A Lady of the Realm (26 page)

“Do you wish to sleep, luv?” he whispered softly as his hand clenched my waist.

“What do you think?” I asked as I rolled on top of him. I kissed him gently, and he moaned.

“I think you need to take it slower,” he said rolling me over so I was under him.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and urged him to enter. He kissed me softly before entering my slowly. I felt myself expand, felt the tension as he entered. His shields came down and our minds blended.

“Damn honey, you feel so good,” I whispered against his lips.

He groaned and set a steady rhythm. It was slow, methodical and gentle. Our minds, our blended emotions, made the experience special. I sensed his arousal, which made me more aroused and in turn, peeked his arousal. We fed off each other’s feelings, bringing me to an unheard of peek. I came in one violent torrent, and Malachi quickly joined me.

He rolled to his side and my eyes immediately started to close. I really did enjoy the half-breed’s presence, not just in my bed. Before I yielded to a blissful night of sleeping in his arms, I asked a very important request.

“Honey, this is my first house, and I really like it. Tell Sasha I’d rather you guys moved in with me. Especially you, half-breed, you’re more reliable than the elf,” I mumbled.

The bed shook with his laughter. “We’re a package deal, witch. I’ll add it to the contract,” he said. Soothing energy uncoiled and wrapped itself around us. It raced underneath me, a cloud of warm air, and I drifted to sleep.

Chapter Thirty-Five
:
Falling in Line

I’d gone about my life for two weeks after the convention. I was remodeling my bar, which I renamed Witch Hazel. All my workers were former slaves. Jon took the union idea and ran with it. The contracts for service went into detail about money, payday, days off, workers’ compensation and an out clause, if they weren’t happy.

I closed the art gallery. I recruited some artists in
the city and was in the process of opening a tattoo parlor. First, I thought it was much cooler than a gallery. Second, I wanted my fix of ink free.

I’d settled three disputes in the first week. Sig assured me thievery, assault, and rape were minor offensives. I went with an eye for an eye. The thief was going to work for six months without pay. The human who assaulted a gargoyle in a bar received a brutal lashing from Sig. I had him healed up and was certain he wouldn’t do it again.

The rapist was more difficult. The victim was for castration, and I was more than happy to comply. Alas, the predator had to agree to the terms, and he didn’t even entertain the idea. They settled for the perp to do one year of service at Maria’s place in Nevada. All his wages would be garnished for compensation. I called Maria and asked her to tie him to a bed, and let whoever wanted to use him at it. She loved it and promised to send me videos.

Malachi did move in. The house had seven bedrooms, and he claimed one of the upstairs rooms, next door to mine. He was a busy guy, and I rarely saw him during daylight hours, but he was home every night, like clockwork. He never mentioned Sasha, and I never asked him.

I received no word or message from the elf. I heard the general gossip from the servants. He was meeting with his people, cleaning out his mansion, closing up the house in Lafitte, and generally doing what he wanted.

I was thrumming my fingers wondering where Sasha was and why he couldn’t join the program. Everyone else fell in place. Why did he take so long? I grabbed my car keys.

“Young one?” Sig asked. He was standing in front of the doors, barring my way.

“I’m going to see Sasha, and no, I don’t need you to chaperone.”

He nodded several times and crossed his hands. “Give me the distress signal and I’ll let you go.”

“Who’s in charge around here?” I asked as I stamped my foot like a child. That didn’t help. He laughed and spread his legs apart.

“Distress signal.”

We’d been working on a way for me to communicate with Sig telepathically. Once the connection was made, Sig was able to locate me anywhere in the city. I was to use it only under extreme duress. I doubted anything was going to happen in the twenty-minute drive, but it was best to amuse him.

I turned my ring inside my palm and focused on one word. One face. When my vision was completely red, I mentally screamed ‘Sig’ as hard as I could. I opened my eyes to see if I’d passed the test. Sig was on the floor, blood trickling from his nose.

“Shit. Are you all right?”

“Mind your speech. Yes, well done. I should be able to find you two states away. Be gone,” he said as he popped out of the room.

I shrugged my shoulders as I headed out. I was going to find out what was going on with Sasha.

