“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. I’ve… I don’t even know how to explain it.” Looking around the room, I try to find the words to tell her what’s been happening.
“Well, since the wedding that went horribly wrong, I’ve been worried about you. But Kahn told me you’ll be okay, and he said not to worry.”
“He did?” This is a shock to me because I didn’t expect him to even know about Aelin. Well, I suppose being Lycan’s right-hand man, he would know everything about me.
“Yes, I went to the hospital after the shooting to see if Lycan was okay. That’s when I met Kahn,” she informs me, but her voice is far too dreamy, which confirms she’s got the hots for the man. “Anyway, he said you’re with Darius?”
I sigh. “Yeah, I was. Lycan and Darius had this massive family feud for years, and he was trying to anger Lycan by taking me.” I don’t even know how the hell I’m supposed to live with the two brothers who turn me inside out. “I just needed to know you don’t hate me for just disappearing.”
“Fuck, girl, it’s not your fault. I mean, if it weren’t for Kahn sending me updates, I would’ve had a goddamned search party out. I heard your dad telling mine you’d been kidnapped, but they didn’t seem all that perturbed. Why is that?”
I don’t know what to tell her. There’s so much I still don’t know, so for now I reply, “I’m not sure. Lycan is working on finding out what’s going on with my dad. I mean, he basically gave me to Lycan, but there’s a lot more to the story.”
“You mean he fucking sold you,” she bites out, anger clear in her tone. Aelin knows a lot more than I ever did. Her dad works with criminals, and I’m sure she hears horror stories all the time. Mine may not be so strange to her as it is to me.
“I get that, but I haven’t had the courage to see him yet, to talk to my father. I just don’t know how I’m going to sit in the same room with him and listen to his excuses.”
Aelin sighs. “I’d be fucking fuming, I tell you that,” she says. “I miss you. I want my best friend back.”
Her words hit my heart deep. The thought of not seeing her again breaks me, and my eyes fill with tears. It’s not goodbye, but I do miss her. I guess I just miss having a friend who I can talk to about things.
“I have to go, but I’ll call you again,” I tell her, because I need to try and find Lycan. I need to figure this shit out before I can promise her that I’ll be home soon.
“You better,” she warns.
“Oh and don’t you go falling in love with Kahn. He’s a…” I want to say killer, or something like that, but I don’t, because I don’t know him well enough. I can’t judge her feelings for Kahn when I’m in love with Lycan and attracted to Darius, who is a killer.
“Ha! You bet your ass I’ll be making sure he knows just what I’m capable of,” she teases, and I realize she’s not talking about violence. It makes me smile. Perhaps she can soften the man who looks like he’ll easily kill anyone with a snap of his fingers.
“Stay safe, girl,” I tell her.
“You too.” She hangs up before I can say anything more, and I blink back the tears. I want to be back in Crimson Falls, I want her closer, and I’m going to have to talk my husband into my plans for a business. I’d love to have Aelin work with me. He wasn’t so sure about me running my business when we first met, but things have changed. I’ve changed.
Sighing, I sit back and wait for Lycan to come back from his meeting.
Time for me and my husband to talk.
By the time Lycan returns it’s dark out. I’ve just finished dinner alone in the room when the door slides open and my husband steps inside. His shirt is rumpled, his tie is undone, and he looks exhausted.
“Hi.” I smile nervously, still unsure of what to say to him after my confession this morning. He glances at me, those usually desire-filled eyes are weary tonight. “You look tired. Do you need to sleep? How are your wounds?”
“I want you naked, in the shower, right now.” Is all the response he offers. He doesn’t smirk, grin, or even smile. I watch for a moment as he pulls the tie from his neck before throwing it on the bed. “Did I stutter?” This time, the glow of need dances in his stare and heat flushes from my cheeks, down my chest, all the way to my stomach, where desire coils like a sleeping serpent ready to attack.
I’m on my feet and racing for the bathroom without another word. And I can almost feel his smile as his gaze burns into my back. Pulling the nightdress that I’m wearing over my head, I turn on the taps. I slink out of my panties and step under the spray, a cold shiver trickling through me as the warming water hits my shoulders.
Lycan is angry, or jealous, or something, and I’m almost certain I’m in for a punishment after what I said this morning. When he took my ass for the first time, it hurt, but I craved it. I enjoyed every moment. Awareness skitters over my naked flesh, and I turn to find him watching me. His green eyes almost black with feral yearning.
“So beautiful,” Lycan murmurs as he steps under the spray behind me. “You know,” he starts, as his hands trail over my shoulders, down my arms, before he lifts my wrists and presses my palms to the cool tiles. “All this time, I thought you were a good girl.” His words drip with
