Page 112 of Carnal Urges

Well, this wins the macho war. My ovaries are screaming in glee like a bunch of playground kids on sugar highs.

We lift off, rising into the twilight sky in a roar and a blast of wind that scatters the leaves on the tarmac and sends dust blasting out in a wave. Above us, the rotors beat a thunderingwhump whump whumpthat matches the pounding of my heart. When I look over at Declan, he’s staring straight ahead, concentrating on the flight path.

He’s grinning.

The ache in my cheeks means I’m grinning, too.

He glances over. “Tell me what you’re thinking, baby.”

“I’m thinking we’re a couple of lunatics.”

That makes him chuckle. “Aye. But my crazy matches your crazy. That’s why it works.”

I look down at the diamond tennis bracelet he clasped around my wrist before we left. It glitters, catching the waning light and sending a shower of colorful sparks across the windows.

For a moment, I’m blinded. Then the sparks clear, and I lift my gaze to the horizon. It stretches off across the city and out to the sapphire bay. The Atlantic is a rippling ribbon of dark blue far beyond.

I wish Nat were here to see this.

I miss my best friend with a fierce, sudden ache. An ache that worsens when I consider that she lives in New York now. There won’t be any more girls’ nights out at Downrigger’s on the lake, giggling over cocktails and scarfing down shrimp enchiladas. There won’t be any spontaneous shopping trips, or coffee runs, or movie nights.

There won’t be any anything, because she’s in love with Kage.

Which wouldn’t have been a problem before, but Kage and Declan are mortal enemies. Which means that if I stay with Declan…

There won’t be any more me and Nat.

Out of nowhere, it hits me with a force like a wrecking ball. A sledgehammer slams into my chest. I can barely draw a breath.

If I’m really going to be with Declan, it won’t simply be an “issue” we’ll all have to work through. Neither Kage nor Declan will allow us girls to hang out like it was business as usual. My friendship with Nat will be over.

In fact, I might never see her again.

Impossible. I won’t let that happen. She won’t let it happen, either. We’ll figure out a way.

I look over at Declan, so calm and confident as he handles the helicopter, and remember his strange smile when the TV reporter was talking about the body found at the dump. I remember thevengeance tattoo on his chest. I remember the elation in his eyes when he asked me who I belonged to, and I answered, “You.” The elation and the triumph.

Like he’d won.

Because he had.

This man who calls himself a monster kidnapped me and claimed me. He took me to his bed. He saved me from a rival gang, protected me while I was in the hospital, gave me a choice between yes and no, gave me things I didn’t even know I needed.

Gave me a promise that he’d do anything I asked.

I told him the only thing I wanted was for him to not hurt Stavros, but now I’m thinking there will be more items to add to that list.

Starting with a promise that he won’t ever go after Kage.

And I’ve got to get Nat to make Kage promise the same thing.

In the middle of a war, no less.

I wonder if Declan knew all this when he said it was going to be messy.

THIRTY

SLOANE