"There is something I need you to understand." Bodin abruptly shifted gears again. Opening his arms and snatching my upper ones in his grip.

"What?"

I'm not going to like this.

"You're mine. I need you to not be sneaking about."

"Or what?" I wrenched out of his grip and retreated a step. "What would you do about it?"

"Lock you down in this house." His voice dropped threateningly.

"For what?"

"To keep you safe."

"From what? From other men?"

"Yes. But primarily your cousin." He crossed his arms in disapproval.

Guarding himself again. Keeping his damnable secrets.

"Why?"

"Because I suspect he's far more dangerous than you think. And I won't see you putting yourself in danger."

"I'm quite careful." I said snobbishly. Upturning my nose and looking at the ceiling in annoyance.

There was a long pause before he said the one thing that'd make me come unglued.

"Is that how you ended up flat on your back beneath me while I rode you?"

***

"By being quite careful?" He persisted.

"You bloody bastard!" I screeched. Flying at him.

He caught my flailing fists as easily as he had before. "Look at all this passion your wasting trying to keep barriers between us."

He glanced from one of my fists to the other purposefully.

"Trust me." I said contemptuously. "You're far easier to dislike than I ever imagined."

That made him furious.

I could see it on his face. But he was controlled anger. Leaning over to sweep me up in his arms.

"Damn you woman." He whispered for my ears alone.

"What are you doing?" I beat at his chest. "Put me down."

"No."

***

"Where the hell are we going?" I demanded in a shrill, very unladylike voice.

"To my chamber."

"Why!" I flailed my arms, seeing that all my abuse wasn't moving him in the least.

"So, I can work some of this fire out of you."

"Oh, are you going to tame the beast by caging it in your room?" I asked snidely.

"No, by caging her in my bed, in my arms, until she's spent and sweating."

I was quiet. My face heating unbearably. "You say the most dreadful things."

"And they're going to get worse."

"Why?"

"I already told you." He looked down at me in his arms. "Because you're mine."

***

Demetrius House

"I need you to get me into that house." Randy was telling Ginny. "I need to see her."

"What are you going to do?" Ginny asked warily.

"You don't worry about that!" Randy roared. "You," He pointed violently at her. "do what I tell you."

"Yes, My Lord." Her head fell to stare at the floor.

Randy was across from her, perched leisurely across a settee. He ran his hand through his tousled hair. Casting Ginny an annoyed look from where she stood across the tea table from her.

Her hands linked demurely before her. Her mob cap covering her hair and her simple maid's gown feeling like the only protection against the vicious Lord.

"Come here." Randy ordered. He began unlacing his breeches and revealed himself to her. Already erect from shouting at her and her submissive response. He caught himself. "Come do what you're good at."

Ginny whimpered and obediently rounded the tea table on hesitant feet. She slowly began catching up her skirts and lifting them. Dragging them up her thighs. Exposing a long length of curving ankle and calf. She started to stretch over him, to impale herself on his member.

He batted her shin. "Put that down." He nodded up toward her. "Bring that pretty mouth down here and let's occupy it from saying foolish things."

Ginny whined as she lowered to her knees next to the settee.

Randy caught the back of her head and guided her mouth over him. Pushing on the back of her head to imbed more fully in her throat. His head fell back, and he rumbled in pleasure in his throat. "That's a good girl. Do what you're good at. Not thinking..."

***

Charters Gardens

"Vix..." The Fey King's voice was chiding. "What have you been up to?"

The small fox-like creature ducked her head. Swirling her fluffed red and white tail around her shoulders. Wiping it over her face in a subtle effort to hide behind it. It stroked along the bottom of her nose. Sweeping first right and then left.

"I...I..."

"Vix..."

"I didn't have a choice, My Lord."

"Marissa will be quite disappointed in you. You know well, you're one of her favorites. This is going to require some discipline. You're aware of that?"

Vix nodded demurely.

"This interfering behavior is unlike you. Since when do you spend time mangling my son's affairs."

Her gaze was on the grass around her. Nearly as tall as she was.

"Vix?"

She lifted huge orange eyes to blink up at him.

"Where is Timothy?"

She swallowed and her gaze immediately dropped.

"Where is your brother?"

She chewed her lip and shifted side to side.

"Tell me who has him." The Fey King roared in an authoritative voice which made birds take to the skies and trees quake. Wood sprites squeaked and lurched backward into their trees. Their forms stilling as they became invisible behind the bark. Refraining from the freedom of twirling and dancing behind the king that they had indulged in moments ago. Protected by his presence.

"The maid..." Vix started. "He only wanted to see our prince's lady. He didn't mean to get so close..."

"Did she get him?"

"She still has him."

The Fey King rose. "This is not your issue, Vix. This is mine. You let no mortal dictate to you what you do. When someone threatens or harms our kind you come to me!" He pointed a commanding finger down at her.

"Yes, My Liege."

The Fey King went to walk past her.

Vix caught his pantleg. "Please be careful. She says she'll tear his limbs about, if I were to tell a soul that she has him."

"She won't have a chance." The Fey King's brown head lowered, and his eyes took on a yellow shine as he walked toward Charters House.