To All a Good Night Page 25

  “Charlie got what he wanted. So did I.” Spence slapped his gloves against his thigh.

  “That’s not possible. Charlie wanted your office and clients and all of this money.” As usual, Charlie wanted the most with the least amount of work.

  “He’s satisfied. I’m pleased. It all worked out fine.”

  “Spence.”

  He got up from the couch and stood in front of her. “You were right.”

  More like dizzy with confusion. “About?”

  “I didn’t notice you before. Not as anything other than Charlie’s put-upon girlfriend. I want to say you were taken and that explains my reaction and why I didn’t go there, but maybe you’re right. Maybe I just did not notice you as a woman.”

  Tears rushed to the back of her eyes. His honest delivery softened the blow. She wanted to know the truth. Needed him to say the words and not just feed her pretty lines.

  She kept reminding herself of the fact, and that she had the tape back, which was the point in going to Spence in the first place. The only reason she went to Spence.

  “I see you now, Nat.”

  Looking like a dishrag. “And I’m so lovely at the moment.”

  “Chubby, thin or whatever. I don’t care.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “The woman I care about, the one I’m falling for, is smart and funny, tough and beautiful.”

  His words refused to go into her brain. “You’re what?”

  “Gaining weight is not going to change how I feel about you or how much I want you.”

  On the scale of great speeches in history, this one ranked pretty high. The sincerity behind his words, the tender look in his eyes; she knew from all of his words and gestures, he meant what he said. He was making a vow. Pledging something more than a few dates.

  “What did you give Charlie?” She had to know. Had to figure out if the price paid was too high before they went any further.

  Spence wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I would have given him everything if that’s what it took to get that tape and make you happy. You’re worth it. Worth all of it.”

  She melted into a pile of goo. A happy, bursting with excitement, pile of goo.

  He was not the only one who’d learned something. So had she. The extra ten pounds would always bug her, but the woman who made love with Spence, who did not worry about extra skin on her thighs or how her stomach looked, had turned a corner. And Spence deserved to know the role he’d played in that change.

  “I want you to keep it.” She pushed the tape against his chest.

  “What?”

  “The tape.”

  “The tape you made for another man? He made a face that suggested he found the idea disgusting. No, thanks, hon.” He tossed the tape on the couch.

  “I actually made it for me.” Since he looked skeptical, she continued explaining. “Charlie was the excuse, but I made it to try to see myself differently. Now, I don’t need it.”

  Spence’s arms tightened around her. “Why?”

  “Because a few pounds here or there will not change who I am as a person. I don’t need a video to see that.” She finally “got” it. It all seemed simple now.

  He kissed her jaw. “About time you figured that out.”

  “After all, you could gain a few pounds and that would not change my feelings for you.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “How many pounds?”

  If someone had told her even a week ago that she would be standing in a room, secure in Spence’s arms and joking about weight, she would have had the person committed. Now she knew the freedom that came with being with someone who cared about her for her.

  “How many do you plan to gain?” she asked.

  “I suggest we concentrate on more interesting things than weight.”

  Sounded like a perfect idea to her. “Agreed. But the tape still is yours. Watch it or don’t watch it. It doesn’t matter to me.”

  “I thought you wanted to destroy it.”

  “I’d rather keep it as a reminder of a time when my priorities got confused.” The time before she figured out how to appreciate her body.

  “And I’d rather explore and enjoy the live version of you than watch you on tape.”

  His words made her stomach flip over. “The only thing I need to make me happy is you.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  She skimmed her hands up his torso to rest on his shoulders. “On that ‘falling for’ thing?”

  His skin took on a bit of a green cast. “Yeah?”

  “The feeling is mutual.”

  “Well, I wasn’t quite honest about that.” He kissed her then. A short, sweet pop on the lips. “I should have said fallen. Past tense. I know it’s only been a short time, but I’m about an inch away from being stupid in love with you.”

  Something broke loose inside her, filling her with a giddiness and satisfaction she had never known before. “That’s mutual, too.”

  She did not wait for him to make a move. She knew where she stood and that he would not slap her down.

  She licked his lips and watched the heat move into his eyes. “How about a kiss?”

  His smile wiped away all of her doubts. “Happy to oblige.”

  His lips covered hers, sending warmth spilling through her body. Everything shifted back into place. All those years of doubts fled as fast as it had come.

  She lifted her head and threw him her best seductive grin. “Did you say something about ‘gifts’?”

  “Women,” he said, with exaggerated exasperation.

  “Well?”

  “We’re invited to dinner at my sister’s house.”

  Nat pulled back in his arms. “What? Now?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You could give a woman some warning.”

  “I just did.”

  “I’d like some advance warning. Some time to make a good first impression. You know, actually comb my hair and wear clean clothing.”

