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“Guess I never thought there were black people in North Dakota—or South, for that matter.”
“We’re very, very few and far between. Closest I’ve come to finding another person of color is Wren. She’s Native American—Chippewa.”
“And Vern the vet?” Therin teased, grunting playfully when her elbow poked him again.
“He’s a regular white guy and they’re two of my best friends.”
“I’d like to meet them.” He felt her cringe. “What?”
“Just that you being here won’t be a secret for long if they find out, and once the guys call…”
“You want us to be a secret?” His light eyes narrowed.
She sighed, turning her face into a pillow. “There’s little I can claim for my own, you know? A private life is one of those things. Even if it’s only a few stolen moments, I’ll take ’em.”
Therin kissed her cheek. “I can accept that, ’specially if it gives me more time to have you to myself.”
A naughty smile curved her mouth as she bumped her bottom against his firming sex. “And what will you do with me now that you’ve got me all to yourself?” Wild laughter flew from her throat when he flipped her to her back.
“Shall I tell you or show you?”
“Both,” she gasped, and giggled only a moment before his kiss silenced her.
Therin pushed up amidst the covers. He frowned into the darkened room while rubbing fingers through the wavy hair covering his head. He didn’t bother calling out for Kianti. He already sensed she wasn’t there next to him in the huge bed. Pushing back the covers, he left the bed and padded naked through the dark silence.
He heard her breathing when he stepped into the den. Her wheezing caught his ears. She was lying on the sofa covered by an afghan. A kiss pressed to her temple told him she was shivering. Something told Therin that it wasn’t because she was cold.
Without hesitation, he checked her pulse and hissed an obscenity. Bounding from the den, he returned less than a minute later with a glass of water…and a pill. Gently, he eased her into a sitting position.
“Take it.” He pressed the medication to her palm.
“No.” She grimaced weakly and tried to push it back to him. “Therin, no…” She made a pitiful attempt at twisting out of his embrace.
“Take it on your own or I put it down your throat myself.” His voice was sweet but no less firm.
“Damn you.” She coughed and closed her eyes. “Do you know how long I’ve gone without—?”
“Forget it.”
When she opened her eyes, they were swimming in tears.
Therin braced one hand to the arm of the sofa and the other along the back, effectively trapping her. “Forget it.” He persisted.
Kianti threw the pill into her mouth and glared defiantly as she swallowed. She would have settled back to the sofa, but Therin took her up in his arms. He put her back to bed, but didn’t join her. He watched her until she drifted back into sleep.
Late the next morning, Kianti walked into the kitchen wearing a foul expression that grew fouler when she spotted Therin enjoying coffee in the mini living area.
“Feeling better?” he asked, his gaze hooded as it raked her from head to toe.
“You don’t know what you’ve done.” Her voice came out as a hiss.
Therin shrugged. “I thought I understood Brody’s instructions pretty well.” He blew across the surface of the creamy coffee. “Oh, he gave me a new bottle of your prescription,” Therin explained when he saw her mouth fall open at his mention of Brody’s name. “He figured you wouldn’t tell me where to find them if it turned out you’d need them…”
“Sons of bitches,” she murmured, raking all ten fingers through her hair. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“The man sharing your bed,” he spoke without hesitation.
“That doesn’t give you the right—”
“It gives me every right.”
She rolled her eyes and sauntered toward the kitchen. “Don’t flatter yourself, Therin. I’ve got four like you back home. I’m not in the mood to collect another.”
He bolted to his feet and caught her halfway across the kitchen. “You don’t have any like me.”
She blinked, the nasty flip mood that’d been building depleted like a popped balloon. She knew further arguments would be unwise. Besides, he was right. She didn’t have any like him. She never had.
“Go back to bed.” He brushed past her. “I’ll bring your breakfast and wake you in time for dinner with the Shays. Yeah, I’ve already met them.” He went to collect his coffee cup and didn’t bother to turn and witness her stunned expression. “Wren already rushed home to make a pot of her special stew. We can make your last night here a memorable one—nicely memorable, that is.”
