Page 96 of The Truth Serum
“This is better?” he said watching Becca trace a painted swirl with her finger.
“Oh yes,” Kynthea said. “Though I think that was more emotional upset. She insisted on coming here. And I thought she was safer with me here than there.”
Damned right. “Emotional?”
Becca was still running her finger along the wall design, this time outlining the edges of a flower. But when she spoke, her words were clear. “Fletcher’s an angry and lost little boy. Henry and I weren’t good siblings to him. I see that now.”
“Fletcher’s an adult. Don’t romanticize—”
Becca gripped Nate’s hand with surprising strength. “You don’t understand,” she huffed.
“What don’t I understand?”
“The serum,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I tell the truth. It means Iseethe truth. And hear it.” Then she pursed her lips. “And it’s really hard to lie, too. But I rarely lie, so that isn’t a problem for me.”
Nate gaped at her, trying to adjust his thinking. Just to test it, he frowned at her and lied. “That’s the silliest thing I ever heard.”
She turned to him, her expression a tight frown. “You’ve heard a lot sillier things, haven’t you?”
He chuckled. “Yes, I have.” Then he pressed the teacup into her hand. “Drink up. Maybe it’ll help.”
She pushed it away. “I don’t want help,” she said. “I’m trying to hold onto it, but it’s fading. And soon I’ll have to go home again, and—”
“No. You’re not going back,” he said. “It’s too dangerous.”
She snorted. It wasn’t a delicate lady-like sound. It was a full snort. “You’re worried for me.”
“Of course, I am. Kynthea—”
“No, no,” Becca interrupted. “Don’t talk to her. Listen Nate. Fletcher’s angry and petulant. Oh, how that boy loves to sulk. But I’ve always been able to reach him before.”
He shook his head. “This is different.”
“And so am I,” she said, her voice more confident than he’d ever heard it. “I know how to reach him.”
“He dosed you. What else is he willing to do?”
She shrugged. “I’m doing what he wants. I’m going to give the baron a chance.”
He didn’t like it. He didn’t want to risk her in any way, but he didn’t see a better option. Worse, he wasn’t sure he could stop her.
“We could marry right now. You and me.”
Becca burst out with another full-throated laugh. “Wouldn’t that shock everyone?” she cried.
“I don’t care about anyone else. I’m worried about you.”
Rather than answer, she abruptly surged forward, pressing her mouth to his with too much speed. They banged together while he caught her elbows. Then he steadied her, all without breaking the kiss.
God, she was amazing right now. All enthusiasm and need. She thrust her tongue at him, and he dueled back. Tradingthrusts like this made his blood surge. This was not a timid woman, uncertain of her path. This was Becca, bold and assured.
And she was kissing him in a way he’d longed to feel from her. He did not want it to end. But Kynthea was right here. And though he distantly heard her clearing her throat, it was the way she firmly pried his fingers off Becca that finally caught his attention.
“Stop it,” she was saying. “Good God, you two are incorrigible.”
He pulled back, his heart racing and his body urging him back to Becca.
“Nate, really! You know better.”
