62: Brotherly Love

Quincy St. Martin

The sun is already high in the sky, but I don’t feel like getting up yet.

One large hand is on my breast, possessively cupping it, while another one is spread over my stomach, underneath my top. Long masculine legs tangle with mine, and there is a big muscular body against my back, shielding me from the wind. Strong and protective.

The sound of the waves and seagulls lull me back to the edge of sleep.

I burrow deeper into his warmth and cover my eyes to keep the sun out.

I draw in a sharp breath when I feel the hand on my stomach glide lower while another one curls tighter around my breast.

“You’re awake.” My voice sounds husky and accusing.

I squirm when I feel something hard poking against my lower back. Even through our clothing, I can feel him.

“In more ways than one,” I hear him mutter before his lips find the curve of my jaw.

“How could I stay asleep when you keep wiggling and rubbing against me?”

His hand kneads me through my lacy bra. His mouth trails kisses, nibbles, and licks down my neck like he’s tasting me, bringing a zing of electricity running through me right to my core.

I sigh and tilt my head back to give his talented mouth more access to my neck. His mouth latches onto the spot where my shoulder meets my neck, sucking.

I feel his teeth and canines pressing against my skin. My heart is hammering like crazy in my chest. He’s going to mark me. I am so ready for this.

A savage growl rumbles through his chest, and then, in less than a blink of an eye, he’s gone, taking his warm body, wandering hands, and his skilled mouth from me, leaving me cold.

His sudden movement almost tips me off the lounger to face plant on the sand.

I groggily twist my body to look at him standing behind me. I’m dazed and confused. His eyes are dark and savage, while his body is taut like a coiled spring.

“I’m going for a swim in the ocean. Care to join me?” He’s breathing like he just ran a marathon. His canines are still very visible.

“What?” I smooth my hair back from my face, trying to think. What just happened?

“Do you want to go for a swim with me?” He repeats his question slowly.

What the hell? What’s happening? Really? I jump up to my feet. “What now? Like right now?” I ask him. My brain is suffering from whiplash.

“No, next year,” he deadpans.

I’m suddenly pissed off. He stopped making out with me and possibly marking me to go for a swim? Who does that?

“Smartass!” I scowl and punch his arm.

“You’re a smartass,” he says cheekily, rubbing his arm.

I am so confused right now.

“Come on. I’m giving you the chance to ogle all of this.” He motions toward his body. His annoying good mood is obviously back.

“No, I don’t want to ogle you, you cocky ass!”

Do you have someone in this world who makes you feel like hitting them on the head then hit them some more? Over and over again? Well, I’m staring at him right now.

“Aaahhh, the sweet names you call me, and it’s not even seven in the morning yet. You are so loving, my love.”

He’s grinning now. A stupid sexy grin that makes me want to smile back even when I’m pissed off.

“I can tell that you’re obsessed with my ass too. I don’t blame you. I ~do~ have a great ass.”

He makes a twisting motion around to look at his own butt. “It’s one of my best assets.”

“Oh, my God! Shut up! Just shut up already!” I wail. How could he joke like that when he just rejected me? I mean, it feels like a rejection.

One minute he’s all over me and I think he’s going to mark me. Now, he’s standing here making stupid jokes, like nothing happened. “I want to clock you in the face!”

He grabs my wrist to stop me when I try to stomp back toward the house.

“~Moya printsessa~.” No hint of that impish smile or teasing glint in his eyes as he stares at me now.

“I was close to losing control just now. You have no idea how much my lycan wants to claim you, forever,” he explains.

He comes to stand behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. “Look,” he whispers in my ear. We are both standing, facing the house now.

From where we are standing, I can see part of the upper level of the house. Anybody looking out from one of the windows there or one of the balconies would be able to see us out here.

“I don’t want an audience when I take you, my love. You’re mine. There are parts of your body that I don’t want anybody else to touch, even with their eyes.”

He kisses the top of my head before he turns me around to face him.

He leans down so that we’re eye to eye. God, the green of his eyes is so vivid. So bright. Almost electric green. He takes my breath away.

“I love you,” he says.

“I love you too.”

“You’re blushing.”

