AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Bose Cooper and Marley Terrio asked about getting together for breakfast in the morning,” Peter said.
Therin nodded. “Not a problem.”
Vaughn smirked. “You sure?” He was envisioning the two very revered, very outspoken senior members of the EYES organization.
Peter and Gary chuckled, but Therin wasn’t offended.
“Tell ’em I’ll be there,” Therin confirmed with a grin before he sobered. “So talk to me about Rick, how’s he doin’?”
“They released him from the hospital while you were in North Dakota,” Gary said.
“Does he remember anything more about what the guy said?”
Vaughn, Peter and Gary exchanged looks and then asked their boss for clarification. The three listened while Therin told them about Rick’s interpretation of the attacker’s words.
“Did he recognize the voice?” Gary asked.
“How can he accuse a member of the staff and he can’t even lock in on the voice,” Peter argued.
“Hold up, guys.” Vaughn raised his hands. “Rick didn’t actually accuse anybody. He’s only questioning the way the guy phrased his words, right, Ther?”
Therin smiled in confirmation. “I know it sounds weird, but there’s a reason Rick’s so good at what he does. If he feels there’s something to this, we’d be fools not to take it seriously.”
Therin massaged his eyes and set aside the file he really hadn’t been reading. He only wanted to check on Kianti. She’d been so drained when she turned in a few hours ago… He only wanted to be sure she was okay.
Sounds good, Ther. He convinced himself when in reality his motives were far less noble. Shutting off the lamp in his study, he set out for the room on the other side of the living room.
Kianti hadn’t locked the door and he hesitated before twisting the knob. For a time, he stood watching her from the doorway. She didn’t stir and, after a while, he moved farther inside the room.
She was a rough sleeper, he mused. Shapely limbs peeked out from a disarray of pillows and covers. His fingertips tingled, aching to touch her.
Lightly, he trailed the back of his hand across her calf and then dutifully eased the covers back into place.
Kianti stirred, murmuring something incoherent. Therin took a seat on the edge of the bed and brushed coarse smoky black tufts of hair away from her face. The innocent touch quickly grew bolder and he clenched a fist when he realized that. He was cursing himself for taking the least bit of advantage of her, when he felt her hands clutching his. She drew it down to the sheets, beneath them…
“Kia…you need your rest…”
“Please…just a little, mmm…”
It was his undoing. Kianti bit her lip when she got what she craved and felt his fingers at work inside her.
“Therin, no…” she moaned when he stopped.
The disappointment didn’t last long. Therin was kissing her deeply and she reciprocated. The session was heated and unrestrained as tensions were set free. Kianti sought a measure of control as usual and, as usual, Therin denied her.
There was no disappointment, however, in the love they made. They were both equally aroused, equally pleasured. Therin could scarcely control himself, he needed her so.
“Let go….” she urged, not seeming to mind his prowess.
Therin knew it was up to him to exercise caution. Next to impossible against her whispered commands for him to take her the way he wanted.
Chapter 13
Kianti woke early and headed down to the reserved lounge for practice the next morning. While the hotel staff barred guests from intruding on the artist’s rehearsal time, the rule obviously didn’t apply to them.
Remote seats in the sultry dim elegance of the lounge had already been selected. Various members of the staff indulged in an early-morning treat of exquisite playing.
The audience included Therin. He woke frowning when he realized Kianti wasn’t there next to him. She did, however, leave a brief note on her pillow. The way she began the message said so much about them.
Don’t worry…
Would it always be his first emotion where it related to her? Concern? In the relaxing environment of the lounge, he contemplated as he watched her behind the mammoth-size piano.
The group was mesmerized by her performance—not only by the playing but by the look of the musician herself. Therin kept his expression passive, but adored the way Kianti’s body swayed and dipped to the haunting harmony.
Concern. The emotion had certainly played a role within him the night before. In truth, concern played a role every night he had her.
Let go, she urged throughout their lovemaking.
Her power over his emotions would have him doing just that and very soon. His mouth set into a grim line then. He didn’t want to lose her, not when he’d never dared to imagine she existed. Life was such a fragile thing. He’d learned that the hard way. It was too fragile to risk for something as fleeting as pleasure….
