Up in Flames (9 page)

“Beena didn’t tell me you were there, Chris,” Hayden said with a smile.

“Sorry. I was taking care of something out of sight. Alex isn’t ambassador anymore. You’re now addressing the new Chancellor Dorn.”

Cara’s eyes widened. She ran around the desk and stared in surprise at Alex.

“Cara,” Hayden growled, but she ignored him.

“You’re chancellor? When did Dad appoint you?”

“When he found out about the Mundi. That way, if he was killed, the title would automatically revert to me and hopefully at least stall the Order’s plans for you. I don’t think he ever expected them to start a war.”

“It didn’t take the Mundi long to go after Alex once it was made public his new position as leader of Bellara,” Chris explained. “They must’ve been watching him due to his connection to Cara. Watch your back, Hayden. We’re not sure he wasn’t followed to Daego. If they’re there, it won’t take them long to track her down.”

Hayden glanced up at Cara, whose eyes suddenly went wide with concern.

“Son of a bitch,” Hayden growled. “I doubt they’re here. As an exclusive resort town, Daego keeps a close tab on who’s allowed in. It’s unlikely they got clearance.”

“I agree, but just in case.”

Hayden nodded.

“Dad and Uncle Taron are on their way to escort Alex back to Daego for now. A fact he’s not exactly thrilled with.” Alex rolled his eyes. Hayden smirked in amusement. Not being thrilled was an understatement. “Dad told him to shut up his bitching about it, or when he got here he’d tie his damn tongue.”

Hayden snickered. “He’ll do it too, Alex.”

Alex’s lips twisted, making Hayden grin.

“They should be there sometime tomorrow evening,” Chris said.

“How many Mundi went after Alex?” Cara asked.

“Two,” Alex replied. “I had the advantage of knowing they were there without their knowledge, thanks to the security system Sidious installed. It was the only thing that gave me the upper hand.”

“Were you hurt?” Cara asked.

“Nothing serious. How are you holding up?”

Cara shrugged. “Other than nightmares, I’m okay.”

“She’s actually healing very quickly. Much faster than I expected. By the time you arrive, she’ll probably be at her previous strength. Physically, at least,” Hayden offered.

“Dad said to reset the parameters of the security system, and for God’s sake get the staff out of the house,” Chris said. “Just in case they’ve found her.”

“Beena will refuse to go.”

“Beena always refuses to go when we’ve used the lake house as a safe haven. Tell her Dad said so. She’ll listen to that.”

Hayden snorted but didn’t say anything more. He knew Beena. This was her home, and she’d always refused to leave it unless his mother was leaving with the kids; then she went wherever the kids went. If Hayden stayed, mostly likely she would. She trusted his dad to keep them safe, but Sidious wasn’t here. It was just him.

For the first time in his life, he wished he’d had the combat training Chris and Jonah had gone through. He knew how to fight, and he could certainly hold his own against most foes, but a trained killer with skills of a Mundi was another matter. The fact that Alex had defeated two impressed the hell out of Hayden.

Alex shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing in pain. Hayden looked closely at Alex’s creased brow and sweaty upper lip. He was hurting. It looked as though Alex hadn’t come out of this as unscathed as he wanted Cara to believe.

“Cara?” Hayden said. “Would you go to the kitchen and get Beena for me, please?”

Cara frowned for a second before nodding and leaving the office. Once she was gone, Hayden turned back to the screen. “She’s gone. What happened to Alex?”

Alex eyebrow rose in surprise. “Damn, you’re astute.”

“I’m a doctor. I recognize the signs of pain on someone’s face. Talk.”

“I was stabbed twice. Once just below the ribs on the left. Once in the lower right side. That one was his long sword, which went clean through and out my back. My jaw was broken, as well as my eye socket. Not to mention the bones in my right hand when I decided to try and fight back. Chris found me trying to get up off the damn floor.”

“Yeah,” Chris drawled. “Imagine my surprise finding Alex here lying between two dead Mundi.”

Hayden snorted. “You’ll have to explain to me later just how the hell you managed that.”

“I’m sure it’s on the security cameras. Do not tell Cara,” Alex ordered.

“No, trust me. That’s the last thing she needs to hear. I’m assuming since you’re talking you’ve been looked at.”

