But later…they would be alone, and he would touch her again and her brain would stop functioning. Fuck. She was screwed. She bit her lip to stop a frantic giggle. Or she would be at any rate. He’d promised her a bed next time, and damned if she didn’t want to experience that.
Arthur sighed. “Your call, of course.”
No, it wasn’t, but he’d never get that, would he? He’d tried to rule their every move when she was a child. No doubt he expected other werewolves to behave just as badly. “Just get on with it.”
“I didn’t kill your mother.”
He looked straight at her, and as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t look away. Couldn’t respond either.
“I loved her more than anything. You have to know that, Gia. You must remember it.”
She refused to remember it. “You were covered in her blood. You said, I did this. That’s what I remember.”
He sighed and shifted in his seat like he was uncomfortable. Good. He deserved it. “I meant that I was responsible. It was my fault. I was so afraid whoever it was would come after you so I sent you to Julian.” He shook his head. “That’s true, but you couldn’t have stayed with me then if it was a car accident and not an attack that killed her. The grief“—he took a deep breath—“was too intense. For a long time, the only reason I kept on was vengeance.”
She turned her face into Anthony’s shoulder. He immediately wrapped an arm around her, rubbed her neck until she went limp against him. God damn, Arthur. If he was telling the truth, he’d abandoned his daughter. If he was telling the truth, he’d let her believe the worst for sixteen years. Then in one night he expected to turn it all upside down. Like she didn’t have enough problems right now dealing with Anthony.
“What happened later?” Anthony asked. He must have realized she couldn’t find her voice anymore. She didn’t turn around as her father answered, knew she couldn’t hide all the emotions from her eyes.
“It was a long time before I could think clearly. You’re new to the bond, right? It’s very hard to live without the other half of your soul.” His voice broke at the end but she refused to feel any sympathy for him. He took a minute, seemed to compose himself before going on. “When I could function again, I went searching. I must have gotten home that day right after the rogue left. His scent was strong. I’ve never forgotten it.”
“And you think it was Tim Burns?” one of the others, Asa, asked. Declan had obviously filled him in during the drive back.
“I know it,” Arthur practically growled. “It took me a long time to get close enough to him to be sure, but he’s always protected. For some reason, he’s gone back to Gold Falls.”
“Could be he knows you’re following him, and he figured it would be the right lure,” Anthony drawled.
She sat up then, turned around to look at Arthur. He nodded. “That’s my guess.”
Shit. He was using himself as bait? Before she could protest, Anthony spoke. “It’s late. Let’s continue this in the morning.” He caught Clint’s gaze and gave a slight motion with his head. What was he up to now? “Under the circumstances, I’m sure you understand you’ll be under guard in this house.”
“Is that really necessary?” Declan asked.
“Yes,” he answered with his best alpha tone. Its effect on her had always been carnal and she shivered. His hand stroked absently up her back.
Clint moved forward. “This way.” Arthur stood and followed him out, so did the rest. Suddenly, she was nervous. Alone again. She scrambled out of his lap and around the desk. He just smiled and walked to the door where he stood and held his hand out.
“I believe I said something about a bed earlier.”
Chapter Six
Gia trembled and he hadn’t even touched her yet. His gaze swept her body, and it felt like a hot caress. Molten. She felt an answering desire. One of them might combust when he touched her.
He cocked an eyebrow when she didn’t move. “I guess we could try out the desk first.”
She couldn’t help it. She looked over at the desk, considered it and discarded the idea. Nope. She really wanted that bed. Forcing her feet to move, she stepped forward. But he didn’t lead her from the room. He took her in his arms and kissed her.
It started out gentle. Tender. A soft kiss against her lips and another until she opened her mouth for him. His tongue brushed over hers and his moan filled her mouth when she touched his in return. She wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers tunneling into his hair, and pressed her body as close as possible. His cock was hard against her belly and she rubbed against it. He abruptly broke the kiss.
He was breathing hard, and she felt a surge of exhilaration. She did that to him. She made him lose control.
“Any more of that and it will be the desk.” He stepped out of the doorway and ushered her through, slapping her ass when she passed him.
“Anthony,” she protested, but she didn’t really mean it, and he knew it. He growled, and why did that turn her on even more? Hell, why keep trying to figure this out? Just go with it, Gia.
“Upstairs,” he ordered.
She was only too happy to oblige and jogged up the stairs unafraid of letting her eagerness show. He opened the last door on the left and nodded for her to enter first. She walked in, suddenly overcome with nervousness, and looked around.
It wasn’t a bedroom.