Once at his place, I trudged up the well-known walkway and placed my key in the door hesitating for a second. This was silly. If he wanted to see me, he would’ve come by. I was becoming a stalker. Did I really want to know what he was doing?

Yes.

I opened the door, slamming it back into the wall. The house was deserted. The furniture covered in white sheets. I moved through the front of the house heading up the stairs towards a soft blues melody. I didn’t need any light to show me the way. I’d lived here, played here, for several weeks.

Light drifted from underneath his personal chambers. I took a deep breath as I opened his door. It swung out as I stood in the threshold. He sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes downcast as he played one of his acoustic guitars. He lifted his eyes to mine and smiled.

“About time you came,” he said placing the guitar down and waving me in. “You must bring a whole new dimension to the word patience. I’ve had to physically restrain myself for the last two days while you’ve been cavorting and having a good time.”

“Why didn’t you answer the phone?” I asked. He made no sense whatsoever, and my anger was spiking, making his words mindless dribbles of noise.

His lips twitched at my aggravated tone. “Why did you come?” he asked cocking his head slightly as his eyes began to blaze.

“To make sure you were all right,” I said.

That was a completely silly answer.

“I’m fine, thank you. Malachi mentioned we’d be moving in with you. It takes time to settle accounts, pet. Now, is that the only reason?” he asked.

He conjured a drink and waved his hand towards it. I walked the short distance to the bed and sat down beside him. He wasn’t going to be easy tonight.

“I did miss you,” I said. I took the drink and swallowed the entire contents. He smiled and refilled the tumbler.

“And,” he prompted.

Damn it. I didn’t want to tell him more. I sniffed the air. He wasn’t going to give up. I didn’t blame him. I’d give him the third degree also if I caught the scent of half-truths from him.

“I was wondering if you were entertaining the opposite sex,” I grumbled. He laughed boisterously, his hand coming up to sweep my cheek with his knuckles. I was tempted to bite the hand so close to my mouth.

“I love the honesty,” he said.

I opened my mind again, concentrating on his essence. I couldn’t feel anything. I leaned forward, my fingers tracing a scar on his forearm. I still didn’t get anything. Sasha was smiling as I concentrated harder.

“Why can’t I sense you anymore,” I asked.

“Why do you want to?”

“Do you always answer a question with a question?”

“Usually,” he said.

He was having entirely too much fun for my temper. I swallowed the nasty retort on the tip of my tongue. Striving for patience, I lowered my voice.

“I want to know when you’re lying. So have you been doing the nasty?”

He smiled impishly. “First question; Malachi helped me with my mental shield. Second question, no.”

He sent tendrils of emotions my way. I inspected them, and my anger grew. He hadn’t slept with anyone; he’d been telling the truth. What made my vision pink tinged were the subtle hints of triumph. He was euphoric I’d buckled before he did.

“I don’t know why I bother with you. Selfish, egotistical, arrogant …,” I muttered getting up.

I turned away from his laughing body, marching to the door. He was going to pay for this. Somehow.

“Wait,” he said as he caught me from behind. He pulled me closer, his chin sweeping the hair from my neck. I could feel his arousal pressing against me. “Let’s go out.”

“I’m meeting Malachi tonight for dinner,” I said shrugging away.

“He’s had you for two weeks; it’s my turn,” he said.

I closed my eyes and leaned back. I had missed him, and it would be a shame for me to just storm out in anger. I could think of suitable payback during a night out. Sasha smelled my indecision; his breath caressed the nape of my neck as he spoke.

“What did you have in mind?” I asked.

“There’s a concert at the House of Blues tonight.” He waved two tickets out in front of me.

“Do we have to go?”

I was such a pushover.

“Do you have a better idea of how to spend the evening?” Sasha asked huskily.

I turned around to face him. I grabbed the tickets and headed for the door. We had all night. He could withstand the pain for a little while longer.

“You’re impossible,” I said, but I was good. For now.

Sneak Peek: Beautiful Tears (House of DeDe 2.)

