She removed her bra and found another camisole. She needed to go shopping soon because all the clothes that had been sent over from her house were getting a little too snug. Still, the little form-fitting camisole with the lace-up ties in the front, cupping her breasts, seemed just perfect, even if her breasts were more generous than they had been. She tightened the laces, and admired the marks Elijah left behind on the tops of the curves. Just looking at the smudges sent a thrill down her spine.

She wrapped herself in her sweater just in case any of the men were patrolling the halls, although she was fairly certain Elijah would get them out of the house after his meeting. He seemed pretty certain no one would interrupt them in the kitchen.

She put her hair up. Took it down. Braided it. Took the braid out. Her hair was beautiful, she couldn’t deny that, but there was so much of it. If she wore it down, it would be everywhere. He didn’t like it up so much. Still, she settled on pulling it back in a loose ponytail, keeping it off her face. She wanted to be able to see him every second.

*   *   *

ELIJAH entered his office. The atmosphere was just as heightened as when he’d left. He got straight to the point. He wanted to be with his woman, not fucking around with crap. “You good with where she wants to be?” he demanded.

Alonzo nodded. There was the slightest glimmer of humor in his flat, cold eyes. “She is going to be a handful. You have no idea.”

He had more than an idea. She was going to have words with him. Dios mio. Words. She was fucking adorable and it was impossible, when she was pissed at him and about to have words, to do anything but rip her clothes off and take her hard and fast wherever they were. Dios. Words.

He kept his features a blank mask. This was important. “You still her soldier even though she belongs to me?”

Alonzo nodded slowly, not blinking, his amber eyes focused, his cat close. “You need to take over for Tonio. You don’t, there’s going to be all-out war and she’ll be caught in the middle. You’re respected. The council will accept you.”

“You willing to work for me?”

Alonzo studied him. Didn’t just jump right in and grab at the chance. He took his time deciding, turning the idea over in his mind.

“You going to keep her out of this? Really keep her out, not like Tonio, having her deliver fucking wine to distract his marks so his man could slip inside to take them out. Really keep her out of it.”