Private Melody (13 page)

“Maybe I should be asking what
you
expect to come from all this between us?”

She'd always celebrated her ability to say what she wanted. No coy games… Now, she couldn't live up to that ability. The thought of telling him she loved him and wanted him with her always was too frightening.

If only he'd say it first…which was what she hoped for. That'd give her the courage to share her thoughts…maybe.

Again, she bowed her head so he couldn't see her rolling her eyes as she cursed the idiocy of that. She was saved, though, when they were interrupted a few seconds later.

“Mr. Ambassador? It's time.”

“Thanks, Owen.” Therin smiled over at the young man who'd touched his shoulder. He looked back down at Kianti, apology filling his gaze when he smiled.

“You've got to go to work,” she said before he could speak a word.

“I want us to finish this.” He linked his fingers through one of the dress rings to keep her still.

“We will.” She patted his chest reassuringly. “There'll be time.”

He searched her deep dark gaze for a lengthy moment and then kissed her forehead hard and offered an arm. Together, they left the dance floor.

T
herin and Kianti parted ways shortly after they returned to the main ballroom. Moments after their presence was discovered, they were drawn apart by various guests including Kianti's crew, who had just arrived shortly before the second hour of the event.

She left Therin talking with a few of his guests, while the guys escorted her to the table she'd had reserved for them.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she said while making the rounds once the men had taken their seats. She pressed loud kisses to their cheeks.

“And thank
you
for scoring us an invite to this thing,” Cube said. His mouth was full of canapés from the extensive buffet table.

Kianti waved a hand. “I couldn't pass up a chance like this to impress the hell out of you.”

“Well, you did the hell out of that,” Winton said.

“I'm not the only one.” She took her place at the table and regarded them each with warm smiles. “You guys have impressed me, too. Entrusting me to the care of a man you don't really know.”

“We know enough.” Winton poured his Red Stripe into a chilled mug. “Therin seems like a good guy.”

Kianti's rich laughter mirrored the vibrancy in her dark eyes. “You're only saying that because he's an ambassador.”

“Ex,” Khan corrected while flashing her a critical look. “You really shouldn't get so caught up over titles, Key.”

Kianti replied by sticking out her tongue.

“It's obvious the guy cares about you, girl.” Brody brought a measure of seriousness to the discussion with his observation.

“Crystal clear,” Cube said around another mouthful of the canapés.

“Still gonna be tough making this work.” Kianti sighed, propping her chin to her palm.

“That's why we took a step back.” Winton shrugged. “Give you two the chance to see that. But I'm guessing it doesn't matter much since you guys are still together and lookin' all crazy in love.”

A horrified look crept to Kianti's face. “In love?” she blurted.

Khan rolled his eyes. “Don't even try it, Key.”

“Please don't,” Winton added. “'Cause you ain't foolin' a soul with that confusion crap.”

“I know, right?” Cube was wiping his hands then. “You look at the guy like he's drippin' in diamonds and he acts like you're the only woman he can see.”

“What do any of you know about lookin' at a woman like she's the
only
woman?” Kianti tried to tease in an effort not to become too heady over the remarks.

The guys pretended to be offended. “We've all loved and lost, Kianti,” Winton shared.

She grinned. “Mmm-hmm. I can definitely believe the ‘lost' part.”

“Seriously, Key.” Cube reached for her hand and smothered it within his own. “We all know what being in love looks like and that dude looks as elated and tortured as anyone we've ever seen. Love's the only reason.”

Kianti brought her hand down over Cube's. “He hasn't said anything about it—about…love.”

“Have you?” Brody asked.

She frowned. “Well, I can't say it before he does.”

The men burst into laughter.

“Typical!” Khan and Cube bellowed in unison.

“We'd have expected more of you, Key.” Winton laughed and used Cube's napkin to wipe a tear from his eye.

“Why are you waiting on him to go first?” Brody asked.

“Because.” Kianti traced a design on the tablecloth. “Men always start looking for the exit when the word ‘love' comes out of a woman's mouth. We have no problem with letting you guys say it first—works better that way.”

Winton was still laughing, but a bit more softly. “Honey, did it ever occur to you that the guy could be terrified that
you'll
be the one who'd be looking for the exit?”

