Page 84 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“We’re Housesworn. Even those of us who’ve never been captured have been put through training.”

“Torture training?”

I felt his aborted shudder. “They don’t warn you. No one tells you ahead of time it’s coming. But one day, you’re taken. . .off the street, or from your bed, anywhere. You don’t know until it’sover that it wasn’t real.” He laughed. It wasn’t really laughter. “Real. It feels real. Or what would be the point?”

“Areyouokay?” I asked, looking up. Remembering his words last night.“We would have lived with your destruction for the rest of our lives.”

He pulled away after pressing a kiss on my forehead, his smile empty.

And didn’t answer.

I was sipping my cold brew as Andrei wandered in wearing his loose, low hanging black silk pajama pants. He caressed Constin's pointed ear in greeting as he headed towards me, tension in the set of his shoulders and his intent gaze.

The tension leaped from him to me as he bracketed me against the counter with his arms on either side of my hips. I took another sip of my coffee, noting again that Andrei complemented his kitchen. So matchy matchy.

“Did you brush your teeth this morning?” he demanded, his purr smooth and warm as heated silk. “Unlike some insane people who don't brush until after they eat.”

“He means me,” Constin said, having turned back to the burners. “I’m the insane one. Brushing before you eat is counterproductive.”

“You will never convince me of that.”

I smiled up at Andrei. “I brushed first thing.”

I’d retired from his bedroom to my own to catch at least an hour of rest before rising to get ready for the day. He hadn’t been pleased I’d left him.

Andrei lowered his head. “Then you get your good morning kiss as a reward.”

Constin snorted as soft lips covered mine, pushing my mouth open so a minty fresh tongue—I almost giggled—slipped inside.

As always when he kissed me, I struggled to breathe, moaning in the back of my throat.

“Don't rub it in,” Constin said, “or I'll have to accelerate the timeline. Things are proceeding nicely, but we can skip steps if you press us.”

That was almost enough to distract me, but Andrei reinforced his attentions, claiming my full focus. My hand wavered, and I noted distantly that he plucked the glass away from me and set it on the counter.

When he pulled away, smiling and smug, it took me a moment to retune my vision. “You would have gotten that earlier if you’d been in my bed, stubborn woman. And not only on your mouth.”

Sweet Jesus. I cleared my throat, gripping the counter with one hand.

Andrei pushed away and wandered back to Constin, peering at the various skillets. He sighed. “I'm not in the mood for eggs this morning.”

“You get what the chef gives you,” Constin said.

“The quality of the service here is lacking of late. Almost as if someone thinks I’m distracted.”

Andrei snatched a sausage out of a skillet and began to walk away. I braced, observing the slight relaxation of Constin’shand before he dropped the spatula, whirled, and leaped on his retreating Lord.

“Don't play near a hot stove!” I shouted, dashing forward to douse the flames as the boys wrestled each other to the floor.

I turned and glared down at them. Constin had Andrei on his back, straddling him at the waist, Andrei’s hands pinned above his head.

“Oh. Oh my.” That was not a visual I’d expected this morning and my imagination was plenty active.

“I want my good morning kiss too,” Constin said.

Andrei gave him a baleful glare, lip curling up in a sneer. “When have Ieverkissed you in the morning? Your breath is foul.”

Constin opened his mouth mercilessly wide and blew. Andrei shouted, struggling.

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