Rebel Obsession (20 page)
“I can’t call you Princess?”
Heat filled her cheeks. “Okay, maybe just you.”
He pulled her closer, shielding her. “I don’t want you to go,” he said quietly.
Micah clapped Trace and Sev on the shoulders. “Boys, outside.”
Sev began to protest. “We need to get going. Tristan—”
“Tristan can keep his panties twisted up his ass crack a few minutes longer,” Micah said, finishing Sev’s sentence. “You’re a mated male, Sev. You know how it feels. Let them have a minute to say goodbye, for God’s sake.”
Trace was already outside, and Sev reluctantly followed Micah, glancing over his shoulder at them.
Hurry up,
he mouthed.
Micah smacked his head. “Leave them alone.”
“Hey!” Sev whipped his gaze around, scowling as he brought his hand up to the back of his head, smoothing his hair back into place.
The front door closed and Miriam heard them arguing outside, but turned back to Io. “When can I see you again?” Her pulse quickened as his eyes met hers.
“I don’t know. Soon, I hope.” His hold on her tightened and he pulled her closer. Their noses touched.
“God, Io.” She inhaled his scent. If only she could stay. Dread gnawed her insides, emptiness threatening to take hold. She should be excited about embarking on this new path with him, her mate. All her life, this was what she had wanted, but instead of locking herself away with Io to revel as humans would during a honeymoon, she had to leave him. All because of her father. He ruined everything.
If only they had made love, at least she could take that with her. Would she ever feel him in that way? So much could still go wrong. Her father could still rip Io away from her if he found out what had happened between them.
“How is this going to work?” she said, her voice quiet.
“I don’t know, but it has to.” He kissed her ear, then lower, and still lower, leaving a trail of kisses down the side of her neck.
Leaning her neck to the side ever-so-slightly, she purred.
“That is so damn sexy,” he said, bringing his face around and dipping his forehead against hers as she swiveled her head back toward him.
“What?”
“That you purr when you’re aroused. Like a male does.” Io’s hands skimmed down the small of her back and over the upper swell of her ass.
“Like a male does?” She arched one eyebrow and let her lips brush over his.
He nodded. “I’ve never met a female who purrs like you do. I like it. A lot.”
She raked his broad chest with her fingers. “I like
you.
”
He grinned against her mouth. “I certainly hope so.”
“Oh, I definitely do.”
“We’ll be together, Miriam. I promise. They can’t keep a mated pair apart.”
Her gaze dropped. “
They
aren’t my father. He has a way of seeing things differently.” Why had she been born into such a rigid family? Why did she have to be the princess? Why couldn’t she have a normal father and a normal home life? One where she wasn’t bound to inane rules and laws about who touched her, kissed her, swept her off her feet. Because then being with Io wouldn’t involve what amounted to an act of treason. She wouldn’t have to scheme behind closed doors just to be with him, and she would be free to mate him as nature dictated.
“Surely, he won’t keep a mated male from his mate.”
She wrapped her arms around him, hanging on for as long as she could. “I don’t know, Io. I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“I need to be with you.” His arms tightened around her and he held her close, as if his life depended on it. And as a mated male, it probably did.
“I need to be with you, too.” What were they going to do? How could they make this work without setting off her father or becoming fugitives?
They stood in the hallway, holding each other but not speaking. There were no words to convey how they felt, but the message got through loud and clear. They would find a way to be together. Neither of them would tolerate the separation for long.
Finally, Miriam pulled away. She not only had to battle her father and the separation from Io, but also her addiction. How would she survive? Sure, Io had given her a bottle of the water and elixir, but that would last her only a day or two.
He leaned forward and kissed her. Unlike last night, she was now used to the feel of him and she kissed him back, her lips molding perfectly with his.
She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, savoring every taste, each caress, stretching time in a desperate attempt to remain rooted in place forever.
But forever ended too soon when a knock came at the door.
“Ladies? You ready?”
Io groaned as his mouth stilled on hers. She opened her eyes and met his gaze, frozen in the moment, memorizing every line and contour of his face.
“Time to go,” she whispered. Her heart cried, but she would not shed tears. If she did, it would blur his face, and she didn’t want to remember him that way.
