Excerpt
Serena scowled as she worked on Wesley’s tattered back. The
General’s hand, his father’s hand, was crueler than even she realized. He was
in considerable pain but hissed through his breaths with controlled ease. Her
anger rattled her breaths as she grabbed the nearby bandages.
“Sit up,” she ordered.
Wesley sat up on the bed turning to face
her. He removed the remains of his shirt leaving her face to face with his
naked chest. Several white scars decorated it, but her eyes rested on the
well-formed mountains he had for muscles. His abs were perfect. His whole body
reminded her of a warrior God. A blush grew on her cheeks as she remembered
feeling his muscles through his shirt, but now she could see them without
interference. She sucked in a breath, trying to focus on the task while her eyes
wandered every inch of him.
A smirk crossed Wesley’s face. He gently
grabbed her hand, pulling her closer.
“Do you like what you see?” He held her
hand against his chest. She could feel his muscles shift with his every breath.
It ignited a warmth in her stomach she tried to control.
Her face flushed, and she pulled back steadying her breaths. “Stop distracting
me,” she said, unrolling the bandage and holding it to his chest as she reached
around him to wrap his back. He placed his hand over hers. The warmth of the
touch drew her eyes to his. The look in them held her still. Without words she
could feel his every thought. The blush on her cheeks grew as the fire in her
stomached grew even hotter.
“Stop,” she breathed.
“Are you sure you want me to?”
Serena took a deep breath that filled her
nose with myrrh. She nearly whimpered at how it only seemed to make things
worse but still she pulled her hand away. She focused on the bandages. The
soft, cold bandages. The feel of his naked body against her arms continued to
fluster her. His breaths seemed to pull her closer as she tried to finish
quickly. Wesley grabbed her waist and pulled her tight. She tripped into him,
her momentum almost knocking him onto his back. He chuckled, holding her close
as his arms wrapped around her. She glared down at him, while a playful grin
covered his face as he looked up at her.
“I fear I am a distraction.” He smirked.
Daryl left the room as she bent her head down towards his, so her lips hovered
above Wesley’s. There was a hunger in his eyes. She felt it too, but she refused
to let him know so easily.
“I may be distracted,” she said, letting
her eyes drop to his lips before gently licking her own. He edged up towards
her. “but it isn’t enough for me to lose focus.” She pushed him back a smirk
gleaming on her lips as she returned to the bandages. Wesley sat stiffly,
almost pouting as she finished. His eyes carefully watched her ever move. She
began to wash her hands in the basin when he bolted up behind her and snatched
her waist. She yelled out, his warmth and presence keeping her assassin
instincts at bay as he spun her, pinning her between the pole of his bedframe
and him.
“You’re finished now. So, stop teasing and
kiss me,”
“Is that an order?”
“We both know I cannot order you to do
anything.”
She smirked and leaned up to him. His lips
laid on hers. A gentle kiss that filled her with a warmth that chased away the
darkness that suffocated her heart. He kissed her harder, igniting the hunger
she barely kept at bay. He pulled her waist tight, drawing her even closer to
him. She gasped at the sensation, continuing their kiss as she moved her hands
to his neck and cheek. She carefully avoided his back as she tried to feel as
close to him as possible. Her hands wandered as his possessively held her
still.
“Can you please not,” said a voice. She
looked at the door, lust heavy in her eyes as she saw Sam. Her stomach dropped
as she understood what he just saw.
“Sam-”
“I know you chose him; I’d just not like to
see it. Now I was here on business, not pleasure like some people.” He said
coldly.
“Sam, that isn’t what-” she started feeling
the pain that was in his eyes. It felt like tiny shards of glass piercing her
skin.
“Enough, Serena!” he snapped angrily. “I
don’t have anything to say to you.” She flinched at those words. The pain
quickly turned to anger as she moved past Wesley to Sam. He would not talk to
her like that. Of all people he knew better.
She shoved him back into the parlor. He
stumbled catching himself before he fell.
