Gentler than ever before, Cain slid into her in slow motion. And just as slowly, he pulled back. Her sex was lubricated not just by her own juices, but also by his semen, and Cain could have taken her even more fiercely this second time—which was how he’d often done it in the past—but instead his lovemaking felt as if he were touching a virgin.

She didn’t understand what had brought on this change in him, but it didn’t matter. Cain making love to her with such reverence, such tenderness, was new, and she welcomed every second of it.

“I missed you, Cain.”

His mouth descended on hers and prevented her from uttering another sound for a very long time.

26

Bending over the desk, Cain slammed his fist on the wooden surface and glared at his brother.

“I don’t care that Baltimore is your personal guard! I won’t tolerate him on palace grounds any longer! That goes for everybody who treats my fiancée with disrespect.” He pointed his index finger at Abel. “And your guard did more than that. He manhandled her! He’s lucky to be alive!”

“You’re overreacting. I’m sure it was a misunderstanding. Baltimore is a fine guard. He knows not to overstep his bounds.”

“He did overstep. I suggest you pick another personal guard.”

“You have changed, brother. A little disturbance like that would have never derailed you to the point where you put your own desires before the good of the kingdom.”

Cain narrowed his eyes. “And how would having Baltimore remain here be for the good of the kingdom as you say?”

“He’s a valuable and loyal guard. Are you sure we can turn men like him against us in this difficult time? Have you forgotten already that somebody out there wanted to kill you?”

Cain straightened, letting his brother’s last words sink into him. “Kill me? It was a kidnapping, not an assassination.”

Abel scoffed. “Well, same difference! You’re no good to the kingdom either way—dead or kidnapped.”

“At least on that we agree.”

“Then reconsider your decision about Baltimore. You’ll need men like him to protect you. He knows everybody. He’ll be able to warn us if anything nefarious is going on. You need him.”

Cain shook his head. “No. My decision stands. Anybody who hurts Faye will have to deal with me.”

“Well, I guess that means you’ve taken her back despite my cautioning you about her motives.”

At his brother’s attempt to continue to show Faye as a gold digger, anger boiled up from Cain’s gut. “Yes, I’ve taken her back. So I would advise you to keep your opinions about her to yourself.”

Abel raised his hands in defense. “Now, now, since when are you so touchy? I’m looking out for you, Cain, as your brother, your closest advisor. We’ve been through too much together to let a woman come between us. I regret now that I gave into Faye’s advances . . .”

Cain grunted with displeasure. “While we’re on that subject, I would also advise you to stop alluding to things as if they were the truth.”

Abel puffed up his chest and fisted his hands at his hips. “Are you saying I’m lying?”

Cain clenched his teeth. “I’m saying you should be careful what you say about Faye. Spread any more rumors about what she did or didn’t do and I’ll have to reconsider what relationship you and I will have in the future.”

Abel leaned closer, his jaw tight, his eyes pinning him. “You need me, brother. Lots has changed during the time you were gone. You don’t know who you can trust. And the men you brought with you, do you really think they can protect you? They haven’t got the slightest clue about what’s going on in the kingdom. Hell, they don’t even know who’s allowed on the palace grounds and who isn’t. They can’t protect you.”

“Are you threatening me?” Cain ground out.

“I’m cautioning you. You have enemies. We all do. And it’s unwise to leave yourself open to attack.”

“While we’re on the subject of enemies: why did you convince me to invite the Mississippi clan?”

Abel’s forehead furrowed. “What has that got to do with anything? We need to make peace with them to safeguard the kingdom. You know that just as well as I do.”

“Damn it, Abel, do you have any idea what those bastards are doing to their own people?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Last night two vampires came to us. They’d fled their clan in Mississippi.”