Private Melody (12 page)

“Let go….” she urged, not seeming to mind his prowess.

Therin knew it was up to him to exercise caution. Next to impossible against her whispered commands for him to take her the way he wanted.

K
ianti woke early and headed down to the reserved lounge for practice the next morning. While the hotel staff barred guests from intruding on the artist's rehearsal time, the rule obviously didn't apply to them.

Remote seats in the sultry dim elegance of the lounge had already been selected. Various members of the staff indulged in an early-morning treat of exquisite playing.

The audience included Therin. He woke frowning when he realized Kianti wasn't there next to him. She did, however, leave a brief note on her pillow. The way she began the message said so much about them.

Don't worry…

Would it always be his first emotion where it related to her? Concern? In the relaxing environment of the lounge, he contemplated as he watched her behind the mammoth-size piano.

The group was mesmerized by her performance—not
only by the playing but by the look of the musician herself. Therin kept his expression passive, but adored the way Kianti's body swayed and dipped to the haunting harmony.

Concern. The emotion had certainly played a role within him the night before. In truth, concern played a role every night he had her.

Let go,
she urged throughout their lovemaking.

Her power over his emotions would have him doing just that and very soon. His mouth set into a grim line then. He didn't want to lose her, not when he'd never dared to imagine she existed. Life was such a fragile thing. He'd learned that the hard way. It was too fragile to risk for something as fleeting as pleasure….

Applause drew him gently from his thoughts. He joined in only briefly and left the lounge without being noticed.

 

Bose Cooper and Marley Terrio were the two retired university presidents who had been instrumental in bringing Therin aboard the EYES project. When they'd requested the breakfast meeting, Therin hadn't thought of refusing. The three were so often busy they rarely had time for phone chats, let alone meals together.

Therin arrived at the private restaurant, La Olivete, quite pleased by the opportunity to meet with his old acquaintances.

“How's that staff of yours hanging in these days?” Marley Terrio inquired.

Therin's jaw tightened. It didn't take more than that seemingly innocent inquiry to tell him the men had been experiencing similar difficulties.

Bose chuckled. “Did you think you were the only one, son?”

“Considering all the shit that's come down on me since I hung my hat in the political ring…yes. I guess you could say I did.” Therin leaned forward to massage his neck below the collar of his crisp shirt.

Bose and Marley nodded their understanding of the misfortunes the younger man had spoken of.

“I've let all but two of my staff go,” Marley said, once he and his colleague shared with Therin all the
incidents
that had befallen various members of their staff.

“Like you, we were hoping to give the bastards a clear shot at us,” Bose added.

Therin grinned. “Vaughn told me I was a fool to think it'd work.”

The two men laughed.

“I've got a feeling the opposition would rather come at us on a more public stage,” Marley said.

“Are you thinking they might try something this weekend?” Therin hesitated on drinking from his coffee mug. “It'd be the perfect opportunity. Hell.” He rubbed a hand across his hair. “Should I be calling off the general's announcement?”

Again, Marley and Bose shared a chuckle over their young friend's expense.

“Shep Yale wouldn't give the jackasses the satisfaction of not using the opportunity to stick it to 'em,” Bose declared.

“We should at least let them know of our concerns,” Therin cautioned.

“Just don't expect him to back down.” Marley added an obscene amount of sugar to his black coffee. “He's
got a point to prove and when you reach our age, proving points are worth the sacrifices.”

Therin winced over the use of Marley's final word. He leaned across the table to shake hands with both men.

 

Therin and Kianti were leaving the hotel by lunch-time and headed for his home just outside Vancouver. Conversation flowed easily between them during the chauffeured ride, but silenced altogether on Kianti's part when she saw the house beyond the towering brass gates.

“It won't bite you,” Therin teased from his reclining position across the long backseat. Her uncertainty was easy to spot.

“The way you live…” she breathed, thinking of the condo, the bowing and scraping she'd witnessed during the past several days and now this. “This place is unreal.”

Therin smoothed his thumb across a brow. “This from a woman who keeps a fortress in Pacifica.”