“Am not!” I am blushing. I don’t know why my heart stuttered when I said it and I feel shy so suddenly. “I’m going in for breakfast. I can smell it from here.”

I can, but I’m just saying that to deflect his attention away from my blushing.

“I can’t believe I just got rejected for food.” He shakes his head ruefully.

He sits back on the lounger to take off his shoes and socks. “Oh, we’re going out on a date today,” he says. “Be ready by ten.”

I roll my eyes. Of course, he has to tell me instead of asking me.

“My offer still stands. You’re welcome to join me for a swim, or we can go surfing,” he says, standing up again.

The water looks cold. “Nah, I’m good,” I tell him.

He grabs his shirt from the back and yanks it off over his head to expose that magnificent sculpted body. The way he took off his shirt is just so…sexy.

The muscles bunch and flex when he moves. A trail of dark blond hair arrows down from his belly button to disappear under his low-hanging jeans.

Then his hands creep up to undo the buttons of his jeans.

“Are you sure you don’t want to ogle my body, babe?”

I can tell from his voice that he’s smirking. “No, thanks.”

“Okay.” He pulls the jeans down his legs. Such beautiful legs...and a tight, sexy ass.

“It’s okay for you to ogle me, you know. I’m all yours.”

I can see the outline of his bulging manhood through his tight boxers. “I’ll pass,” I tell him, running my tongue over my lower lip.

He growls. “~Moya printsessa...” His voice sounds husky and rumbles deep from his chest. “The way you’re looking at me is...”~

Then he’s gone. I look up just in time to see his powerful figure breaking the surf before he dives in. The inhuman speed that he’s moving at tells me how close he was to losing control. Again. My mouth stretches into a big grin. Oh, he’s not going to last too long. It’ll drive him crazy not to mark me soon.

Is it too wrong that I’m enjoying his struggle to be a gentleman? Waiting is overrated. I make my way back, humming underneath my breath.

I walk in through the open glass back door, where Lady Celeste is having breakfast. She’s wearing a white, low-plunging V-neck jumpsuit.

Her light brown hair is twisted in a bun with a few curly strands falling around her face and her neck. Her eyes narrow as she takes in my appearance.

I know, just getting up after spending the whole night on the beach doesn’t make me look gorgeous and well put together like she does this morning.

But I spent my morning in the arms of the man I love, and I’m feeling great. I can’t stop smiling.

Her nose wrinkles when I take my seat at the table. I know I smell like I’ve spent a night in Caspian’s arms.

A motherly-looking woman with an apron quietly pours coffee into a mug in front of me. I can tell from her scent that she’s a werewolf. I thank her, and she smiles before she goes away to come back with a glass-covered tray holding a continental breakfast. It consists of delicious-looking bread and pastries.

On the table is butter and jars of jams, marmalades, and compotes. A while later, she comes back with a glass of orange juice for me, and I think I’m in love. Umm, not more than I love Caspian, but close.

I’m aware that Lady Celeste is watching me broodingly. I decide to ignore her as I pick up a still warm croissant and break it into pieces. Then I take my time, smothering each piece with butter.

Almost a full minute goes by before she sighs, leans in, and says, “You know he’s only toying with you, right?”

I dunk a piece of the croissant into my coffee and stuff it into my mouth. Ummm, so good! I look up and smile innocently when she wrinkles her nose in disgust.

“You’re just temporary entertainment,” she declares. Then she sits back to wait for my response.

I pick another piece and do the same thing. Oh, this is heavenly!

I’m a pro at dunking cookies, bread, and pastries into my coffee. I got the habit from my Nana. Nana blamed it on her French ancestry.

After a while, Celeste grows irritated by my lack of reaction, or me dunking croissants into my coffee. I see her huffing and scowling but trying hard not to scream or something.

It’s really quite amusing. Finally, she leans in to speak quietly.

“He’ll get bored with you in no time and come back to me. He always does. Besides, he knows that Queen Sophia will only accept ~me~ as his mate. I’m his betrothed. I’ve been groomed to be his mate for decades.”

I grip my butter knife. I almost feel the stab of the knife in my heart from that statement. Well, to be completely honest, I want to stab ~her~ with the butter knife.

