She grimaced as she shook it out. “It’s a bit wet,” she admitted. “But it should be okay. I’ll lay it out for you.”
Nodding again that he understood, he waited until she had draped the towel over a rock and started down the steps before turning his gaze up towards his brother, who was scowling down at him.
“You couldn’t wait?” Octavian muttered.
Gideon shrugged. He wanted to tell the other man that his timing would never have been perfect, because no matter what, Octavian would have had Riley naked somewhere. The two fucked like rabbits on crack. It wasn’t Gideon’s fault that they just happened to be at the pond when he really needed it. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t seen them naked before. Lord knew he’d wanted to bleach his eyes several times in the last three months. It wasn’t jealousy. It was the fact that he just did not want to see his brother’s naked ass, or Riley’s. There were just some things he didn’t mind being blissfully ignorant over.
Once they had left, Gideon faced the only other person remaining. She stood on the opposite side of the platform, arms folded across her abdomen. She regarded him with mild interest and something else.
Carefully, she moved closer, her heels disturbing the dirt. Once she stood before him, she crouched and hugged her knees. Her head bent to the side as she peered into his face.
“Can you talk?”
Gideon shrugged. Then shook his head.
The look in her eyes remained, even when she rose to her full height and loomed over him. He watched with building curiosity as she shrugged out of her coat. The leather barely made a sound as it struck the ground behind her. Her blades followed. Then her boots, her pants, and finally her top. She stood before him, beautifully naked except a pair of sexy, white panties and its matching bra.
Gideon groaned. “What are you doing?”
A brow lifted on her face, a face still dark with something he was quickly beginning to recognize—hunger. She didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t understand him, or because she really didn’t think her actions required an explanation, which they very much did not.
She slid into the water with him, going all the way to her chest before diving under and vanishing from sight.
Heart rampaging in his chest, Gideon followed her.
She floated a few feet away from him, hair billowing in dark tendrils around her face. Her blue eyes reflected the light coming up at them from below as she studied him from head to tail.
With a kick, she propelled herself to him. Her hands anchored around his shoulders. His own arms automatically coiled around her middle, fusing her wet, naked skin against his. She moaned, or gasped. The sound came out in a series of bubbles expelling her air.
He pushed them to the surface.
“I’ve never seen a selkie in true form,” she panted, blinking water out of her eyes. “But I’ve heard stories.”
Gideon stared at her, hoping his face asked the question his voice could not.
“That they’re powerful,” she explained. “Fast and incredibly strong.” Her breathing quickened. “Gods of the sea,” she finished.
Gideon grinned, at least, he did in his head. He wasn’t sure what it looked like on his face.
“I can see why the angels wanted you,” she went on. “You’re everything they said, and so much more.”
The dark shimmer in her eyes almost made him laugh. Of course it would be his mate that would become a fangirl.
“Can you understand me?” he asked, just for the hell of it.
Her head cocked to the side, but she didn’t respond. He took that as a no.
Carefully, he took her waist and hauled her up onto the lip of the pond. He left her there to hoist himself out next to her and drop onto the bank.
“It takes a while,” he told her, when her gaze shot excitedly over him, possibly waiting for him to turn back.
Stifling his laughter, his amusement that out of everything he’d done to impress her in the past, this was the thing that got her excited.
He grabbed the damp towel Riley had left behind and draped it around her shoulders. He was careful not to scratch her with his nails, or use too much force when he drew her to him and tucked her into the curve of his body to keep her warm while they waited for him to dry off and return to his normal size.
Gideon awoke an hour later, naked and freezing, with his backside caked with dirt. Across his chest in a wild sprawl, Valkyrie breathed softly into the hollow of his throat. The towel was still fully wrapped around her, still damp. She was shivering.
“Kyrie.” He ran a hand over the back of her head. “Baby, wake up.”
She awoke slowly. Her head came out from its tucked position beneath his chin and lifted to meet his gaze.
“You’re back,” she said.
“That happens once I’m dry,” he explained.
She sat up, legs straddling his midsection. She regarded him with that same captivated, slightly aroused expression.
“I can’t make love to you in that form,” he informed her, just in case. “I mean, I could. It is possible. All my pieces are still there and they work. But your body is not made for my ... equipment. I would definitely hurt you.”
She shook her head, eyes never leaving his face. “That isn’t what I want.”
The equipment she was sitting on with nothing but her wet panties, hardened to attention at her breathy response. His hands closed in the towel around her hips.
“What do you want?” He pushed upright, keeping her firmly in his lap with her legs around his waist.
Her arms went around his shoulders. “I just want to watch you.” She bit her lip and all the blood left his brain to fill his cock. “But afterwards...”
With a groan as every nerve ending in his body crackled, Gideon closed a hand in her hair and jerked her mouth inches from his. Her irises pulsed. Her lips parted. Her eager response was nearly his undoing.
“Figures I’d fall for such a kinky voyeur,” he growled. “Between your twisted mind and mine ... we’re going to fuck each other to death.” He nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth and elicited a moan from her. “Unfortunately right now, we have to get back for supper.”
