“No. Yes.” Amelie smacked herself in the face. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have sex so soon.”
Sulen lowered her to her bed and arched a brow as he straightened to his full height. Amelie flushed and kept her hands partially covering her eyes. “This is beyond embarrassing.”
The bed depressed at her hip and when she peeked between her fingers, Sulen was seated beside her. He peeled her hands down and tapped her chin. “I want to have sex with you too, but tonight’s not our night. You’re tired and under a great deal of emotional strain right now.”
His gentle understanding was her undoing. “I don’t know what to do, Sulen.”
Her outburst didn’t scare him off. Leaning over, he kissed her forehead. Amelie closed her eyes, inhaling his scent. Something heated and musky she couldn’t pinpoint. Shifting slightly, she angled her face up near his mouth. He took the hint and kissed her.
She looped her arms about his neck and tugged until he fell over her. He managed to brace his forearms to keep from crushing her but his delicious weight was on her and Amelie reveled in the contact.
Her hips were rocking up and down, her mind and body priming for a session of sex to take away all her negative thoughts.
Too soon, Sulen eased away. When he sat up, she rubbed her thumb over his lips. They curved up in a half-smile. “Tomorrow. Worry about things tomorrow.”
Her trust in him was instinctive. “Alright.”
Sulen got up and Amelie listened as his steps got farther and farther away. Then the click of the door followed. She fell back on the bed and blew out a breath. Scarlett needed to know she’d told Sulen the truth and together they’d figure out a plan.
If Roan forced a test revealing him as Fleur’s father, she would be screwed in more than one way. Losing her home was the least of her problems, she didn’t want to lose her daughter.
Chapter 12
The next day after his evening with Amelie and Fleur, Sulen received a message from the Assassins Guild. He knew before he opened the digital communication what it would be.
Frustration ate at him as he read the orders for a new target. It didn’t help matters that there was a limited time to execute the assignment. If he was to do what needed to be done based on the briefing they’d included, he’d have to take the shuttle off-world no later than tonight.
Leaving Amelie in the midst of her problems didn’t sit well with Sulen so he found himself reaching out to the one person he hoped wouldn’t refuse him.
“I’m glad you called. I have information on your alleged bond mate,” Garik said in lieu of a greeting.
It didn’t matter what Garik had discovered. Amelie had told Sulen all he needed to know during their conversation the other evening. “I’m not contacting you about that, Garik. I need a favor.”
Garik’s sigh was full of annoyance. “Why is this not a surprise? What do you need?”
The quick acquiescence released some of his tension. “I have my next orders from the Guild and have to leave. There’s a situation here, though, and I’m not comfortable going without knowing there’s someone here to look out for Amelie.”
“Let me get this right, so I’m not misunderstanding. You want me to—what, watch over this bond mate who’s not a bond mate because you’re worried about her?”
Since it was the essence of his request, Sulen answered succinctly, “Yes.”
“And you’re no longer interested in vengeance and destroying the one who thought to trick you?”
He hadn’t been that bad. Then again, maybe he had. Meeting Amelie and Fleur had changed his whole outlook. “Very funny. Can you come here, Garik? I need to know or I’ll have to ask around and see if someone’s available.”
“It wouldn’t be right if I said no. You’re there because of my request after all.”
“Speaking of, Saedra will love Corvard and I think even you will think it safe enough for her and a family.”
“Hmm. I guess I’ll know for certain when I arrive. How soon do you need me?”
“Today?”
Imagining what Roan would do if he thought Amelie had no one to look out for her worried Sulen in a way he wasn’t used to. He didn’t have any previous long term encounters with other women to compare this situation. Worrying was far from something he was familiar with.
“I’ll be there.” Garik disconnected abruptly after agreeing.
Sulen rolled his eyes and tried to figure out how he’d explain his absence to Amelie. When he arrived at her house, he heard cries from inside and the clatter of items crashing to the floor. If Roan was inside, he’d die today for threatening Sulen’s family.
