Not good enough?! What was this crap? Her smiles warmed his heart, brought life and sunshine into his days! “Shouldn’t I be the one to make that decision for myself?”
Rachel ached all over, and not just because she’d been sleeping on the couch. She missed him so much. “I’ll just go check on the arrangements for tonight,” she said, walking out of her office and leaving Tarin, and her heart, behind.
“Don’t go, Rachel. You know they aren’t good for you. Every time they call or you read one of their messages, you’re hurt and wounded.”
“They are my family, Tarin. I can’t turn my back on my family when they need me!”
He slapped the desk, glaring at her with a ferocity that seemed to…excite her? No! That would be wrong! She couldn’t be with Tarin. He wasn’t her man and…!
“Please, Rachel! They are toxic! Give us a chance!”
“It won’t work. I’m not…” she bit her lip, wanting to tell him that she wasn’t worthy, but as she looked up into his eyes, she wanted to believe she was. She wanted to believe that there could be a future between them. Then her mother’s taunting words from this morning came back to her. “You’re just a plaything to him, Rachel. Stop making a fool of yourself and come back home where you belong. You’re staring longingly at him like a puppy…well, you’re embarrassing yourself and us. It’s pathetic because he couldn’t possibly return your feelings.” Rachel hated the power her mother and sister had over her. She’d fought it tooth and nail over the past five days, but their attacks were so vicious!
So, why the hell was she even considering going back to help them?
“You are!” he stated with vehemence. “You’re worthy and wonderful! Don’t leave Izara, Rachel. Stay and…”
“And what?” she asked, pleading with him to say the words that she so desperately needed to hear.
He pulled her closer. “Stay and be with me.”
That was nice to hear, but they weren’t the words that she needed. She needed him to tell her that he loved her! Rachel was so completely, madly, deeply in love with Tarin, but he just cared for her? It wasn’t enough.
In that moment, she knew that she wouldn’t return with her mother and sister. They were truly horrible people and, if she went back, Rachel knew that they would destroy her.
But nor could she stay here. She loved Tarin too much to stay. Remaining here at the palace…that would destroy her as well.
She allowed herself a moment to memorize the feeling of his heat against her one last time. But only a moment. This was forbidden territory now, she thought. If she was ever going to get over her love for him, she needed to stop allowing herself these moments. If he’d just tell her that he felt the same way, then maybe…but he hadn’t. He’d only asked her not to leave Izara.
“I have to meet with the event staff,” she said and carefully extricated herself from his embrace. “Thank you for this time with you,” she whispered, looking up at him.
Tarin watched her leave and he wanted to roar with frustration. Where was the feisty woman who had ordered him around two months ago? Where was the hot, sexy siren that had tempted him with her expressions, her hands, and her body? The woman who had laughed when he couldn’t figure out how to make coffee and had refused, despite several direct orders, to call him by his first name?!
This woman, this Rachel, was a shell of her former self. No one in the palace ever got the best of her, but a few days with her family and…hell!
He knew that she loved him and he loved her so intensely, he couldn’t think straight most of the time. He had to get her away from those horrible people! Even if she chose not to stay with him, those vile excuses for humans would destroy her!
Running a hand over his face, he sighed with frustration. Leaving his office, he hunted for Harper. When he found her, in Amit’s office, sitting on his lap, Tarin rolled his eyes.
“You guys have been married for too long to be still doing stuff like that,” he grumbled.
Amit glared at his brother. “What do you want? Also, go away.”
Harper tried to stand up, but Amit kept his arms around her, holding her on his lap. “What’s wrong?” she demanded.
“I need your help,” he admitted, his voice almost cracking at the idea of asking anyone for help. Especially when it came to his love life. And yes, that’s exactly what it was. Love. He loved Rachel and, even if she didn’t stay with him, if she returned to Talia in Padar, he didn’t want Rachel to go back with her family. They were horrible and dangerous.
“It’s Rachel,” he said, perching on the edge of the desk. “Her family is toxic! Everything they do and say is meant to belittle her. It’s overt and it’s constant. They’ve only been here a week and already Rachel is being browbeaten back to her shy, timid self instead of the vibrant, confident woman she’s been over the past few years. I’ve heard little comments from them here and there, criticizing the way she dresses or telling her to stand up straight and at least pretend to show some pride.” He shook his head with a disgusted snort. “It’s horrible, Harper. Tell me what I can do to get her away from them!”
Harper had stood halfway through his explanation, her eyes shifting from smiling to concerned. By the time Tarin finished, she was frowning. “When are they leaving here?”
Tarin
