you were trying to escape my wrath. My impulse was to save you and make you pay.”
“And now?” she asked, fearing his answer.
“Now I want to care for you, protect you. I’d be lying if I didn’t say part of it is the bond. It’s designed to increase the attraction and pull but the rest is all you, Amelie. How you’ve survived. What you’ve done with Fleur who by the way is incredible.”
Amelie laughed weakly. Her daughter was pretty amazing. “I don’t know who she gets it from. She’s been this bundle of energy from the moment she arrived. I know as the parent, I’m supposed to set the example but Fleur...I admire her and every day I hope to have a smidgeon of her courage, her love for adventure and her generosity of spirit.”
“I take it she doesn’t get that from her father?”
Sulen was still rubbing her arms up and down and Amelie felt far calmer. She thought about Roan and Fleur to see if any similarities came to mind and laughed. “Uh no. Roan has always been selfish. I overlooked it because I was excited to have his attention and it seemed like he really loved me.
“Aside from getting the job for the ambassador, which I motivated him to apply for, he wasn’t much for adventure. Those late night conversations were all a lie. Roan continually discouraged me in subtle ways about wanting to leave our home world to see more but I thought he was being careful and wanted things to be planned better.”
“Working for any ambassador is not easy work. It requires lots of travel and despite the safety policy in place for diplomats, there is some risk involved.”
Amelie twisted her lips. “Money. When he got accustomed to the money and attention, I’m sure his mindset on adventure changed. Marrying Aviana only increased his level of greed.”
“Sounds like a bastard who hasn’t changed much.”
A jaw breaking yawn escaped as an unbelievable wave of exhaustion rolled over her. Amelie clamped a hand over her mouth.
Sulen laughed, pulling away from their embrace and bent over. His arms curved behind her legs and shoulders as he lifted her. “Someone’s tired.”
“What are you doing?” No man had ever picked her up before.
“Taking you to bed.”
“What?! Wait!” Amelie struggled and kicked but Sulen only tightened his hold.
“I won’t be joining you.” He smirked down at her as he unerringly headed down the hall toward the correct room. “Unless you want me to.”
“No. Yes.” Amelie smacked herself in the face. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have sex so soon.”
Sulen lowered her to her bed and arched a brow as he straightened to his full height. Amelie flushed and kept her hands partially covering her eyes. “This is beyond embarrassing.”
The bed depressed at her hip and when she peeked between her fingers, Sulen was seated beside her. He peeled her hands down and tapped her chin. “I want to have sex with you too, but tonight’s not our night. You’re tired and under a great deal of emotional strain right now.”
His gentle understanding was her undoing. “I don’t know what to do, Sulen.”
Her outburst didn’t scare him off. Leaning over, he kissed her forehead. Amelie closed her eyes, inhaling his scent. Something heated and musky she couldn’t pinpoint. Shifting slightly, she angled her face up near his mouth. He took the hint and kissed her.
She looped her arms about his neck and tugged until he fell over her. He managed to brace his forearms to keep from crushing her but his delicious weight was on her and Amelie reveled in the contact.
Her hips were rocking up and down, her mind and body priming for a session of sex to take away all her negative thoughts.
Too soon, Sulen eased away. When he sat up, she rubbed her thumb over his lips. They curved up in a half-smile. “Tomorrow. Worry about things tomorrow.”
Her trust in him was instinctive. “Alright.”
Sulen got up and Amelie listened as his steps got farther and farther away. Then the click of the door followed. She fell back on the bed and blew out a breath. Scarlett needed to know she’d told Sulen the truth and together they’d figure out a plan.
If Roan forced a test revealing him as Fleur’s father, she would be screwed in more than one way. Losing her home was the least of her problems, she didn’t want to lose her daughter.
Chapter 12
The next day after his evening with Amelie and Fleur, Sulen received