Yes, the chest was best left in Siobhan’s safekeeping. He didn’t regret his decision to give it to her. But if her motives changed, if for one second Siobhan thought that the chest would give her an advantage in her efforts to depose Mikhail, Ronan’s decision could mean his death. Until that time, however, he chose to give Siobhan his trust.
“I didn’t like seeing her mouth on you.” In order to break their troth, Ronan and Siobhan had been required to share blood again. For him, the act had been as erotic as taking a bite from an apple. Siobhan, however, had used the opportunity to push Naya’s buttons. “It took all of the self-control I had not to rip her away from you.”
Naya shouldn’t have had to witness it. Ronan wanted her to leave, but if he’d asked her to it would have made Siobhan think that he lacked faith in the tether that bound him to Naya. And as painful as he knew it would be for her, it was important that Siobhan see them as a united front. “Believe me, love, I didn’t like having it there. But now I’m free of her and that’s all that matters.”
“Drinking blood is sexual for you. She was aroused. She didn’t even try to hide it.”
True, Siobhan had taken his vein with all the subtlety of a feline in heat. “She didn’t,” Ronan agreed. “But it meant nothing to me. Taking her vein was a means to an end.”
“I’ve never felt like that before, Ronan. I’ve never been jealous in my entire life. But tonight, watching her, I thought it would eat me alive. I’m still not even close to being level.”
“Now you know how I felt the night Joaquin claimed you as his,” Ronan replied with a smirk. “I wanted to rip his throat out for even thinking that you belonged to him. The tether is absolute, Naya. There is no halfway. I will want you, and only you, until the day I die. And that want is all-consuming.”
“I know,” Naya said on a breath. “The way I want you, it burns through me, Ronan. And the only thing that can quench that fire is you. I want all of you, Ronan. Your body. Your blood. Your heart and soul. And I won’t ever want anyone else.”
His foot eased off the gas and Ronan gripped the steering wheel in his fists. That all-consuming want prompted him to turn the hell around and race back to his apartment. Mikhail could wait until tomorrow night, couldn’t he? Ronan sighed as he pressed down on the accelerator. He might have broken one troth tonight, but the one that he would never ignore was the one made to his king. There was a lot that Mikhail needed to be made aware of, and Ronan had a feeling he needed to be brought up to speed on a thing or two as well. Namely, Jenner.
“Just promise me that you won’t ever let her put her mouth on you again and I can get past the urge to stab her with something sharp.”
Ronan laughed. How he loved his fiery mate. “My sacred vow is yours, love. Never again. But what I got in exchange for a few moments with Siobhan tonight was well worth the sacrifice for me.”
“What did you get?” Naya asked coyly.
Ronan pulled into Mikhail’s driveway and cut the engine of his Vanquish. “I got you.” He leaned in to kiss her. Slowly. “From this night forward, I’m free to love my mate however and whenever I wish.”
Naya kissed him back and Ronan reveled in the petal softness of her lips. “I’m not kidding, Ronan. If she touches you again, I’m going to run my dagger through her chest,” Naya said much too sweetly for her threatening words.
Ronan groaned into her mouth. They needed to wrap up this night so he could get her back home and into bed. “Gods, how I love a woman with a violent streak.”
“Is that so?” Naya asked with the same innocent charm.
“I love you, Naya.” He could no longer feel playful. His want for her—his love—was too damned intense for levity. “Gods, how I love you.”
Her dark eyes shimmered with emotion. “I love you, too. Forever.”
A presence drew Ronan’s attention and he looked over to see Mikhail standing in the open doorway of his house, watching them.
“You know, the faster we get done here, the faster we can go home,” Naya said. She nibbled at his bottom lip and Ronan’s cock jumped to attention, pressing against his fly.
“One last conversation for the night and I’m yours.”
Naya pulled away and opened her door. “Mine. I like the sound of that. Now, let’s get a move on. We haven’t properly christened the bed yet.”
Seven pieces of furniture down, five or so more to go.…