1. Rendezvous

The man across the room grinned widely when I arched my eyebrow his way. The black domino mask across his face hid most of his features from me, but it didn’t matter. He was my man for the night. I sipped from the champagne flute and settled against the wall. He would come.

My eyes scanned the room, routing the quickest way into the night air. It was hot, stuffy, in the main ballroom of the old Victorian house. The long sleeve, floor length satin dress did little to relieve the sticky mugginess of the Louisiana air. I tried to relax, sending my mind out to investigate the auras in the room.

It was a festive night in the city. The people, their inner souls, the small spark
s of hope we carry with us, glowed in various colors. The smells, the unique odors we emit with emotions, perfumed the room in a cloyingly sweet scent. The American Court commenced tomorrow, and the people gathered tonight hummed and buzzed with the energy of the occasion. Many last minute deals were being made as I watched from my corner, waiting for my midnight rendezvous.

I closed my eyes briefly and sipped a bit more of the bubbly fluid in my glass. It tickled the back of my throat, leaving a sour aftertaste when I finished. I sighed, trying to enjoy the very little alcohol it contained. It wasn’t sweet enough for me, but it was all they were serving. I concentrated on the emotions, the man who was to be my companion tonight. His sexual tension, the aura of his need, was coming closer. He was edging along the side of the ballroom, from my right. I sipped a little more, wishing I were outside.

“Lady Beth?”

I opened my eyes and stared into a pair of light brown human eyes. “Sir, you have me at a disadvantage,” I said.

Boy did he. I couldn’t believe I was so caught up in my own world a damn human managed to come up to me. Sig --thank God he had some side job to take care of-- would have my head. I was berating myself as I stared at the human male from beneath my eyelashes. He was an excellent specimen of the species in his black tuxedo, short cropped black hair, and chocolate brown eyes. It had been a long time since I wanted a human male for a night, but this one would do nicely if I wasn’t getting all the wrong vibes from him.

“I’m sorry, m’lady. My name’s Lord Michael from Frimbia.”

“Ah …” I was actually disconcerted. “I wasn’t aware you were in town.” I straightened myself up and ran a hand down the front of my dress.

Titles were one of those things that I still had to sort out mentally when introductions were made.
From a House
denoted a privileged member working for the house. If he would’ve said
House of
instead, it would’ve meant he was part of the ruling family. It’s the little things, which I always screwed up.

“Just arrived. I was hoping to talk with Lord Alek tonight. Is he here?”

“I’m afraid Lord Alek has left for Court.”

“Is there a way you can reach him for me, send him a message perhaps requesting an audience?”

“I’m not his secretary,” I said with a smile. “Even I have to schedule an appointment when I need to speak with him.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll see him any time soon?” he asked hopefully.

“I’ve an appointment for Sunday, after Court convenes. Is there something I may help you with in the mean time?”

He stared for several seconds weighing his options. I tried probing his mind but found, much to my surprise, an impenetrable shield. The human had somehow learned how to guard his thoughts against unwanted intrusions. My instinct shouted this guy was going to be trouble with a capital T.

“It’s general knowledge,” Michael said, leaning forward as if conferring some dreadful news. “He lives with you, Lady Beth.”

I tried to stifle the grin. It was more than general knowledge we lived together. Our relationship kept the gossipmongers in business. The elf and I had an ever-changing, expanding mate contract on file. The details of the now four hundred page document were confidential, but the fact that we had one was not. The elf wanted it that way, and I didn’t give a fig about it.

“As his allodial, it’s easier to conduct business,” I said softly.

Michael would likely place whatever meaning he wanted on those words. Just then, the man, my date for the evening, was at my side. I finally grinned, unleashing every drop of sexual tension I held. It was about time the skittish shifter made it to me. I’d never had this much trouble securing a date for an evening. This guy had proven a challenge.

“Please excuse me, Michael; I’ve important business to discuss with this gentleman.” I pulled my calling card out, handing it to him. “If you need anything call me tomorrow, sugar. We’ll talk then.”

Michael felt the sexual aura surrounding me. He smiled graciously and stepped aside for my escort. The man was a minor Lord from a small House that had enough money to come to the freak ball. I latched onto his arm and pulled him towards the doors facing the streets.