SnaredbySaber

by Shelley Munro

  “Eva Henry is my woman, and I don’t take kindly to folks upsetting her.” Saber wasn’t intimidated by the man’s height or his fists, which were almost the size of dinner plates.

  The red mumber shifted his gaze first, his red skin taking on a deeper hue—caused, Saber knew, by strong emotions. “Used to work for the Dearbhorgaills as security in their home. Lady Almeda took exception to my color. Said I clashed with the uniform and the furnishings.”

  No question of loyalty here. “Do you know who ordered the hit on Pryce Dearbhorgaill? Who carried it out?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who?”

  “Depends what you do with the information,” the red mumber said. “If you intend to take legal action against the shooter or punish him in another manner, I refuse to tell you.”

  “I’ll pay for the information.” Somehow he’d squeeze the money out of his budget to help Eva. Her current situation wouldn’t be so bad if he hadn’t kidnapped her and kept her from returning to Dalcon.

  “Goes without sayin’,” the red mumber said. “But if you intend to hunt down the killer or bring him to trail for murdering a toff, I ain’t playin’. The man has suffered enough. The lord ’n’ lady forced him to do it, threatened if he didn’t kill the man, his wife and his kids would die.” The red mumber curled his top lip to bare big square teeth, the front one of which was missing. “What would you do for the ones you love?”

  “I’d kill,” Saber said.

  The red mumber nodded, as if he’d made his point.

  “The Dearbhorgaills are trying to hurt the woman I love,” Saber said, deciding to play it straight from the gut. “They’re trying to destroy her when all she wants is to live in peace and run her restaurants. I’m collecting information,” Saber said. “Because I intend to bring them down.”

  “Would a signed statement help?”

  “Yes. How did they pay him?”

  The red mumber’s lip curled again. “They released his wife and son from captivity once the deed was done.”

  “Where were his family held? Could I get signed statement from people there?”

  “I’ll give you one. Pretty sure the other men would cooperate, long as they don’t get dragged out and punished,” the red mumber said.

  “You have my word,” Saber said. “All I’m interested in doing is taking down the Dearbhorgaills.”

  “The lady be the worst. The lord stays at his club, doesn’t go home much these days from what I hear.”

  Saber bought the man a drink and arranged to return with gratitude payments in return for the sworn statements.

  All in all, a good few hours’ work. Saber strolled through the streets, keeping a close watch for cutpurses. God, he missed Tiraq and the resort. The clean air of the island. The sooner he talked Eva into leaving this shithole, the better.

  He arrived at Penny Lane and knocked on the door of number eight. The door opened seconds after his knock and Eva stood before him.

  “I have a hearing with the king,” she said. “Robbie’s cousin came through for us.”

  “The bribe of a ginger cake swung it,” Robbie called from somewhere behind her.

  “I’ll make him two,” Eva said.

  Saber stepped inside and closed the door, shutting out the hustle of the street. “When is your hearing?”

  “Tomorrow,” Eva said. “Earlier than we thought. I have some of the documentation ready and can gather the rest in the morning.”

  “I’ve discovered who murdered your husband,” Saber said, and cursed his bluntness when the color fled her cheeks. He reached out and drew her against him, angry at himself for causing her distress.

  “Go ahead,” she said. “No, wait. Come into the other room. I’ll make us something to eat while we talk.”

  “Do you need me?” Robbie asked.

  “Tomorrow morning. Early,” she added. “We have a lot of work to do before our audience.”

  “Right you are,” Robbie said, and limped to the door.

  “Robbie.” Eva stayed him with a hand on his arm. “Be careful walking home. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

  “See you tomorrow,” Robbie said.

  Once he’d left, Saber locked the door.

  “This way,” Eva said and led the way into a room off the entrance. It was full of solar light, with stone counters, a sparkling hot cube and a cool cube. “I stopped at my favorite market stall to purchase supplies.”

  “How bad are things with the restaurants?”

