Page 48 of Anywhere

“Aye, I’ma still wantin’ da union,” I said.

“I want that for both of you. This is a terribly bad idea, Rook. I get why you’re doing this, but….” Mari argued, but Rook stood.

“You’re right. It is a bad idea. I know the risks, but I need to show faith in Rhys and prove that I’m sorry for the pain that I’ve caused.”

“Rook…” Mari shook her head as she pushed herself up enough to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Cousin, don’t argue with me. This is the only time I can offer you this gift. It is the only real thing I can offer. Money is meaningless, and I have nothing else. Take the gift, don’t take it, but I choose this,” Rook said.

Rook lifted his eyes from Mari and locked them with mine. Between one breath and the next, he’d transformed. No more was he the guy conflicted and uncertain about what he wanted. The eyes that found mine made me want to be his number two without question or hesitation. As our eyes remained locked, I knew I would kill for him, die for him, and one day I would love him.

“Can I talk to you out in the hall?” Rook asked.

I rose and followed him out the door. Rook’s jaw twitched, the muscles flexing in his neck as he paused at the threshold and looked back at Mari.

“I don’t like the rules, and maybe one day I can help get them changed, but I don’t know when that will be. So if I were you, I’d make the most of this, Mari.”

“Yes,” she said softly.

Nodding, he stepped out into the hall, and I closed the door behind us.

“Thank you,” I said before Rook could say anything.

He ran his hand through his hair. I could tell he wasn’t comfortable with this, despite all the bravado he’d just shown, but he was willing to do it anyway. “Can I ask you why the two of you never had sex before? I mean, it’s clear how close you are, and you could’ve snuck around at anytime. I don’t get it. I would’ve just said fuck it and done it before all the connection crap.”

“Ya want da honest answer?” Rook nodded. “I have two reasons. The first is simple, I hoped when she went overseas, she’d find someone that the family would deem acceptable, and she’s worth more to them as a virgin. Stupid but true.” Rook shook his head. “It will be da same for us. The woman we be paired wit will be a virgin. Da blood sacrifice at the final union ritual is tradition among all da Factions, not just us. If I slept with ‘er, I was wipin’ away ‘er last hope to find someone to spend her life wit. I’m no asshole enough ta do dat.”

“Okay, and the other one?”

“Because it woulda been too dangerous. I ‘ave told ya dat I love ‘er, and if we’d been intimate all dis time, then ya wouldna’ had time to reject me ‘cause I woulda been doin’ it to ya instead. Naw, scratch dat, I wouldna even been in da Faction no more.”

Rook looked ready to march back into the room and call the whole idea off as his eyes darted between me and the door. “Do you think that is still a concern?”

I stepped close to Rook. Laying my hand on his shoulder, I gave it a squeeze. “I be loyal, Rook. I said dat I would go forward wit dis triad. I accepted it at da ceremony, and I accepted yer decision ta stay. Ta me, dat means my decision is made, but if me heart had already been locked in dat long and dat intimate with Mari, no connection to anyone was gonna change it.” Rook licked his lips and still seemed uncertain. “If we complete da first ritual, ya will see dat ya dinnie ‘ave anythin’ ta be worrin’ about.”

“When not if,” he said, his eyes firm. The fact that he finally owned who we were to become was fucking hot, and it made my gut quiver and my heart pound harder.

My lips curved up as I cupped his face. The connection made our eyes close with a groan before I laid my lips against his. I instantly wanted to take things further, but I forced myself to keep the touch light.

“Thank you for doin’ this. I ‘ave no words ta tell ya how much it means ta me dat yer willin’ ta sacrifice somethin’ like dis for me,” I whispered against his lips.

Gone was the light touch as my back pressed up against the wall with a thud. Rook was demanding, his tongue seeking entrance, and with a groan, I opened for him. I wasn’t sure if he’d changed his mind as he pressed his body up against mine, making me pant as he stole the air from my lungs with the ferocity of his kiss.

The connection magic struck like we were hit by a car as it flared around us. I gasped, and my hold on Rook tightened.

He broke the kiss, but Rook’s hand wrapped around my throat and squeezed just enough that I knew what kind of lover he would be. I was in control of all aspects of my life, but when it came to a male partner, I wanted to let go. I wanted to be used, told what to do by Rook who I had a gut feeling would know what I liked and how to push me to my sexual limits. The anger and passion burned like twin flames in his eyes and promised me pain. Pain that I craved and would only ever find with him.

“Just remember, you’re my number two. Mine, and no one else’s. Tonight is it. You must promise me,” he snarled.

“I promise ya on me da’s grave dat ya will never need ta worry.”

Rook nodded and pushed away from the wall. “You better get in there and maybe put a protection spell on the room. My jealous side has a nasty streak, and I can’t guarantee I won’t come back here.”

There was something entirely too sexy about that statement. “Ya know dis is gonna hurt like a fukin bitch, right?” I pointed to my heart.

“You went through this every night for the month before I arrived, right?”

“Aye, I did.”