“It’s for their protection. We have to develop an antivenom that will work for anyone in the household.” Wyatt looked Pepper straight in the eyes. He had to brace himself. He’d been there before, floating through the night sky with her. “Were they successful when they tried making the antivenom from your blood? Did they test it?”
Is this a test? You said not to talk out loud.
He felt laughter start in his groin first. It traveled up to his belly. The woman knew how to start a fire. She had sass. I’ll let it go this time.
Her fingernails dug into his palm, but he held on, pressing her hand to his thigh. She ignored him and refused to struggle in front of the others, something he noted for future reference.
Pepper cleared her voice and tried hard. The problem was, even in a conversation like the one they were having, her voice came out slow and husky, a whisper of temptation. It didn’t matter what she said, her voice twisted its way into a man’s gut.
“They tested the antivenom several times. Those bitten were far sicker than me, and all of them died but one. The idea was to build soldiers up, to give them small doses over time so that they had a natural immunity to both types of venom.”
“Different snakes in the same families still require different strains of antivenom, don’t they?” Ezekiel asked. He avoided looking at her. Instead, he concentrated hard on the tabletop. “I thought it mattered what type of snake bit you.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Wyatt said.
“But,” Pepper explained, “the idea was to make me a universal donor, so that any of the soldiers, no matter what type bit them, would be covered.”
Malichai had a mouthful of food and chewed it slowly, his eyes studiously avoiding Pepper’s face. “Might want to try to tone it down, Pepper,” he muttered. “I’m sitting at Grand-mere’s table and wouldn’t want to embarrass myself and then have Wyatt stab me through the heart with that knife he’s got his fist around.”
Pepper’s gaze dropped to Wyatt’s other hand – the hand that wasn’t pressing her palm tight into his thigh. Sure enough, his fist really was wrapped around the hilt of a knife. She forgot all about the way her hand felt sandwiched between his thigh and palm. Burning. Hot. Now her cheeks were. Something heavy took hold of her heart and squeezed.
She gasped. “Oh, no. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be here. I can’t control…” How absolutely utterly humiliating. Even Grand-mere would see what she was. “I told you I was a reject,” she admitted in a low voice.
“Stop that,” Wyatt ordered. “I mean it, Pepper. Don’ you ever call yourself that again, and certainly not in front of one of the children. We all have to fight our natures, guard against natural instincts. Do you think it’s easy for any one of us?”
“We’re in this together,” Ezekiel reminded. “We’re a team, and we help one another. You need a reminder, we’ll give it to you. Wyatt has to work on pushing down his instinct to shield you. I have to keep from hunting prey. Malichai has to work on… well… everything.” He sent her a little grin.
He’s right, honey. They’re tryin’ to help you. You’re not flawed. Nothin’s wrong with you. All of us have to keep on workin’ to overcome some of the instincts and characteristics we don’ want to show in polite, civilized company.
She didn’t know what to do so she held very still. His voice could mesmerize her. The drawling sound of him could send flames racing through her body. That had never happened and truly, he had to be nearly as lethal as she was when it came to seduction.
Wyatt leaned close. When we’re away from polite, civilized company, I have no problem with anythin’ you might want to do or practice. I’m a willin’ participant in all your exercises.
He made her want to laugh even at the worst of moments. She didn’t know whether to believe that these men would include her in their camaraderie. She’d spent over ten years with several of the same teachers and guards and none of them had ever teased her or made her feel as if she was part of something.
Don’ you cry. You’ll break my heart, little darlin’. I’m serious here, woman. Blink until they go away. Ezekiel and Malichai want to help. We’re a team. We can do this together, just the way we’re goin’ to raise those three little girls together.
How could she not cry? They didn’t know her and yet they seemed so willing to accept her.
Malichai can’ be too enamored, either that or you’re losin’ your touch. He’s shovelin’ food in faster than Grand-mere can make it.
She knew he was trying to save her, to make her laugh. His hand slid over hers, pressing harder. He leaned toward her, his lips against her ear, although he spoke telepathically, not aloud.
You’ve got this, Pepper. We’re in it together. Just relax and go with the flow. I’ll deal with it. They’ll deal with it. If you cry, I’m goin’ to pick you up and carry you back to bed. That will get us both in trouble eventually.
She’d never had anyone care whether or not she cried. She could feel his distress. It rolled off of him in waves. He detested that she was upset. She knew Wyatt Fontenot was a danger to her in ways she’d never even considered. Her heart could be in jeopardy and that was unacceptable – wasn’t it?
Pepper glanced at Nonny. She didn’t know anyone else she might be able to talk to about things she didn’t understand. She was highly educated, but in this situation, she was educated in all the wrong things.
Wyatt threaded his fingers through hers and brought her hand to his mouth. The warmth of his breath sent a shudder through her body. He actually drove pain back for a moment with that simple movement. She was beginning to think he was the one trained in seduction.
She nodded her head. I’m all right, but fading fast. Let’s keep going. She needed the distraction. Not from the pain, but from his presence. She’d never been in a setting like this one. She could feel the camaraderie surrounding her – the good will in the room. All three men and Nonny helped with Ginger’s food, cutting it into small pieces and feeding her with a small spoon, almost without thinking.
Their kindness to the child was automatic. Several times Ezekiel brought a glass of warm milk to Ginger’s lips and held it for her, talking quietly to her, encouraging her in learning to drink from a cup rather than a bottle. Wyatt reached out with a napkin and just as gently wiped her lips free of her milk mustache.
The sight of these men, so big and rough, being so caring and gentle to a baby – one that hadn’t known any love or consideration other than from her – melted Pepper’s heart. She wanted to draw her knees up and just watch them all. It was better than any movie she’d ever seen, which wasn’t difficult. She’d only seen training films, including techniques on sex. None were about family or caring or love. She didn’t know a thing about those topics, but she knew she was witnessing it right there.
Wyatt brought Pepper’s hand to his mouth again, biting gently on the tips of her fingers to distract her from her thoughts. He could feel her confusion and knew tears were burning close. He had no real idea why it upset him so much that she felt the need to cry, that she didn’t understand that all of them were flawed in some way. It wasn’t only Pepper. She had to get over the notion that she wasn’t as good as they were.