Entering Amelie’s security code was a simple matter. She hadn’t hidden it from him either time he’d been here, which was another security lapse he needed to discuss with her. She had to be more careful about her safety.
Weapon in hand, Sulen entered the house in a crouch and froze. Fleur was standing beside the counter separating the kitchen and living room area. There were empty containers on the floor around her bare feet and a large red spill spreading across the floor.
“Is that a laser?” she asked, stopping her crying mid-shriek.
Sulen holstered the weapon and stood. “Yes. Why are you crying?”
He wasn’t sure she’d answer since she seemed to be in the middle of a meltdown. Her sunny disposition won out and she answered, “I spilt my drink and knocked over allll the bowls for my snack.”
Amelie came down the hall like a flash, stopped, looked around and growled. She wore trim fitting black pants, a white shirt with the lettering similar to the signage at the gardening center and had a green apron clutched in her hands. “Fleur! What is this mess? You were supposed to wait for me. We’re late.”
Fleur’s wailing commenced again. Amelie muttered a curse under her breath. She spotted Sulen and cringed. “I’m sorry. I have to get Fleur to school and then to work. We overslept.”
Sulen strained to hear her over Fleur’s rising cries. He crossed the room, stepping carefully over the dishes and the liquid to pick Fleur up. “Stop.”
When she stopped and settled her head on his shoulder, Amelie sighed. “Quiet. Haven’t had that for more than five minutes this morning.”
She turned and marched down the hall back toward the bedrooms. Sulen followed, listening to Fleur snuffling in his ear. She scrubbed a balled fist against her wet cheeks and his heart cracked at her forlorn look.
Not sure what to do, he stood at the door to Amelie’s bedroom and the memory of the kisses they’d exchanged last night came rushing back. She bent over to scoop clothes off the floor and kicked a pair of shoes under the bed, muttering under her breath all the while.
“Do you need help?” he asked, feeling a bit useless watching her frantic cleaning frenzy.
“Ugh,” she grumbled, sliding the sheets and blankets in place then fluffing the pillows before straightening. She glared at her daughter in his arms. “No. I contacted one of my employees, Toyja, and she’ll open the store. I still have to rush and get Fleur to school.”
“I’ll take her.” The words were out before Sulen thought about it.
He and Amelie stared at one another across her bed. She shoveled both hands through her light brown waves and tugged. “You look petrified. Did you mean the offer or do you want to take it back?”
Sulen clenched his jaw but Fleur’s head popped up and he narrowly missed having his nose broken. “Take me! Take me!”
***
Room done, a part of Amelie wondered why she trusted Sulen with Fleur already. Scarlett was the only person who had unlimited access to her daughter for obvious reasons. From the moment of Sulen’s arrival, she’d allowed him to step into the role of daddy with no complaint.
There was something intrinsic encouraging her like a background hum to have faith in him. The way he’d reacted to Roan, his avid protection of Fleur, it all left Amelie with a feeling of safety in his presence.
Maybe it was the b
ond that had started tugging hard on her end from the moment he’d left last night until she woke this morning. The desire to be with him had kept her up and tossing to the point she’d not slept well.
“I can take her,” he said.
“Are you sure?”
She watched the flicker of fear in his eyes come and go. Amused, Amelie arched a brow and waited for him to take the out she offered. At this point, she was already late and it couldn’t be any worse. Letting Sulen take Fleur to school would help, though.
“It’s not a problem. I do need to talk to you about something afterward.”
“Yay!” Fleur cheered, wiggling in his arms.
Her sadness of moments ago was gone as quickly as it came. That was her girl, always looking forward instead of back.
“I get dressed,” she announced and looked to Sulen in expectation.
He lowered her to the floor and she took off out the door and across the hall. Amelie was sure she’d change clothes and be ready in no time at all now that she knew Sulen was taking her.
