Fire Bound (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart 5)

She took it reluctantly, felt his fingers close around hers and instantly felt safe. He seemed to be able to do that to her. Whenever she had conflicting emotions, if his hand was on her, she seemed to feel much calmer. She let him pull her from the bed and onto her feet. It wasn't as if she had tons of experience standing naked in front of men, but again, with his fingers tight around hers, she didn't feel as strange as she thought she might.

"It's essential my uncle doesn't know or even think that we're in a relationship of any kind, even if it's just having sex."

He stopped so fast that she bumped into him and he had to steady her. "Giacinta, I've had a lifetime of just sex, and what we did wasn't that."

She winced a little at the low, fierce note in his voice.

His fingers caught her chin in a firm grip, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I gave myself to you. The real me. I wanted to be gentle and tender and give you what you deserved, but with you, I lost control and that fire inside me I have to keep hidden at all times got loose. That doesn't mean what we did didn't mean anything."

"I know," she agreed instantly, giving him that. "I feel a little awkward, Casimir, because I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

He bent his head and skimmed his lips over hers. The light touch sent heat curling in the pit of her stomach and made her heart flutter. When he lifted his head, it was only a scant inch or two, leaving his silver eyes to pierce right through her, seeing too much. Seeing how vulnerable she felt.

"I just wanted to get that straight with you, Lissa. We're in this together."

She nodded her head, still very uneasy. She didn't know how to make him understand. He took them through to the bathroom and immediately turned on the dual faucets to fill the Jacuzzi. She wrapped her arms around herself, grateful he didn't turn on the overhead light. He snapped on a single nightlight that was plugged into the electrical outlet at the other end of the room.

"My uncle can't find out about us," she reiterated. "He would be upset. I don't honestly know what he'd do, but I don't want to chance anything going wrong."

"He won't find out. You can go back to your room before everyone wakes up. We both know where the cameras are and we can avoid them."

That was true. She could move all over the house and never be seen.

"Why didn't your uncle take care of the problem?" Casimir persisted. "And more to the point, why did the Porcelli family leave him alone? Your uncle had to have been the one to teach you your skills."

She bought a little time by deftly braiding the long length of her hair and tying the braid into a knot on top of her head. "Yes. Tio Luigi taught me the necessary skills to bring justice to those who murdered my parents. The Porcelli family was - and is - too powerful for the court justice system to work. They own half the police and judges."

"That doesn't tell me why Luigi didn't go after them himself." Casimir took her hand and helped her step over the side of the tub into the steaming water.

Lissa sank into the water, not realizing until that moment that she was shivering. She wrapped her arms around her middle and leaned back against the curved porcelain, watching him carefully. He was a beautiful man. Gorgeous. All rippling muscle. Very, very dangerous. She had known who he was on some level ever since she'd been around him. He had the same shape eyes and that watchful stillness and the confidence and graceful movements of his brothers. She hadn't caught it on the plane, and he'd been seated right next to her, annoying her every moment. She was going to have to get him back for that.

"Giacinta."

His voice was a gentle caress, playing over her skin and sinking into her cells until she felt him inside her. His voice was a weapon, just like everything else about him. She knew, from hearing what her sisters had told her, that the schools had including seduction and sexual training.

Casimir sank into the water and reached out a hand for her, spreading his legs wide. "Come here, malyshka."

She was already in so deep with him. She'd given herself to him. She'd trusted him, and by doing so, she'd put him in danger. Not just him, but her uncle as well. Luigi would never stand for this. Never. He wouldn't understand. He wouldn't even try. She shook her head.

"This was my mistake, Casimir. I wanted you so much, I wanted to feel real and I knew, with you, I could." It was only fair to give him the truth. "I didn't expect to have all the emotions I'm feeling right now toward you, but because I do, I have to tell you, we can't see each other again as long as I'm under this roof."

"Malyshka, I need you to come here to me." His eyes stayed steady on her face. His voice remained as gentle as ever. Gentle, but there was steel in it. He was a man who always got his way.

Lissa sighed and scooted around in the hot water until her back was against Casimir's chest and she was settled firmly between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her ribs, just under her breasts.

"Trust me to do what I have to do to take care of this. To take care of you. I've been alone my entire life, Lissa. Since I was a child. After a while, I couldn't even dream of having a life with a woman. You've handed me the most precious gift in the world. Do you really think I would screw that up?"

Lissa didn't reply. He'd handed her something equally precious. He'd seen past the mask she wore to her. He was the only person in her life... well... maybe his brother Gavriil had seen the real Lissa as well.

She let herself relax against Casimir's chest, and the instant she did, he buried his face against her neck, his teeth scraping back and forth against her sensitive skin. She was so susceptible to him, just that small action sent little darts of fire streaking like bullets through her body, straight to her core.

Lissa put both hands over his and let herself melt against him, surrounded by the steaming hot water. He touched a button and the jets activated, whirling bubbles around so that they popped and fizzed against their skin. Her body felt like a thousand tongues were teasing her.

"Tell me why your uncle didn't go after the Porcelli family."

He whispered the question against her ear, his lips brushing her lobe. Kissing the sensitive skin behind her ear. She felt his tongue stroke, tasting her, and she closed her eyes. He was a seducer, all right. She felt weak with wanting him - wanting to please him. "You wouldn't ever have to torture a woman for information. You could just hold her like this, in your strong arms, your mouth against her skin, and she'd blurt out every secret."

"I only want your secrets," he said, male amusement in his voice. "Tell me about Luigi. Your childhood. All of it."

She knew she was going to, she had known it all along. If she was going to become partners with this man, she had to tell him the truth about her family - even if that made her feel more vulnerable than ever. She didn't want to put her uncle in a bad light and she had a feeling Casimir Prakenskii wouldn't like what he'd done. The Prakenskii brothers were very protective men, especially around women and children. In some ways, in their characters, they were all very alike.

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nbsp; "Giacinta."

Just her name. Her real name. A warning. Then his teeth found her lobe and he bit gently. A million butterflies took wing and her sex actually spasmed in response.

"Fine. Just don't judge us harshly."

"Malyshka, you're talking to a Prakenskii. My brothers hunted down the men who killed our parents one by one. They did it over time, much like you're doing with those who murdered your parents. If anyone is going to understand you, it will be me."

"Luigi was the enforcer for the family. He told me our organization was very small, only a few soldiers. We had a small territory and my father stayed allies with the Porcelli family because they were very large and much more violent. Luigi, when I was five, was diagnosed with MS - multiple sclerosis. He could no longer strike fear into anyone's heart. Once he was gone, my father was in trouble."

"He doesn't appear sick at all."

She shook her head. "He has long periods of remission and then without warning, the disease strikes and he can barely walk. My father insisted Tio Luigi retire for his safety. My uncle moved away from us because it was too difficult to be around my father without wanting to be a part of the business. He later told me he settled by the sea with the idea that he would find a way to get better. People forgot about him over the next two years."