Page 69 of Dishonor Among Thieves
Gia and Rain traded nervous glances and looked at me, as if expecting me to explain or tell them more. I was exhausted, sore from Corabel’s blow. Drained from nearly losing everything just moments, it seemed, after I’d finally, finally had anything to call my own. A husband. A family. A home. I would have sacrificed myself and killed Haeloc today. Could have been killed myself. I agreed with Neo, though. There was nothing more to say, so I gave a weak nod of agreement.
Rain studied my face and then gripped his wife’s hand. “As you wish, brother,” he agreed. “We’ll speak of it no more.”
Gia pressed her lips flat and nodded. “What will become of the children?” she asked. “Antonia has been creating quite the fuss about room assignments and bedding, and…”
Neo waved a hand at his sister-in-law. “Anything she wants,” he said. “Set the children up in rooms. This is their home now.” He looked at me. “Assuming that’s all right with their mother?”
I pressed my lips into a smile and nodded. “Perhaps let’s call me their aunt? I don’t think anyone in the village will believe I’m mother to a twelve-year-old.”
“Aunt it is,” Neo said. “And while you’re at it, why don’t we have Antonia make up a space for Flynn. We may need the boy on hand more often. The gods know he is a better caretaker than he is apprentice.”
Gia and Rain left to gather the children, leaving Neo and me alone. I’d not said a word to him since we’d left the wrecked manor. I would have to start training myself to not even think the vampire Haeloc’s name. With a crime family missing a mage and a debt collector, not to mention a debtor, the safest course would be to remove any trace of connection to Trond, Corabel, and Haeloc from my memory. Those were memories I’d gladly lose.
Neo held a hand out to me, and together we retired to our bedroom. Dale was pouring water into Neo’s tub, while Antonia set fresh linens and clothing out for us to wear once we’d cleaned up. She said nothing as she left the room, just paused and cupped my cheek with a hand, her eyes glassy with tears.
Neo unfastened the ties that held my cloak and tossed the filthy item aside. Then he stripped off my tunic and breeches, while I held on to him for balance. I wasn’t that sore, wasn’t that tired, but after what we’d been through, I wanted nothing more than to lean on him. To feel him, alive and vibrant, beneath my fingers. I slipped off my shoes and held his hand while I reached into my underclothing for Haeloc’s fangs. I set them on the table beside the bed where I’d found the goblin dagger then pulled off the rest of my underthings.
I stood naked before Neo, his honey-gold eyes intense as he took in my curves. My skin pebbled, and I watched as he too shed his clothing. His body was perfect—sculpted and hard, his hair falling loose to his chest. His scars, his size, the heart that beat beneath the cage of his ribs. In this moment, I wanted nothing in the Realm more than him. He held out his hand, and I took it. We climbed into the bath together, and I tucked myself between his legs.
Inside the steaming water, fragrant with scented oil, I leaned back against Neo’s chest. The ends of my hair were submerged beneath the water, and I teased the hairy tops of my husband’s knees with my fingertips, stroking his skin and kneading the dense muscles of his thighs with soothing strokes.
“I’m sorry you were betrayed by a friend,” I whispered. “I’m sorry you had to take a life.”
“I am as well,” he said, his voice tight, his arms circling my waist. “For both.”
The fire cracked and the candles flickered in their lamps, casting shadows over the darkening bedroom.
Neo’s whisper was warm against my hair. For just these few moments, I wanted to believe we were safe. Completely safe. Just the two of us submerged in truth and honesty, bound anew by shared secrets. “More than being sorry for what I’ve lost, I’m sorry that I let you down. I’ll endeavor to never lapse in judgment again.” Neo lifted a wet hand to my chin, turning my face slightly toward him. “I will put you, and our family, first in all things. From now on.”
“At least for the next year,” I reminded him, turning my face away.
“I’m going to burn that contract,” he said, a bit of humor softening his words. The lips I yearned to taste, scarred and beautiful, curled into a half smile.
“Things never burn the way people think they will,” I teased. But deep down, I was certain he meant it. This marriage began in necessity but would continue by choice. I did choose Neo andwouldchoose him, over and over again. For the rest of the days of my life.
I turned to face him, and all the fear and shock and sadness of the day melted away. What was left was us. The possibility of what might grow between us. I lifted my mouth to his. The first kiss was light, gentle, reminding me of why this man felt so right. His taste, the texture of his skin beneath my hands. His pretty hair and his battered heart. He was mine. For as long as he’d have me.
He swept his tongue into my mouth, his hands on my breasts, my nipples between his fingertips. I felt things change between us again. The grief of the day gave way to passion. Our wet hands explored each other, my hands fisting his hair. He took my mouth, whispering promises between every luscious sweep of his tongue against mine.
“Wife,” he breathed, cupping my face, my bottom, my sex.
“Husband,” I panted, welcoming every touch and giving back every bit of pleasure he gave me.
Ecstasy flooded my body as Neo’s arousal found my core. We licked and tasted, laughed and loved each other until the bath had cooled and half the water had splashed to the floor. When we finally stood, my legs trembling, Neo’s body forever joined with mine, we clung to each other, wet and shivering. Washed free of the dust and blood and stains and shame of the past. Reborn to a life uniquely ours, made by us.
I climbed naked and dripping into bed, but before he joined me, Neo stopped at the sight of Haeloc’s fangs at the bedside. He touched them lightly, almost reverently.
“May I have these?” he asked.
I nodded. “What will you do with them?” I asked. “Make a touchstone to wear around your neck?”
Neo shook his head, a wry grin curling his perfect, sensual mouth. “I mean to make a trade.” He walked around the room, bathed in firelight, his skin glistening and bare. He dug in a drawer for a small box then lifted the lid and dropped the fangs inside. He pulled something out, then walked back to join me beneath the covers in bed.
He climbed in, and I immediately settled my head against his chest, tucking my body beneath his arm. I could hear the steady beat of his heart, a sound I wished to sleep to, wake to, and work beside every day forevermore. He held me close and breathed deeply until I thought he’d fallen asleep. But just as I lifted my face to check on him, he opened his hand and showed me the token he’d taken from the box.
“This ring was given to my mother by my father when they were married,” he said. “When my father died and mother found love again, she kept the ring that my father had given her but added these stones.”
I held the ring in my hands and peered closely at the design stamped into the round gold face.