“What do you want to talk about?” He’d sounded serious.
With one last look at the door, he closed it partially, leaving a sliver of space to view Fleur if she returned. Amelie liked his protective measures. One more reason why it was easy to trust him.
“Something important has come up and I have to leave for work. Tonight.”
The shock of his announcement was like a blow to the chest. He was leaving them. Amelie felt her world tilt on its access and slid to sit on the edge of her bed before her legs gave out.
“Whatever you’re thinking, Amelie, bring it down a notch. You’re killing me with your fear and sadness.”
Her head swung around to face him. “What?”
Sulen came over and sat beside her. His pressed a hand to his chest. “I can feel your worry and fear. It’s overwhelming and makes me want to go out and fight whoever is causing you to feel that way.”
Startled, she shifted about on the bed, her knee sliding up to rest on top. She hadn’t put much thought into the effects of the bonding and hadn’t considered how the unknown man on the other end of such a powerful connection would feel. “You can sense my emotions?”
He nodded.
“Is it because of the bond?”
“Yes.”
Another thought occurred. “Can you tell what I’m thinking?”
His lips twitched and he slid a hand through her loosened hair, playing with the ends. “You’ve lived with Gerelins for four years and don’t know the answer to that?”
Amelie flushed, absently leaning toward him, their hips bumping together. “Some things are personal. I only know what I see and didn’t want to ask intimate questions that might reveal my deception.”
His head came closer, his mouth inches away. “I can’t read your mind. Only feel your strong emotions.”
The whisper teased her lips. Amelie closed her eyes, dreaming about the moment he’d kiss her. She wanted it. Craved it. This was why she hadn’t been able to sleep.
“I ready!”
Fleur’s announcement had them jumping apart. Sulen went one step further and was on his feet, hands rubbing down his face on a rough exhale. Amelie smiled. Having a child meant all sorts of unexpected interruptions. Being with a man and about to kiss him was a new one for her.
And she liked it.
She stood and brushed off the few creases in her pants and picked up her apron from the bed where she’d dropped it. “If you’re sure, I have no problem with you taking Fleur to school. Is there anything I should know about your work? Will you...come back?”
“I’ll be back, Amelie. I promise.”
She felt the vow behind his words and had to accept them. Sulen followed behind her as she left her room with Fleur trailing along.
“Is Daddy leaving?”
The quiver and hesitancy in Fleur’s voice gutted Amelie. She went to her daughter but Sulen got to her first and picked her up. A brief spurt of humor flared. Amelie wondered if the bottom of Fleur’s shoes would ever spend much time on the ground again with Sulen around.
“I have to go to work later today but I’m coming back here,” Sulen said.
Fleur cupped his face in her tiny hands and brushed her nose against his. Her voice was whisper soft when she asked, “What if the bad man tries to get me at school again?”
Sulen froze and Amelie’s heart leaped in her throat. They couldn’t forget the threat Roan represented.
Stroking her daughter’s hair back, Sulen spoke to Fleur but directed his gaze to Amelie over her daughter’s shoulder to include her. “We’re going to talk security protocols with the lovely Madame Tessa today and what will happen to her if the bad man gets within inches of you. Then we’re going to make sure she understands I’ll hold her personally responsible if you get so much as a scr—”
“Well.” Amelie clapped her hands to drown out the rest of Sulen’s words. Specifically what sounded like threats for the woman who ran Fleur’s school. “Time to go.”
Fleur dropped her hands from Sulen’s face to say, “But I wanna talk ‘bout secure protalls.”
Amelie bit her tongue to control her laughter at the twisted interpretation of Sulen’s words and shot him a sharp look. “No time, sweetie. We have to get you to school and I have to get to work.”
Fleur’s pout stopped working on Amelie two years ago but Sulen seemed susceptible so she aimed another pointed glance at him when it looked as if he’d add his protests to her daughter’s. “Thanks for helping out. Will I see you before you have to go to work?”
