United Eden (5 page)

Wil iam ushered out of the stal , the tilt of his brow at just the right angle for me to know he was up to something. He bowed, sweeping his hand from me towards the stal . Your stal for two, Miss Dawson.

I kept his gaze as I crossed the space between us. I gave him a confused look which he met with an assured one before I took a step in the stable. Whoa, I muttered, taking in the stable hed transformed into what could have been a cozy room in a rustic cabin. Blankets were spread al over and around the entire area, a good six inches deep. A strand of frosted white globe lights crisscrossed above us, which suddenly glowed like soft orbs in the night sky when the lights overhead clicked off.

You are a master at improvisation, I said, stil awed from his resourcefulness.

More like an opportunist, he said, coming up behind me. Did you real y think Id let them ruin tonight for us?

I smiled. Have I mentioned before that I love you?

Only a few mil ion times. He nuzzled my neck, pul ing me down to the blanketed ground. But its a few tril ion too few, so keep on keepin on, love.

You wont hear me complain. Ever.

He reclined onto his back, pul ing me down next to him until every inch of my length ran against him. You
are
an opportunist, I teased, burying my head in the curve of his neck.

Have you seen my woman? he said with exaggerated seriousness. Darn right Im an opportunist.

I hope you never wake up one day and real y see what the woman you love looks like, I said, only somewhat teasing.

And I hope you one day wake up and realize how crazy you are, he tossed back, shifting us so he was looking me in the eyes. His face took a turn to the serious. So what are you not tel ing me about Paul?

I waited too long to answer, so I knew he wouldnt accept my answer without further investigation. Nothing, I said, my voice high with imitation innocence.

His expression confirmed he wasnt the least bit convinced by my reassurances. Did he try to touch you? he asked, his voice in control, but his eyes werent.

Not . . .
exactly
, I answered, looking to the side.

His eyes sealed into slits. He
did
try to kiss you again, didnt he? So help me Il ” What? I interrupted. Did you not hear me the first time? Paul did not try to kiss me tonight, I said, drawing out each word. Although I was certain, had I given Paul a microscopic level of hope, he would have.

What did he do then? Wil iam asked slowly, making an effort to keep the lid on the fury bubbling up in him.

Promise you wont beat him to a bloody Immortal pulp? I asked.

Absolutely not, he answered. But I do promise if you tel me, I wont go hunt him down right now based solely on the conclusions Ive jumped to from your hesitancy to tel me what he did. Wil iams eyes softened some when I glared at him. I think ˜bloody pulp would be a good look for a man who is incessant about trying to steal away another mans reason for living, dont you?

Patrick was right, you have gotten al territorial, I said. Dont you trust me to be alone with another man?

You, he said, tapping the end of my nose, I trust implicitly. Its him, or any man for that matter”my father and brothers exempt”I havent got a bit of trust in.

Nothing like twisting the knife deeper into my side. I dont know what Wil iam would have done if hed been privy to the rumors of Patrick and me being matched tomorrow night, but it certainly gave me an understanding of why they said the threat comes from where you least expect it. It wasnt other men, Paul included, Wil iam had to worry about losing me to. It was his own brother.

Please tel me, he said, nudging me with his forehead. Al this pent up adrenaline needs to be released into something physical before I combust from it.

Something physical?

He shrugged. Pummeling Paul or”his eyebrows peaked”an old-fashioned rol in the hay ought to fit the bil , too.

I grumbled, al too aware that whatever distraction I sent his way or amount of time that went by, he wouldnt give up on pul ing the answer from me. He was relentless. Okay, so dont freak out,”his head shook in disagreement”dont
really
freak out, I edited, blowing out a loud burst of air. So I was, eh, trying on some new . . . lingerie, I said, like I was guilty by this admission alone.

His pupils widened. I dont know how this relates to Paul”at least it better not relate to him”but keep painting this picture for me. Im liking where youre going with it.

I couldnt control the grimace before it broke free. Wel . . .

This story does involve Paul, he growled.

I rubbed my hands over his chest in slow, calming circles. Extra calming circles. He might have seen me modeling it while I was walking around Joseph and Coras that Id assumed was empty of people and perverts, I threw in for good measure.

