by Marie Harte
Tessa’s lips pursed, accentuating their ripe fullness as she awaited his reply. He sighed heavily, conceding how difficult the past few days had been without her.
“I missed you,” he said gruffly, not surprised when she put her hands on her hips and stared, her eyes narrowed and bright. Obviously the woman wanted blood—his.
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Damn it. He didn’t want her to see how vulnerable she made him. His life had always been in danger, since the minute he was born. But Tessa had grown up in this world, without the threat of wraiths and dark magic, without the threat of treason and Djinn interference.
“Look, I’ve been busy the past few days.”
“Oh?” Her brow cocked high, dangerously high.
“Between the new accounts and watching for danger, I’m tired when I get home.”
“Bullshit. You’re running scared.”
He froze and returned her inspection with a frosty one of his own. “I wasn’t aware you had a degree in clinical psychology.”
“See? You only act all high and mighty when something bothers you. Face it, Marcus, I know you well enough to know something’s not right.” Her voice softened. “Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
The urge to confess his worries was surprisingly strong, but he shrugged it away. Bad enough he knew the many problems he faced as a would-be king. His future bride didn’t need to know about his multitude of imperfections.
“I’m focused on keeping you safe, Tessa,” he said calmly, trying to convince her to leave it alone. “I can still see the wraiths attacking us in my office every time I close the door. I don’t need distractions, not when your safety’s on the line.”
She frowned. “No more than yours is. ‘Sin Garu seemed more thrilled at the idea of destroying you than bothering with me.”
“But taking you would destroy me,” he admitted on a harsh breath.
Her eyes warmed and she visibly relaxed, her smile wide and welcoming. Shit. Now he’d have a hell of a time keeping her away from him until the Djinn threat was exposed.
“Marcus, that was a wonderful thing to say.” She laughed. “Too bad you looked like you ate a lemon while saying it.”
His lips quirked. “Look, Tessa—”
She held up a hand. “No, no, before you go pissing me off again by saying something insulting, let me have this moment.”
He rolled his eyes but couldn’t help being amused by her theatrics. “Are you finished working yet?”
“Until my eight o’clock meeting tomorrow.” She groaned and arched her back, subtly reminding Marcus of how perfectly round her breasts were. Seeing his gaze she huffed. “Don’t think that hot, sweaty sex we shared is going to distract me, Marcus Storm.” She gathered her coat and purse and unlocked the door. “We have plenty of time to talk on the way home.”
With a silent groan, he followed her out of the office and closed the door behind them. He stiffened when he saw Jonas Chase across the room watching them with a strange look. A wave of danger settled over the space, and Marcus hastily drew a telepathic shield around his affai, leaving himself open to draw out his opponent.
“What—” Tessa began before following his gaze to her boss. “Not Jonas.”
The minute her eyes met those of her boss, the large man nodded and waved goodnight. He turned slowly, as if to prove he was no threat, and closed himself in his office.
Marcus took a step from Tessa, intent on having it out with Chase here and now, when Tessa grabbed him by the arm and clung like a burr.
“Oh no you don’t, Marcus. It’s not Jonas. I know it’s not.”
“Why’s that? Because you like it when he touches you?” he asked coolly, unaccountably angry she defended her boss when he could feel the truth pulsing within him. Jonas Chase was dangerous, period. Why he hadn’t seen that before he didn’t yet know.
“No, because you’re blinded by jealousy,” she said plainly, taking the bluster out of his rage. “Like I was when I heard you had a meeting with Sheila Covington this morning. Funny, you didn’t mention that part of your schedule last night at dinner.”
Suddenly the threat to his well-being came not from Jonas Chase, but from the deceptively calm redhead eyeing him like a male she’d like to neuter.
“Covington, right.” He took hold of her elbow and dragged her to the elevator. How the hell had he forgotten something so important as what had happened this morning? This was one conversation they definitely needed to have in private.