“Yes. It’s not life threatening. Just hurts like a son of a bitch.”

“Pain will be gone by tomorrow,” Hayden said. “Provided you don’t do anything stupid.”

Alex snorted. “Famous last words, considering I apparently live for stupid. Today’s actions are proof of that.”

“Don’t we all?” Hayden smiled. “I think leaping without thinking is built into the Marcone male DNA. Looks like you fit right in, Alex.”

“Oh, trust me,” Alex drawled. “You definitely don’t want to think when attacking a Mundi. If you did, you’d realize just how stupid that is.”

Hayden snickered softly.

* * * *

Hayden clicked on the computer controls that would turn on the shading in the windows. Once the windows darkened, no one would be able to see in, even if the lights were on. It was an unusual security feature designed by his father and Uncle Taron that literally made the house invisible at night.

Beena stuck her head in the office door. “I’m heading to bed. Would you like something before I turn in?”

“No, Beena. I would feel better if you go with the rest of the staff.”

Beena stepped into the room, a soft smile of understanding and motherly love on her face. “I have always stayed with you boys, Hayden. Always. If your father was protecting someone here and you and your mother left the house, I left with you. If you stayed, I stayed with you. I never had children. You, Chris, and Miya are as close to my own as I will ever have. I’m not leaving.”

Hayden stood and walked over to her. He grasped her upper arms and gave her a firm look. “Beena, you’re almost as stubborn as my mother.” He bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Good night, mother hen,” he said.

She touched his cheek before leaving the room. Cara walked in just two seconds later, a cup of hot tea in each hand. “I wasn’t sure if you would want tea.” She shrugged. “So I just brought you one.”

He took it from her outstretched hand and smiled. “Thank you.”

“Is everything in place?” she asked.

Hayden took a sip of tea before responding. “As my mother would say, it’s locked up tighter than Fort Knox.”

She frowned. “What’s Fort Knox?”

“Something from my mother’s world.”

“Where’s she from?” Cara asked.

“Earth.”

“Isn’t that the planet that helped defeat the prime minister—what was it?—over thirty years ago?”

Hayden nodded and leaned his hips against the desk. “Sort of. The prime minister was in the process of invading Earth when the rebellion finally got the upper hand.”

“And your father and uncles were behind that rebellion, right?”

“Yes. My father was in the militia, pretty high in rank actually, but went in for the sole purpose of being a mole for the rebels. He was in for ten years.”

“That’s a long time to be undercover.”

“It is, but it was in that tenth year when he met Mom. She was a slave taken from Earth. So despite how long it took them or how tired he was of it, he believes that things happened the way they were supposed to.”

Her gaze took on a wistful look. “Does he love your mother very much?”

“More than anything,” Hayden replied softly. “They’re always touching each other, smiling at each other. Boy, they can fight, though.”

Cara smiled slightly. “Fight?”

“Oh, yeah. Mom has a temper. Dad does too, but Mom… She can put Dad in his place and good.” He smiled softly at the memories. “I think as kids we were more afraid of her than Dad. My baby sister, Miya, is just like her.”

“Are you like your dad?” Cara asked, genuinely curious.

“Mom says I am. Dad says he sees more of Mom in me. Chris, though, is just like Dad.”

Cara stared into her cup of tea. “I have no idea who I’m like. My father always said I had the personality of a stone.”

He watched sadness fill her eyes and wanted desperately to take it away.

“I have no idea what marriage looks like. Or love for that matter. My dad didn’t… He spent all his time working, moving our home toward a peaceful union with the senate. I’m not sure I ever saw Alex date anyone either. Not seriously anyway, but then what would I know about relationships and love, so who knows? I just know I don’t remember him being affectionate toward a woman.”

“I’ve seen personality in you, Cara. It’s developing more and more every day.”

She looked up at him hopefully. “Really? What’s it like?”

“You’re inquisitive.”

She scoffed. “That’s just because I’m an idiot when it comes to emotions.”

Hayden’s lips twitched again. “You’re stubborn.”

She inclined her head. “Dad was stubborn.”

“You’re playful.”

She frowned. “Playful? What exactly is playful?”

“You like to tease and laugh.”

