symbolic, he said. Nobody was ever going to enter her
body again but him.
She very nearly let him have her a third
time, just for that.
Promising to get to it after her body had a
chance to heal, he’d kissed her and carried her to the bed. Now she
lay there, wondering how she’d ever gotten to this place.
She’d always known the man was dangerous.
Exhausted, she slid into sleep. Tomorrow would take care of
itself.
Rain awoke to wine and flower petals.
Brushing a petal from her cheek, she surveyed the bed strewn with
pink and white botanical confetti with sleepy surprise. “Are we
having a party?”
Fallon sat on the edge of the bed, clad only
in his black pants. “I felt a celebration was in order.” When she
blushed, he added mischievously, “Are you very sore?”
Avoiding his eyes as her face got hotter, she
brushed the petals from her lap. “If you’re looking for an encore,
then yes, I’m pretty sore.”
He smiled. “Good thing I filled the tub,
then. I also put some healing herbs in it.”
Risking a glance, she asked dryly, “In a
hurry, are you?”
“With you, always.” He held a white silk robe
out to her and helped her into it. “Unfortunately, we do have a
party to attend later, and I have to introduce you to my mother.”
He said it offhand, like an afterthought.
Her eyes snapped to his. “Your mother? I
didn’t even know you had one!”
They’d stopped at the tub, and he whisked off
her robe with quick efficiency. “Didn’t want to jinx the deal.”
Loathe to stand around naked in front of him,
she slid into the water. “Yeah, but you could have dropped a clue!
How am I supposed to face the woman, knowing that I just found out
about her hours before I met her?” Knowing what she’d just spent
the night doing with the woman’s son. Yikes!
“I wouldn’t worry about it. She’s been
nagging me for years to marry, so she’ll be delighted about you.
Oh, she’ll scold me, but she’ll take to you like a duck to water.”
He sat on the edge of the tub and trailed his fingers in the water.
“She’ll probably start in about grandchildren right away.”
Rain opened her mouth, then closed it,
thinking before she spoke. “We talked about that.”
“We did, and I still feel the same. I’m an
expert at circumventing her schemes, so just follow my lead. Direct
opposition just strengthens her, I warn you.”
“Great. A controlling mother-in-law,” Rain
muttered, sinking further into the water. Whatever herbs he’d put
in the bath were invigorating, just the thing for what was sounding
like a tough day.
“It’s not that bad. Like I said, she’ll love
you. I’ll the one who will suffer if you two ever join forces
against me. I don’t get any sleep as it is.” He sent a smug look
her way, and his eyes slid to the clear water.
She sank up to her chin and crossed her arms
over her chest. “Go away. Make yourself useful and order some
breakfast or something.”
He laughed and dropped a kiss on her hair.
“See? It’s started already.”
She wasn’t laughing an hour later as Fallon
swept into his mother’s apartment, one arm firmly anchored around
Rain as if to prevent her from running. She might have too, but he
shut the door too quickly.
Apparently his mother, Lady Portae, had been
forewarned. She hurried up to Rain with a cry of delight, enfolding
Rain so deeply in her plump arms that Rain felt she was drowning in
her mother-in-law’s perfumed bosom. “My dear girl!” Mercifully,
Portae released her and held her back at arm’s length, examining
her with hungry eyes. “So you’re the clever girl that finally
snared my Fallon.” Her eyes teared, and she quickly applied a
handkerchief. “Come in and tell me all about it.” Her brilliant
purple robe swished against Rain’s side as she linked arms and led
Rain to a place of honor on a flowered sofa.
As Fallon joined her on the couch, Lady
Portae sank down on the one opposite. A tea set and
body again but him.
She very nearly let him have her a third
time, just for that.
Promising to get to it after her body had a
chance to heal, he’d kissed her and carried her to the bed. Now she
lay there, wondering how she’d ever gotten to this place.
She’d always known the man was dangerous.
Exhausted, she slid into sleep. Tomorrow would take care of
itself.
Rain awoke to wine and flower petals.
Brushing a petal from her cheek, she surveyed the bed strewn with
pink and white botanical confetti with sleepy surprise. “Are we
having a party?”
Fallon sat on the edge of the bed, clad only
in his black pants. “I felt a celebration was in order.” When she
blushed, he added mischievously, “Are you very sore?”
Avoiding his eyes as her face got hotter, she
brushed the petals from her lap. “If you’re looking for an encore,
then yes, I’m pretty sore.”
He smiled. “Good thing I filled the tub,
then. I also put some healing herbs in it.”
Risking a glance, she asked dryly, “In a
hurry, are you?”
“With you, always.” He held a white silk robe
out to her and helped her into it. “Unfortunately, we do have a
party to attend later, and I have to introduce you to my mother.”
He said it offhand, like an afterthought.
Her eyes snapped to his. “Your mother? I
didn’t even know you had one!”
They’d stopped at the tub, and he whisked off
her robe with quick efficiency. “Didn’t want to jinx the deal.”
Loathe to stand around naked in front of him,
she slid into the water. “Yeah, but you could have dropped a clue!
How am I supposed to face the woman, knowing that I just found out
about her hours before I met her?” Knowing what she’d just spent
the night doing with the woman’s son. Yikes!
“I wouldn’t worry about it. She’s been
nagging me for years to marry, so she’ll be delighted about you.
Oh, she’ll scold me, but she’ll take to you like a duck to water.”
He sat on the edge of the tub and trailed his fingers in the water.
“She’ll probably start in about grandchildren right away.”
Rain opened her mouth, then closed it,
thinking before she spoke. “We talked about that.”
“We did, and I still feel the same. I’m an
expert at circumventing her schemes, so just follow my lead. Direct
opposition just strengthens her, I warn you.”
“Great. A controlling mother-in-law,” Rain
muttered, sinking further into the water. Whatever herbs he’d put
in the bath were invigorating, just the thing for what was sounding
like a tough day.
“It’s not that bad. Like I said, she’ll love
you. I’ll the one who will suffer if you two ever join forces
against me. I don’t get any sleep as it is.” He sent a smug look
her way, and his eyes slid to the clear water.
She sank up to her chin and crossed her arms
over her chest. “Go away. Make yourself useful and order some
breakfast or something.”
He laughed and dropped a kiss on her hair.
“See? It’s started already.”
She wasn’t laughing an hour later as Fallon
swept into his mother’s apartment, one arm firmly anchored around
Rain as if to prevent her from running. She might have too, but he
shut the door too quickly.
Apparently his mother, Lady Portae, had been
forewarned. She hurried up to Rain with a cry of delight, enfolding
Rain so deeply in her plump arms that Rain felt she was drowning in
her mother-in-law’s perfumed bosom. “My dear girl!” Mercifully,
Portae released her and held her back at arm’s length, examining
her with hungry eyes. “So you’re the clever girl that finally
snared my Fallon.” Her eyes teared, and she quickly applied a
handkerchief. “Come in and tell me all about it.” Her brilliant
purple robe swished against Rain’s side as she linked arms and led
Rain to a place of honor on a flowered sofa.
As Fallon joined her on the couch, Lady
Portae sank down on the one opposite. A tea set and
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