Chapter Eleven
Tessa slammed the main door to the house shut and followed Marcus’ stiff back through the foyer to the kitchen—the source of the wonderful, if distracting smells that made her stomach growl. “Marcus, if you don’t tell me what I want to know in the next five seconds, you can forget about ever sitting comfortably again, because my foot will be so far up your ass—”
“Tessa, Marcus, glad you finally pried yourselves away from the office,” Cadmus interrupted with a large, toothy grin.
“Just in time for machia.” Aerolus watched them from the stove, his grey eyes unblinking.
Distracted by food and irritated because she knew Aerolus intended the diversion, she muttered, “What the hell’s machia?”
“A traditional dish in Tanselm. It’s perfect on a day like today.” Cadmus fetched them plates of the thick, aromatic stew.
Shelving a glare for Marcus, she took a reluctant bite, then another. “Wow, Aerolus, I can’t believe you made this. Did you, you know?” She wiggled her fingers.
“No magic, Tessa. I made it from scratch, allowing for the difference in vegetation between my world and this one.” He nodded to her. “You like it?”
“It’s about the only thing saving me from choking the life out of your brother.” She continued to eat, amazed at her hunger. And the more she ate, the better she felt.
She glanced up to see the others eating as ravenously as she was. “Hey, Cadmus.” She stared at him in confusion. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
He shrugged. “I’m taking a sick day.”
Marcus stopped eating and stared at his brother. “Darius never took a sick day. And you’re not sick, at least not physically.”
“No, I’m a regular nutcase.”
Tessa stared in concern. For once the jovial Cadmus sounded strained and not at all easygoing.
“Cadmus.” Aerolus stared at his brother and shook his head. “I can’t help if you won’t let me.”
“Hey, this isn’t about me. It’s about Marcus.” Cadmus pointed a finger. “He knows exactly who set Tessa up and why, but he’s too afraid to tell her.”
Tessa blinked in amazement, riveted to Cadmus who resumed eating as if nothing had been said. “Say that again.”
“He’s too afraid—”
“No, you idiot.” Marcus’ gaze narrowed, his next words like ice. “She wants to know what Sheila Covington did. And if you already knew that, why didn’t you mention it before now?”
Aerolus appeared to track the conversation, but Cadmus and Marcus were giving Tessa a headache. “Would someone please explain this to me?” Her voice rose and a flash of energy flooded the room.
She flushed at losing control, aware she’d siphoned energy not just from Marcus, but from his brothers as well. Instead of the usual accompaniment of psychic skills, however, she absorbed only pure energy, releasing the backwash she couldn’t contain into the room.
“Nice,” Aerolus said as he stared around them at something only he could see. “You’ve adapted to our elemental natures remarkably fast.”
“That’s elemental power?” she asked, somewhat dazed. But the discussion between Marcus and Cadmus reminded her to stay focused. “No, no, don’t answer that. No more questions. Marcus, I want answers. Now.”
He shrugged and his face took on an imperious cast, making her grit her teeth. Whenever he grew overly arrogant, it was a sign of his unease. And his tension set her on edge.
“Sheila requested a
meeting with me late yesterday, and I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want to worry you.”
“He didn’t want to make you more jealous than you are now,” Cadmus corrected.
She fumed but didn’t correct him. Why bother hiding from the truth at this point?
Marcus shot him an irritated scowl and returned his attention to Tessa. “That’s not exactly true.” He looked uncomfortable and glared at his brothers several times. When they showed no signs of leaving, he cursed, making Tessa want to grin despite her upset with his hesitation.
“Sheila Covington is unbalanced. The woman lied about sleeping with me to everyone at the office. She fixated on me, for some reason.”
Tessa stared in amazement. “For some reason?” She eyed him up and down, giving no question as to what the woman found alluring.
His eyes glinted and he gave her a heated glance. “Obviously she’s enthralled by my good looks and killer body.” He pulled off the conceit naturally, and for some odd reason his snottiness only added to his allure. “And I am known for certain other…talents. In one particular area I’ve never had any complaints.” His eyes laughed at her knowingly. “But marriage?”