It’s not her statement about Caspian getting bored with me that bothers me but about Queen Sophia not accepting me and Celeste being his betrothed. I think back to his question in the wee hour this morning. What would happen if he took me as his mate? Would he really lose everything? Is that his mother’s ultimatum?

I quickly pick a Danish and dunk it into my coffee. Nothing is bothering me. Nothing is bothering me.

Lady Celeste makes a face, looking disturbed by my action. “What are you, anyway?”

I pretend not to hear her question and keep eating. Then I hear her talking again, almost to herself.

“You can’t be a werewolf or a human, because a lycan can’t fool around with them.”

She’s silent for a while, thinking. It’s nice when she’s silent. Then she takes a deep breath and scowls. “Right now you only smell like him.”

This woman really doesn’t know when to stop talking. Oh well, at least I’m annoying her as much as she’s annoying me.

“I know you couldn’t resist him, his charm, his looks, his title. It’s not really your fault. I don't blame you. You didn’t stand a chance, but now that he’s had you, he’s done with you.”

Oh, is she still talking to me? She shakes her head, and her eyes are full of pity for me.

“His friends are no better. They’re not very nice, stuck up and cruel to outsiders. You should leave before they throw you out. Save whatever dignity you have left. I can get my driver to send you back to wherever you came from.”

I know she traveled here with a royal bodyguard who’s also her personal driver. That’s how she managed to get in through Lazarus’s security.

“How very nice of you,” I remark with a nod while stuffing my mouth with more food. “But I live here.”

She draws in a sharp breath at my answer. Her eyes widen, and her nostrils flare.

She seems to be at a loss for words, so I flash her another sweet smile before I bite into the warm flaky pastry. She opens her mouth to say something more but closes it quickly when Serena and Lazarus walk in.

“Good morning,” says Serena cheerfully.

Lazarus looks at me and nods his head. “Have a restful night?” he asks me. His voice sounds serious, but there’s a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Very,” I answer before I quickly raise the orange juice to my lips to hide my smirk.

The lady comes back with more food. She also places a carafe of coffee and more mugs on the table. By now I start to see a halo around her head and beautiful wings sprouting on her back. I could marry this woman.

“Where have you been all my life?” I blurt out, staring at her in awe.

Jorden strolls in through the open glass backdoor. He smiles as soon as he sees me.

“Good morning, everybody,” he says, taking a seat beside me. He earns cheerful greetings from Serena and a friendly nod from Lazarus.

“Hey, Q.” He bumps my shoulder. “What’s new?”

“She has a crush on the cook,” deadpans Lazarus.

Jorden frowns and gives me a funny look while Serena laughs.

“Where’d you come from?” I ask Jorden.

“Pool house,” he answers.

“We thought he’d like the privacy of the pool house,” Serena explains to me. Then she turns to Jorden and asks, “How’d you like it?”

“It’s great! I love it,” says Jorden with a wide grin, showing off his dimples. I haven’t seen those dimples in a long while.

Looking at him now, I realize how unhappy he was in the Loup Noir Pack. There’s excitement in his eyes now. He looks relaxed in his white shirt and board shorts. A few top buttons of his white shirt are undone, showing off a bit of his muscled chest.

Jorden isn’t as big muscled as Lazarus or Darius. He’s lankier than Caspian and Constantine, but he has enough muscles to impress.

He looks like a surfer dude with his long unruly curls. All he needs now is a surfboard and a bit of a suntan. This is good for him.

“Where’s Prince Caspian?” he asks me.

“Swimming…or surfing,” I reply, sliding my gaze toward Lady Celeste, who remains quiet so far. She’s watching us with curiosity.

“I can’t wait to go swimming in the ocean,” he says.

I’m glad that Jorden and Caspian got along so well right from the very beginning, because Caspian can be very standoffish and rude to people he just met.

But then again, who doesn’t like Jorden? He’s truly a good guy. Whoever ends up being his mate will really hit a jackpot. Everybody else staggers in soon after that, starting with Penny and Darius then Genesis and Constantine.

The cook quickly pours some coffee for Genesis, who obviously is not a morning person. Penny scowls as soon as she sees Lady Celeste at the table.

She moodily sits cradling a cow mug in her hands as soon as the lady fills it up with coffee.