Page 27 of Shattered Stars
I nod in a brattish way. I’m beginning to learn that being a brat totally winds the professor up in just the right way.
“Talk, Blackwaters, before I toss you over my shoulder and march you through to the bedroom.”
“Promises, promises,” I mumble.
He growls in return and I figure I’m playing with fire if I tease him any further.
“The memories. My mom.”
“Did you talk to Azlan about it? Did you share what you learned from the old man?”
“No … we were busy with other things.”
Stone gives me a hard look. “Are you playing favorites already, Miss Blackwaters? He gets to be busy with you and I’m resigned to the talking.”
“His sister came to visit.”
“Ahhh,” Stone says, looking the closest to sheepish I’ve ever seen him.
“Was that a flash of jealousy though, Professor, because you guys said–”
“I’m not jealous of the time the two of you spend together.”
I can’t help but reach up and stroke my hand over his cheek. “I don’t understand how you can’t be jealous. The thought of the two of you with another woman has my insides churning. I’m pretty sure I would kill any woman who tried to touch you.”
“And I’m certain I would kill any man who touched you, sweetheart. Apart from Azlan. It’s different. He’s your mate like I am. It’s hard to explain but it doesn’t feel the same. It feels natural.”
As natural as developing feelings for both of these men at once? No matter what they tell me, I know it’s unusual. Most people have one partner. One love. And yet, it feels so right, there’s no way it could be wrong.
“What are you wondering about your mom, Rhi?” he asks me.
“I’m not done yet, Phoenix. I need to know what happened to her. What happened to my dad.”
“Of course you do.”
“So I want to explore those memories in my head again – only this time delve deeper, see if my aunt left me any clues.”
“No, Rhianna, absolutely not. No way.”
“What?” I stutter with incredulity. “Why not?”
“Why not?! The pain it caused you. The suffering. I’m not letting you go through that again.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“It was, Blackwaters. It was worse. I had to drag you out of it. I was right there with you. I saw just what it cost you and we’re going nowhere near those memories again.”
“It’s my choice!”
“We’ll find another way.”
“There is no better way.”
“Blackwaters, I said no.”
“These are my memories. It’s my head!”
“Then find someone else to help you. Because I won’t.”