“Oh.”

She held his gaze, making Hayden’s cock twitch in need. She looked good tonight, with her hair down and damp from her shower. The jeans clung to her thighs and hips perfectly, outlining her impressive hourglass figure.

He really needed to think of something else besides how good her body looked or how much he wanted to kiss those full lips. Otherwise he’d find himself in the same predicament as this morning.

“I think you’re sexy,” she said softly. “That’s not really a personality trait, though, is it?”

Hayden snorted. “You’re definitely not subtle.”

“I’ve always been blunt. I had no reason not to be. Because I didn’t feel emotion, I had no reason to lie to preserve someone’s feelings. I’m not even sure I know how to lie.”

“That’s a good thing, Cara. Too many people lie, in my opinion.”

“I suppose,” she murmured. “So what do we do now? It’s too early to go to bed. I suppose I could eat again.”

Hayden chuckled. “Where do you put it?”

She glanced down at herself and shrugged. “I’ve always eaten a lot. I work it off.”

Hayden’s mind went to other ways of working off calories—like sex. After the way she bucked and screamed this morning, Hayden had a feeling sex with Cara would be one wild ride. He’d thought about it all day. Pictured all the different ways he could take her, all the fun things he could show her, experience with her.

Shaking his head, he told himself he had no business doing that. He was supposed to help her get better, not initiate her into the wicked world of sexual exploration. Unfortunately, with every day that passed, it became harder and harder to keep his hands to himself.

“Of course…”

Hayden looked across the room at Cara as she leaned her shoulder casually against the door frame. She licked her lips slowly, and his cock tightened behind his zipper. The woman made him crazy without even trying.

Desire sparked in the light blue of her eyes, and Hayden wondered if maybe she was trying.

“Of course what?” he asked.

“We could always do what we did this morning again.”

Hayden swallowed. He wanted to—really badly—but there was no way in hell he could make her come with his hand and not take her.

“Oh, yeah. Definitely not subtle,” he murmured. “This would be one of those times when it’s okay to lie.”

“Why would I lie?”

Sighing, Hayden tried to think of something to say. “I’m your doctor, Cara. I’m supposed to be making you better, not seducing you.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything.

“How about a game?” he asked.

CARA SCRUNCHED HER nose, which to her delightful surprise, made Hayden chuckle again. “What game are we playing?” she asked.

Hayden walked past her and curled his finger, indicating she should follow him. “I think I should teach you poker.”

“I already know poker. My father played.”

Hayden stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder. Mischief sparked in his eyes as he replied, “I bet you have a hell of a poker face.”

Chapter Ten

Cara stayed behind him and let her gaze wander slowly over his strong back and hips. His wide shoulders were encased in a snug deep blue shirt that made the gray in his eyes appear slightly darker. The color suited him, and she definitely liked the way his white hair lay against the dark blue fabric.

Her fingers itched to slide through those strands again. Cara bit her lip. She didn’t want to play a game. Being in the same room with him without touching was the last thing she wanted to do. All day she’d done nothing but think about this morning. His kiss, his touch, the way his body felt against hers. That was what she wanted. To feel that incredible sensation again. To feel safe and secure. To be in his arms once more.

She’d never had anything feel so right. It was as though she was exactly where she was supposed to be. Why was he fighting her on this? Could she seduce him? Did she even know how?

Maybe she should play this card game with him. Maybe if she paid close enough attention, she could find out what would push him over the edge. What would she have to do to get him to kiss her again? Or should she just kiss him like she did this morning?

She followed Hayden into the den. He set his cup on the small round card table in the corner, then went to pull a deck of cards off the row of bookshelves that lined the far wall.

“I have to ask,” he began as he pulled the cards from the box and sat down at the table.

Cara took the seat across from him. “Ask what?”

“How the hell did Alex fend off two Mundi?”

“He was trained in Mundi techniques,” she replied.

Hayden’s hands froze. His eyes narrowed slightly. “By who?”

“Me.”

He frowned and leaned his forearms against the table. “Why?”

Cara smiled slightly at his surprise. “Why not? I could train you also if you wanted.”

Hayden shook his head and sat back up. “Out of all the men in my family, I’m probably the least likely to take you up on that.”