You will not live here on your own. You are too young, and the neighborhood is not safe. You will sell this place, and you will come home. Understand?
Everyone who knew Ryan James referred to him as old-school. He firmly believed a man should work to provide for his family, and a woman should bake, raise their kids and devote her entire life to pleasing her husband. Very much Jorlan en Sarr’s way of life, too, no doubt.
She’d reacted to her father’s demand the same way she’d reacted to Jorlan’s. With attitude. Just to be contrary, she’d moved into the house, and nixed any plans to sell.
Yeah, she was someone who would walk into a sword…as long as she could impale her nemesis, too.
The blowup had taken place about three years ago, and her father hadn’t spoken to her since. And that was fine. Whatever. So her chest clenched with regret. So what. So she sometimes cried for hours about what could have—should have—been. Again, so what?
If her dad didn’t want a relationship with her, he wouldn’t get one. At least she had her brothers.
All throughout her childhood, they’d protected her from their father’s skewed viewpoint. They’d made her one of the boys, encouraging her to shed her lacy dresses and don jeans. She’d trailed their every step, helping them catch frogs, fishing in a nearby pond, climbing trees and wrestling in the mud. Experiences she wouldn’t trade for anything, even a father’s approval.
Be yourself or be miserable. Words her mother had spoken just a few days before she’d died of blood cancer. A horrendous death young Katie had been ill prepared for.
Now, her chest tightened with more force. I miss you, Mom. So much.
They reached the guest bedroom, and Katie had to blink back a well of tears. Pasting on a (brittle) smile, she flipped on the light switch and said, “Welcome to your room, sir. Here at Hotel James the service is terrible but the laughs are plentiful.” The room brightened in an instant, light chasing away shadows. “I’m sure you recall the bathroom, or chamber pot, or whatever word your people use, is through the side door. It’s nothing as grand as what you described, but it’s comfortable and private and you won’t need magic to keep me out. You won’t even need the doors. Your chauvinism is the best block on the market.”
“I’m sure I would offer an appropriate reaction if I understood half of what you said.” Entranced by the origin of light, Jorlan lowered the switch. Darkness flooded the small area. With a flick of his wrist, light sprang from the overhead source once again.
“Still I sense no magic, and yet…” Up. Down. Up-down. Updown. “I would not have guessed your world capable of such things. First a flat talking box and now instant lighting.”
Katie chuckled, charmed by his bedazzlement. “What do your people use for light?”
“Lamori gems.”
Lah-more-ee. “Are the gems magic?”
“In a way. They are alive.”
Living stones. Wow! “Are they alive like people or more like, say, trees?”
“Trees. A living organism able to absorb light and reflect it back. When they are well loved, they cast light for eons. When they are treated poorly, they cease glowing altogether and eventually die.”
Great! Now Katie wanted to invade Imperia and steal all of their lamori gems. She would love and care for every single stone! In fact, she already had names for the first two she found. Mr. Rockington and Ms. Pebbles.
He flipped the light switch several more times. “How is this possible?”
How best to explain? “One sec.” She rushed to her bedroom, grabbed her laptop, keyed up an online dictionary and returned to Jorlan. “Electricity is a fundamental entity of nature, consisting of negative and positive kinds, composed respectively of electrons and protons. This is observable in the attraction and repulsion of bodies electrified by friction and in natural phenomena.” That, she understood, since wires and power circuits were part of her business.
On and off the light went. “Amazing.”
“Does the room meet with your approval?” she asked.
“Indeed. It will suffice for one night.”
* * *
JORLAN RELEASED THE light switch and surveyed his temporary chamber. The room was small, too small for a male of his massive size, but he now had a bed, one of the important items in his life right now.
The thought of sleeping flat on his back rather than standing up…
A moan slipped from him.
Now all he needed was sexual release, Katie’s heart, another plate of sandwiches and a talon or sword. Any weapon really. He’d learned the hard way: to survive, a warrior had to be prepared for battle anytime, anyplace.
“If I vow to keep my hands to myself,” he said, “would you cuddle me?” He’d been without human contact for far too long.
He knew he would be miserable every second he spooned Katie, the urge to mate with her nigh overwhelming, but he also knew he would be more miserable without her nearby.
When she’d left him to retrieve…whatever the thin silver device was, he’d missed her body heat and her scent more than he would miss…anything.
Though he’d only known her a short while, she was currently the most important person in his life.
Her eyes went wide. “Cuddle? You and me?” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Half of me is ready to pencil you in for a ten-hour session, but the other half of me is smarter and knows I’m not ready.”
Frustration sparked and intensified. He’d meant what he’d said. He’d planned to climax on his own before crawling into bed with her and, no matter how painful, keeping his hands to himself. But, he could not win Katie’s love without her cooperation and attention.
Time was not on his side.
Fear honed his frustration into a blade, slashing his already fragile inner calm to ribbons. If he pushed this, or cajoled in any way, he would only deepen Katie’s resistance to lust. And lust for him she did. She couldn’t hide her enlarged pupils, the rosy color in her cheeks or the quickening of her breath.
Mayhap he could use the time apart to plan an irresistible seduction. Yes, yes. That. Because, what he absolutely could not do? Fail to win her love.
Or, instead of romantic love, what if he focused on friendship love? Then, when he returned to Imperia, he could choose a bevy of females to tend to his body. But…
He wanted this woman, from this world. This night. Having all of Katie’s warriorlike passion at his disposal would nigh burn him alive.
Jorlan longed to burn all…night…long.
Even still, he stepped inside the room and pivoted on his heel, facing the gorgeous Katie once again.
How did she get more beautiful every time he gazed at her?
In the chamber’s glorious light, her creamy skin glowed with health and vitality. “Good eve to you. May your dreams be sweet.” And your body on fire for mine.
She peered up at him, silent and unsure.
If he went the friendship route with her, he could not win her with sex. He’d have to use his…mind? A first for Jorlan. Since his fourteenth season, females had flocked to his bed, with little effort on his part. Many had offered a declaration of love, which he’d humbly accepted without giving one in return. Until Maylyn.
He’d given Maylyn everything he had, utterly entranced by her mesmerizing beauty and willingness to please. Later, he learned she’d merely used him—at his brother’s bidding.