Joshua spoke softly, his guilt at adding to her burden making him attempt to be a peacemaker. “She’s not trying to upset you, Alexia. None of us did anything—”
“Shut up, Joshua.” Her head whipped around and her mouth tightened to a thin line. “What was all that shit you shouted at Michael last night? About it being my choice, not his? I seem to remember you saying something about the Keeper knowing what she needed.” Alexia pushed herself away from the table violently, her chair flying to the ground behind her.
“I didn’t do anything to hurt you. We’ve got this connection already and I thought it would make things easier. To have someone familiar come to you in the midst of —”
“Who gave you the right to organize my life?” Alexia demanded, cutting him off again. Her eyes flashed at him and his stomach clenched as she stomped from the dining area. “Bloody arrogant bastard.”
Alexia paced to the windows and stared at the water. “I’ve had to do a lot of things over the years to prove myself to people, but this is the strangest situation I’ve ever found myself involved in. I might accept the challenge of taking over leadership, if I have the ability. I need to think about it for a little while before making a decision.”
She turned back to face them, her fists on her hips as she glared at her grandmother. “But you were wrong to force this on me without asking, Gram.” She turned and pointed at Joshua. “We have been connected, in some strange way I can only begin to understand. What you did was lie to me, Joshua, and it was wrong. I have so many questions I want answered, but I can’t ask either of you because I don’t trust you.”
Alexia dragged her fingers through her hair, her body shaking with her frustration. She threw one last disappointed look at Joshua before rushing up the stairs and disappearing from their sight.
Chapter Eight
Anthony watched Victoria calmly finish her tea, placing the cup delicately back on its saucer before rising from her chair. She clicked her tongue a few times as she straightened her dress and checked her hair in the mirror.
“That girl has entirely too much on her mind. Come along, Joshua. You can take me to town and we’ll let Alexia get over her mad. She’s a nice girl, really. I’m sure she’ll forget all about this very soon and we’ll be back in her good books in no time.” She gathered her purse and held a hand to Joshua.
Joshua stared into the distance, his face reflecting his agony at receiving Alexia’s wrath. He reluctantly took Victoria by the arm and led her out the door, his haunted eyes taking one final glance up the stairs.
The quiet in the house echoed and Anthony wandered for few minutes, uncertain what to do. He’d never expected to be involved with the politics of the pod at this level. It was far outside his comfort zone.
He spotted the messy table and began clearing the half-eaten meal, the familiar task easing some of the strain. By the time his hands were buried in the soapy water, he felt better. It would work out in the long run. Alexia had every reason to be angry and she didn’t like being tricked, but she was a smart woman. She’d see the big picture shortly. Whether or not he was a part of it, it would be for the good of them all to have a strong leader like Alexia. Someone who wouldn’t be pushed around, even by well-meaning relatives or lovers.
He couldn’t help but wish he could continue to be a part of caring for her. He may have told Joshua he wasn’t set up to support leadership, but this had nothing to do with Alexia being the matriarch. Anthony closed his eyes and remembered what it felt like to touch her during the night. Her kisses were enough to make him hot and ready, the brush of her skin under his hand more erotic than sex with another woman. Yet he hadn’t made love with her. Joshua’s obvious attachment held Anthony back when what he wanted was to bury himself deep in her body and possess her as well.
He jerked as a soft pair of hands circled his waist and Alexia pressed into him. She rested her cheek against his back, her breath warming him. They stood like that for a few minutes, Anthony’s hands splashing in the soapy water, the low sounds of the ocean coming in the distant windows. He would have washed plates all day if she kept touching him.
“Such deep thoughts. Will you share with me?” Her voice stroked him and his body reacted, hardening in an instant.
Anthony paused. His desire would be an open book and he didn’t want to lie. Not after learning what a trigger that was. But he had no right to her permanently, nothing special to offer her. He took the easy way out and told her the safe truth. “You are going to be very good for us all, my lady.”
Alexia sighed, a long drawn-out sound that made his heart ache. “That’s not the answer I want. I don’t want to know what you think of me as the new leader of your pod.” She ducked under his arm to slip between him and the sink, sliding her belly against the erection pressed hard into the front of his jeans. Her hands rose along his body to clasp his neck, drawing them closer together. “I want to know what you think of me. Right now I need to know someone still wants Alexia just because I’m me.”
Anthony gave up the fight. He had to kiss her again. Their lips touched and her taste raced through him like a fine wine, going straight to his head and making it spin. Her body snuggled in tighter as she rubbed along his cock and his pulse rose. He lifted her, his wet hands soaking her blouse. Alexia wrapped her legs around him, the heat of her pussy burning him even through the layers of material separating them.
“I want you. Oh Lord, I want you,” he admitted, staring into her big eyes. An expression of delight crossed her face and hope rose within him.
“Then take me. Now.”
She rocked her hips and they both groaned at the sensation. Anthony set her on the island countertop, burying his head in her neck as he tried to control the lust raging through him. He’d never felt the urge to join with anyone hit so hot and insistently before. But this was Alexia, she deserved more than a rutting fuck in the kitchen. He clenched his teeth together and took a long, deep breath. Hands tugged on his hair, bringing them face to face. She kissed him, softly, then harder, her tongue slipping over his lips, teeth nibbling on him. He joined in, memorizing the feel of her under his hands, the taste sweeping through him. When they pulled back, they were both panting.
Alexia separated his T-shirt from his jeans and her warm hands roamed his body. Anthony let his head fall backward as the lightness of her teasing touch pushed him beyond his control. It wasn’t enough, not nearly enough. He yanked off his shirt and reached for her buttons, his fingers shaking as he tried to undo the tiny fastenings. Frustrated, he ripped the sides of her blouse apart, the sound of the small pearls bouncing as they hit the floor, barely heard under the roar of blood in his ears.
Reaching behind her, he unsnapped her bra, brushed it from her body and fastened his mouth on one rigid nipple. Alexia cried as he suckled, his fingers rolling and pinching her other breast. Anthony couldn’t slow down, couldn’t temper his need to know her intimately. He scrambled at the button on her pants, and she laughed, her hands pushing his aside. They shed their remaining layers and finally touched, skin to skin. Anthony leaned over her, his cock hard against her curls. He dragged it up and down her clit again and again, and she shivered, leaning back on the counter, her breasts thrust at him.
His fingers dipped into her warmth, finding her already wet and ready for him. Dropping to his knees he covered her with his mouth, his tongue lapping her slit and the sweet taste of her cream sent another jolt of lust through him. The noises Alexia made drove him crazy and he ate at her hungrily, his hand squeezing the base of his erection to hold off exploding before he even slipped into her body.