She rose reluctantly and moved to her clothes as he did the same to his. They had twenty minutes to get back to the manor, shower and be presentable for dinner. That didn’t include being present for when Daphne showed up ... just in case. He prayed to God he wasn’t wrong about Riley. That she really was able to control herself and he hadn’t just put Daphne on the top of the menu.
He walked Valkyrie all the way to her room and waited until the door had closed between them before darting into his own.
By the time he joined the others in the dining room, everyone, except Reggie was at the table. The low hum of chatter echoed through the corridor, filled with laughter and the soft tinkle of dishes. No one looked up when he took his seat next to Magnus, except Valkyrie who sat on Magnus’s other side. The glance was secretive and hot as fuck, before she returned to whatever deep discussion she was having with his brother.
“Has anyone seen Reggie?” he asked the table at large.
No one had.
“He better hurry,” his mother said, checking her watch. “Or they’ll miss supper.”
Gideon was beginning to think maybe Reggie had talked Daphne out of coming, and was thinking that maybe that was a good idea, when the pair in question appeared in the doorway, or rather, Reggie appeared in the doorway, shielding the figure behind him.
The very air seemed to tense at their arrival. No one seemed capable of speech. Then, collectively, all eyes turned slowly towards Riley, as though afraid any sudden movements might trigger her.
Riley seemed shocked, like her mind couldn’t believe what her eyes were seeing.
“Hi!” Daphne said, breaking the silence.
His mother came out of her stunned silence first. She hurried out of her seat and walked over to where Daphne stood, almost completely hidden
behind Reggie.
“You made it,” she said, reaching past her son to grab the carrot top he was concealing. She drew Daphne out. “How are you?”
Daphne opened her mouth to respond when a chair skid out and Riley leapt to her feet. Reggie reacted almost immediately by grabbing Daphne by the back of the dress and yanking her to him. Magnus, Octavian, Valkyrie, and Gideon shot out of their chairs as well, prepared to intercept.
“What are you doing here?” Riley asked, either not noticing the Mexican standoff, or not caring.
Daphne, attempting freedom from Reggie’s grasp, replied, “I was asked to dinner. Will you let me go?”
“No!” Reggie said shortly.
She gave up trying to get way and fixed her impatient stare on Riley. “Are you going to attack me?”
Riley looked momentarily taken aback by the question. “What? No.”
Daphne narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure, because you have to be sure. Otherwise, he’s never letting me go and I’m hungry.”
For the first time, Riley noticed the risen group and the hold Reggie had on Daphne. She blinked in surprise.
“I’m okay,” she promised. “I swear.”
“See?” Daphne snapped. “Now can I sit please?”
Reggie eyed Riley a moment longer before unfurling his fingers. Daphne smoothed the wrinkles he had created and started around to take the seat next to Riley.
This time, Gideon caught her before she got too far. “Why don’t we take things slow?” he advised.
He offered her his seat between Magnus and Reggie. It was across the table from Riley so at least they could talk and still have something between them. Reggie shot him a look between gratitude and pissed off. Apparently he hadn’t forgiven Gideon for inviting Daphne in the first place.
Circling around the table, Gideon took the spot next to Riley. His mother regained her place as did the others.
There was silence as everyone waited for someone else to say something.
Finally, his father broke it. “Hello Daphne,” he said with a polite smile. “It’s wonderful to have you with us once more.”
Daphne gave him a lopsided smile. “Thanks. It’s good to be back.”
“How have you been, Daphne?” his mother asked, helping herself to a serving of mashed potatoes.
“Good, thank you,” Daphne answered, accepting the basket of rolls Reggie passed her.
Gideon noticed his younger brother never looked away from Riley. He watched her the way one watched a cobra prepared to attack. Riley never noticed. Her head was bent closely to Octavian as the two whispered to each other. Across from Gideon, Magnus and Valkyrie were doing the same. The only person sitting quietly and surveying the scene was Imogen.
“How has your summer been treating you?” his father asked.
“It’s been okay,” Daphne admitted with a wrinkle of her nose. “I’ve been alone mostly. All my brothers work so I’ve been doing a lot of baking.”
His mother chuckled. “Well, that is certainly better than nothing.”
Daphne shrugged. “Maybe. But things will get busier come September when I leave for Connecticut.”
Reggie forgot Riley and turned his wide eyes towards Daphne. “Connecticut?”
Daphne concentrated on buttering her roll, but Gideon could see the hard set of her mouth when she spoke. “Yeah, I got accepted to Yale and, well...” She raised her face and fixed him with an even stare. “Yale’s kind of out of the country, so ... you guys might not see me for a while.”
“Yale?” His mother beamed. “That is fantastic, Daphne. Congratulations. Your parents must be thrilled.”
“My parents are dead,” she said so simply, no one moved for a moment. “But yes, I think they would have been. My dad went to Yale, so this is a big deal.”
“Well,” his mother recovered quickly, “we are certainly proud of you.”
Daphne smiled brightly. “Thank you.”
The meal continued with his mom and Daphne doing most of the talking. Occasionally, his dad, or Riley would say something, but everyone else seemed content enjoying their pot roast. Magnus and Valkyrie hadn’t said a word to anyone other than to each other. Whatever they were discussing seemed to be never ending and serious if Magnus’s frown was to be taken into account. But then again, Magnus was always frowning.
