Page 25 (1/2)

I blinked, squinting at the clock Eight thirty Tiotten to bed late, I still preferred catnaps A few hours here, a few hours there, and I was good to go Especially after the sex and the hot bath we’d taken together afterward

I didn’t like water, but Zach had eased ainst his chest as he reached around and washedlided over ain, and he took me there, in the tub I slid up on his lap,his hips He slipped into me from below as I leaned forward to brace my hands on the bottom of the tub, and we’d quietly thrust our way into soapy ecstasy until the water cooled The moment my head hit the pilloas out

Noake but still blurry-eyed, I yawned and eased roaned, then pulled hioofy s me from the inside out, and held out his ar back under the covers to plant a good-ainst the headboard and regarded me with a serious look "Okay, we didn’t talk about this last night, but we need to now What about--"

"Chase?" I finished the sentence for him I still wasn’t ready to discuss the situation, but Zach wanted some sort of explanation, and I felt I owed hiht was incredible I can only hope to God you felt the sa I did We’re meant for each other, Delilah Can’t you feel it? We didn’t just fuck We ue I knew exactly what he was talking about but had been hesitant to vocalize it, not knowing if he’d felt the same way The sex had been fantastic, but even ed, like he’d accepted me fully All of me Fae, human, weretabby, werepantherevery aspect of , and aswhere he couldn’t--or wouldn’t--go

"I know," I said softly "I know But Zach, so ht now Chase and IChase" I held out reen satin, and Chase had given theift from Victoria’s Secret I suddenly couldn’t put them on I stuffed them back in the drawer and found another pair: pale pink, cotton, very simple These were mine My own, my style, my co bra, I turned around to stare at the werepu drink of warht--that’s what Zach was Milk and cookies in the afternoon, oat boots and blue jeans and a leather jacket that s I was, except Fae

"I’m furious that Chase lied towith his old flame, because truthfully, I think I’d like to have both of you in my life But he didn’t tell me the truth, and I feel stupid because of it Now I don’t knohat he wants or what he’s thinking" I sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor as I rested uess I don’t knohat I want I don’t even knohat I’m allowed to want"

I turned and pointed to the mark on my forehead "I haven’t told anybody this yet, but yesterday, during the fight, the Autumn Lord saidhe said that one day his plans includethe one to bear his child If he’s serious, I won’t have a choice I’m bound to him So where does that leave me? As much as Chase wants to be cool with our ways--with the ways of my father’s people--there are limits to what he can accept To what he will accept And he’d never accept so like that Would you?"

Zach stared at me After a moment, he reached over to rub ht now, to be honest I think if the Autu aan ih But I don’t necessarily listen to everything they say Not anymore My latest antics, as the elders call theive you a better answer than that"

I shrugged "I’d rather have you honest about it than lying to h for now So what have you been up to that’s got the council in such an uproar?"

He gavefor City Council In Puyallup"

I stared at hi for City Council I want to be a council on an open platform as a Supe As one of the Rainier Pu me up, and his support is the only reason they haven’t thrown er back at the compound"

I nodded The Rainier Puma Pride--especially the council of elders--were set in their ways They didn’t approve of h we’d saved their butts from the hands of a ruthless serial killer who turned out to be an ancient enemy But we had at least two allies there Both Zachary and Venus the Moon Child, their shaman, stood up for us Thanks to the two of them, the Pride had assisted us on , we’d be persona non grata

"Council tickets if you get in?"

He laughed, a throaty laugh that made me want to bite those beautiful lips of his, but he rolled away, hopping out of the bed to stretch His rimaced and held up his muddy jeans, I tossed his"

He raised his eyebrows as he exchanged them for the robe "It’s pink And not hot pink, either This is bubbleguu "We’ll just wash your clothes before you head home--"

A knock interrupted me As Zach clutched the robe closed, I opened the door to find Iris standing there, a concerned look on her face

"Sharah’s on the phone again, and she needs to talk to you She’s on line one Why don’t you take it while I toss these in the washer? I think we have a spare pair of jeans and a shirt around here that will fit you" She pulled Zach’s clothes out ofopen "Relax, Zachary You haven’t got anything I haven’t seen before," she said with a grin, then quickly gathered up a basket of my dirty clothes from the floor and headed back downstairs

I picked up the phone near my bed We’d installed two extensions on both my floor, the third, and Camille’s, the second Noe didn’t have to run downstairs We’d also signed up for an extra line

"Hey Sharah," I said If Chase had set her to calling for him, I’d chew him out There was no need to stick someone in the middle of our dispute But she sounded frantic

"Delilah, thank the gods I’ve been trying to reach you since last night, but you didn’t call s to attend to Sorry What’s up?"

"It’s about Chase"

"What about hi He’d brought this onto himself, after all