Absolutely insufferable, I said solemnly.
One day soon Il be forever cured of it, so watch out, he said, winking.
My heart did jumping-jacks, but I was happy to play along with this only form of fore-play hed al ow. Good thing Ive stocked up on an eternitys supply of lingerie.
You keep that kind of talk up and prude wil be the one thing Im not, he warned, tucking our bodies into a more tame, less tempting position.
Fine, I complained, knowing my cause was a lost one now. This is coming a little late, but Im sorry your night was ruined. Im sure you had a mil ion different plans for how you wanted to spend it with me. My voice was back to its normal, sex-kitten-free tone.
The front of his body pressed into my body, sweet and seduction free. I only wanted to spend it one way. His arms curled around me, squeezing me to him so there wasnt even a strip of air separating us. This way. His voice was sleep heavy and my body fol owed his lead, saying a silent prayer that tomorrow night wed be promised an eternity of fal ing asleep in each others arms.
CHAPTER FOUR
BUSTED
Wil iam Hayward! a voice shrieked us awake. What do you think youre doing?
Good morning to you too, sunshine, Wil iam replied, fol owed by a yawn.
Dont you sunshine me, Cora warned, her index finger bobbing at him in agitated fits.
Whoa, Wil iam said, propping up on one elbow, keeping me tucked to him with the other. Back it up a few finger wags. Why are you so upset?
Why am I so upset? Why am I so upset? She was as close to fuming as Id seen her.
Wil iam nodded his head, the look of earlier amusement gone from his face.
I expect this,”she pointed both hands at the tangle of Wil iams and my bodies”from her, but you know better. For crud sake, Wil iam, give me a break. I cant keep the whole of the traditional world of Immortals together single-handedly. A little help would be appreciated since Bryns under the impression that tradition is a dirty word. Her face was flushed and she could barely look at me.
Wil iam paused, likely as confused as I was. I mean this with no disrespect, Cora, but I dont know what the heck youre talking about.
My sentiments exactly.
Coras eyes couldnt have popped any farther without dislocating out of their sockets. Dont you dare play games with me, Wil iam Hayward. You know darn wel what Im talking about.
More silence, nothing but the tapping of fingers as Cora pounded them against the stable door. Its early and Im a blundering, forgetful idiot at the moment”you can blame her for my current state. Wil iam glanced down at me in accusation which was received with an elbow to his side. Please show mercy on me in this weakened state and remind me again what Im supposed to know.
I smiled at the way only Wil iam could diffuse a bomb of female emotion. Coras eyes narrowed into slits at me. My smile disappeared as quickly as it had formed.
Because my husband idolizes you and my best friend loves you beyond repair, Il remind you.
Wil iams body relaxed some. Youre a dol , Cora. Whats it again I need reminding of?
Her eyes pointed from me to him, and back again, everything purposeful about it. Its bad luck to see the Betrothed before the Betrothal, she said as if it was the most obvious thing.
I gave up on the hope that Wil iam and I could kiss the morning away; it seemed circumstances outside of our control would be preventing this.
Were not technical y supposed to know were being Betrothed. No one is. How can that be an ancient Immortal custom, tradition, saying . . .
whatever? I asked her, not mincing words in her fit. Cora and I could handle each others temper tantrums, whereas the boys went running at the first sign of a female uprising.
Dont you start with me too, Bryn Michel e Dawson. I felt Wil iams stomach tighten from the laugh begging to be released, but he kept it down. He was a smart man. Today is a big day and I cant orchestrate the most massive event our Al iance has put on in ten years if I have to keep your attitude of epic proportions in check as wel . Her hands flew to her hips. So put on your big girl panties and throw me a bone, wil ya?
Leave it to Cora to fly off the handle over some sil y outdated tradition that had been likely made up in her mind, a girl whod remained calm in the midst of death, persecution, and Immortal war. I could give her one thing, though”Cora knew her priorities and held to them.
Easy, Cor, I encouraged, wiggling out of Wil iams vice-like hold. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Heheho . . . I demonstrated for her as I stood up. I gripped my hands over her shoulders. Heheho, heheho.
She mimicked my masterful breathing techniques Id picked up on television and, despite the recuperative oxygen being a moot point to Immortals, I witnessed the tension melting from her face. Melting slowly.
My big girl panties are firmly in place. I glanced back at Wil iam, sharing a look. Al too firmly in place, actual y.
His cheeks had begun to redden when I turned back to Cora. Im sorry from the very bottom of my heart that we shunned such a revered, time-honored, well-known Immortal tradition. When her eyes narrowed this time, there was no anger in them. What can I do to remedy this atrocity?
Brushing back the shorter layers of hair that had fal en out of her braids, she shot me a partial y appeased look. For starters, you guys need to high tail it out of here. Like now. She looked down at Wil iam like she was waiting for him to figure something out. Man, you real y are an idiot whenever Bryns around. She puffed out a gust of air when Wil iams face stayed ignorant of whatever she was trying to relay to him. Let me spel it out to you . . .
Wil iam grinned, enjoying this game. Better say it nice and slow just to be safe.
The Council members are wandering around the farm. Theyre not saying it, but theyre looking for you since you missed breakfast and your bed remained neatly made. Cora rol ed her eyes. I mean, real y. You put together the most intricately woven plans and you overlook the most obvious things. She looked to me to back her up, but she was on her own.