FOREVER KNIGHTS: #5 Subjugation of Beasts

She shot up a panicked look. Blue eyes suddenly vulnerable.

Bast met it squarely. Lightly tugging her closer.

She took a jerking step forward.

“Why will you come down for him?” He pressed.

“Because he said it’d be pretty vengeance for my…hurt.” She said slowly.

“And was it?” Bast’s gold brow shot up.

She gave a grudging tilt of her head. Her other hand floating in a helpless gesture.

“If you want my attention you need only ask. You have it.”

Always.

“I…” She thought to tug her hand again and he let it slip away. So distracted by the motion, she didn’t notice his other hand wrapping her lower back to draw her against him.

“You look like an angel.” His face dropped to her hair near her neck.

And I should know.

“What are you doing?” She cried under her breath. Peering over his shoulder.

“They can be damned! I’ve missed your smell…In my library, in the foyer, on the stairs, in the hall…In my bed…In your bed.” He said huskily.

“Sebastian! Cease!”

I can’t.

“I’ve missed you.”

“Is this because you’re jealous?” She pushed against his chest, but he didn’t release.

She’d push a lot harder than that if she meant it.

“No.” He shook his head emphatically. “It’s because it’s the first time in days you’ve been close enough for me to get my hands on you.”

“B-but…Dinner.” She mouthed. Fear entering her eyes.

Fear? Of me.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Afraid. I haven’t hurt you.”

“It’s not…It’s…not you, I fear.” She admitted. Surprising him.

“Then what?”

“I…”

He glanced in her mind and heard the thought she couldn’t say. Myself!

She fears herself?

Around me? Great news. He drew a steadying breath. And loosened his grip slightly.

She took a small step back. Gnawing her lip in a way that made him want to gnaw her lip.

Rhyers stepped back to the side of them. Looking at Bast a long moment. Who still couldn’t tear his eyes from the woman before him, like a hungry predator with an eye on prey.

“My, my…” Rhyers murmured. “Aren’t you intense tonight?”

Bast gave him a sideways look.

“How about some dinner?” He’d taken Dorena’s hand and led her to the table. Noticing she still stared at Bast’s back brokenly. They walked the length of the table to examine the stewed vegetables boiled in duck fat, a pork roast had been slow cooked in the fireplace, and there was a pile of pastries on an inviting silver platter. A bit of red jam seeping from them.

“Strawberry!” Dorena said, feigning more excitement then she seemed to feel. “My favorite!”

Elsabet’s head spun to her. Eyes falling to the pastry then turning on Bast accusingly.

He grinned unabashedly. “I’d hoped you’d come down eventually.”

“You’re not amusing.”

As you’ve told me on countless occasions.

They walked to the table and Bast pulled out the chair for her.

She gave him a wary look as he slid it into the table with her atop it. Taking the seat next to her.

Dorena and Rhyers circled the table to be next to them. More at Dorena’s insistence, as she pulled out the chair on the other side of Bast whom barely spared her a glance.

Rhyers gave a warning shake of his head, but Dorena pointedly ignored him and sat. Untucking her long blonde hair to fall over the chairback. Nearly matching the shade of her cream gown and gold slippers.

She looked ravishing.

And Bast couldn’t have cared less. He was murmuring affectionately to Elsabet when he felt a caress along his other shoulder.

“Don’t.” He snapped at Dorena critically.

You’re trying to make her jealous. Don’t do that. He shook his head, lips tight. I won’t have you provoking her.

Dorena withered in her seat. And Bast felt a pang of remorse. He liked Dorena.

Rhyers shrugged as he took his first bite, having seen Bast’s reaction coming a mile away.

She is sweet. Bast knew. But he’d no tolerance for women using him to make others jealous or staking some claim on him. Claim they don’t have anyway.

I’m not property. His teeth gritted slightly. But it did occur to him that he’d never mind Elsabet hanging on him in such a way. Damn anyone that was jealous of her then!

When he looked back at Elsabet she blinked wide eyes. Clueless as to the weird slant of his thoughts.

“What?” He asked her.

“I’ve never heard you snap at anyone like that.”

You’ve never been in a position too.

By now Rhyers engaged Dorena in conversation to assuage her wounded pride. Complimenting her on her beauty. And the fitted gown.

“How’d you think I’d react?”

“Not like that?” Her brow furrowed slightly. As she gave him an assessing study.

“I’ve told you.” He lifted the wood fork to his lips. “I can be quite cruel.”