make out or anything, or eavesdropped on your thoughts whenever you wear a dopey—”
“Celeste!”
“Bran,” she retorted. “And stop cal ing me pint.”
I tried to get up again, but Bran wouldn’t let me. Be nice to her, I scolded.
She drives me nuts. He sighed. “Okay, pint.
Stay and find a book to read to Gavyn.”
“Why? He’s in a coma.”
“Coma patients can hear.”
Celeste glanced at me. “Is that true?” I nodded. “They say talking to them is good.” She looked at the two bookshelves that covered the north and south wal then back at us.
“Gavyn doesn’t read anything but sports stats and comics. Cardinal Falcon doesn’t col ect comics, does he?”
“No sports or comics,” Bran instructed. “Get something that wil give him a reason to fight and come out of the coma.”
I didn’t get his reasoning. I tilted my head to look at him. “What reason?”
“To beat me to pulp. He’l know I’m behind the selection.” He grinned as though relishing the thought.
“You’re mean.” Celeste stomped to the first shelf.
“I agree with her,” I added. “You’re supposed to be nice to people in a coma.”
Bran didn’t respond right away. He kept his gaze on Celeste until she sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor and started pul ing out books from the shelf to read the titles. “My brother doesn’t need nice now,” he explained in a low voice, obviously so his now,” he explained in a low voice, obviously so his sister wouldn’t hear. “He’s been moping around the house for months like his world has come to an end, lounging in bed watching ESPN and betting on teams instead of going to work. He even hired a manager to run his club. The Gavyn I knew would never give someone control over his business. Now the only time I get a reaction out of him is when we fight. I want to give him a reason to come back to us, Lil. I’d yel at him to snap out of it, but she,” he nodded toward Celeste, “would hate me.”
“Tel him Celeste is in danger. That the Lazari Tribunal is after her and you can’t protect her on your own.”
He grinned. “Bril iant idea, except I’d have to do it when she’s not around.”
I wondered if Gavyn had any idea how lucky he was to have such a loving brother. Bran would do anything for his family. Turning and kneeling on the recliner, I took the book from his hand and threw it on the table. As if he knew my intention, a tiny smile lifted the corner of his beautiful lips and his hands came to rest on my waist.
Slowly, I lowered my head until I was a breath away then stared into his emerald eyes. Everything else became blurry except his face. I could stare at his face forever. That was how much I loved him with every breath I took and every cel in my body. Not caring that the ever curious Celeste was probably watching us, I brushed my lips against his.
Leaning forward, his hands left my waist to cup my cheeks. I closed my eyes with anticipation.
He kissed my forehead, eyelids, nose, trailed tiny kisses down my face until he reached my lips. The gentle nibbles on my upper lip, then my lower one, made me smile. We exchanged a breath, so sweet and intoxicating I thought I’d die right then and there.
Then he angled his head and deepened the contact.
Time stood stil , yet I soared to greater heights, heart pounding and blood rushing through my veins. I was lost in the moment, loving every minute, never wanting it to end.
When we pul ed apart, an expression I didn’t understand crossed Bran’s face.
Don’t ever stop loving me. No matter what, he telepathed.
His cryptic thought made no sense. Of course, I won’t.
He pul ed me down and held me tight.
I frowned. He was in a weird mood. “Wil I see you tonight?” I whispered.
“Yes. I’l stop by after I talk to the Cardinals.” His voice grew grim. “They always need an update on our progress.”
Celeste cleared her throat loudly and drew our attention. When she tapped her watch, we slowly
“Celeste!”
“Bran,” she retorted. “And stop cal ing me pint.”
I tried to get up again, but Bran wouldn’t let me. Be nice to her, I scolded.
She drives me nuts. He sighed. “Okay, pint.
Stay and find a book to read to Gavyn.”
“Why? He’s in a coma.”
“Coma patients can hear.”
Celeste glanced at me. “Is that true?” I nodded. “They say talking to them is good.” She looked at the two bookshelves that covered the north and south wal then back at us.
“Gavyn doesn’t read anything but sports stats and comics. Cardinal Falcon doesn’t col ect comics, does he?”
“No sports or comics,” Bran instructed. “Get something that wil give him a reason to fight and come out of the coma.”
I didn’t get his reasoning. I tilted my head to look at him. “What reason?”
“To beat me to pulp. He’l know I’m behind the selection.” He grinned as though relishing the thought.
“You’re mean.” Celeste stomped to the first shelf.
“I agree with her,” I added. “You’re supposed to be nice to people in a coma.”
Bran didn’t respond right away. He kept his gaze on Celeste until she sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor and started pul ing out books from the shelf to read the titles. “My brother doesn’t need nice now,” he explained in a low voice, obviously so his now,” he explained in a low voice, obviously so his sister wouldn’t hear. “He’s been moping around the house for months like his world has come to an end, lounging in bed watching ESPN and betting on teams instead of going to work. He even hired a manager to run his club. The Gavyn I knew would never give someone control over his business. Now the only time I get a reaction out of him is when we fight. I want to give him a reason to come back to us, Lil. I’d yel at him to snap out of it, but she,” he nodded toward Celeste, “would hate me.”
“Tel him Celeste is in danger. That the Lazari Tribunal is after her and you can’t protect her on your own.”
He grinned. “Bril iant idea, except I’d have to do it when she’s not around.”
I wondered if Gavyn had any idea how lucky he was to have such a loving brother. Bran would do anything for his family. Turning and kneeling on the recliner, I took the book from his hand and threw it on the table. As if he knew my intention, a tiny smile lifted the corner of his beautiful lips and his hands came to rest on my waist.
Slowly, I lowered my head until I was a breath away then stared into his emerald eyes. Everything else became blurry except his face. I could stare at his face forever. That was how much I loved him with every breath I took and every cel in my body. Not caring that the ever curious Celeste was probably watching us, I brushed my lips against his.
Leaning forward, his hands left my waist to cup my cheeks. I closed my eyes with anticipation.
He kissed my forehead, eyelids, nose, trailed tiny kisses down my face until he reached my lips. The gentle nibbles on my upper lip, then my lower one, made me smile. We exchanged a breath, so sweet and intoxicating I thought I’d die right then and there.
Then he angled his head and deepened the contact.
Time stood stil , yet I soared to greater heights, heart pounding and blood rushing through my veins. I was lost in the moment, loving every minute, never wanting it to end.
When we pul ed apart, an expression I didn’t understand crossed Bran’s face.
Don’t ever stop loving me. No matter what, he telepathed.
His cryptic thought made no sense. Of course, I won’t.
He pul ed me down and held me tight.
I frowned. He was in a weird mood. “Wil I see you tonight?” I whispered.
“Yes. I’l stop by after I talk to the Cardinals.” His voice grew grim. “They always need an update on our progress.”
Celeste cleared her throat loudly and drew our attention. When she tapped her watch, we slowly
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