“Uh, yeah,” he called to his companions, clearing his throat. He looked at her. “We will be together, Miri.”
She smiled even if her heart wasn’t in it. “I like that you call me that. Nobody calls me that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s too informal.” No one was allowed to be so casual with her. “But I like it with you.”
“Well, then I’ll make sure to call you that more often.” He took her hand and led her to the door.
“Feel free to do a lot with me more often.” Heat burned her cheeks, her gaze flitting back and forth over his face before lowering, her heart racing. Why did she suddenly feel so bashful?
He stopped and touched her chin, lifting her face so he could look at her. “I’ll remember you said that.” He gave her a lusty look.
Her heart fluttered, and she bit her lip. Io made her body sing with just a single look, his eyes so mesmerizing. “I expect you to teach me many new things, Io.”
“I plan on it.” He kissed her. A chaste kiss, sweet, but full of promise.
When he opened the door, three pairs of eyes turned toward them.
Micah looked at her. “You ready, Miriam?”
“No, but I guess I have to be.” She squeezed Io’s hand as he gave her a reassuring glance.
“Micah, you take care of my female,” Io said, not looking away from her.
His female. Hearing him call her that made her stomach fill with warmth and spin in her belly like a tornado.
Micah rested his hand on Io’s shoulder. “Nothing will happen to her on my watch. Trust me.” Micah looked over his shoulder. “Trace, why don’t you come with? Give Io more peace of mind.”
Trace stepped to her side like a bodyguard then looked at Io, his pale eyes shadowed with confidence. “Mike and I will take care of her.”
Sev shook his head. “No, Trace. Tristan will want you with us at the compound. He’ll want a debrief.”
“Tell Dad I’ll be there as soon as Mike and I know Miriam’s safe.” Trace exchanged glances with Micah, who smirked before heading off to the Suburban. “I’m sure he would want the king’s daughter to be of the utmost importance, right?”
“Fine, whatever. Io, let’s go,” Sev said, waving toward the other Suburban. He sounded irritated, but resigned.
Io locked up the house and joined Sev. “I’ll see you soon, Miri.”
She nodded, hoping like hell he was right. “Soon.” She needed to emphasize the point, as if it wasn’t clear enough that she was going to be miserable without him.
Sadness engulfed her heart as she watched Io climb into the other Suburban while Trace ushered her to the passenger side of the one Micah was in. Io had shown her something no other male had ever shown her. His body had given her a pleasure unlike any she could imagine. God, his hands, his lips, the way he looked when he came. He was a magnificent, virile male.
“Okay, I so didn’t need to see that,” Micah said, putting the Suburban in reverse.
“Huh?” Miriam glanced at him, brow furrowed.
“Io coming.” Micah made a sour face.
Trace chuckled, leaning back and glancing out the window.
Oh, that’s right. Micah could see her thoughts. “Do you mind?” Miriam tucked her hair behind her ear and gave him a stern glare.
“Sorry. Habit.”
“Well, break it around me.” She squirmed. He had seen what had been meant only for her. How rude, if not embarrassing.
“You sound like my mate.” Micah pulled out onto the street and hit the gas. “And don’t be embarrassed. I don’t think much of it, and I can’t stop it, anyway. I’m not trying to be rude.”
“You’ll get used to it, Miriam,” Trace said, his voice flat and unaffected.
She didn’t think she would ever get used to someone invading her thoughts, but there wasn’t much she could do about it, from the way it sounded. Might as well change the subject.
“You’re mated?” she said to Micah. He seemed too full-on military hard-ass to be mated, but then, he
did
have a soft edge to him. After all, he had been the one to kick the others out so she and Io could have a private moment together. She doubted an unmated male would understand such a need.
“Yep, I’m mated,” Micah smiled privately, as if he was remembering some secret moment between him and whoever the lucky lady was.
Trace leaned forward between the seats. “Micah was a real asshole before Sam came along. Amazing what the right female can do for a male.”
Miriam sensed a measure of sadness in Trace’s voice, but he grinned as his pale eyes met hers. Whatever he was thinking would stay hidden behind his congenial façade.
Micah made a left turn. “I think what Trace is trying to say is that you, little Miss Fireball, have made Io a changed male.”
