that this was a thing when they’d told me to do whatever I wanted with my knights. So sex was fine but not sleeping? And now Jaxon cared when he was throwing me at so many others?
They didn’t even see me leave.
I needed to shower and change for the day, but I was seriously thirsty and dehydrated for blood and water, so I headed to the dining hall. I wanted the kitchen, but I
