I exhale slowly. One thing at a time. First I have to get control of myself and my reactions. I can’t let something as mundane as a broken heart get in the way of the greater good.
Which means I have to patch things up with Eli, at least superficially.
Fuck.
“Morning,” Abel growls against my skin.
I shiver. I’m deliciously sore, and I don’t know if I can go another round, but part of me wants to despite everything. “What time are we doing the parade through Old Town today?”
He props himself up on his hand and looks down at me. “Straight to business this morning, then?”
My gaze drops to his mouth before I jerk it back to his eyes. There’s no reprieve there, though. I’ve already realized that he’s just as much a master manipulator as Eli; he just goes about things with a different style. For all his talk of charging right through obstacles, Abel has a knack for finding his opponents’ pressure points and using them to trigger the actions he wants. He’s doing it right now.
I stretch, and Abel drags his gaze down my body as if he can’t quite help himself. Not so unaffected, are you? He’s offered me everything I’ve ever wanted, but I’m not fool enough to ignore the trap it is. I push down everything, bottling it up until there’s nothing for him to work with except cool confidence. “That’s all this is, Abel. Business.”
A muscle in his jaw twitches, but he smiles slowly. “You weren’t saying that when you were coming all over my cock.”
“We’ve already laid down parameters for that, and you know it. Sex might be enjoyable and might serve whatever petty purpose we require, but it has nothing to do with business.” I sit up and start to slide out from beneath him. His arm tenses around me for the briefest moment, and I wonder if he’ll let me go, but he rolls onto his back, releasing me.
I ignore the little twinge in my chest at the loss of his touch and head for the shower. I can feel his eyes on me, but he doesn’t follow me into the bathroom. It’s just as well. The last thing I need is to be further distracted by his body. There’s too much to do today in order to minimize the damage to the faction. Abel’s plan to parade through Old Town won’t do a damn thing on its own. He must know that, but no doubt he’s trying to tempt anyone willing to fight for Eli and remove them. It’s what I would do in his situation.
It takes me about an hour to get ready. I curl my hair into gentle waves, give my eyes a subtle smoky look, and paint my lips red. I don’t bother with a towel as I walk out of the bathroom. Abel lounges on my bed as if it’s his, his big body taking up far too much space. He watches me the way I imagine a wolf would study a rabbit that’s wandered into his den.
No matter what Abel thinks, I’m no rabbit.
I pointedly ignore him and head into the closest. After careful consideration, I pull on a pair of dark jeans and a black top that hugs my body and does impressive things for my breasts. Boots complete the image. I’ll be able to move, to fight, but I look put together. Good enough.
Abel’s finally moved by the time I walk back into the bedroom. He sits at the edge of the bed, wearing jeans and nothing else. His dark eyes take me in, and he nods slowly. “That’ll do.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
“Still can’t take anything for granted.” He leans forward and props his elbows on his knees then levels a severe look in my direction. “You going to knife me today, Harlow?”
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
He doesn’t smile. “Trying to stab me in the back is going to be a fucking mistake. You’re smart enough to know that, so don’t let your temper get the best of you when I invariably piss you off. We both want the same thing. Remember that.”
I prop my hands on my hips. “Is there a point to this fun little lecture?”
“We need to get the Brides in line. All of them. They’re a pack of vipers, and they’re going to be fucking things up every chance they get.”
I blink. “Gee, that’s so surprising. It’s almost as if they were given away as prizes to their enemies and they’re now handfasted to said enemies. Not to mention they’re all attached to the most dangerous and powerful people in Sabine Valley. I’m shocked that you’re expecting trouble with them.”
Abel doesn’t move. “You got that out of your system?”
Damn, his tone doesn’t even change. Everyone’s a critic. I clear my throat. “Yes, I’m finished.”