His arrogance faded when he realised how he must sound to Tessa, like the commitment-phobic playboy she’d once thought him to be. Instead of being bothered by his objection, however, she was amused. She understood his point. Hell, she wouldn’t want to be married to Sheila Covington either. The woman had looks but was a complete shrew.
Tessa wanted to laugh at Marcus’ discomfort as he eyed her warily. Was she now supposed to jump on the bandwagon and demand he marry her? Ha. Tessa Sheridan didn’t grovel. Period. When she was through with Marcus, he’d be begging to propose.
“As I said, the woman is unbalanced,” he grumbled and dug into his food.
“Crazier than a shiiman eating worms.” Cadmus nodded, scooping another bowl of machia.
“Not that I know what you’re talking about, but I get the gist.” She turned to Marcus. “So she’s into you. Why come after me?”
“Apparently rumours have been flying that you and Marcus have been engaged in a secret affair for weeks,” Cadmus explained with relish, his previous bad mood gone. “Nice work, bro.”
Marcus ignored his brother’s thumbs up, and Tessa barely managed to avoid giving Cadmus her own hand gesture. “It’s not funny,” she snapped at him, incensed when his grin only widened. “This is my reputation we’re talking about. I don’t suppose you know who started the rumour?”
Cadmus shrugged and Marcus shook his head. “Tessa, before Chase put you to work with me I only knew you as the leggy redhead all the men fantasised about.”
All the men…fantasised? She blushed. He had to be kidding.
Marcus frowned. “Just yesterday I put my fist in Davis’ face for—”
“You did what?” She stared in amazement. “What happened?”
“Let him finish about the crazy woman,” Aerolus interrupted. “I want to know what else she said.”
“She broke down when I refused to marry her,” Marcus said with disgust.
“Marry her,” Tessa repeated, having never heard anything so ridiculous, or annoying.
“She grew irrational when I said no, and bits and pieces of her part in discrediting you leaked through. I admit I pushed her into a full confession—for which she was immediately fired from Craiger-Mim. She saw you as competition and thought by taking you out of the picture, she and I would become one.” He grimaced. “At least we now know she, not the Djinn or ‘Sin Garu, concocted the idea to have you arrested.”
“That’s nuts.” Tessa stared in disbelief.
“She was insane with lust, you might say,” Cadmus threw in with a chuckle. “Now don’t blame me for pointing out the truth,” he said quickly when Tessa beaned him with a dinner roll. “Look at the package she’s in lust with.” He pointed to himself and his brothers. “How could she help herself?” He motioned to himself as if showcasing a prize.
“For God’s sake, Cadmus,” Tessa huffed but couldn’t help a chuckle. “This isn’t The Price is Right.”
At his confusion she shook her head. “Never mind. I want to know how she planned to get rid of me.”
“She gave Leanne Sumpter a packet of files to put in your office,” Marcus explained. “Files that would show you had embezzled money into a personal account.”
“Leanne works in pay services,” Tessa murmured, suddenly aware of just how close she’d been to prosecution. “She has full access to my pay records. She knows my bank account number, my social, my birthday.” A nightmare of knowledge.
“And she’d already made the changes in the computer. Leanne didn’t like you either.” Marcus scowled. “If Sheila hadn’t confessed, you might now be sitting in a jail cell.”
“What did I do to Leanne? Don’t tell me she fell for you too?” Women were dropping like flies around Marcus, and she didn’t like it one bit. Not when she’d finally come to the conclusion she was keeping him.
“No. Apparently she’s under the impression Jonas Chase has the ‘hots’ for you. And she’s in love with him.”
His sharp tone reminded her he still thought Jonas was a Djinn.
“Good lord, this all sounds like something that should be on a daytime soap.” She shook her head, dismissing his charge about Jonas. “Assuming anything is never smart, Marcus. Don’t pin your suspicions on Jonas, a man who’s supported me from day one.” As she scraped the last bit of machia from her bowl, she realised she felt lighter, as if freed from a tremendous weight she carried. The question of who wanted her gone from Tomanna had at last been answered. “Sheila Covington. Hmm. I never would have believed you’d be involved in trying to get me fired.”