“After I drop Fleur off, there are a few things I need to do to get ready for the job. Once I’m done, I’ll come see you at the garden center. I want to give you some information about a...peer from my...place of work.”
All of his cautious pauses worried Amelie but she focused on the first part of his statement. She wasn’t losing him yet. The tightness in her chest eased. “Alright. I’ll see you then.”
Chapter 13
Amelie was finishing with a female customer when Sulen arrived at the garden center. The woman smiled up at him, missed a step with a squeak and tripped on her way out the door. It was understandable. Sulen made quite the figure rolling in with his long steady strides, stern features and no nonsense demeanor.
His customary ankle length coat was absent, giving an unobstructed view of his broad chest straining another black tee shirt. He hadn’t forgone the weapons though and the holster at his hip displayed the familiar laser blaster, two knives on his left thigh and across his belt was a row of silver spinning stars.
Amelie didn’t blame the woman for being distracted to the point of clumsiness. It was evident he controlled his body with an economy of motions. Snug leather pants highlighted the length of his legs and cupped his groin area in a manner that could only be called mouth watering.
Intense power bottled and locked tight but fully capable of being unleashed at full potency in a moment’s notice described his appearance to a T.
To Amelie’s delight, Sulen didn’t appear to notice the customer and kept his attention solely on her. She glanced at her comp and security vid to note he’d once more managed to enter without triggering the door sensor or the cameras. Maybe it was time to contact the company to have them check the system.
Sulen stopped at her desk, tugged her around to the side and wrapped his arms about her waist. A nervous laugh slipped free as Amelie caught his forearms to maintain her balance. “Sulen, what are you doing?”
His expression was remote, but his eyes were not. The green orbs were darker than usual. He slid one hand to the back of her head and held Amelie in place for a kiss that burned from the moment his mouth touched hers.
The unrelenting dreams of the night before roared to life. At last, the arousal and desire brewing in her core had a target. Amelie groaned deep in her throat and drove her tongue between his parted lips. Sulen’s taste was heady and shot swirls of lust to her lower half.
She wrapped one leg around his hip, grinding in an effort to get as close as possible to him. Their clothes prevented her from getting any true friction but the press of his thick erection against her side left her breathless and she broke the kiss on a gasp.
No longer stern, his features were flushed and reflected the same need she struggled with. The corner of Sulen’s mouth curled up, his eyes bright and twinkling. “I wasn’t expecting to be greeted like that.”
Twinges of embarrassment had Amelie dropping her leg on a half-chuckle. “I don’t know what came over me.”
He squeezed her before letting her go. “I enjoyed it.”
“Same.” She laughed again. Amelie was blown away by how strong her feelings were for Sulen. Even now, her heart still slammed in her chest in excitement. Clearing her throat, she asked, “Did you have any trouble with Fleur?”
Her daughter had been going to the learning academy for over a year now and loved seeing her friends and the teachers daily but there were the occasional off days where she decided to launch a mutiny and wouldn’t cross the door to enter without a lot of cajoling from Amelie.
“It went fine. She agreed to let go of my shirt and go in if I promised to tell you she wanted curlies for dinner.”
Amelie snorted and they wore matching smiles at Fleur’s negotiating skills. “I can do that.”
Expression shifting, Sulen said, “I did manage a very nice conversation with Madame Tessa and stressed the importance of Fleur being safe under their care. Since I’ll be away I assured her I’d be upset if something happened to her while I’m gone.”
Amelie could only imagine how that went. Better yet, she preferred not to speculate. His comment did remind her that he was leaving and she’d pushed the thought to the back of her mind all day to avoid facing how upset the thought actually left her.
“When do you have to leave?” It was already late afternoon and she’d be closing the store soon.
“Not until late. I’ll be on the last shuttle out. Before I left, I wanted you to meet some people I know.”
Claiming His Unexpected Baby Page 9
