Burned Hearts (Burned 3)

“Phew.” I sighed as the tension eased. “Thank you. We’re so grateful.”

“No. Really, this is an honor for me.”

I was finally able to breathe normally. “We’re so happy.”

Amano served cocktails to help break the ice, and a more relaxed atmosphere ensued, with the exception of Mikaela constantly shooting glances Dane’s way, as though fearing she’d bought into a ghost story and he was no more than a figment of everyone’s imagination. Hers included.

A half hour later, Tamera proceeded with the baptismal ceremony. Then Rosa served a stellar sit-down dinner on the patio. It was a beautiful evening. Nothing hindered the stars from twinkling like diamonds against the night sky. The heaters kept the autumn chill at bay. Dom flowed, the conversation was light and lively, and I was thrilled that we’d all come together again. That Mikaela was a new addition to our circle.

I knew the time we all spent together wouldn’t be limited to rare occasions but would become more frequent.

I gazed at Dane, sitting to my right at the head of the table. He leaned over and kissed my cheek, then murmured, “I’ve told you before. You’re everything.”

His intense, appreciative gaze chased away all of the consternation I’d been feeling. This evening had shaped up perfectly. We’d achieved everything we wanted and now were able to benefit from Dane’s hard work—having our friends rally around us for a special cause.

Although Amsel had long since crashed out, this was a night I’d be sure to tell him about again and again. So that he’d know he was a part of something special, something significant.

I had no misconceptions that, in the back of Dane’s mind, he wanted our son to be as powerful as him, to possibly be a member of an Illuminati faction that didn’t go awry. I’d prefer that didn’t happen, but if greatness was in Amsel’s future who was I to squelch it? My job was to make sure he understood that whatever direction he took, it was a positive one that served a higher purpose than himself. Like his father’s endless plights.

Dinner segued into decadent desserts and espresso, then more mingling. At one point, I went to check on Amsel, though Rosa had been keeping a close eye on him. As I left his nursery, I caught sight of Mikaela and Ethan in a secluded nook. They appeared engaged in a heated discussion, with her hands flapping agitatedly and him scowling.

Since I was ensconced in shadows, I knew they couldn’t see me. I watched a few moments more, as whatever argument they were embroiled in seemed to escalate. Then, unexpectedly, Mikaela raised an arm and slapped Ethan quite soundly. The Joan Collins slap I’d anticipated as I’d awaited her arrival earlier in the evening.

I held my gasp in check, not wanting to draw attention to my presence.

Ethan’s jaw clenched as he glared at her.

Mikaela slapped him again.

All I could think was that she must be pissed that Ethan had known Dane was alive—

and hadn’t told her. That might warrant the same reaction from me, given the circumstances.

I’d held Amano accountable to a degree, after all, when he’d kept the secret and I’d suffered for it.

I discreetly left the area and returned to the patio. The festivities wound down until it was just Kyle, Amano, Rosa, Dane, and myself loitering about.

Rosa excused herself to finish cleaning the kitchen. Then Amano and Kyle went about their surveillance work. Dane took my hand and guided me toward our bedroom. On our way, we stopped into the office to dim the lights and the fireplace.

As my gaze swept over the web still hanging on the wall, my consternation returned.

I told him about the Mikaela/Ethan encounter in the hallway.

He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his pants. He’d already discarded his jacket and tie. Had rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. He’d also undone a few buttons at his neck, giving me that tantalizing view of the pulse point at the base of his throat that always enticed me.

Finding him too tempting by far, I closed the gap between us and splayed my hands over his abdomen. “If I recall correctly, you planned to do wicked things to me this evening.”

His head dipped and his mouth sealed with mine. I twined my arms around his neck and pressed my body to his, loving the strength, the heat that surrounded me. My fingers curled in his lush locks. An inferno instantly ignited within me.

Dane palmed my ass and held me to him, his thigh wedged between my parted legs, hitching my skirt and rubbing insistently, making me burn brighter. When we came up for air, I shifted my hands and slipped the rest of the buttons on his shirt through their small holes. My lips skimmed along his throat, down to his chest.

I tongued his nipple and muttered our new favorite words. “Let’s take this into the bedroom.”

“Definitely.”

He turned back to the lamp on my desk to switch it off but paused. His gaze swept over the web once more. Mine followed.

He stared at the photo of his father and Ethan that I’d retacked to the wall.