“I wasn’t,” Marcus said, his tone cold.
The man felt guilty about it. Good. “Maybe if you didn’t play so fast and loose with women’s emotions, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Cadmus guffawed and Aerolus quirked his lip in what looked like the hint of a smile. Marcus, however, tensed and his eyes blazed. Not so cool and collected now, are we? she thought with satisfaction.
“For your information, I have never in my life treated a woman with anything less than respect.” He coloured, and she knew he was remembering the first time they’d kissed in his office. “Almost never,” he muttered and pushed his bowl away, apparently having lost his appetite. “The point is, Sheila imagined something between us that wasn’t there.”
“Okay,” Tessa said slowly, enjoying needling Marcus, especially in front of his captivated brothers. Marcus hot and bothered made her heart race. “So tell me why I saw you breaking off with a woman in public a month ago.”
“Yes, do explain,” Cadmus prodded.
“I remember Darius being awfully angry about it,” Aerolus said, looking down into his bowl. “Something about dumping your women in public landing him in trouble with his affai.” He turned to Tessa. “Samantha had thought Darius was the one being so callous.”
Marcus’ eyes blazed, and Tessa couldn’t have been more pleased. This was the real Marcus, the man she wanted with her last breath, the man who intrigued her on every level.
Strong yet tender, icy cool and in command, yet perilously out of control when it came to dealing with her. That had to be a good sign.
“That was unavoidable, and an instance I deeply regretted.” He spoke stiffly and mentally shoved Cadmus when his brother smirked. “As it happened, Sophia Mitchell brought it all on herself.”
Tessa was fascinated and wanted to know more, but a comment he’d made earlier bugged her. “Yeah, yeah, you’re a heart breaker, and we women are fragile flowers you try so hard not to crush.”
“You’re no flower, trust me,” Marcus growled.
“Tell me about Davis.”
Marcus looked uncomfortable and she had to know more.
“Tell me.”
“Marcus punched him in the face for some rude comments he made about you,” Cadmu
s answered her, while licking his spoon completely clean.
“Really?”
“How the hell do you know all this?” Marcus frowned and stood, conveniently taking his bowl to the sink in an attempt to escape interrogation.
Cadmus shrugged. “A vision, what else?”
“I suppose I should thank you.” Tessa watched Marcus, not quite sure what to make of his encounter with Davis.
“Don’t thank me for that. I should have pounded him the first time he implied less than the truth about you.”
“No really, thank you,” she said, genuinely pleased at his sincerity. “I wish I could’ve slugged him back into the Stone Age where he belongs.”
“That I’d like to see.” Marcus relaxed enough to share a small grin with her and a warmth unfurled in her belly.
“Right. Well,” Cadmus drawled as they stared at one another. “So where do you two go from here? You know who wanted you fired, but that still doesn’t explain why ‘Sin Garu was so interested, or even who the Djinn is that’s been feeding him information.”
“True,” Aerolus said slowly. “The Covington woman and the worker from payroll knew of Covington’s deceit. The Djinn might have overheard the two talking.”
“Or had access to the company’s personnel accounts,” Cadmus added.
“Like Jonas Chase.” Marcus said his name like a curse.
* * * *
Marcus stared at the ceiling in his bedroom, wishing he could ignore the fact Tessa slept so soundly just two inches away. But just the scent of her drove him crazy, and knowing she lay nearly naked next to him, clad in one of his thin white T-shirts, was more than any man, or prince, could stand.
No matter that Tessa was not of Tanselm. No matter that she came from another plane entirely. Everything within him cried out for her, and he had already decided to accept her as his, as if that were a major hardship. He’d tried to avoid the truth, but for all his faults, he’d never lacked integrity. And the truth stared him in the face with bright blue eyes.
