by Lauren Dane
It was a simple note. Tender. He wanted to be there but couldn’t. The ’Verse needed him but it was important for her to understand her safety was paramount and not to worry. He would protect her.
It wasn’t as good as it would have been to bury her face in his neck, to have had his arms around her. But it was good. He cared. She was important to him and that was enough. It was all she could have just then, anyway.
“Abbie?” Daniel tapped on her door.
She wiped her face, tucked the note under her pillow and got off the bed. When she opened the door, no one but Daniel would have known she was upset.
“Come on out here and let us make it better. Mai is here, too.”
Her mother looked around Daniel’s body and like a child, Abbie sought her arms and let go. She and her mother sank to the floor, her mother rocking her, murmuring softly as she smoothed a hand over her hair.
Soon enough Daniel had her from the other side with Georges and Nyna following suit. She cried until there was nothing left but the occasional muscle spasm, and Daniel hauled her up, led her to the couch and sat her down. Her mother tucked a blanket around her and then sat beside her.
“Now, you feel better?” her mother asked softly.
“Sort of. I want him dead. And then I feel guilty because I wished another person dead. And then I feel guilty because I really don’t feel guilty at all.”
Nyna tsked and pushed a glass of something warm and alcoholic into her hand. “Take it. I know you took a pill. This will help you sleep through. Without the dreams.”
“Is there anything private in this family?” Abbie sipped the mulled wine and let it warm her. She put her head on her mother’s shoulder. “By the way, welcome to the family, Marcus. I’m sorry if you thought we were normal. Nyna will make you fat, I’ll weep on you and Daniel will frown you to death.”
Marcus looked stunned for a moment and then laughed. He took one of Abbie’s hands and kissed it. “I like your family just fine. Jaron is at home of course but he sends his love. He’s very angry on your behalf.”
“So the news is everywhere then?”
Her answer came with a pounding on her door and Logan came in, rage on his face when Daniel opened up.
“Abbie, I heard.” He sank to his knees in front of her and she touched his face.
“I’m all right now. My family wouldn’t let it be otherwise.” She smirked and Logan squeezed her knee.
“I spoke with Josef. He and I went by lockup but Bentan isn’t there. There is simply no record of him at all. So we thought those bastard Kerrigans had done something yet again but Saul came in, crazy mad, yelling and accusing.” Logan shrugged.
Daniel looked to Marcus, Abbie saw it, that gleam of approval in her brother’s eyes once Marcus gave a slight nod. Well, now. Roman Lyons had stepped in at some point and made good on his promise to keep her safe.
“Maybe he fell into the space between portals and he’ll wash up as ’Verse junk somewhere,” Nyna said, but Abbie doubted anyone would ever see Bentan again in any form, and she didn’t feel sorry for that at all.
She finally chased everyone out a few hours later when she was very drunk between her pill and the mulled wine. Her mother had been very stoic about her father’s absence and Abbie had pretended she hadn’t noticed just how much time he’d been spending with Robin lately. It was a game she tired of and she wondered why her mother took it. The countless affairs seemed to Abbie to be a bill she wouldn’t want to pay. Her mother had a solid business, her health was in good shape finally, and she’d aged well. Abbie loved her father, faults and all, but her mother was far better off without him. But she wasn’t privy to everything between them, maybe there was more than she knew beneath the surface. She could only hope.
Roman had used the disguise Daniel had provided for him and sneaking down back alleys and around corners, he’d finally arrived at her door. It was very late and he should have felt bad for disturbing her, but he couldn’t.
He needed her.
He’d met with Ash Walker, whose mistress had informed Roman it was time to let the unranked have a voice and to stop playing games. Walker had thrown his support behind Roman against the opposition that’d begun cropping up. Brandt Pela had said the same on behalf of his family. It was still problematic because both House Walker and House Pela had suffered a huge setback with the charges of treason and collusion against their Family members.
Still, votes were votes, and House Walker had the most right after House Lyons, and Pela was very powerful as well. If Roman could line up several more Houses, he’d be in good shape.
Marcus had commed him and informed him about Abbie’s breakdown at home. It’d taken every ounce of his will not to miss his next two meetings and go to her.
But he was House Lyons, he couldn’t simply walk away when he was needed and he knew Abbie understood that. Still, he didn’t want her to have to understand, he wanted to be there to put his arms around her.
So when he finished his last meeting, long after the second moon set, he headed out to see her. Even if only for a few moments. It was selfish, he knew it. She was probably sleeping.
He stood there, wrestling with himself, and finally tapped quietly. And then again when she didn’t answer. She slept lightly; he knew this now that he’d had that luxury of sleeping with her. She should have heard the tap, especially the second one.
Was she all right? Had she sought comfort from her family and spent the night there? Or with Logan, the ex?
He pulled out the key she’d given him and let himself in. He stood in the dark until his eyes adjusted. Her shades had been drawn so that was something he didn’t need to do.
“Abbie?” he called out as he headed toward her bedroom. Her scent hung in the air—sweet, long nights.
No answer.
