Grievous (Wanted Men #5) - Nancy Haviland Page 0,52
he wanted in place of hers. Not one mouth he wanted under his but hers. There was no other female voice he wanted to hear shouting his name while her body went rigid in the midst of an orgasm. Just hers.
His eyes went to the rear door as Sorin pulled the car around the garden in the center of the drive. When he got out and went around to open and help Yasmeen from the car, even Lucian’s demons moaned in pleasure at the sight of her. The hood on her cape was down, and her hair was a dark shiny mass all around her shoulders and down her back. They disappeared up the stairs, and Lucian turned to watch them enter the castle through the security feed on one of two monitors.
Secure.
When his phone went off, he brought it to his ear since he was already holding it.
“Sorin.”
“Shall I bring her to you?”
“No. Put her in our room. Do not give her any instructions. Just leave her to go through her packages. They arrived a few minutes ago.”
“What packages?” Sorin’s voice instantly sharpened. “Get over by the wall,” he said to Yasmeen in English. Lucian saw him help her along and stand with her at his back.
Protected.
“Do not move. Lucian? She did not buy anything.” He’d reverted to Romanian. “Who delivered these things? Who allowed this delivery? Jesus Christ, the packages are in your rooms? Who the fuck—”
“Sorin,” he cut in gently. “Relax. Spencer was with you. He flew in this morning, and I sent him out directly after he arrived here. I knew Yasmeen would not use the money I gave her, so if she showed an interest in anything, I instructed him to purchase it.”
His friend and protector’s gaze came up to look directly into the camera, proving he knew Lucian was watching. “You did not think I needed to know this?”
Lucian smiled. “Did you not catch sight of your shadow?”
“I trained that shadow. Of course, I did not catch sight of him.”
“Then you trained him well,” he commended before getting back to his pet. “Tell me, what did Yasmeen do with the money?”
“After the color came back into her face, she put it in the cup holder.”
He chuckled. “Did she mention it to you?”
“No.”
As he suspected. She wasn’t one to open up to just anyone about her feelings. “Is there anything you want to share about your time together?” Sorin was an intuitive man who paid attention.
“She misses Miranda and feels adrift without her to lean on. She is afraid being here, but at the same time she likes it; that appears to bother her. I say this because I startled her while she was…what did she call it? Self-loathing. One doesn’t do that unless they are enjoying something they think they shouldn’t. Have you self-loathed lately, Lucian?”
“No, Sorin. I have not had the time,” he drawled. “What else?”
“She is very curious about the strangest things, and she was willing to take a donkey out of town rather than a train, though she did only ask to leave once. She is very amusing.”
“Yes, she is,” he agreed.
“She fought hard growing up. Hard and dirty.”
He’d already guessed that. “Is that all?”
“No. I get the feeling she was starved for affection when she was a young girl. I think it would be cruel of you to use that as a weapon against her.”
“Noted. Join me when she is settled. We have some business to discuss.”
He hung up, and as he went back to his overseas call, the marked difference in his mood made one thing clear. His pet would not be leaving the castle again without him.
♦ ♦ ♦
As Yasmeen opened the bedroom door, she was still wondering about Sorin’s odd display in the foyer. For a moment, she’d thought the roof was about to come down on them. Then, from one blink to the next, he’d gone back to chatting on his phone while he led her up the stairs.
She closed the door behind her…
She blinked and stared at the packages spread all around the loveseat and floor. Walking over, she peered into one of the bags and saw the handbag she’d admired as Sorin had spoken to a vendor. In another were the strappy heels she’d looked at through one of the beautifully decorated storefront windows. And in another, was a bright pink bomber jacket she’d known would look fantastic on Miranda’s petite body.
She heaved a sigh and got to work toting it all into the