Chapter 25
It was a good question, and one Inej wasn’t ready to answer. Warm water swirled gently around her as Manu brought her ever closer until she straddled his hips and rested her hands on his chest.
“I find it hard to believe that a woman like you doesn’t have someone special in her life,” he said.
She felt him growing hard once more while his hands caressed along the curves of her arse and up to her back. His appetite, it seemed, was as ferocious as hers. “Who said I don’t?”
Some emotion she couldn’t name moved behind his eyes as he stilled. “Do you?” he demanded softly.
Had her teasing words really caused such a reaction? Could this elf who kidnapped others for who-knew-what-purpose really have standards? It appeared so. The realization made her uneasy, as she couldn’t reconcile that with what she had heard about him.
“Nay,” Inej replied. “I don’t.”
Manu relaxed. She didn’t let the tension ease from her muscles until his hands continued their exploration of her back. He never looked away, as if he were trying to see into her thoughts.
“Because you don’t believe in love?” he asked.
“That’s part of it.”
“And the other?”
She could lie. She had one ready, but that wasn’t what came out.
Instead, she found herself speaking the truth.
“You think having someone to share my life with would make it easier? I’ve seen the reality too many times to know it won’t.
The struggle doesn’t get easier. It gets harder.
Plus, there’s always one who wants a child, and with infants continually needing homes, the Domestic Ministry is all too ready to give one to a couple looking, no matter their situation.
Then, there’d be an additional mouth to feed with what is already too little.
There are the couples who actually elevate themselves somewhat with both of them working—until one of them stops for whatever reason.
Then it’s up to one person to feed both, along with any children.
No, thank you. I know what I need to do to support myself. ”
He didn’t argue or try to press any point he may have had. He listened, his dark eyes noting everything. Somehow, that made it worse.
“I don’t want your pity,” Inej said. “If that’s what you’re thinking, stop.”
He sat up so their bodies were pressed together. His mouth hovered next to hers. “That isn’t what I was thinking.”
“What were you thinking?” The words came out as a ragged whisper as she slid her arms around his neck.
“Let me show you,” he murmured, right before he kissed her.
It wasn’t the wild, ravenous kisses from before.
It was slow, sensual, and utterly erotic.
His lips were soft and firm as they pressed against hers deliberately before he languidly slid his tongue against hers.
She was so absorbed in the kiss that she barely felt his large hand splayed upon her back, or his other hand stroking up her side to graze her breast.
She tightened her arms as the kiss deepened, moving her past lust and into something else entirely.
Everything in her rebelled. It was too…intimate.
Too romantic. She readied to shove him away, only she couldn’t.
She had come to take down evil, which meant she had to go with things, even if they were hard.
Even if she knew she might never be the same.
Because she was already different. She could feel the changes.
His thumb glided against the underside of her breast, causing her nipple to harden. She forgot about missions, the past, and the future. She forgot about everything but him and the pleasure that awaited. She sank into the kiss, into him.
Into the bubble of pleasure and decadence.
A moment later, a knock shattered it. A frown puckered Manu’s brow as he turned his head toward the sound.
“Is it the food?” she asked.
He shook his head slightly as he gently moved her off his lap. “It’s too early.”
She returned to her side of the tub, watching him rise, water sliding from his body as he stepped out and walked naked to the door.
She locked her gaze onto his back, watching the play of muscles.
He cracked open the door wide enough to look through as she eyed his tight arse and thick legs.
Someone spoke softly, preventing her from hearing anything.
Almost immediately, Manu shut the door and began to dress.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Stay for as long as you’d like. You may remain here to wait for me if you wish, though I’m not sure when I’ll return.”
Was he going on another kidnapping spree? Panic seized her as she stood and exited the tub. He walked to her and cupped her face in his hands before pressing his mouth to hers for a lingering kiss. He offered her a smile and then walked out of the room.
Inej stared at the door for a long time before racing to the window, grabbing her clothes as she did.
She dressed and peered outside, trying to catch a glimpse of him, but it was the wrong angle.
She spun around, her gaze sweeping the room.
The need to snoop was strong, but she doubted she would find anything of value here.
It was more important for her to follow him and see why he was rushing away.
She looked longingly at the huge bed before hurrying out of his room.
She took a wrong turn and got lost, which made her have to backtrack.
His home was massive, and she knew there were more levels and rooms she hadn’t seen.
His people were loyal. They wouldn’t tell her anything, so it was pointless to remain. This time, at least.
