Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“You do know Kindred are good with languages, right? I’m as fluent in Spanish as I am in English, so I know exactly what you just called me,” Fierce snarled.
“Okay now, hold on—let’s all calm down.” Hold was suddenly between them, with one hand on his brother’s chest and the other on Celia’s shoulder. “Fierce,” he said, “I think you’re just upset because you were frightened for our bride.”
“Damn right I was fucking frightened!” the dark warrior growled. “I told her to be careful in the fucking pool!”
“I was being careful!” Celia flared. “I was holding on to the side of the pool with both hands. I just lost my grip, that’s all.”
“The sides of the bathing pool can be very slippery,” Hold acknowledged. “And it’s made for seven-foot-tall warriors—not tiny Earth females.”
“I’m not tiny!” Celia insisted. “I’m five-seven—that’s a little taller than the average height for a woman.”
“Well, you seem tiny to us, my lady,” Hold said softly. “Please forgive my brother. He was frightened for you—when he gets scared, he gets angry.”
Celia took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
“All right, fine. I don’t want to fight about this. I’ve had enough fighting today—just let me go to bed please.” She looked at Hold. “And thank you for saving me.”
“I heard you first,” Fierce said, frowning down at her.
“Why? Were you sneaking around outside the bathroom door, hoping to perv on me some more like you did when you were dreaming about me?” Celia shot back, losing her temper again.
“Okay, all right…I think we’d better say goodnight for now,” Hold said, before Fierce could answer her. “No, Brother—don’t say another word,” he added, pointing a finger at the dark warrior, whose face was like a thundercloud. “Celia, I’ll show you to your room if you’d like,” he added. “Please be sure you have all your things.”
Celia gathered her clothes and shoes and the diamond engagement ring she’d removed and held them in her arms. With a final frosty look at Fierce, she followed Hold out of the bathing chamber to the room where she would be staying.
She’d had enough drama to last her a lifetime, she thought. Now she just wanted to get some rest. Though how she could ever get to sleep when she was so irritated and aggravated with both her fiancé and the Dark Twin, she had no idea!
10
HOLD
“By the Goddess that little Elite drives me fucking crazy!” Fierce growled as he paced in front of the massive bed he and Hold shared. As big as both of them were, the bed still felt empty—it was meant to be shared with a female between them.
Hold sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“Keep it down, can’t you? I don’t need to break up another fight if Celia hears you and comes in to confront you.”
“She started it!” Fierce growled. “I told her to be careful in the pool if she couldn’t swim. I even told her it got deep in the middle? So what does she do? She gets in anyway and nearly drowns! We could have lost her tonight, Hold! Do you realize that?”
Hold sighed again.
“I know that—I know. I was frightened too,” he assured his brother. “Celia is precious to me as well, you know. I’ve been Dream-Sharing with her, the same way you have.”
Fierce shook his head.
“All those dreams and I never realized what a temper she has! She never shouts at that stupid fiancé of hers the way she shouted at me. And she certainly never called him an hijo de puta!”
“You shouted at her first. And she got pretty upset with him tonight,” Hold pointed out. “I think maybe she’s beginning to realize he’s not the right male for her. Or she would if you would stop provoking her,” he added, frowning at his brother. He loved him dearly but Fierce could be so aggravating at times!
“I’m not provoking her—she’s provoking me!” Fierce protested. “Damn it—why does she have to be so fucking gorgeous and curvy and tempting at the same time? She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen…and the most irritating.”
“She’s a beautiful Elite who could have her pick of any male she wants. And right now she thinks she wants that human—her fiancé,” Hold pointed out. “We need to be wooing her away from him—not driving her into his arms by fighting and shouting. You need to go apologize, Fierce.”
“The Seven Hells I will,” his brother growled. “I stand by what I said—she shouldn’t be allowed in the bathing pool alone anymore!”
“She’s a strong, intelligent woman—I’m sure she won’t go in alone again,” Hold said, frowning.
“If we were having a proper Claiming Period, we’d be able to go in with her during the Bathing Week,” Fierce snapped, still pacing. “But thanks to you, she’s not even sleeping between us for the Holding Week. She’s in a whole other room instead of in our bed where she belongs!”