Yield by Cyndi Goodgame Page A

ground.  She didn’t know what she could do to me.
    “Let ’s go,” I pulled back before I couldn’t stop.  I admit that out of the corner of my eye I thought of the grass and wanted to lay her down right then and there.  I said I admit it.  I didn’t say I did it.
    She didn ’t stay far away from me the entire trip to my realm.  I didn’t want her too, but I did .  She would need the space and I couldn’t trust myself not to make her completely mine before the night ended to seal off her fate in some way. 
    Yes, we shared the kiss.  No, it was not mine to take.  No, Caydon didn ’t know her soul.  I did.
    In the eyes of our realms, it doesn ’t matter. 

EMMA
     
    “Joshlin turned up this morning.  Ranted about revenge and disappeared again.”  Trigger stopped Ames at the entrance to the realm going on about his royal pain in the rump.
    “Yeah, well the trouble with up is there is always a down.”
    Trigger laughed a little too much.  “That was priceless, queenie one.  I will have to remember that one.”
    They went straight back into detail about what to do about Joshlin ’s escape and basically left me out so I helped them even more and started backing away.  I kissed Ames on the cheek and ran my hand over his shoulder down to his hand like I’d done many times now when we left each over for other parts of the realm.  Being here, I knew he was safe and at a moment’s reach.
    And I hardly thought about the haze that surrounded the mountain and kept humans from wandering into the realm.  Today I watched for it.  I wanted to be away from the outside and safe in Ames ’ room where I knew he’d come to eventually and make me safe from anyone else trying to take me.  I was tired of the taking business.
    I ignored the heavy discussion among the two men either way because I had more pressing matters.  I wanted a bath after being in my realm.  This morning ’s throw on a pair of jeans was the wrong angle to start the day.
    I unbuttoned my jeans and turned on the water.  Just the sound of it made me feel better.  And cleaner.
    I padded my feet across the stone floor to brush my teeth again.  That part I had done in the early hours.  I just couldn’t bath without having clean teeth first.  Some had rituals in the kitchen or even driving, but mine were in the morning when I got ready.  Or rather, noon at the moment.
    I turned the cold water faucet and ran my toothbrush under the stream.  In mid air, the pink bristled blur sailed into the sink with the touch of a hand to my arm.
    I screamed, but it was muffled by a hard, masculine hand.  His reflection in the mirror was a sad reminder of how even a hot guy can make your blood run cold when he has malicious intent. 
    Standing this close to Joshlin, I pitied the way he held no repentance for what he ’d done or was doing or ever maybe about to do.  The son of Satan returns. S.O.S. as I so nicknamed him fits the man before me in so many ways and sadly, I doubted he would ever repent of his ways.
    Forcing me to turn, he shoved his mouth on mine.  I stood motionless and lip locked as he spread his hands to tighten his hold on my braced body.  He prolonged it for much longer than any real man would have at realizing the other individual included wasn ’t returning the gesture.
    Pulling back he glared. 
    “What did you expect, fireworks and magic sparks flying out your ass?”  I tried to reach up and wipe him off my mouth, but he still had my arms.  Maybe that was a tad harsh, but this man tried to kill me once. “It doesn’t work like that Joshlin,” I half screamed.  “If you’d bothered acting like a real leader instead of manhandling women for years, maybe you’d know that.”  I haven’t ever used his name in a sense that resembled I knew him as more than just a kidnapper and rather an acquaintance.  That would mean admitting he was important or something. 
    “Why did it work for him then , you smartass female?”