Gideon left them to it and focused on the tiny blonde on Valkyrie’s other side. She was chasing a carrot around her plate, deliberation crinkling her brows.
“What’s eating you?” he asked, keeping his voice low so the rest of the table wasn’t disturbed.
Imogen looked up, her green eyes wide with surprise. “Nothing.” She straightened. “Sorry.”
Gideon arched a brow. “You’re awfully quiet. Something bothering you?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay.”
“Why don’t I help you with the dishes tonight?” he offered. “I want to hear about your sisters.”
That seemed to do the trick. Her eyes lit up and she smiled. “Okay!”
True to his word, after dinner, Gideon helped bring the dishes to the kitchen. He stood back as Imogen doused everything in hot water and began to scrub. While she did so, she told him about being one of seven girls living in a tiny cottage hidden way from the world. Her father made money by working the fields for other farmers in the area. Her mother stayed home and took care of them.
“We never had enough, not food, or clothes, or any of the other things the other kids at school did, but it hadn’t been so bad because you don’t miss what you never had, you know?”
Gideon nodded as he dried the dishes she passed him. “I do.”
“I know I used to think my father was a fool for letting us suffer that way, but he had been a good man. He had done his best. I just hadn’t been grateful.”
“Not necessarily.” Gideon took the plates he’d stacked on the counter and moved to the cupboard. “There’s always guilt after the death of someone we love.”
Imogen twisted her chin around over her shoulder. “Who did you lose?”
Gideon looked to her, one hand on the knob. “What makes you think that?”
She shrugged, returning to her scrubbing. “Just the way you’re talking.”
Taking his time, Gideon slid the plates onto the shelf and shut the door before facing the girl.
“When you’ve been in as many wars as I have and watched your brothers fall for one useless cause after another, you recognize the feeling of guilt fairly quickly.”
“How many wars have you been in?”
He made a sound that could have passed for a chuckle if it hadn’t come out strained. “Too many.”
For someone who openly discussed everything under the sun, his dark days were something he refused to drudge up. Not for anyone. Those closest to him had been there, had stood shoulder to shoulder with him and they were as anxious about remembering as he was. Imogen was still so young, much too young to understand that nightmare, and Gideon refused to be the one to tell her.
Thankfully, the topic was turned away when the backdoor opened and Daphne emerged, pulling her coat on. She spotted Gideon and beamed.
“Hey!” She unhooked her hair from the collar and hurried over to him. Her arms went around his neck in a fierce embrace. “Thank you for inviting me tonight.” She drew back and took his face between her hands, hands that held the faint traces of chamomile. “It was nice to see Riley again before I left. It was nice to see everyone.” She kissed him soundly once on the mouth before pulling away. Her gaze went to Imogen. Her hands fell away from Gideon and she held one out to the other girl. “It was really nice to meet you, Imogen.”
Drying her hands quickly, Imogen accepted the shake with a shy smile. “It was nice to meet you, too.”
With a final grin for Imogen, Daphne turned her attention back to Gideon. “Keep him safe for me, will you?”
He didn’t need to ask who she was referring to.
“I will.”
Her s
mile wasn’t nearly as bright now. There was a shine to her eyes, but she kept the curve on her lips. It trembled once before she squared her shoulders.
“Take care.”
With a wave of her hand, she took a step back and started for the swinging doors. She pushed through and it clapped closed behind her. A full second later, the backdoor opened again and Reggie walked out. His gaze moved over the kitchen, over Gideon and then Imogen.
“That way,” Gideon told him, jerking a thumb over his shoulder towards the dining area.
With a nod between gratitude and understanding, Reggie crossed the room in three long strides and followed Daphne’s path.
Imogen slid a cup across the table to Gideon, disrupting the silence with the harsh grate of ceramic against marble. Gideon blinked and focused on the task at hand.
“What’s the deal with them?” Imogen wondered.
Gideon inhaled and exhaled heavily. “The same thing that’s the deal with all of us—life.”
Brows furrowed in puzzlement, Imogen didn’t press for an explanation. She didn’t have to. Voices rose through the pickup window, indicating that Reggie had caught up to Daphne.
“Why did you never tell me?” Reggie was asking.
“Why would I?” Daphne countered. “You made it perfectly clear that you wanted nothing from me.”
“You know why!” Reggie retorted sharply. “Why is it so hard for you to understand I’m trying to protect you?”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Reggie. You tell me I need to stay away, so when I start living my life without you, you demand to know why I never told you. You can’t have it both ways.”
“I just never expected that you were going to leave the country,” Reggie answered. “Connecticut is far!”
There was a full breath of silence before Daphne spoke again. Her voice was tight, like she was struggling not to cry.
“I need to go!” she ground out. “I need to get away from you, Reggie. I refuse to be one of those girls that gets obsessed over a guy that doesn’t want them and if I stay, I will never have a real life. I will just sit in that house and wait for you to finally accept that we belong together.”
Gideon's Promise (Sons of Judgment Book 2) Page 28