“How so?”
The corner of Micah’s mouth turned up. “I’ve known Io a long-ass time, and I have never—and I mean
never
—seen him behave so admirably with any other female. He looks at you with hearts in his eyes. I’ve never seen him like this.”
Miriam smiled, her heart swelling. “I’m in love with him.” The words came out before she could stop them.
“Duh.” Micah huffed and hit her with those intense eyes of his, flashing a knowing grin.
She grinned back then glanced down at her lap before looking out the window. The day had been incredible. She had experienced things she had only dreamed about, and just remembering how Io’s finger had felt inside her and the way his body had shuddered against hers—
Micah raised one hand off the steering wheel. “Okay, okay, okay. Enough of that. Shit, woman!”
Miriam whipped her head around. Micah was frowning, his jaw clenched. He dashed a sideways glance toward her as he hissed out a heavy, impatient sigh between his teeth.
“Jesus, Miriam! Think of something else, would you? You’re going to get me killed if your father finds out I’ve seen you naked.”
She crossed her arms and leaned to the side, glaring at him. “If you’d stay out of my head, you wouldn’t have to worry about my father.” Really, though, she couldn’t bring herself to be mad at the guy. She was too lovesick.
“Give it up,” Trace said, rolling his gaze toward hers. “Micah dipping into your mind is like breathing or blinking his eyes. It just happens. He can’t stop it.”
“Yeah, but some people are excellent blockers.” Micah shot Trace a glance.
“Hey, I don’t want you roaming through my merry brains. Those are my secrets, brother.”
“What-the-fuck-ever,” Micah laughed low and deep. “You just don’t want me to see those little pink tutus you wear every Friday night when you play with your Barbie dolls.”
“Fuck you, Micah.”
Micah roared with laughter, slapping his hand on the steering wheel.
Trace looked at her and pointed to Micah. “Can you believe this guy? Pink tutus. He knows I only wear the blue ones he gave to me when he outgrew them.” Trace smirked as Micah threw him an eat-shit glance.
“Damn, Trace! Don’t be telling the female all my secrets.” Micah mock-tsked.
Miriam broke into laughter then Trace joined her. She had never felt so at-ease. She didn’t just want to be in Io’s world, she belonged in it. His friends and coworkers were her kind of people, and these two were a riot together.
“You’re not bad yourself, Miri,” Micah said, grinning.
“Stop it!” Miriam slapped his arm.
All three erupted into laughter again, and Miriam didn’t even realize she wasn’t thinking about her next hit of cobalt…or her father.
Io’s world was good for her. No, it was perfect.
Io already felt lost without Miriam, and they had only just parted.
“How’s it feel?” Sev said.
“What? Being mated?”
Sev nodded.
Io thought for a second as a gentle smile curved his lips. “Fucking awesome, but a bit scary.”
“Why scary?” Sev glanced at him then looked back at the road.
“Because I don’t want to lose her.” No, that wasn’t it. “Because I
can’t
lose her. If her father denies my claim to her….” Io shuddered. He couldn’t even think about the king denying his right to Miriam without having a physical reaction. “And the
calling,
Sev. Damn, he can’t deny me if I’m her mate, right?”
“I don’t know, Io. I can’t believe he would do something like that. It’s against the law to deny a male’s mated claim to a female, but….” Sev took a heavy, worried breath. “This is Miriam we’re talking about.”
Io’s foot tapped restlessly. He fisted and unclenched his hands over and over. He was a nervous wreck without her. How could he survive if he wasn’t allowed to see her?
“Shit, Sev! Is this what it was like for you and Ari?” Io blurted out the question, frustration and aggravation raising his voice.
Sev nodded. “I was fucked up for real, man. You saw. You were there. I got my chest blown open because I didn’t give a fuck and got careless. All because I thought I couldn’t have him. And now?” Sev shook his head. “If anything happened to Ari, I’d die. I know I would.”
“Shit.” Io was beginning to see just how undeniable the mating call was. Even if Arion had been strictly hetero, he would never have been able to refuse the mating call to Sev. To do so would have meant insanity or death if Ari was connected to Sev the way he was to Miriam.