  “Nuisance stuff. The customers will return once the trouble is settled.”

  Saber stalked the length of the room, needing to burn off excess energy. “I talked to a red mumber. He knows the killer, but says he was blackmailed into committing the offence. Said the Dearbhorgaills had his wife and son stashed away and threatened to kill them if he didn’t do as instructed.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me. Will he come forward?”

  Saber fingered the leaf of a bright-copper plant. “He’s frightened of the repercussions.”

  “Again, that doesn’t surprise me.”

  “He’s willing to give a signed statement, plus some of the staff who worked where the wife and son were jailed will give you statements.”

  “I can pay them,” Eva said. “I wasn’t stupid enough to leave all my currency in my account. You should have seen the surprised and dismayed expression on the lawyer’s face when I arrived with the second payment this afternoon. He knows what they’re doing.”

  “Clever girl.”

  “You know, I’m so tired of this crap. After this is over, I’m going to consider relocating. A place Bluebird will enjoy.”

  Saber sucked in a rapid breath. “I thought Bluebird would stay at the resort.”

  “Not likely,” Eva said, and he wished he could see her face, but she’d turned away to stir something in a pot.

  “Do you think the king will listen?” Saber asked, changing the subject before he snapped out something he shouldn’t in sheer frustration. He’d chased her once, and he’d do it again without hesitation.

  “From what I know and have seen, he seems a fair man. I’ll do my best to get justice for Pryce.”

  Eva served a meaty sauce on top of noodles. It looked and tasted a lot like spaghetti Bolognese. They ate quietly until Saber eased back his chair, relaxed with a full belly.

  “Tell me about the black cat here on my shoulder.”

  He sat upright. “I’m tired,” he said. “Let’s go to bed.”

  “I have a spare room.”

  Saber stood and rounded the table to stand by her chair. “I sleep where you sleep.”

  “I thought that was just while we were together on Tiraq?”

  “No.”

  Eva stared at his set face, felt a tiny jolt go through her body. She stood, as he so obviously wanted, and led the way up the stairs to her bedroom.

  “Did Pryce live with you here?” His tone was clipped now.

  “Yes.”

  “This was your bedroom?” Still abrupt.

  “It was, but I’ve changed it since he died. It reminded me too much of him.”

  “Good.” Saber’s fingers went to his green shirt and he unfastened the tabs to display his hard chest. “I’m trying to be reasonable, but jealousy keeps raising its annoying head.”

  “I…” She paused wondering if she should tell him the truth. Then began again with a sigh. “I didn’t love Pryce. I tried.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I really tried.”

  “Shush.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest. He was always holding her, touching her. “You were happy with him, and I’m sure he was happy too.”

  “He was always smiling,” she said.

  “What did I tell you? Happy.”

  “I hope so.” Frying fungus, she hoped she’d made Pryce content, hoped he hadn’t felt the lack, that he had in fact mistaken her gratitude for fonder feelings. They’d slept together, worked together, and s
he’d found happiness in almost all areas of their marriage.

  “Clothes off,” he said with his usual bossiness.

  A laugh spilled out. “You just want to see me naked.”

  “Correct.” He stepped back, cocked one hip against the wall and folded his hands across his broad chest. A tiny grin played on his lips. “I’d appreciate that very much.”

  Eva bent to remove her boots, but before she could put fingers to fastenings, her clothes started dissolving. She gaped at her legs and watched her trews, the rest of her clothes fade from sight until she stood in front of Saber, naked.

  “How convenient,” Saber said, and prowled toward her, smirk lighting his sexy green eyes.

  Eva opened her mouth, snapped it shut and opened it again. “Why haven’t your clothes disappeared?”

  His smirk widened, his gaze doing a thorough survey of her nakedness. “Because I wished harder.”

  Eva tried covering herself.

  “Are you turning shy?” Saber’s hands settled on her shoulders, his amusement in full bloom. It made her more self-conscious. “You’re beautiful.” His breath caressed her face as he moved her toward the bed. She toppled backward, legs splayed, and he stepped into the space between them.