She looked back at him from the window. “Touché.” The house drew closer and she smiled. “You have to admit, though…I'll bet you couldn't get around to visiting all the rooms in this place in a year.”

“Hey! The rooms aren't
that
big.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Her response to his wounded cry was laced with doubt.

“Thanks, Ed,” Therin called toward the front of the car when the driver pulled to a stop. “I got her,” he said before leaving the car to assist Kianti from her side.

“They're only here for the event,” Therin said when
he treated Kianti to an impromptu tour and introduced her to the house staff.

Kianti bit her lip on a grin as they walked a long bright corridor. “What? You don't think I'd approve otherwise?”

“I wouldn't.”

“Goes against your principles?”

Therin eased his hands into his khaki pockets and shrugged.

When they got to the ballroom, where the piano performance would take place, Kianti lost her breath. It was a magnificent space of chandeliers, round glass tables and tall windows with alluring views of the grounds. The piano occupied a corner of the large square oak dance floor. Kianti walked around the room as though she were in a daze. She observed the skylights surrounding the chandeliers and could imagine the effect of the golden light mingled with starlight.

“Can't believe all this is for me.”

Therin laughed and strolled the long edge of the floor. “What I can't believe is that you're so surprised by all this when you've probably played in halls four times as big as this ballroom.”

“But this is a home.” She trailed her fingers across the cushiony, amber suede sofas and oversize armchairs situated behind the round tables. “This is a home,” she repeated.

In that moment, Therin didn't know if he'd ever had such enjoyment in that room.

“You should check out that piano.” He spoke in a hasty manner when she noticed him staring.

“I'm sure it's fine,” she whispered, passing the
instrument without a look as she moved closer to Therin. She brought her hands to his biceps and then stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

“Thank
me?
It's
you
who's doing me this favor.”

Kianti shrugged toying with the zipper tab of his blue-gray pullover. “You've just shown me how much you appreciate it.”

Before she could set down on her feet, he gathered her tight and plied her with a deeper kiss. Kianti moved forward, nudging him until he was seated on the back of one of the armchairs. She stepped between his thighs and became a more eager participant in the kiss. She tugged his hand to the front of her blouse and arched her breast against his palm.

A clearing throat drew them apart moments later. Therin pressed his forehead to hers and inhaled for a few additional seconds before he looked toward the door.

“Sorry for interrupting.”

“Come over here,” Therin waved, taking Kianti along with him as they headed for the front of the room. “Kianti Lawrence, I'd like you to meet Morgan Felts, my chief of security,” he said, watching as Morgan behaved in the same awed manner his associates had when they first met Kianti.

“It's a pleasure, Ms. Lawrence.”

“Please call me Kianti.” She shook Morgan's hand and then glanced quickly across her shoulder. “I should go check out that piano so…it was nice meeting you, Morgan. Hope to see you at the event.”

Therin allowed Morgan a few more seconds to ogle. “So what's up?” He clapped the man's shoulder.

“Rick.” Morgan cleared his throat. “The guys said he had some ideas about what the attacker told him.”

“Has anyone been acting strange around the office?” Therin asked once he'd recapped Rick Dubose's theory.

Morgan only shook his head.

Therin noticed him grimace. “What?”

“Everybody's edgy as hell around the office.” Morgan raked back the thick blondish-brown tufts of his hair. “Rick's probably grasping at straws here hoping to come up with something that'll put everyone else at ease.”

Therin reclaimed his spot on the back of the chair and watched Morgan pace. “So you think there's nothing to this?”

“That's exactly what I think, and the folks who attacked Rick were most likely counting on you to make somethin' of it.” Morgan punched a fist to one of the sofa pillows. “Hell, Therin, they know what the guy does for a living—it's probably why he was targeted in the first place.”

Contemplating the theory, Therin moved the back of his hand along a sideburn. “Thanks, Morgan.” He saw the man's expectant stare and nodded. “Will we see you tomorrow night?”