Inej only saw one servant as she made her way out.
She tried to keep her pace normal, but urgency quickened her steps.
She had just crossed the bridge when she noticed a commotion near the entrance that had made a crowd gather.
Something big was going on, and no one was trying to hide it.
Unfortunately, by the time she reached Jalall’s, Manu and his squad were gone.
With nothing else to do, Inej used the side entrance.
The house was empty, and she was relieved not to have to deal with Chanda.
She scrounged up some food and cleaned up before she bathed and went to bed.
Sleep was slow to come, however. She tossed and turned for most of the night, only dozing in short spells.
When she finally gave up and rose, she was tired and anxious, and ended up getting to the candy shop thirty minutes early. She sat outside, waiting for Daas and his wife to open. Inej tried to bury herself in baking, but she couldn’t shut out the world as she usually did.
“Shite,” she murmured when she realized her pastries were burning.
She set them aside to cool and looked them over, trying to see if she could salvage any. Two had the barest hint of burn. She would put those aside.
“We’re all worried.”
Daas’s voice made her head jerk to the side, looking to where he stood watching her. “Do you know why he left?”
“I suspect it’s because the Masters are getting close.”
His response shocked her. “Who are the Masters?”
“The group responsible for the abductions in the lowlands.”
So, Manu’s people didn’t know he was leading the Masters. “How do you know what they’re called?”
“Manu alerted us to their practices. Don’t you worry, dear,” the elder elf stated with a nod. “Manu will be back.”
He’d better return. She still needed to get information from him. She had spent time and energy getting close to him. If he died, she’d have to start all over. Someone might get suspicious then.
Daas walked out of the kitchen, leaving her to her thoughts. Twice, she messed up a recipe and had to redo it, but neither Shruti nor Daas said anything. Customers were steady, but things had slowed from the previous days. She suspected it was because Manu had left in such a rush.
The day dragged at a crawl, and tensions continued to rise through the city.
She wasn’t looking forward to another sleepless night, but she was ready to treat the burns she had gotten from her carelessness and lack of concentration.
Daas handed her another bag of coins before they walked out together.
She was waving goodbye when she noticed a commotion near the entrance.
Inej forgot about Daas as she rushed forward with dozens of others to see what was happening.
Wails started the moment some soldiers carried in a stretcher.
She rose on tiptoe to see if it was Manu, but she couldn’t see a face.
She leaned around those in front of her and scanned faces, looking for him.
Finally, she spotted him directing some soldiers before speaking to a small group.
He turned then, and she saw the blood on the side of his face.
It had dried into ice crystals in his hair and on his skin.
More blood was matted in the fur of his coat.
He looked toward Jalall’s home for a moment and then turned his head in her direction as if searching for her.
She was rooted to the spot as others continued to rush forward.
His gaze collided with hers. They stared at each other for a long time, neither of them moving. She was unnerved at the relief that filled her. Someone shouted his name. He tipped his head to her, then turned away.
“I told you he would return,” Daas said, moving up beside her.
Inej glanced at his kindly face. “So you did.”
“I’ve known him for his whole life, and I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
“I’m sure it’s because he feels responsible for me.”
Daas laughed softly. “And he takes all of us to his home for dinner? Look harder. You’ll see what I see.”
She swallowed, unsure how to reply. Daas walked away, chuckling. She watched others moving around her, and it was long minutes before she finally made her way to Jalall’s. The moment she entered, she heard Chanda in the kitchen and grimaced.
Inej wasn’t up for dealing with the elf, so she went straight to her room.
She checked to make sure the poison was still under the mattress before falling back onto the bed and looking up at the canopy.
She hadn’t been able to sleep last night, but now, she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
Chanda’s presence kept her out of the kitchen.
She would wait until the elf was gone before going to eat.
Inej must have dozed off, because when she opened her eyes, she no longer heard Chanda.
She crept out of the room and checked the house.
She smiled when she realized she was alone and headed to find food.
She was at the counter when the hairs on the back of her neck rose.
There was only one individual who could cause such a reaction: Manu.
A large hand wrapped around her waist as he came up behind her. He moved aside her hair and pressed his mouth to her neck. Her eyes rolled back in her head as pleasure spread through her. She turned her head toward him, and their lips met in a hungry kiss.
He gathered her dress in his hands, pulling it higher. She moaned when he yanked down her underwear. She leaned forward, and he entered her with one hard thrust.