Thats it, he said, matter-of-fact. Im going to kil him. He pushed against me to stand up, but I not so gently shoved him back down, placing myself on top of him. His eyes went from stormy to dreamy in two seconds time and his hands had no problem finding their places to affix. So maybe I had this distraction thing down; I just had to pul out the real y big guns when the occasion arose.

Youd have to move from this position to kil him, you know, I said, lowering my voice a few notes.

Your powers of sexual persuasion could crush the axis of the world, I swear, he said, looking like Paul was long forgotten.

Why, thank you very much, I giggled, placing a tame kiss over his mouth. Stil planning on going somewhere?

I can always kil Paul tomorrow, he answered.

Good thing Paul was leaving tonight, because I only partial y doubted Wil iams threat. Good choice.

His hands ran up my back, creeping inside Josephs bulky sweatshirt. You wouldnt happen to have that lingerie on under these sexy P.J.s would you? His fingers traced up my back, winding up over my backbone.

Those hands of his could ignite me with the most PG rated of touches; I couldnt even imagine how Id feel when they did anything more.

Wouldnt you like to know? I teased, sliding my hands up to hook over his shoulders.

I cant imagine ever wanting to know anything more. His smile was tilted in mischief.

If I was certain youd make good use of the lingerie if I told you, I would, but since I know you wont,”at least not until you make an honest woman of me”Im not going to tel you, I said, leaning away from him.

He knew Id cal ed it for what we both knew it was. I
am
an insufferable prude, arent I?

Absolutely insufferable, I said solemnly.

One day soon Il be forever cured of it, so watch out, he said, winking.

My heart did jumping-jacks, but I was happy to play along with this only form of fore-play hed al ow. Good thing Ive stocked up on an eternitys supply of lingerie.

You keep that kind of talk up and prude wil be the one thing Im not, he warned, tucking our bodies into a more tame, less tempting position.

Fine, I complained, knowing my cause was a lost one now. This is coming a little late, but Im sorry your night was ruined. Im sure you had a mil ion different plans for how you wanted to spend it with me. My voice was back to its normal, sex-kitten-free tone.

The front of his body pressed into my body, sweet and seduction free. I only wanted to spend it one way. His arms curled around me, squeezing me to him so there wasnt even a strip of air separating us. This way. His voice was sleep heavy and my body fol owed his lead, saying a silent prayer that tomorrow night wed be promised an eternity of fal ing asleep in each others arms.

CHAPTER FOUR

BUSTED

Wil iam Hayward! a voice shrieked us awake. What do you think youre doing?

Good morning to you too, sunshine, Wil iam replied, fol owed by a yawn.

Dont you sunshine me, Cora warned, her index finger bobbing at him in agitated fits.

Whoa, Wil iam said, propping up on one elbow, keeping me tucked to him with the other. Back it up a few finger wags. Why are you so upset?

Why am I so upset?
Why
am I so upset? She was as close to fuming as Id seen her.

Wil iam nodded his head, the look of earlier amusement gone from his face.

I expect this,”she pointed both hands at the tangle of Wil iams and my bodies”from her, but you know better. For crud sake, Wil iam, give me a break. I cant keep the whole of the traditional world of Immortals together single-handedly. A little help would be appreciated since Bryns under the impression that tradition is a dirty word. Her face was flushed and she could barely look at me.

Wil iam paused, likely as confused as I was. I mean this with no disrespect, Cora, but I dont know what the heck youre talking about.

My sentiments exactly.

Coras eyes couldnt have popped any farther without dislocating out of their sockets. Dont you dare play games with me, Wil iam Hayward. You know darn wel what Im talking about.

More silence, nothing but the tapping of fingers as Cora pounded them against the stable door. Its early and Im a blundering, forgetful idiot at the moment”you can blame her for my current state. Wil iam glanced down at me in accusation which was received with an elbow to his side. Please show mercy on me in this weakened state and remind me again what Im supposed to know.

I smiled at the way only Wil iam could diffuse a bomb of female emotion. Coras eyes narrowed into slits at me. My smile disappeared as quickly as it had formed.

