AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was time to end the charade once and for all with his uncle. Be sure he knew Cam appreciated his advice and support. But he didn’t need it. Not anymore.
There’d be fireworks—Cam glanced back at Morgan, still somehow asleep—perhaps more threats. Still, if a chance existed that he’d pierced Morgan’s armored heart, he’d risk any amount of his uncle’s bullying.
“Cam?”
Morgan stretched one arm over her head, a come-back-to-bed invitation lighting her eyes. Cam wanted nothing more than to crawl back between the sheets. Wrestle her to delicious surrender again. Sheathe himself inside her velvety heat. Find release.
He imagined ice water. And lots of it. “My family’s downstairs.”
“What do they want?”
“No doubt they’ve come to be sure their rabid dog remains muzzled and leashed.”
“Interesting turn of phrase.” Her gaze ran over his bare chest, centered on his groin with a sleepy-sexy smile that almost unmanned him.
He sighed, his voice grave. “It’s going to be ugly.”
“Do you know a family fight that isn’t? I’ve told you, Cam. I’m not afraid of talk. Your uncle can do his best, but it won’t change me. Only you’ve been able to do that.”
She gave nothing away, but he understood her now. Knew the reaction was her way of hardening herself against expected pain.
His gaze fell on her bandaged arm, a knot of near loss still uncomfortably squeezing his innards. He’d prove to her she’d been right to trust in him. This time he’d make it come right.
“My uncle may command my respect—even my loyalty—but he doesn’t own me. He’ll find that out soon enough,” he growled through clenched teeth as he stormed out of the bedchamber, drawing on a shirt as he went.
He surprised Uncle Josh in the drawing room in the process of running his hand over the stain in the carpet, Aunt Sylvie sitting primly on the sofa by the fire, twisting a handkerchief between her fingers. Euna beside her.
Arrayed for battle. The space between them as charged with emotion as any front line.
Brodie’s presence was a bonus Cam hadn’t expected. He stood at the hearth, a boot on the fender, his shoulders hunched as he stared into the flames. What he did here was a mystery, but Cam wouldn’t turn away an ally.
He looked up when Cam entered, the tight-clenched jaw relaxing a fraction. His eyes searching Cam for injury.
Aunt Sylvie started as if she might rise and go to him. She didn’t. She held back, but her hand slid into Euna’s sitting beside her, a watery smile of relief lighting her eyes. “Thank heavens, you’re all right,” she murmured.
Her concern sent a wash of regret through him. Forever a square peg in a round hole, Cam had spent his life asking for forgiveness for simply being himself.
No more.
They’d take him as he was. Or they’d lose him.
Uncle Josh took his time straightening. “Can you explain this?”
Cam noted the track of his gaze. His bloodstained fingertips.
“Hangnail?”
His uncle’s face went white, then red. “Don’t sport with me, lad. You’ll lose. I’ve not gotten as far as I have by putting up with jokesters.”
Cam’s whole body tightened. Why had he ever thought he could find a way to make his family understand? He shrugged. “We had a break-in last night.”
Brodie stiffened, his gaze searching out Cam for the truth.
Aunt Sylvie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Was anyone hurt?”
Uncle Josh turned a hard gaze on his wife. “That’s not wine, Sylvie. It’s blood. And lots of it.”
Cam smiled, an imperceptible nod to Brodie that he’d be told more later. “No one we need worry over, Aunt.”