  “Why are you wearing dirty clothes?” He actually sounded confused by her worries.

  “I’m not, but this is your family, Spence.”

  “I want to show you off.”

  “Scare them off is more like it.”

  He tugged her back into his embrace. “They will love you just the way you are. Just like I do.”

  “They will, once I explain how I didn’t know about this dinner until the last minute. Your sister will side with me. You’ll see.”

  “You don’t even know her.”

  “She’s a woman, isn’t she? She’ll agree.”

  “Two women bossing me around. Just what I need.” He clearly tried to sound exasperated but sounded amused instead.

  “You’re the one who made the plans without telling me. That’s what you get.”

  “And you’re perfect exactly the way you are.”

  She stopped torturing him and kissed him. When she lifted her head, the idea of going anywhere but the bedroom made her a little testy…but she could not be angry. Not now. Not at him.

  “This is turning out to be a great holiday season,” she said, as she loosened his tie.

  “The first of many, babe. Merry Christmas.”

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  W ith each step he took, Levi pondered what to say to Beth. She needed to understand that she’d disappointed him.

  Infuriated him.

  Befuddled him and inflamed him.

  In order to get a handle on things, he had to get a handle on her. He had to convince Beth to admit to her feelings.

  He needed time and space to accomplish that.

  Thanks to Ben’s directions, Levi carried her through the kitchen toward the back storage unit, where interruptions were less likely to occur.

&nb
sp; The moment he reached the dark, private area, Levi paused. Time to give Beth a piece of his mind. Time to be firm, to insist that she stop denying the truth.

  Time to set her straight.

  But then he looked at her, and he forgot about his important intentions. He forgot everything but his need for this one particular woman.

  God, she took him apart without even trying.

  Among the shelves of pots and pans, canned goods, and bags of foodstuff, Levi slowly lowered Beth to her feet.

  He couldn’t seem to do more than stare at her.

  Worse, she stared back, all big dark eyes, damp lips, and barely banked desire. Denial might come from her mouth, but the truth was there in her expression.

  When she let out a shuddering little breath, Levi lost the battle, the war…he lost his heart all over again.

  Crushing her close, he freed all the restraints he’d imposed while she was his best friend’s fiancée. He gave free reign to his need to consume her. Physically. Emotionally. Forever and always.

  Moving his hands over her, absorbing the feel of her, he tucked her closer still and took her mouth. How could he have forgotten how perfectly she tasted? How delicious she smelled and how indescribable it felt to hold her?

  Even after their long weekend together, he hadn’t been sated. He’d never be sated.

  Levi knew if he lived to be a hundred and ten, he’d still be madly in love with Beth Monroe.

  The fates had done him in the moment he’d first met her. She smiled and his world lit up. She laughed and he felt like Zeus, mythical and powerful. She talked about marrying Brandon and the pain was more than anything he’d ever experienced in his twenty-nine years.

  Helpless, that’s what he’d been.

  So helpless that it ate at him day and night.

  Then, by being unfaithful, Brandon had proved that he didn’t really love Beth after all—and all bets were off.

  When Beth came to him that night, hurt and angry, and looking to him for help, Levi threw caution to the wind and gave her all she requested, and all she didn’t know to ask for.

  He gave her everything he could, and prayed she’d recognize it for the deep unshakable love he offered, not just a sexual fling meant for retaliation.

  But…she hadn’t.

  She’d been too shaken by her own free response, a response she gave every time he touched her.

  A response she gave right now.

  They thumped into the wall, and Levi recovered from his tortured memories, brought back to the here and now.

  He had Beth.

  She wanted him.

  Until she grasped the enormity of their connection, he’d continue pursuing her.

  Lured by the sensuality of the moment, Levi levered himself against her, and loved it. As busy as his hands might be, Beth’s were more so. Small, cool palms coasted over his nape, into his hair, then down to his shoulders. Burning him through the layers of his flannel shirt and tee, her touch taunted him and spurred his lust.

  Wanting her, right here and right now, Levi pressed his erection against her belly and then cradled her body as she shuddered in reaction, doing her best to crawl into him.

  His mouth against hers, he whispered, “I need you, Beth.”

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  “A ilean,” she somehow managed to squeak out. “Good morn to you.”

  “And to you, Shalin. You look awfully beautiful today.”

  The fact he could say that and sound like he meant it was probably why so many females fell under his spell. Yet Shalin couldn’t be fooled. She had mirrors, did she not?

  “Thank you. So why are you—”

  “Och!” he cut in as he always did. The dragon rarely took a breath, it seemed. “You won’t believe my morning, Shalin. You truly won’t. Mind if I sit?”

  “Uh—”

  “Good. Thanks.” He dropped down beside her. All that dragon as naked human male. It took every ounce of her strength not to reach out and touch him. Like that solid thigh brushing against her robe-covered leg, to see how it felt under her human hands. She’d never been with a male as human. She’d heard it could be…entertaining.