  “Your clothes are still on.” She wouldn’t mind a better visual.

  “I can fix that,” he said in a silky voice. He took off his shirt and tossed it aside. His boots clomped onto the floor, and he peeled his trews down his legs. “Now can we move to the next stage?”

  “Your clothes didn’t disappear.”

  “Nope.” He ran his hand over her thigh, making her breath catch in anticipation. “I have a theory.”

  “Do tell.” She suppressed a shiver with difficulty, and judging by the flash of white teeth, he knew what his touch was doing to her.

  “When we were at the ruins, things appeared after we thought about them. Once they were no longer needed, they disappeared.” His fingers teased the delicate skin behind her knee.

  She bit her lip. “L-Like the shuttle.”

  “Right,” he said. “I presume you have other clothes here at your dwelling.”

  “I do.”

  “I don’t have any spare clothes, which is why I think these have remained solid and real. Once we get back to the resort or I purchase new clothes, these will disappear.”

  He wanted her to return to the resort with him? She had mentioned relocating…but what about the restaurants?

  They don’t mean anything without Pryce.

  The thought flashed through her mind, along with the truth of it. The restaurants were more his dream. When she considered her life after the Dearbhorgaills, the goal wasn’t managing three restaurants on her own forever. There had to be more than hard work and worry. But what? That was the question.

  Saber’s fingers slipped lower on her thigh and drifted closer to her pussy. Everything in her froze, waiting, praying for contact.

  “Y-you’ll have to let me know if your theory is correct.” He made her stutter. A sad state of affairs.

  “You’ll come home with me,” Saber said, his tone brooking no refusal.

  “But the restaurants—”

  “You belong with me.”

  Her mouth opened and closed in an imitation of the lippy-fish sold in the market. The entire time she stared at his hard face, trying to understand exactly what he wanted.

  He loomed over her, pressing her into the sleep-bed with his bulk. He didn’t stop until his face was inches from hers. “You are mine, and I’m not leaving you here alone. I have to return to the resort and my family, but I need something for myself, someone solely for me. I need you, Eva.”

  “Me? But I’m nobody—”

  “Bullshit. You’re special. You might have been discarded as a child, but the people in the market kept you safe. Everyone I spoke with knew you, admired you. They spoke well of you. Pryce married you because he held you in high regard, and if he were alive, you’d still be with him and happy. I get that. But I want a slice of happiness too. I want you, Eva. Come home with me. Make the resort your home. Sell your restaurants here or keep them. I don’t care. You can have free rein to run the restaurant at the resort or you can open one in the village, if that’s what you want.” He stared at her intently, his eyes flickering to cat and back. “I don’t care what you do as long as you spend every night in my bed with me.”

  Eva gaped at him, shocked by the passion in his voice, the determination to get what he wanted.

  Her.

  When she remained silent, he groaned, the sound holding a trace of self-derision. “Not going to say anything?” he asked in that silky voice of his, the one he used when his emotions came to the fore. “Maybe I’ll demonstrate what I mean.”

  And with that, he pounced.

  Chapter Twelve

  His mouth went straight to her neck and the minute tattoo there. Eve wondered at its origin. Maybe it had something to do with the weird ghost house and the gentleman? Then that thought—every thought in her head—faded as his tongue rasped across the tattoo.

  Her body jerked at the arc of pleasure radiating through her body. His hands were everywhere, skimming her breasts, tugging at a nipple, smoothing over her hip. And his mouth teased the tattoo, sucking, licking, driving her crazy.

  She heard a sound, a hungry little noise, and she realized it came from her. A heated flush moved down her body and the tattoo pulsed, coming alive under his ministrations.

  Moisture formed between her legs, a ferocious flood. He lifted his head, his eyes of freaky cat green that should have scared her but didn’t. He was hard and determined—a delectable combination—and she had no defenses against him, realized she didn’t want any.