Because my husband idolizes you and my best friend loves you beyond repair, Il remind you.

Wil iams body relaxed some. Youre a dol , Cora. Whats it again I need reminding of?

Her eyes pointed from me to him, and back again, everything purposeful about it. Its bad luck to see the Betrothed before the Betrothal, she said as if it was the most obvious thing.

I gave up on the hope that Wil iam and I could kiss the morning away; it seemed circumstances outside of our control would be preventing this.

Were not technical y supposed to know were being Betrothed. No one is. How can that be an ancient Immortal custom, tradition, saying . . .

whatever? I asked her, not mincing words in her fit. Cora and I could handle each others temper tantrums, whereas the boys went running at the first sign of a female uprising.

Dont you start with me too, Bryn Michel e Dawson. I felt Wil iams stomach tighten from the laugh begging to be released, but he kept it down. He was a smart man. Today is a big day and I cant orchestrate the most massive event our Al iance has put on in ten years if I have to keep your attitude of epic proportions in check as wel . Her hands flew to her hips. So put on your big girl panties and throw me a bone, wil ya?

Leave it to Cora to fly off the handle over some sil y outdated tradition that had been likely made up in her mind, a girl whod remained calm in the midst of death, persecution, and Immortal war. I could give her one thing, though”Cora knew her priorities and held to them.

Easy, Cor, I encouraged, wiggling out of Wil iams vice-like hold. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Heheho . . . I demonstrated for her as I stood up. I gripped my hands over her shoulders. Heheho, heheho.

She mimicked my masterful breathing techniques Id picked up on television and, despite the recuperative oxygen being a moot point to Immortals, I witnessed the tension melting from her face. Melting
slowly.

My big girl panties are firmly in place. I glanced back at Wil iam, sharing a look. Al too firmly in place, actual y.

His cheeks had begun to redden when I turned back to Cora. Im sorry from the very bottom of my heart that we shunned such a revered, time-honored,
well-known
Immortal tradition. When her eyes narrowed this time, there was no anger in them. What can I do to remedy this atrocity?

Brushing back the shorter layers of hair that had fal en out of her braids, she shot me a partial y appeased look. For starters, you guys need to high tail it out of here. Like now. She looked down at Wil iam like she was waiting for him to figure something out. Man, you real y are an idiot whenever Bryns around. She puffed out a gust of air when Wil iams face stayed ignorant of whatever she was trying to relay to him. Let me spel it out to you . . .

Wil iam grinned, enjoying this game. Better say it nice and slow just to be safe.

The Council members are wandering around the farm. Theyre not saying it, but theyre looking for you since you missed breakfast and your bed remained neatly made. Cora rol ed her eyes. I mean, real y. You put together the most intricately woven plans and you overlook the most obvious things. She looked to me to back her up, but she was on her own.

Theres something seriously messed up with a bunch of old men being so concerned with protecting my chastity, Wil iam said, trying to sound unconcerned, but he could never disguise the way he was truly feeling in his eyes.

Youre special and al , but this isnt any kind of special treatment theyre trying to torture you with. They treated us al like we were a bunch of hormone drunk teenage boys that couldnt be trusted up until the day we were United, Cora said.

The Council final y got one thing right when it comes to Bryn. Wil iam looked at me, his grin growing broader when I crossed my arms in a huff.

You, Cora stomped, pointing at Wil iam. Get out of here. Wel wait here for ten minutes before we go. And dont be obvious when you leave. Go out on a ride or something. Cora nodded down the rows of stable. The horses are getting fat.

Yes, maam, Wil iam said, shooting her a salute after he came to a stand.

And you . . . She grabbed my elbow, steering me towards the doors. Youre coming with me. You cant be trusted to your own devices for an event such as tonight, so you wil be makeover putty in Abigails and my capable hands.

Wil iam lunged through the stal just in time to brush a kiss over my lips. Il see you soon. Il meet you on the dance floor. He winked, his expression confident.

I swal owed. Save me a dance, I cal ed after him as he jogged down the barns wide hal , heading for the pasture.