At ease then, Morgan grinned. “You're crazy if you think I'd miss out on a free concert by Kianti Lawrence.”

 

“How often do you get to enjoy this?”

Kianti and Therin took in the sunset from the roof of his home. The construction from that end of the house was designed flat to accommodate the coffee table
and stuffed lounge chairs. The area was treated for the abundance of snow that fell during the year and could become a weight issue for a flat roof.

Therin kept Kianti snuggled into his lap. “I almost never get to enjoy it.” He kept his chin propped to her shoulder. “I just had it checked out for the event this weekend. Hope it'll go over well with the guests.”

“Oh, I'm sure it will.” She shrugged. “Speaking as a guest and all.”

Therin kissed her cheek. “Does it make you want to give a big donation to my organization?”

Kianti turned so that she was straddling him. “The organization will definitely get a big donation.” She settled down snug on top of him. “I've got something else in mind for its spokesman.”

A kiss ensued, growing hot in an instant. As they were alone, Therin didn't think twice about baring her to his gaze and to his mouth.

“Don't stop,” she begged when his mouth closed over the nipple he'd bared. “Mmm…” She thrust herself against his tongue while grinding more insistently against his lap.

“Damn.” His hands flexed about her thighs and he stood to take her with him. “I really wanted you to see that sunset,” he growled and carried her inside for what he wanted more.

 

The EYES Fundraiser and Membership Drive was set to be an important event as well as a glamorous one. Therin's elaborate home would be the site of the event as well as lodging for various members during the weekend.

Though the gathering was for a serious cause, much of the buzz surrounded the entertainment the ex-ambassador had pulled together. Such an accomplishment was further proof that the man carried friends in more lucrative areas than politics.

Kianti's name surged among the buzz, yet she found herself just as starstruck as anyone. On hand for the affair were two hip-hop moguls she'd been dying to meet. Upon meeting Kianti, however, the gentlemen were interested in beginning talks on a possible collaborative effort with her and few of their artists.

Therin kept Kianti on his arm quite frequently. He introduced her to the rest of his staff and other members of the organization. They were near the piano talking with Peter Stanson and his wife, Chloe, when several guests moved in to ask if Kianti was about to grace them with a performance. The lovely pianist graciously obliged. The room silenced, making way for the mesmerizing piece she performed.

 

Later, Therin and Kianti shared a dance in the center of the candlelit dance floor. They barely swayed to the exotic melody looming about and simply treasured the closeness. Therin kept his face hidden in her neck bared by her upswept hair. He inhaled the light appealing fragrance of her perfume and sighed. Many times, his arms flexed about her minute frame as though he were proving to himself that she was actually there next to him. Kianti was lost in the embrace as well. Therin was stroking her bare skin visible by the design of the airy black dress that flared playfully at her knees. The dress was both elegant and provocative with its plunging
V-neck and open back. Therin toyed with the triple set of gold O-rings securing the wide straps that joined at the small of her back.

The couple was oblivious to all the whispers and notice they received. There was no question that they were an “item” and also no question that the involvement was anything but shallow.

“You know…” Kianti blinked and scanned the room they twirled around in. “I don't think I've seen this room before.”

Reluctantly, Therin raised his head from her shoulder. “It's good to have a place where the guests can retreat.” He graced her with a sly wink. “This room…is off-limits to the press.”

“Mmm…no press, huh? I like it.” She gave a playful tug to his bowtie. “Well, if you're hoping to keep us a secret, I don't think you've done too good a job.”

Therin's expression sobered. “I'm not trying to do a good job of that. I want everyone to know you're mine.”

Kianti reconsidered her rebuttal and pressed her lips together.

“What?” He dipped his head to focus in on her more closely. “What?”

It was too late for silence, she realized. She could see the temper stirring in his brilliant stare. “How far are you expecting all this to go between us?” she whispered. She held on to her courage when he bristled. “I just can't help but point out
again
our lifestyles—very different—very hectic and very distant… Then there's the issue of my health, I—” She gasped when his hold tightened suddenly at her waist. “Therin—”