“Don’t disrespect your better. You want to
keep things all about business. Fine, then remember who is above you, Viper.”
She growled. He glared back at her.
“Fine Sparrow, but I wasn’t here to talk to
you. So, if you don’t mind.” He growled, turning to Wesley.
“What do you want?” Wesley asked, an edge
of annoyance in his voice. She wasn’t sure who he was annoyed at.
Sam looked at Wesley’s bandages and
scoffed. “I’ve figured out how I can help. I want you to add me to your guards.
Once I’m in, I can get into the King’s personal guard. I’ll earn his trust.”
“Can I trust you to not stab me in the
back?”
Sam let out a cynical laugh. Serena felt
more on edge with that laugh. Her muscles primed for an attack.
“Trust? Is that how you convinced her? I don’t
need you to trust me. I can do this without your help if I want, but we all
decided on a plan. I just need you to work with me. I’ll repay the favor.”
“That doesn’t answer the question,”
“You truly do not understand assassins.” He
looked at Serena a look of mockery on his face. “We do what we must for our own
gains. Why she stands by your side is as perplexing as why the moon shines when
the sun is out. It is useless.” Sam stepped closer to Wesley who stood stiffly
glaring at him. “Do you see yourself holding onto the things you want without
my help? A few months from now summer will be in full swing. It will be the
perfect time for an invasion, especially since Acreage won’t be sweltering hot
like the Samorians are used to. Can you really refuse me?” His eyebrows raised
to match his smirk.
“Viper,” Serena warned. Sam rolled his eyes
and looked at her.
“I won’t hurt your toy. I refer to your
station as long as you keep it, but the moment you lose it I won’t,” he warned.
She took a deep breath, knowing what he
meant. If Gwayne heard of her relationship with Wesley, she’d lose her standing
in the assassins. Gwayne would destroy her. If Sam didn’t attack her first.
Looking at him, she wasn’t sure if he was still her ally or just a convenient
blade hired out of necessity. When the necessity ended, was he willing to turn
against her? Seeing the pain and anger in his eyes. She knew the answer was
yes. So, she needed to make sure he still needed her regardless or she would
suffer the fallout.
“You should remember if you want your name
cleared you need me.” she retorted.
“Then perhaps when we no longer need each
other, I can sever the heart you’ve so enjoyed stabbing.” She felt the pain in
her own heart as if he stabbed hers. She held it back. “I expect to be added to
the guard’s tomorrow. Be sure it’s done,”
He left the room falling into silence.
Serena stood still a few moments calming herself. She still cared for Sam. They
grew up together. He was her first everything. His pain was her pain. For so
long pain and love had been the thread connecting them. For their history to
stop controlling her future she could have to sever their bond, but not until
it was safe.
“I should get back to Helen’s. We all have
work to do.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Wesley said, throwing
on a new white shirt. She looked over at him and sighed.
“I’m fine. I want to walk alone. I want to
think.”
Wesley watched her walk to the door.
“Make sure to rest,” she said as she opened
the door. Wesley closed the distance between and pressed the door shut. His
body nearly draped over hers as she stood looking at the door.
“Serena,” His hot breath caught in the
collar of her shirt sending shivers down her spine.
“I should go.”
“I don’t want you to.”
Her knees felt weak hearing those words.
She inhaled deeply the scent of myrrh reminding her he was behind her. Not that
she could forget. His heat was suffocating, and she didn’t care that her lungs
refused to work.
She wanted to be lost with him. Lost from
the world full of problems she needed to fix.
“Serena-”
“Stop.” She said forcing herself to think
and not give in. Her body and heart roared against her mind. They refused to be
ignored but staying would make everything more dangerous. The General could
find out. That thought alone warned her that this was not the time to forget
what must be done.
“Not tonight.” Her voice nearly wavered. “There is
work to be done, and if I stay...” She couldn’t finish the sentence. She opened
the door and Wesley stepped back letting her walk alone into the halls. Serena
focused. There was no time for distractions.