He walked into her bedroom and she was there in her bed, alone. Breathing deeply, so deeply she snuffled a little bit on each exhale. He grinned. She snored. Divesting himself of his clothes, he slid into bed next to her, not liking how cold she was.
She snuffled again and turned to him, nuzzling a very cold nose into the hollow of his throat. She hummed low and her eyelashes tickled as her eyes opened.
“You’re here. I thought it was a dream. But I’m not supposed to dream so I knew it must have been true. And it was, so I’m not sad.”
He pulled back enough to see her face and kiss her. Her voice was slurred. “Hello, gorgeous. I was worried so I let myself in. Are you all right?”
“Took a pill. Had wine and then forgot about the first pill until I took the second. I’m fine, just very groggy. Gods, you’re warm. And why do you always smell so good? I love the way you smell. I like when I wake up and you’re in my bed. I wish that happened all the time.”
Despite his amusement at her state of inebriation, he was concerned for her as well. Two pills? And wine?
“What pills do you mean? Abbie, are you supposed to take two pills?”
“The pills to keep the dreams away.”
He rolled her onto her back, trailing his fingers down the front of her heavy nightshirt. “The dreams?”
“The dreams of the bad time. I don’t have them very often. But sometimes they come. Today.” Her hand found its way to his cock and gave him a pump and then another.
“Gorgeous, wait. I didn’t come here for that. I just wanted to hold you. And I woke you because I was worried when you didn’t hear me at the door.”
Her hand fell away and her sweet, talented mouth opened on that little snuffling sound. She’d fallen back into sleep. He pondered waking her again, worried about how much medication she may have in her system but she’d said it was fine when she’d first awakened. Right?
Snorting at how fucking cute she’d been, he snuggled back down into her bed, pulling the blankets up and tucking them both in. And made a mental note to deal with getting her into a building right on a vent, damn it.
Chapter 24
Abbie woke up with one
spectacular headache. She slept hard when she took the pills. Full consciousness came very slowly, and as it did, so did the realization she wasn’t alone in bed.
Her eyes snapped open to find Roman looking down at her, concern and amusement on his features. “Good morning.”
She mumbled at him and made her way into her bathroom, closing the door. Gods! He looked like a damned entertainment model and she looked—A quick glance in the mirror had her groaning. Certainly not like an entertainment model.
She turned on the water and, shivering, shucked her clothes and got in. If she was going to deal with a beautiful, sexy man in her bed, she’d do it looking human.
She heard the tap at the door and the breeze as he opened it and came in. “Oh, good idea.” He grinned at her.
And within moments he’d crowded in to join her.
What? Was she going to complain? Was she stupid? As it happened, her headache had lessened, she was clean, warm, and in very close proximity to a naked man. No complaints there.
“Good morning. Are you supposed to be here?” She kissed his chest, licking over one of his nipples.
“You seemed pretty pleased to see at least part of me when I came over last night.”
“I did?” She felt herself blush even in the heat of the water.
He laughed. “I was worried. I knocked and you didn’t come so I let myself in. I hope you’re not upset. And when I got in bed with you, you were a bit, um—” He struggled with a smile and she rolled her eyes and got out, drying off quickly.
“So we fucked and I don’t even remember it? Well that’s not very fair.” Gods, she must have really been out of it to not remember that.
He followed just moments later, getting out and drying off. “Abbie, I’d never fuck you in that state. You grabbed my cock, said how good I smelled and fell back to sleep.”
She laughed. “Oops. Sorry. It’s the medication. I usually only take one but I took a pill and then had wine and took another before I remembered I’d taken one earlier. They put me into a very deep sleep. I haven’t had to take two in a very long time.”
He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. “Damn it, Abbie, I’m so sorry about yesterday. I’m sorry you have to take pills to drown out dreams of something so horrible. And I’m sorry I couldn’t come straight to you. I tried to stay away, to let you sleep, but I found myself on my way here and I couldn’t stop my steps. I had to hold you, to know you were okay.”
Gods, why did he have to be so good? Why did he have to go and be tender and caring?
“Thank you. My family came by. Nyna with loads of food. Marcus to keep her company and gaze upon her adoringly every few moments.” Abbie smiled.
Roman picked up a brush from her counter and began to work it through her hair. With a happy sigh, she stood and let him minister to her.
“Daniel frowned a lot. Georges told jokes and my mother patted my back. They made me drink mulled wine and no one would leave until I got into bed. That feels wonderful, by the way.”
“Good. After yesterday you deserve to feel wonderful.”
“Pfft. By the way, were you back behind a curtain or something? Watching me all unobserved like?”
He snorted. “You’ve outed me. Marcus and I were up in the viewing gallery. I wanted to see how you did. Abbie, you did a marvelous job. I’m very impressed. You made some very fine points. And even after Saul came in with that piece of garbage, you held it together so well.”
She waved it away. His praise meant more than he’d ever understand. “Thank you. We’ll see what happens by the next meeting. The first trial starting in the treason cases is going to make all sides tense.”
She walked from the bathroom and he trailed behind. “There’s an extra robe there. You can wear it for now. I’m going to put some kava on. I need the energy.”
“Don’t open the window shades!” he called out.
“Why?” Alarm raced through her.
