“He ain’t here, is he?” Sugar answered. “This conversation is not about him.”
“Still has to be considered,” their father, Nick, told them.
“He won’t be forgotten,” Jordan answered.
Jake said, “I’m sorry Sonny came off as he did. Under his thick skin, he’s a likable guy.”
Shut up! Dylan wanted to kick the shit out of Jake.
The table went still, all focus on Jake.
He thought they were listening. “I know he’d do whatever you asked to make amends. Dylan will speak for him too.” He waited for his brother to talk.
Nile’s eyes widened and the last thing Dylan wanted to do was defend Sonny. “This is not our conversation, Jake.”
Jake heard him and realized. He colored over. “I’m sorry. I was trying to be helpful.”
“So much for reeling in that privilege,” Tigris said. “Are you about ready, Jordan?”
Jordan grabbed his fork, ate his last bite of Tiramisu, and said, “I am now.” He stood up and everyone followed.
Jake and Dylan were slow, mimicking what they saw.
“Can I go?” Mackey asked.
So many people said no it sounded like a choir.
Mackey pouted.
Nile rubbed his head. “Come on, we’ll play Dungeons & Dragons. You can use my wizard.”
“That will have to wait,” Ronald said. “Nile, would you be kind enough to entertain our guest,” he indicated Dylan, “while his brother is occupied. Perhaps you can give him a tour.”
“Sugar can do that, Daddy,” Tigris nudged Nile aside.
“Yes, I can.” Sugar took Dylan’s hand.
“I can do it!” Toni said. Tigris and Sugar cocked their heads in unison and she remembered herself. “Sorry. Wasn’t thinking.”
Ronald ignored her. “Sugar can play with her brother. Nile, see to our guest.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tigris and Sugar moved aside.
Nobody back-talked Ronald. Nobody.
“Follow me. I’ll show you the lake.”
“That sounds great. Thank you, sir. Everyone. Good luck,” he said to Jake, who gave him a thumbs-up in return. He followed Nile down a long corridor, through large spacious rooms, and out a side door to a wide terrace with sweeping steps that led to a garden and a crystal lake beyond.
“Wow. This is beautiful. It looks like something out of a classic movie...wait...am I allowed to talk yet?”
Nile twitched her lips, trying to suppress a grin. “You’re safe enough.”
They strolled down the steps and wandered through the garden.
“That was intense and I don’t know why.”
“Under the circumstances, you did well.”
“Thank you. Will it help?”
Her expression told him enough.
“So now, what?”
“So now you and your brother go back to Macy’s and get a good night’s sleep. In the morning, we’ll feed you breakfast. You’ll collect your friend and the three of you will ride out of here and not look back.”
It was the thing Dylan wanted to do earlier, but the idea didn’t sound as good with the moonlight bouncing off her skin. “What of Jake and Maya?”
“They’ll get to say their goodbyes.”
“No second chances? No love conquers all?”
“Love doesn’t conquer all.”
“People say strange things about this place.”
“I know. We’re all witches and demons here.”
“You’re bewitching. I’ll give you that.”
She blushed and looked away.
He liked her innocence. He liked it a lot.
They were silent for a long moment following the path from flowers to trees.
“May I ask why you aren’t taking part in destroying two lives?” He meant it to be a joke but accepted it as a bad one. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand it.”
“You don’t have to.”
“You’re right.” He captured her fingers and his heart skipped a beat when she didn’t pull away. “I am curious why you were nominated out of the proceedings...not that I’m complaining.”
“I don’t participate in the proceedings. Everyone has their say, but Tigris and Jordan make the call.”
“Is that because of some family dynamic?”
“You ask too many questions.”
“I doubt you’d let me kiss you, so I have to settle for questions... Oh god. I did not know my thoughts were going to run out of my mouth.”
She grinned and looked away. “You’re leaving tomorrow.”
“That’s what I heard.”
“We’ll probably never see each other again.”
“That’s a damned shame.”
“No, it’s not.” She stopped walking. “If there were a chance I’d have to face you after tomorrow, I would be too scared to do this.” She pulled him in and pressed her mouth against his.
Chapter Eleven
“Well, damn.” Dylan took a deep breath. “It’s the only thought I’ve had since I first saw you and now this.”
“That bad?”
“Hell no.”
This time he led the kissing game. He wrapped her in his arms and drank her. She was soft-fire, and she made him burn. His erection was instant and obvious. She drew her leg up to rub against it. Five seconds...ten seconds...thirty seconds...forty... He broke the contact and took a big step back.
So did she.
They were both out of breath and took a few moments to regroup. He walked in circles to cool his blood, and she bent over, hands on her knees, sucking in air.
When he could talk, Dylan said, “That happened.”
“It did,” she said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. But, you’re in my head and I didn’t know what else to do.” Her expression was somewhere between fear and awe.
“Oh no. You absolutely should have kissed me. We should still be doing that.” He took her hand. “I’m having the same wonderful problem. I’m locked on you.” He kissed her knuckles. “What do we do with this?”
“There’s nothing we can do.” She kissed his knuckles.
His heart melted.
She slid her phone out of her pocket, checked the time and put it away. “Thirty minutes, max. That is all the time we get to explore this insanity. And, trust me, this,” she waved her finger between them, “is insane.”
“I love crazy.” Dylan drew her into him and held her there, adsorbing her beauty for a moment. “If this is all we get, I don’t want to waste it.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers twirling his ponytail. “Why are you so phenomenal, Dylan Spegal?”
Her liquid brown eyes held him captive. He felt like he was falling into them. “That’s my question for you.”
This time they were intentional and greedy. Generously giving and fiercely taking. He parted her lips and slipped his tongue inside. She sucked it before giving him hers. Their tongues dueled as their hands roamed. His shoulders were granite, and his arms were made of steel. His back was rock-solid muscle down to his ass. That wasn’t the only hard thing. His erection was straining through his jeans. She pressed against it and rocked from side to side, needing the contact, wanting so much more.