I rubbed a hand over my face. “Whatever.” I did have a particularly interesting shot of him and I at the circus, so fair was fair. “But, we’re even.”
“Not even close,” he muttered, slamming the white drawer closed, shaking the camera at me. “That elephant shot is worth, at least,” camera waving up and down my frame, “nine more of these moments.”
Maybe, but I wasn’t going to let him know that.
King Collins stared wide-eyed at Sin over his shoulder, mumbling under his breath in a mantra, “Not going to ask, not going to ask, not going to ask.”
Leric…liked…my outfit.
And that was an understatement.
I was currently sitting on his lap in his study, his arms wrapped around me tight, and any time I tried to get up…the tiger in him growled at me. His scent was so damn heady and spiced, most of the elite Guardians kept itching their noses, not even glancing our way at the early morning breakfast meeting we were having before leaving, and they kept stuttering in whatever they were going to say when his scent spiked further when I moved to, at least, eat something, or when he growled.
“Leric,” I pushed through our bond…and tried really hard to ignore the impressive rising erection I felt growing under my ass, “you’re making them feel uncomfortable.”
His tiger growled through our connection.
“Hush,” I continued our private conversation, crooning softly. “I’m not moving. I’m just eating. But you need to try to calm down.”
His tiger huffed. “It has been a very long time since I’ve had sex.” His face tilted and he nuzzled against my neck, breathing deeply, his voice a deep growl in my mind. “I have been patient, but I want what is mine.”
Oh…boy. “Leric…” I ran my hand threw his soft rolls of white hair, then grabbed tight, yanking his face back a bit, tilting my head so those at the table couldn’t see, holding his gaze steadily. “Calm down. This is not going to happen in here. Act like the One. We have business to take care of before we leave.”
His jaw clenched, nostrils flaring. “Promise me you’ll sleep with me tonight.” His eyes flicked between mine. “I know you have Sin in your bed, while night after night I have no one, jealousy and envy eating away at me, all while waiting for you to just look my way.” Silver eyes gazed back at me, a humble, quiet expression. “Please, even if only to sleep.”
Oh…my chest heaved as I realized what I was doing to him. A decent, caring, intelligent man, the man I was forever connected with…how I would feel if the roles were reversed. Alone every night, praying he would knock on my door, as I had once done with the Walker, waiting patiently while burning inside, all while he slept with another woman wrapped in his arms. I felt not only immense guilt that seared my throat, but also tenderness for him that brought stinging tears to my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I blinked hurriedly, “I will…sleep…with you tonight.” I was going to have to figure this shit out in a hurry, but for the time being, I could give him the connection he wanted…and, maybe, I wanted, too.
Soft in my mind. “Thank you.” His chest lowered, the breath he was holding slowly exhaling.
“Welcome.” I leaned forward, pressing my lips to his warm forehead…and my glistening eyes met cold, simmering navy blue’s, fire barely banked from under dipped, hooded lids. His body appeared relaxed but vigilant in his duty as Lajak…but those hidden eyes…I exhaled, closing my own against the furious hatred and boiling jealousy he didn’t bother hiding from me, right here, right now, and I finished kissing Leric’s forehead gently before turning my head, and barely hung on to my control as I made myself eat.
As we entered my room, Lajaks following from their rooms with their own duffels already over their shoulders, just making a pit stop for my own bag, half filled with my normal clothes, half with outfits Roselle had given me. I slammed the door shut behind me, privacy spell firmly activated, and ordered gruffly, “Nobody says a damn word.” I was on the fringes of balling like a girl and pulling a damn gun just to hear the sound it made when fired I was so furious, my emotions on a damn roller coaster ride…for both men.
Sin cleared his throat, ignoring my mandate, and flicked a finger absently in the air, stating, “Perhaps you should find a jacket. A long one.” Wide hand motions. “And puffy.”
I…lost…it.
Picking up a lamp, I hurdled it at his head. He ducked, so I grabbed the small crystal bird statues, and started chucking those. Then, anything else I could find, items crashing and breaking as he dodged each one, taunting me merrily, the sound of tinkling glass and porcelain shattering.
Sin ducked a picture frame, waving his hands at the wide-eyed Elders and Kings. “Everyone out.” More hand waving, then a quick pivot and jump from the wooden chair I heaved at his feet. “Really, give us a moment.”
“At least she doesn’t have a gun,” Brann murmured quietly, then ducked the book I threw at him, hurrying out of the room, most of the Elders, and both Kings, leaving as I threw a glass and platinum clock at Sin…dammit…almost hitting him.
But, Elder Farrar shut and locked the door, placing his back to it, appearing damn amused, tilting to the side absently when a shard of porcelain flew at his shoulder. “Ms Jules, you’re ruining perfectly decent decorations…and none of them are hitting their mark, anyway.” A head tilt to Sin as he spun from the hairdryer I threw. “Nice feet work.”
I froze in surprise when massive warm arms enveloped me from behind, wrapping around my arms tightly, lifting me straight off my feet, the scent of a forest before a rainfall, shadowy and invigorating filling my senses, and I instantly began beating at his strong legs with my fists, shouting, “Let go of me, you fucking prick.”
A wolf growl sounded low, and furious, at my ear.
Elder Farrar rapidly moved when Sin started forward, grabbing his shoulders and twisting him in the other direction, herding a quickly turning furious Sin toward the balcony, the door opening with the flick of his hand before he shoved Sin outside it, stepping out with him, the door and white curtain shutting, effectively leaving me alone in a spelled privacy room with…Elder Merrick.
“Let me go,” I screamed, jerking inside his hold.
His arms only tightened as he growled against my ear, “Did you like being on his fucking lap while he was aroused? Did you feel his cock hard for you? Was it fucking pressing up against your soft flesh?” His wolf snarled loudly as he dipped his head, running his nose along my throat, inhaling heavily. “I can smell him on you.” A long snarl dipping into a drawn out growl. “Tell me, spirit bitch, did it feel good? Is that why you squirmed on his lap? Were you fighting to keep from becoming wet?”