AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Em absorbed the feeling, committing it to memory in the hope that it would help sustain her through the lonely days ahead.
“Don’t worry yer pretty little head now, missy,” Coll murmured, and the whisper of his breath against the shell of her ear sent a fine shiver down Em’s spine and caused an ache of yearning to settle in the pit of her stomach.
Coll tightened his hold fractionally, but Emalee knew it was just to comfort her. And if he held her a little longer than was strictly proper, it was only the result of appreciation.
With that avenue a non-starter, Emalee pinned her hopes on Kyros.
“Ky, I’m worried about Kira.” Em went straight in with her best shot as soon as she found him.
“I know she’s been out of sorts, recently,” Ky agreed. “But I don’t think it’s anything to worry too much about. Has she said something?”
Em sighed. “No, she hasn’t, but I’m pretty sure it’s got something to do with her mother.”
She thought she detected a low growl emanating from the handsome Greek, but it was too quiet for Em to be sure.
“I’m just not sure, with her being so vulnerable, that it’s a good time for me to be away as well. She needs the familiar right now. She’s almost a teenager.”
Ky’s black eyebrows beetled together. “Well, like it or not, she has to learn that some things in life suck and she doesn’t always get her own way,” Kyros replied. “I’m not having you give up your free time to pander to her, Em. That will give her completely the wrong message.”
“But it really wouldn’t be a big deal,” Em argued, even though she could already tell this was a lost cause.
“No Emalee.” Ky’s tone was firm; his mind made up. “You’re not her mother and this is not your responsibility. You go off on your holiday and have a good time. You’ve more than earned it.”
Em dipped her head and stared at the floor while she rubbed at the pain in her chest. Kyros couldn’t have known how much those words hurt her.
The worst thing was, they were true.
“Hey,” he said softly, stepping close and lifting her chin with his crooked fingers. “Don’t be such a softy. Kira will be fine.”
A shock of electricity slammed through her body at the touch and her eyes flew to his.
His lips were slightly parted, and Em thought she might fall into the dark pools of his eyes as they held hers.
He brushed his thumb across her chin. Had he been going to stroke her lip? No, she must be mistaken there.
But still his touch set her on fire, and she had to drop her gaze before she gave herself away.
Giving a short nod, Em sighed and stepped out of the danger zone.
Now there was only Alexander left, and she didn’t rate her chances at getting him to change his mind, but he was her last resort, so she was still going to try.
She just wasn’t quite sure how to tackle him, and she’d need to tread carefully.
“Here’s the list of activities and events I drew up for next week,” Em said to Xander half an hour later.
She pointed out one on Christmas Eve. “They’d enjoy this one in particular, all four of them.”
Xander lowered his head, so it was almost next to hers and the sultry, spicy smell of his aftershave was enough to make her nipples pebble, and the breath catch in her throat.
“I’ll make a point of mentioning it to Kyros and Coll and we’ll take the kids there, then,” he agreed, easily.
Em turned her head to the side right at the same time he did, and their faces were just inches apart. She licked her suddenly dry lips and Xander caught the movement and followed it.
Her own eyes dropped to his mouth and the urge to close that tiny gap between them was so strong, Em almost embarrassed herself, every thought of what she’d been about to say fleeing her mind.
But then it was like a shutter went down over Xander’s eyes and he hastily straightened, breaking the spell.
“I er... I know what hard work it is with all four of them. I could always stay,” she blurted in a rush, as she felt her cheeks heat.
