Part 15 (1/2)
She offered him a smile. ”I'm sure Tate will take care of me.”
”I want to make sure he does.”
Orlando appeared in the doorway. ”Almonzo, Father wants you in the study now.” He laughed. ”Tate will have news shortly. By the time your date with Darian is over, you should have some results.”
He quickly disappeared and Almonzo started out behind him ready to wrestle him to the ground for using date and Darian in the same sentence. He stopped just short of leaving the room and turned around to question Tate. ”You don't think there is anything wrong, do you?”
Tate shook his head. ”No, not at all. In fact, everything will be fine very soon.”
It was the last ceremony. Tabitha didn't want to feel the sense of loss but she did. She was bonding with Richart and even Darian. It wasn't normal to feel what she felt for these men but she wasn't sure it was completely abnormal either.
She met Almonzo in the pod and he never looked more handsome. He wore faded blue jeans and an open white silk s.h.i.+rt. His face lit up the moment she walked in and he immediately slammed the paperwork against his desk. ”Sweet h.e.l.l and d.a.m.nation. You are the s.e.xiest thing alive.”
She turned around with her arms wide and after a few spins, landed in the comfort of his arms. ”You aren't so bad yourself...” Her voice trailed off and he must have noticed it.
”No, Tabitha, so don't ask. This is it, sweetheart. I've noticed you've enjoyed yourself. Most of the time, this is what happens but after today, this is it.” He pecked her with a quick kiss on the lips and then held up a finger. ”Give me a second and we'll go over there together, okay?”
She nodded. She walked over to the open terrace and watched curiously as she saw Darian and Richart enter the cottage. She immediately wondered what they were going to do over there until she and Almonzo walked over. Her panties were damp the minute she thought about it. ”Heaven on earth,” she whispered as she moved closer.
”Tabitha?” Almonzo's hand was outstretched and waiting.
”Almonzo, just give me a minute before we go.”
”Is something wrong?” His concern was sincere. She saw it as she studied his face.
”Can I be honest with you?”
”Always. You know this. At least, I hope you realize it.”
”I care about them now.”
Almonzo placed his hand on her heart. ”It's because you are who you are, but Tabitha, my darling woman, you don't have a clue who we've had in our bed.”
”Darian is...”
”I'm not just talking about Darian,” he snapped. ”Darian is vile and he is dangerous but I'm talking about Richart too.”
Orlando walked in. Almonzo shook his head rapidly and his double made a speedy exit before Almonzo explained. Pulling her to him, he sat down on the desk and provided a seat for her on his lap.
”Oh come on, you're jealous of Richart so you're going to...”
Almonzo pressed his fingers to her lips. ”I'm not envious of any other man alive now. Would you like to know why?”
”This is a trick-Tabitha question isn't it?” She narrowed her eyes.
”Not at all.” He stroked her face. ”I've watched you with the man you loved, and please don't deny it, because we both know there's a deep connection there. I've also watched you with my cousin, who thinks he's a treasure to all civilizations regardless of their s.e.x. I've discovered a lot about you.”
”Great. I didn't know I was under a microscope.”
Almonzo's face was full of love and he looked so content she wanted to just squeeze him in two. ”And...”
”I'm waiting,” she said sarcastically.
”Me too, I thought you might want to interrupt again.” He pinched her nose and continued, ”Tabitha, you definitely like s.e.x.” He laughed.
She jabbed him with her elbow. ”Funny.”
”No, I'm serious. No doubt about it. You f.u.c.k with a deliberate mouth and a sinfully beautiful body.” He pressed his lips to hers before she protested. ”But you only make love to me. There's a different look in your eyes and there's the way you look at me when you are with them. I know what I have in you and no other man, or vampire, will ever take that away.”
”Almonzo...”
His fingers traced her mouth and he carefully watched her as he told her more. ”I'm not jealous of Darian or Richart, but Richart was brought here to control Darian and to get to know him. While I may have used our situation to lure him here to Edinburgh, you will be able to consider him your secondary and he was able to serve a greater purpose.”
”Almonzo, what are you trying to say?”
”I'm telling you, since we had to go to bed with the enemy, it helped me to know I had the wrath of ten thousand men in the sack with us too. Richart is every bit the monster Darian is. Don't ever forget it. There's a significant difference between the two. Richart loves his family.”
”Darian loves his family.”
Almonzo shook his head. ”Darian is family oriented to an extent so long as no one crosses him but loyalty doesn't appear to be one of his strong suits. From what I can gather, his brothers fear him, so there must be a reason for it.
”Richart is devoted to his family. He won't let you down or fail you and he could, pardon the expression, give it to Darian straight up the a.s.s and then spear his heart if he harmed a Spenser. That's why he is here. He is here to protect, guard, and learn what he needs to know for the safe-keeping of our future.”
Tabitha's lips pursed.
”I know you have feelings for them. It's why these ceremonies exist. A mortal woman coming into our way of life needs the a.s.surance of additional security, and you've bonded with your secondary, but Tabitha, it ends today. Hopefully, you'll never have to know what it is to exist without me.” He took her lips under his then. ”If I have my way with you, I'll be around for a very long time.”
”You've promised me so I'm counting on it.”
His hands moved behind her neck and he knotted her hair into his fist. His forefinger tilted her chin up. ”Look at me, Tabitha.”
”Gladly.” She smiled.
”I always keep my promises.” His erection pressed into her center and his lips turned up in an outrageous smile. ”And I promise to love you in more ways than ten thousand men can think of and I'll keep things interesting.” His lips crashed down against hers and his hips began to move forward. ”Now, you have a couple of nasty boys waiting to get their dirty paws on you. Let's go see if you can keep them busy for a few minutes because I'm ready to lose the extra baggage.”
Undressing her was never more exciting. He followed her up the steps of the cottage and stopped her on the first landing. He pressed her back against the wall and thrust his tongue slowly inside her warm and delicious mouth. ”What's your hurry, sweetheart.”
She playfully slapped him away.
It didn't work.
He tugged her sweats.h.i.+rt over her head and her hands dropped to his waist. ”If you take something from me, I take something from you.” She laughed.
”Then I want this.” He reached underneath her sweats.h.i.+rt and ran his hands over the front of her bra before he moved his fingers around her back and unclasped her bra. ”Consider it off.” His hands ran over her nipples and he raised her s.h.i.+rt. His mouth hovered and then covered her nipple.