Page 19 of For Toron's Pride (Toron's Pride 1)

Toron considered this new information. “As a side job when he’s bored, Hawke works as a private investigator.”

“What do you mean when he’s bored? Anyway, I already know about his job.”

“I mean Hawke doesn’t have to work if he doesn’t want to, but my guess is he had something to do with Simeon’s blood appearing to be human.”

“You’re saying he switched the records somehow?”

“Possibly.”

Sienna glanced down at her hands, clasped together so tight he felt her tension. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“What will you do, Sienna?” He stood before her and raised her chin. Electricity pulsed through his being just touching her. Nothing had lessened over the five years since he’d seen her last. He craved her, and beyond that, she seeped into his being, a consummation that refused to be denied.

Sienna’s eyes widened. He saw her weakness toward him, but then she straightened her spine. She would fight him all the way, and that was good. Maybe he would keep his hands to himself. This problem involved his son and nothing else.

“I’ll stay,” she muttered.

He cut off a sigh of relief. They wouldn’t battle on

that head. “Good. You can use your same room, and Simeon can—”

“Hold up.” She raised a hand. “I’m not staying in your house, number one. I can find a place in town, right? A small apartment to rent? And two, I have my own business that I have to figure out what to do with. All of that takes time.”

He frowned. “There’s no reason to rent an apartment. I have plenty of extra rooms, and I can arrange for your business to be—”

“No.” She spun on her heel and started toward the door.

“Sienna!”

She stopped. “I’m doing this for Simi, my baby. I’d do anything for him, so it’s not hard to choose him over business, but make no mistake, you are not controlling my life. Not now, not ever. I raise Simi, and I absolutely don’t want him to turn out like you.”

He narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. “I own several businesses, and I am leader of one of the biggest shifter clans on the east coast. Just what is it that you find so disgusting about me?”

Probably against her will , her gaze swept him from head to toe, and he saw her linger at the front his pants. Toron’s cock twitched, and her stare skittered away in another direction. “I don’t have to point it out. I truly am sorry for keeping him from you. When I think about someone not letting me see or even know about Simi, I feel faint. I realize he’s not human, but I’m going to raise him as one as much as possible. I think he deserves a normal life.”

“He deserves to know his heritage.” Toron approached her with caution as if she were an edgy filly ready to bolt.

“From what you’re saying it sounds like you haven’t accepted what you are, so you can’t know how to help Simeon embrace what he is. Hold on. I’m not trying to insult you.”

She glared at him. He held up hands in surrender.

“I’m just saying there is a lot more to us—to me—than you learned over that weekend. I can show you if you like.”

“I-I don’t think that’s a good idea. You worry about Simi. I’ll take care of myself.” Before he could say another word, she disappeared through the door and shut it quietly behind her. Toron stood where he was listening to the click of her heels echo down the hall . Long after she was gone, her scent lingered in his nostrils.

For Toron's Pride

Chapter Eight

Sienna kicked her heels off and flopped on the bed. She was exhausted. Over the last few weeks, she had been back and forth between New York to Vermont. Rather than move her boutique to Sutland, she had found a small storefront with a tiny apartment over it for less than the rent at her old place. Now she had the boutique in New York and a small venture here. Never in a million years had she imagined expanding so quickly. Of course, that didn’t mean she would sell well in Sutland. The ladies might hate her ideas, but she was will ing to give it a try.

Aside from turning down every conceivable offer of help from Toron, things were looking up. The man wasn’t happy unless he had full control of everything. She wouldn’t accept his help. Her mother had raised her alone after her father died when she was twelve, and she had drilled into Sienna’s head to never make excuses—forge her own way in the world. She had done just that with her boutique.

Keeping Toron out of her business was easier done than banning him from her head. When she had walked into his office, her worry had all been for her baby, but later, boy oh boy, did every touch, every word he’d spoken to her parade through her mind to torment her body and soul. The man was still sexy as hell . If anything, he’d grown more so. Her desire for him had grown, and whenever she was in his presence, she found it hard not to touch him or at the very least not to drink him in with her eyes.

What made it all worse was that Toron seemed to feel the same way. When she walked into a room where he was, he always knew and turned his head to watch her approach. He made up excuses to brush a hand over her skin, to stand close to her. The bastard knew what he was doing, and yet, she believed he could no more help himself than she could. She wouldn’t give in. That couldn’t happen if she wanted peace in this small town.

“Mommy?” Simeon pushed his head around the door. Sienna yawned and held her arms out. “Come here, baby. Mommy needs a hug.”

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