Page 2 of Love the Way You Lion
In previous endeavors of this kind, my efforts had been thwarted by the anticipatory actions of those in the know, their foreknowledge altering outcomes with unpredictable behavior, leaving behindirreparable messes. I had never been afforded the chance to mend such a disaster before Talia and Taurus reentered our world—with calamitous results, as history has shown.
I wooed Talia partly out of a personal longing that I had nurtured for years, and partly to gain a strategic advantage concerning the dilemma of her mate. I had been certain that she would succumb to my affections—her heart always seemed to lean my way—and that her falling in love with me would grant me a measure of control over her tumultuous household as our plan progressed.
Now, with her heart securely in my grasp and her declarations of love echoing in the quiet, I find solace. I know I can rely on her to keep her headstrong companion from derailing my carefully plotted quest.
But why, you ask?
Because it is an absolute necessity. The realignment of power following the departure of our former allies has become more imperative now than ever before. Those vacated positions have been filled by new occupants—individuals who are far more combative and alarmingly resistant—and their presence is creating more complications than I ever anticipated.
I must return reborn and reclaim my rightful position in our family’s intricate hierarchy, with my beloved by my side, each of us occupying the place where destiny has always intended us to be.
They will listen.
Mark my words: once our plan is set in motion, no conversation will stray from its reverberations for a long, long time.
The Blade And The Artist Meet Again
TALIA
He’s sitting in his chair drawing when I walk in.
Disappointingly enough, he’s wearing his ever-present track pants with an A-line tank, his hair streaming over his shoulders and down the back of the chair. I was hoping for something a little less clothed, but I’ll take it. He looks comfortable and since my hackles have been up all morning for no reason I can determine, he might calm me down while he’s riling me up.
“Evening, Blade.” His grin is easy-going, and I wonder at the personality differences in the clones. They are so biologically similar, yet so different individually, particularly Rafe. His eyes slide over me, taking in the outfit I picked out for him—tummy baring, but all leather and lace.
“Nice shirt, though it seems like you’re more covered than normal.” I give him a saucy grin, but I am curious.
His brow furrows. “The relatives popped by while I was here with my girl—your bird is out of town and she hasn’t heard about his harebrained idea to work for those loons—and I pulled it on. Shepulled on something, too. Now that I say it out loud, it is rather odd.” He scratches his head and looks puzzled, sitting his work aside.
“Should I be getting something from that?”
“Clothes aren’t a big deal, not with family, but they came, and she pulled on pants—dumped me on the floor to do it, in fact—and I grabbed a shirt. I have no clue why.” Shaking his head, he holds his hand out and I walk forward, unsure what he’s trying to communicate with this story.
“I’d think she’s hiding any signs of pregnancy, but that wouldn’t explain your shirt grabbing. Plus, she’s told all of them by now, right?” This is NOT helping my hackles being raised and I yank Precious out of her sheath, flipping and spinning without thinking about it.
“Yeah. It was awful defensive, I guess. Something is up, but I don’t know what.”
“Not a clue.” I shrug, but it bothers me. I wonder if Deli told Taurus the same thing. We’re all on edge, waiting for something to happen because people are — if nothing else—predictable, and we know that the gnome and her entourage can’t be happy with Deli’s announcement. That’s what we fear, even with no one knowing about me and Rafe. He might not be sleeping with many people, but I bet a lot of them wish he were.
Smiling, he shrugs. “I’ll ponder on it when I’m not busy ogling the delicious-looking bird in front of me.”
Ah, there’s the flirting I’ve been waiting for.
I pretend not to notice. “What, this old thing I’m wearing? I’m not all that.” I wink, knowing I look good and his enjoyment only makes me feel better.
His look says he doesn’t believe me, but keep in mind, he looked an absolute picture of grace and muscle when I arrived. He can’t always look that good, right? “You look hot and you know it, woman. However, since I’m more interested in getting my hands on you than debating, come over here and plant one on me.”
I walk towards him, my hips swaying as I make sure that he gets glimpses of tanned skin here and there. I kneel on the chair, straddling his lap, and wrap my arms around his neck. “I thought the whole expediency thing went right out the window.” I drop my head and kiss him, surrounding myself with his scent with a sigh.
His growl echoes in my head as he kisses me back, his hands wandering over my bare skin. Warm palms make my skin feel hot and I rock against him, smiling against his mouth as his hand fists in my hair. I believe he likes my choice of seat. I’m not sure why I feel this hunger, this need, when he’s around, but I damn sure refuse to ignore it. I lift my mouth from his and give him a stormy look, tugging his shirt off so I feel his skin against mine. “Damn. Now we’re back to the want; that was fast.”
“Mmm hmm,” he replies, hands sliding to rest on my hip bones. “It’s damned intense. It’s especially intense when you wiggle like that.”
“Like this?” I grin and roll my hips.
“Exactly like that, in fact.”
“Do you think that’s the intensity—physicality? I’ve been trying to figure that out.” I nip his earlobe and murmur into it. “I want to figure out why I need you so much. It’s hot—blood and sex and lust and everything else. But I don’t know why it’s so intense.”