“Let’s just say I got a friendly tip that your windows, when opened, showed everything going on in here.”
“Ew! Are you kidding me? People are spying on me? You have that kind of spying?”
He put his hands up. “No,” he assured her hastily. “One of my people knows, but he was warning me to protect me.”
She relaxed a bit as she began to heat the water and measure out the kava. “Well I suppose you should be extra careful coming here.” She bit her lip. “Or maybe, maybe it’s time to not do this anymore. I can’t imagine how awful it would be if you were found out and it harmed you. I’d never forgive myself. I don’t want to be the cause of any harm to you, Roman. I love you.”
In two steps he had his arms around her. “I love you, too. Gods, Abbie. So much I can’t . . . I can’t let you go. Not yet. I can’t.”
She let her anxiety go for the moment and slid her palms up his back. He was warm and solid and real. Not a memory, not a nightmare. He’d come for her when it risked so much.
Effortlessly, he picked her up and placed her on the counter before stepping between her widened thighs. One arm banded her waist, pulling her close, while his mouth sought hers, delivering the sweetness of his kiss.
His hands wove through her hair, yanking so her head went back and her neck arched, offered for his lips. She groaned and he echoed it. He shoved the top of her robe apart and down, exposing her body but also binding her arms back as he feasted on her nipples.
“So sweet. How can I let you go?” he said against her skin.
She wanted to clutch him, to bring him close and never let go.
The kettle whistled and he let her go long enough to turn it off. She hopped down and poured the water though the press. But just moments later he picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder and stalked to her bedroom.
She landed on her bed with a laugh and he was on her again. Their robes fell away and she hissed as his warm, naked skin slid along hers. Gods, he felt good. She dug her nails into his back, urged him closer as she wrapped her legs around him.
He groaned, licking and biting her nipples. Good heavens above and below, he felt good. He licked and bit a path down her belly and right straight to her pussy. He ate her like she was the first thing he’d tasted after a fast. Like he couldn’t get enough. He stabbed his tongue up and into her gate repeatedly and then dragged the flat of his tongue over her clit, pressing down until she whimpered.
But before he made her come, he got to his knees, his cock in his fist. He moved to fuck her but she held a hand out to stay him.
“Wait. I want to see how you hold yourself. Make yourself come, Roman. Show me what you like.”
“Mmmm. Good idea. Then I can come on these.” He reached out and pinched a nipple.
He moved up her body, straddling her so she got a very good view and his balls rested against her belly, hot and heavy.
His gaze locked with hers, he began to pump his fist up and down around his cock. Slowly at first.
The eye seeped and Abbie was unable to resist reaching out and sliding her fingertip through it and licking the salty taste. His mouth opened as he gasped air.
“Gods, you’re going to kill me.”
“Come on my tits first,” she said, her voice low, threaded with suggestion.
Satisfaction roared through her at the way his pupils swallowed the iris of his eyes for a moment.
She broke their eye contact to watch how he handled his cock. Sure, even a bit rough. He pumped all the way down to the root, hard enough to sound the slap of his hand against his belly.
Up and off and back again. The way he handled his cock entranced her. It was beautiful to watch him in such an unguarded way. She dug her fingers into the blankets beneath her to keep from reaching out.
The head of his cock gleamed with pre-come, his chest began to heave with his breath, and all she wanted was to taste him.
“I love it when you look at my cock and lick your lips like you’re hungry for it.”
She looked up at him. “I am hu
ngry for it.”
He muttered a curse and laughed. “No one like you. Never will be.”
“Come on me,” she urged.
“Oh, I will, gorgeous. Don’t worry about that. I’ve wanted to paint those breasts with my come since about ten minutes after I met you.”
His movements got jerkier, less fluid. She knew he was close and she watched his cock hungrily until he groaned low and long, and warm, silky seed landed on her breasts and belly.
Each electric touch of his come sent her closer to her own climax. Never had anyone done this to her, with her. He’d marked her in a sense and she felt possessed right down to her toes.
He backed down her body with a satisfied exhale, but before he could bring the edge of a robe to clean her up, she slid her fingers through it. He froze in place as she looked up at him with a smile.
Roman had never actually done such a thing before, and gods it was hot. The memory of his come jetting over those pretty pink nipples would be burned into his memory forever.
He’d been ridiculously sated until she’d reached up and slid her fingers through his seed, dragging them over her nipples, glistening with him.
Her eyes on him, she took that gleaming wetness and slid it down her belly. He moved to the foot of her bed and she’d spread her thighs open wide, exposing the swollen, wet folds of her cunt to his greedy eyes. Yes, he’d been eating that right before he came. He licked his lips, ready to head back to it. Until she took fingers wet with his come and used it to lube herself over her clit.
Words flitted away from him as he took her in. His proud, sexy Abbie. A woman totally in charge and unashamed of her sexuality. With him she was free, and it made him feel like shouting it from the top of her building.
Instead he watched as she played with one nipple with the slippery fingers of her left hand while she circled her clit with the fingers of her right.
She lay before him, a feast of sexy woman, playing with her pussy and nipples, wet with him. Her eyes never left him as she did it.