Kianti had no response. Winton leaned across the table to shake hands with Khan once his point had been made.

The lights across the ballroom doused in two rapid flashes before remaining dim. A lone gleam of light was directed toward the podium on the stage. Kianti sat straighter in her chair when she saw Therin behind the mic. She punched Brody's thigh when she heard him chuckle over her reaction.

“Thanks everyone for accepting the invite.” Therin greeted the expansive crowd once conversation had silenced. “It's been my honor for the past five years to host this event. As many of you are aware, my involvement with EYES is quite diversified but it's
this
event that holds a special place. It's a very multifaceted gathering—there are so many important reasons for our coming together this evening.
Money.
” He extended a hand and joined in when the crowd exploded into laughter.

“But seriously, everyone, we're all aware that one of the main reasons EYES is able to do all the incredible things it does is because of its membership.” Therin hesitated while the crowd murmured its agreement. “Members who give their money—yes, but also whose existence in this organization provides a far more valuable element: support. Our vast numbers and the diversity of that support tell all the naysayers that EYES and every organization like it has a place—a necessary place in our society and in the future of our kids.”

Applause filled the soft-lit room.

“In speaking to that value of membership, I'd like
to introduce you all to our newest member, General Shepard Yale, retired U.S. Marine Corps.”

Another wave of applause along with a few calls of “Semper Fi” increased the room volume to a roar. The general made his way to the stage, accepting the greetings with smiles and gracious waves. Once the applause reached the minute mark, he raised his hands for silence.

“Education has taken on a new meaning for me since I've become a grandfather,” he said, nodding toward his family, who was seated at the tables along the balcony level. “After my conversations with our Mr. Rucker here—” he turned and shook hands again with Therin “—I was impressed by the devotion I found in someone so young. This gave me confidence that the EYES organization especially would stand the test of time once old goats like me are long gone.”

There was a warm rumble of laughter and the general went on to discuss what he hoped to bring to the organization. Members of the audience, however, gradually lost interest in the general's comments. It appeared that a scuffle was breaking out at one of the center tables near the front.

The general even quieted as the situation grew more uncontrolled. Soon, everyone's attention was on the table where Marley Terrio struggled over being put in handcuffs.

“What is this?” Therin had left his place a few feet behind the general and stepped to the edge of the stage. He waved for security that was already making their way to the table.

“Call off your dogs, Rucker!” The man attempting
to cuff Marley Terrio raised a badge. His partners followed suit.

Therin raised a hand toward security before they pounced on the badge holders. “Explanations, gentlemen. Fast.”

The man closest to Terrio nodded at his partners. One produced a document from his inside jacket pocket.

“We have a warrant for the arrest of Marley Terrio! The charge—child pornography!”

Silence emerged only to be peppered then by whispers. Marley Terrio appeared to wilt and was unable to answer his wife's panicky questions. The three officials led the man not too gently from the ballroom.

 

Kianti found Therin on his rooftop. She approached him slowly. After a second's hesitation, she rubbed her hand across his shoulder. Therin's reflexes were quick. He grabbed her hand, squeezed and held it close to his cheek.

“I've known Marley Terrio since…hell, ten years, easy—maybe longer…” Therin's sleek brows were drawn close as his frown set deeper. “I can't even begin to describe how committed he is to what we do.”

Kianti kissed his shoulder and then pressed her head to his jacket sleeve.

“He's one of the oldest members…” He shook his head. “Works like a grunt to get things done. He's always the first to volunteer on committees. Every year he's tireless in putting together a charity ball for the kids….” Therin regarded the statement with disdain and then cursed viciously.

“Honey, could this be a mistake?” Kianti leaned next to him against the ledge.

“You don't know how much I pray it is. I can't shake what I saw in his eyes, Key,” he admitted.

“Could've been shock.”

“Because of surprise or because he got caught?” Therin couldn't fight off his cynicism.

“So you do believe he did this?”

After a moment's consideration, Therin shook his head quickly. “I won't condemn him. At least not until I've got all the facts.”

Kianti eased a wayward tendril of hair behind her ear. “What a shame it had to happen here tonight when such great things were in the works.” She flashed Therin a curious look when he laughed suddenly. She couldn't read his expression but could tell that he wasn't in a mood to explain his reaction.

