AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Only there was no explosion. Montrell’s footsteps paused for a moment, then continued on. As if he didn’t even fucking see her kissing another man.
The frisson of whatever she’d been feeling disappeared from her stomach as he passed without a word.
Montrell knew he wasn’t smiling. No, he was pissed. He wanted to rip the young Coronella away from his wife and punch him in the face.
He wanted something else more. Back when they’d first met, Beatrice had done exactly what she wanted. That hadn’t been what had brought her to his room last night. And that wasn’t what he was seeing in his hallway now. But it was a step closer.
His hand loosened from the fist he had made as he rounded out of sight.
Rapid footsteps chased after him not much later. It wasn’t his wife.
The young man looked more than flustered with his hair wild and with his wide, scared eyes.
“I didn’t touch her. I mean, I wouldn’t have.” The poor Coronella soldier looked appalled. “I mean, she’s your wife. I’d never—”
Montrell patted him on the shoulder, making him break off in confusion. “My wife can do what she wants. I guess I need to talk to you all. Make it clear.” He ran his hand over his own hair. “Shit, it’s a bit messy, but it’ll be fine.” His eyes pinned the soldier. “As long as you’re good to her. No one hurts my wife.”
“What the hell?” Vespa snapped.
Montrell flushed at the anger on her face as she stomped over. His hand lifted to tug at his beard. “It’s fine, Vespa. Don’t get mad.”
“It’s not fucking fine!” she shouted. Her hand pointed down the hallway as she glared at the Coronella soldier. “Get gone.”
He didn’t waste time booking it. Most of the Coronella soldiers were a little scared of Vespa.
Montrell held up his hands. “Now, look—”
“This is a mistake, Montrell,” Vespa said, her face tense as her voice dropped.
“My ego can take it,” he said with a shrug. “If this will help her heal, then—”
“You’re a blind idiot.” Vespa’s hands came up to his shoulders, as if she wanted to shake some sense into him.
“I’m not blind. I know it’ll be awkward all around, but I forced her into this marriage. She’s not ready, not for monogamy and sure as hell not for love.” He blew out a breath, reaching out to tap his friend’s cheek. “It’ll be all right. The Coronellas can be a safe place for her to explore.”
Her hands dropped away as she stepped back. “The soldiers are going to see her as a sex object.”
Montrell frowned. “They sure as fuck won’t. I’ll make things clear. Bea can approach them, but not the other way around.”
Vespa shook her head. “Men think with their dicks if you let them. If she’s slutting around, then—”
“No one calls my wife a slut. Not even you, Vespa.”
She met his hardened gaze in surprise, then flushed with shame.
Montrell couldn’t smile. “You really think I’m led by my dick?”
The red slowly faded from Vespa’s face as her eyes dropped to the ground. “You’re different,” she said, softer than he’d heard her say anything.
“I’m still a man, Vespa.” He snorted. “Even if you don’t normally see it.” Montrell was a hugger. He wanted to wrap her up in one right now, but he knew she’d balk, even though she sometimes needed it. Vespa strove hard to maintain her distance. To see them all as sexless. He’d never thought to interfere with that; she had seemed to need that as much as she did his random affection.
Sometimes he wished he would’ve killed every one of the men who’d been around when he’d killed his father, but there were still loyal soldiers from that time, ones he thought he could trust. He studied Vespa.
“Are there any Coronellas in particular you’re worried about?”
If Vespa gave him names, they’d be dead, no questions asked.
She shook her head, snorting. “I’d’ve killed them by now.”
