“I don’t know the answer to that, baby. I hope it’s because they really want to get to know her and they’re sorry they didn’t have that chance when they were children. Remember, her brothers were just kids. They didn’t make the decisions and more importantly, we don’t know what they were told about Evangeline. Most likely, they were told she died. If their grandfather questioned them, they had to sound believable.”
Timur hoped that was the case. He wanted Evangeline to have a family. He knew it was important to her.
“Where were her parents in all this?”
“Her mother is dead. The father is the one who had her living in the swamp. Supposedly, his brother, her uncle Gilbert, knew and helped bring her food and books.”
She shook her head. “I would have put a knife through my father’s throat before I allowed my child to live alone like that. What a crock.”
He burst out laughing. “I’m beginning to realize you’re a bloodthirsty little thing.”
She tilted her chin at him. “I came here for revenge, remember? Someone took apart my parents and I wanted them to pay.”
Timur couldn’t help but think about the man waiting for him downstairs in a room few knew about. “They’ll pay, Ashe,” he assured.
She reached up to brush at the lapels of the sports jacket he wore over a T-shirt. “You look very handsome, although I think you’re bound to scare her brothers just a little bit.”
He hoped not. He hoped he lulled them into a false sense of security. He caught her chin in his fingers. “If I kiss you, am I going to ruin the work of art you created? Your lips look very kissable.”
“It’s supposed to stay on until I use a makeup remover. I think that highly unlikely, but we should definitely check it out.”
“I’m all for experiments,” he murmured and lowered his head.
Her lips were cool and firm, but the moment he touched them with his, the taste, so unique to his woman, burst on his tongue. He had tasted her in his mouth so many times throughout the day, fixating on it, needing more, hungry for just that one flavor—the one that was all Ashe.
He locked his arm around her back and kissed her as if there was no tomorrow. For him, there might not be. He deepened the kiss, needing to take control of her, to let her know she belonged to him. Everything he demanded, she gave to him willingly. He didn’t have to fight her, she just surrendered to him.
“I love you.” He whispered the truth. He’d never once told another human being that, because, other than his brother and Gorya, and now Evangeline, he hadn’t felt that kind of deep, overwhelming affection and trust for another human being. The love he had for Ashe was different. All-consuming. He needed her. She completed him in some way.
Her eyes searched his and then she smiled. “Funny thing, Timur. I don’t even know how you did it in so short a time, but I find myself loving you right back.”
He wrapped his arm around her and studied her face, waiting for his heart to settle. “I think your lipstick stayed in spite of my best efforts.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “That was your best effort? I don’t know, Timur. You’re slipping. This afternoon was by far better.”
“Really? I’ll have to try that again.”
“Please do.”
Everything was fun with her. This time he took his time and made an art out of kissing her. The trouble with kissing Ashe was he never wanted to stop. His body went up in flames and he lost his ability to actually breathe—so much so that he stole her air. Kissing Ashe was insidious. He kissed her once and had to kiss her over and over. He craved her taste and the way her lips felt under his. He needed her body melting into his. Kissing Ashe was dangerous.
This time when he lifted his head, she sagged against him, letting him take her weight. “Do we have to go to this dinner party?” He murmured the question against her forehead.
Her lashes fluttered, and he kissed both of her eyes because he couldn’t help himself. That was how little control he had when he was with her.
“You said we did,” Ashe pointed out, but she didn’t say it with conviction.
He laughed and set her on her feet. “Fyodor asked us as a special favor. Well,” he hedged when he knew the ring of truth wasn’t there for her to hear, “he didn’t exactly ask. He told me I had to be there.” That was the strict truth. “You were optional.” That was also the truth. “But I knew Evangeline might need to have someone on her side there.” Again, that was true. It was all a matter of twisting the truth to suit his needs. He needed Ashe to believe Evangeline needed her presence there. He cleared his throat. “I want you there because these things are a pain in the neck for me.” That was extremely close to the truth.