“So what happens next?” she asked while squeezing his biceps in a reassuring fashion.

Therin bowed his head. “Guess we'll talk to his attorney and go from there.”

She smiled, taking time to relish the gorgeous set to his profile. “I'll leave you to your work then.” She didn't notice his gaze when she kissed his temple and moved to leave. He caught her hand before she saw him move.

“What are you doing?”

“You're so busy.” She drew the lapels of her swing coat together. “You're about to be even busier and I don't want to be in your way.”

Therin's smile was a mixture of playfulness and danger. “You're crazy if you think you're leaving me here by myself.”

“Baby.” Her deep gaze softened over his mood. “You've got to focus on this mess. You don't need me hanging around, especially when I have no idea about…the politics of politics, and I don't want one.”

“I don't want one, either.” His smile deepened while his grip on her hand tightened. Soon, they were leaving the rooftop.

 

“You've lost your mind!” Vaughn shouted. “The press is in an uproar. If you leave now, they'll be in a frenzy, and I damn well don't want to be stuck in the middle of it!”

Therin brought a hand down to Vaughn's rigid shoulder. “Cut the act, V. You know you live for this shit, so don't try foolin' me. Besides, Gary, Peter and Morgan are here to shield you from some of it.”

“Hell, Morgan's MIA. I haven't talked to him all day.”

“I hadn't noticed…seemed excited about hearing Kianti play.” Therin's voice held an absent quality as he was more focused on the outraged crowd. “Anyway, I'm about to get lost,” he said, taking note of the reporters pointing toward him and Vaughn.

Vaughn closed his eyes, understanding Therin's vague phrasing perfectly. “Don't do this to me, man.”

“That's why you get paid the big bucks.” Therin clapped Vaughn's shoulder again and winked before making a hasty exit.

He found Kianti shortly after arriving in the packed foyer. Conversation and questions were thrown at him in a crazed manner, but Therin wasn't swayed by any of it. Focusing on Kianti, and the way she radiated calm
amidst the tempest, allowed him to block the events of the past hour. He committed himself to enjoying a stolen moment with the woman he loved.

 

The lobby of the downtown hotel that housed Therin's penthouse apartment was pretty quiet for the hour. Of course, that had a lot to do with the fact that many who resided in the building were either guests at his event or tourists visiting Vancouver and probably out enjoying the night life of the city.

“Fritz.” Therin's greeting to the clerk was soft when he and Kianti approached the gleaming gray marble front desk. He kept her close while signing in and collecting his mail.

Kianti couldn't help but wonder about his mood. He seemed cool enough, but she knew he had to be hurting. It had to be quite a blow to discover someone you admire may not be worthy of that admiration. She didn't believe he'd want to discuss it further that evening, so she remained silent and decided to take her cues from him.

Therin's “cues” weren't difficult to follow. He didn't bother with turning up the lights in the apartment. He tossed his keys to the message desk, pulled Kianti closer and treated her to a deep kiss.

She melted the second his tongue swirled about her own and teased it into an erotic play. She was happy to let him take the lead, which he did with great zeal. There in the foyer, he took her out of her dress while simultaneously doffing his own things. Their clothing was left in a pool on the floor when he carried her to his bedroom.

An added intensity flavored their time together that night. Kianti recognized it as frustration—no doubt over the fiasco that evening. Therin gave as much as he took and what he took was extensive. Low, hungry sounds vibrated from his throat and chest while his mouth traveled freely across her body. When she tried to touch him, he laced his fingers between hers and kept her a prisoner beneath him on the bed that was becoming increasingly tangled. There was a savage urgency in the way he feasted on her nipples. He left them rigid and glistening wet from his attention for only a brief time while he dropped wet kisses to the undersides of her breasts.

Kianti strained against his hold as his mouth worked relentlessly against her. She sobbed into the coverings when he turned her to her stomach and resumed his ravenous feasting upon her back and shoulders.

She thought she'd lose her mind when he nibbled at her hipbone while curving a hand around her waist and thrusting his fingers inside her quivering body. She eased her legs apart to offer him more room to play with her and her hips bucked softly against his mouth until he bit down gently to urge her still.