“Oh, my God.” Tiffani’s eyes were round with surprise. “I’m a waitress from Milwaukee. I’m really not that interesting.”
I sighed. “That was just yesterday.”
Tia crossed her arms with a snort. “You can’t hide her in your bedroom forever, Commander.”
Tiffani started to laugh, but still blushed furiously, and reached out to place her hand on Tia’s forearm. “Thanks for the warning.”
Tia looked confused by the touch—my mate was very into touching—but then grinned. “Well, we are family now. And we women need to stick together.”
“That reminds me,” Engel said.
We all looked to him as he pulled something from his pants pocket. It was a small pouch, black with a gold pull string.
“This is for you.” Engel held the pouch out to Tiffani, but looked at me. “A peace offering and apology. Welcome to the family, Tiffani.”
Tiffani took the proffered bag and opened it, letting the contents fall into her small hand. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
The clenched muscles in my neck and jaw relaxed as I saw the necklace. Links of gold entwined with graphite designs engraved with the symbols of our family line. This was the gift I had refused while in the prison cell. But this time, Tia did not offer it to me, but to my mate.
As if reading my mind, Engel looked up at me. “Since Tiffani is your mate and this is a family heirloom, we felt she should have it.”
I glanced at Tia to see if she agreed. She nodded. “It will look great with that dress, Tiffani.”
Tiffani held up the gift, offering it to me. “Will you help?”
“Of course.” I would always help her, be the task large or small.
I lifted the necklace from her palm and ran my fingers along the familiar metal links. I remembered it well. “I used to sit on my grandmother’s lap and play with this when I was very small. I liked the way the lights reflected off the gold.”
“Perhaps our son will do the same someday.” Tiffani offered the vision and turned her back to me. Opening the clasp, I draped the costly jewelry around her neck, leaning to place a kiss on her shoulder. Now I could not stop envisioning my son on Tiffani’s lap, his chubby little hand reaching for the golden links. Truly grateful and humbled by the gift, I released her to face Engel.
“Very generous, Councilor. And it looks perfect on my mate. Thank you.”
Tiffani put her hand on the cool links then offered her thanks as well.
Another couple came to stand beside Engel. He glanced at them and nodded. “You have more guests to greet. We won’t keep you.”
Engel nodded and took Tia by the arm, steering her toward the refreshment table as Tiffani’s words chased them. “Call me, or whatever. I want to go shopping soon!”
“You got it!” Tia’s grin was filled with joy and I let my anger with Engel go. He was an old man playing an age-old game. I’d done my duty. Turned him in. It was time for me to let go of the past and enjoy my future with my new mate.
Tiffani
While I was enjoying the party, I had the same thoughts as Deek. I wanted to leave and get my mate naked. I was used to seeing him either in his armor or naked, but in fancy clothes, in what I thought of as an Atlan tuxedo, he looked… incredible. Edible.
And yet I had been the one to promise Sarah we would remain until the final guests were gone. Therefore, I had to restrain myself and resist my mate until the very end. If I even mentioned an interest in leaving, or even in just finding a quiet room somewhere and having an Atlan quickie, Deek would have tossed me over his shoulder and shouted out a goodbye. And so I just reveled in his constant attention, his constant touch, and enjoyed something I’d never had before—a smoking-hot man’s undivided attention.
It was because he was always touching me that I sensed a change in him before anyone else. His hand became hot to the touch, as if he were feverish. He became restless. His eyes, which had been calm and content all evening, now darted at every man who passed, searched every shadow for danger. He moved closer to me, hovering to the point of being ridiculous.
I appreciated the fact that he was protective, but this was a bit extreme. It was literally as if he couldn’t be more than a few inches from me. He held me around the waist or shoulder at all times, forcing our bodies to touch constantly. He spoke less to the guests. Within a matter of minutes he was reduced to single-word replies. Grunts, even.
I looked up at him and noticed he was sweating and tugging at the collar of his shirt. His skin was flushed and his eyes were dark, so much darker than I’d seen. Except when—
Oh, shit.