  He plundered her mouth with a kiss designed to inflame and consume. Whimpers fell from her mouth, demands she couldn’t contain.

  She gasped for air, parted their lips enough to get out her desperate words. “Saber. Fuck me. Please.”

  He growled—a mean, bad-tempered growl—as if she’d said the wrong thing, but his touch didn’t change. Instead he parted her legs and rose over her, his face harsh, eyes glittering.

  Then he positioned himself and plunged inside her with one hard stroke.

  Eva screamed as fire exploded inside her. Every particle of her body pulled tight then snapped under so much pleasure it hurt. She convulsed around his cock, shuddering and bucking as he thrust inside her again and again.

  Eva pulled his head down for a kiss and inhaled his raw male desire. His muscles rippled and primitive hunger etched into his face as their lips met.

  She held his sweaty body as he continued to hammer into her, a primal sense of satisfaction rolling through her. Saber gave a strangled moan and came. Came with a bellow of sound that echoed in her bedroom.

  Gradually he relaxed and twisted their bodies so he wasn’t a heavy weight on her chest. Neither said anything, but Eva’s stomach went all fluttery. Her gaze went to his strong jawline, his sensual lips, then wandered up to his eyes and came to an abrupt halt.

  He was watching her, gaze impassive yet somehow she sensed his uncertainty, his turmoil—the same riot of emotions churning through her mind now that she could think again.

  “We belong together,” he said. “Once your problems are sorted, we’re going home to the resort. Decide what you want to do with your restaurants.”

  A definite order, and Eva couldn’t find the energy to dispute his high-handedness. Not when that’s what you want, her conscience whispered. She ran her fingers across his chest and played with one of his nipples until it hardened. “Why is the resort so important to you?”

  “My family is important to me,” he corrected, his voice back to its normal gravelly rumble. “Family is important to all felines. On Earth, cats are solitary creatures but not feline shifters. We do better with family and friends around us. Our ancestors showed proved that. They built a community with strong ties, and until the virus came, we were solid.”

  “Do
you argue?” Eva had never known the family he described, couldn’t imagine herself as part of it. She didn’t enjoy the idea of being an outsider.

  But wasn’t it a bit like that in the market? There was part of the market, the people who had taken her in, who stuck together and looked out for each other.

  “Of course. We all have strong personalities.”

  “But the resort is important. You don’t want to fail.”

  “If the resort fails, we’ll have nothing,” Saber said simply

  “Did you do something similar on Earth?” She moved on to playing with his hair, enjoying tugging the long strands.

  “We were farmers. I thought I’d mentioned that? And we had the vineyards, of course.” His hand ran up and down her back and she whispered out a breath of relief. He’d lost the air of tension, seemed more himself.

  “Then why a resort?”

  “I won it in a card game. I staked the last of our money and when the game was over, my family became the owners of a run-down resort.”

  “That was…um…risky.”

  “Not really,” he said, something almost self-deprecating in his smile. He caught her gaze and held it. “I had no intention of losing. I cheated.”

  Eva blinked, realized he was laying himself bare, wasn’t sure how to react.

  “Sorry you slept with me now?”

  Saber regretted cheating. She saw it in him, but she also saw he’d do it again if the need arose. His family came first—and he wanted to include her in that family. She sucked in a quick breath, gave a disbelieving shake of her head. Frying fungus.

  “You make me feel good. Why would I be sorry?” No. She was uncertain, she thought. Frightened to take a step into the unknown when she was comfortable here on Dalcon. She’d known upfront of Pryce’s parents’ hatred, their dislike of her humble roots. They’d wanted Pryce to remain in his designated caste, not to marry a guttersnipe who didn’t even belong to a caste.

  Saber’s family didn’t know her. She’d seen them at the resort, probably unknowingly spoken to some of them. What if it turned out they hated her? If she left Dalcon, sold her restaurants…

  Gods, she need to think about this. Hard.