  “So there I am, taking a bath, as she said I could, when suddenly her father comes in.”

  “Oh, that must have been—”

  “Horrible, right. Because she told me that we were alone in that house. But apparently not. I think she wanted me to claim her or marry her or whatever they call it.”

  “Even though you’re—”

  “A dragon, right. She doesn’t know that bit, you see. Best to keep her in the dark about that, don’t you think?”

  “Well—”

  “Especially for just a night of entertainment. Why she’d want me as a mate, I have no idea. So what are you reading?”

  It took her a moment to realize he’d asked her a question he expected her to answer. “Alchemic Formulas from the Nolwenn Witches of Alsandair.”

  “Is it interesting?”

  “A—”

  “I don’t know how you can read so many books. I get bored after a few pages.”

  “So,” Shalin found the courage to ask, “you’ve never read the books about yourself?”

  Ailean groaned, rested his elbows on his raised knees, and dropped his head in his hands. “Tell me you haven’t read those.”

  Read them? She’d devoured them.

  “Well—”

  “Because I didn’t authorize those to be written.”

  The books had begun to show up among humans and dragons nearly ten years before. She’d only just finished reading volume three the previous night and word of volume four being available soon had her nearly breathless. Each volume had two editions. One for humans and one for dragons written in the ancient language of their people. A language the humans of this world could never hope to learn with their much weaker minds, ensuring the fact that the dragons that roamed among them freely remained a well-kept secret.

  “The books aren’t true, then?”

  Based on his wince, she knew they were as true as they could be.

  “I never said those things didn’t happen. I just said I never authorized them being written about.” He turned his head and looked at her, those silver eyes hot on her face. “I don’t want you to think I run around telling tales about my relationships, Shalin. I can keep a secret quite well.”

  And how tempted she was to take him up on his unspoken offer, but that would be cutting her own throat. She’d officially be an enemy of Adienna then, and she simply wouldn’t risk her life for any male.

  “I—”

  “Perhaps I could tempt you away from your interesting book with a promise of a delicious meal at one of the nearby taverns?”

  Shocked, Shalin gripped the book in her lap tightly. He wanted to take her out? In public?

  What should she say? I’d love to? How about dinner in my room? Forget that, let’s go for it right here, right now?

  Instead what she heard herself stuttering was, “I…I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Both.” She shot to her feet, the book still in her hands. “I have to go.”

  He stood and towered over her as no human could. “Don’t go, Shalin. Spend the night with me.”

  She should be insulted. He’d just left another female’s bed and now, still naked and wet from the woman’s bath, he’d asked Shalin to warm his bed. But this was Ailean the Whore. He wasn’t doing anything out of character. She actually felt kind of proud he’d asked her at all. Although she knew that to be pathetic. And she’d never admit it out loud.

  Shalin focused on the book in her hands. “That’s very kind of you, but…but I…I—”

  Big fingers lightly
gripped her chin and tilted her face up to his.

  “Gods, Shalin. You do so tempt me.”

  She nearly melted at his words. Melted right into a big puddle at his feet.

  “Ailean, I—”

  Shalin stopped talking when she realized guards stood behind him.

  “There you are,” one of them said, slapping his hand down on Ailean’s shoulder.

  Ailean gave a short snort. “And such a good job finding me, since I’ve been standing here for the last twenty minutes.”

  With a snarl, the guard motioned to the others and large steel manacles were locked onto Ailean’s wrists.

  “Don’t look so, Shalin.” Ailean grinned. “I have every intention of coming back for you.”

  Shalin opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come out. He’d rendered her completely speechless. But since he really didn’t let her get a word in edgewise, this wasn’t exactly an incredible feat. Holding the book close to her chest and pulling the hood of her acolyte robe down over her face, she nodded, turned, and fled.

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  J ust as she raised her hand to knock again, the door jerked open, her fisted hand coming close to bopping him in the nose. In the dim light, Vittorio grimaced at her through sleep-heavy eyes. His long hair was tangled and shoved haphazardly back from his face. A bare muscled chest and flat stomach appeared over sweatpants slung low on his narrow hips.

  “I’m sorry,” Erika immediately said, even as her heart skipped wildly. An image of him lying in bed filled her mind, quickly morphing to a picture of her in bed with him. “I—I didn’t think you’d be sleeping,” she managed to mumble.

  He frowned, blinking, then peered over her shoulder at the evening sky, which now nearly left them in darkness.

  “I keep weird hours.” His tone was flat, yet his voice still lent the words a beauty with its deep baritone timbre.

  Erika stared at him, unable to keep from studying the shadows emphasizing the muscles of his chest and stomach. Chiseled and perfect. She immediately wanted to capture that perfection with her art.