Page 41 of Bound by Vengeance
“Nathan?”
He blinked, and his gaze shot back toSimone. Her mouth pursed as she stared questioningly at him. “I’msorry, Simone, my mind wandered.”
“No, I’m sorry. You have much to deal with;I shouldn’t have taken up your time. Please, forgive me.”
Something sick coiled in his stomach. No,this wasn’t what he preferred from a woman at all. It wasn’tSimone’s fault she was like this. This was how she’d been bred andraised, but he sought something other than this hideousself-deprecation from her.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” hereplied. “I don’t have so much on my mind that I can’t listen toyou, please continue.”
She blushed prettily as she ducked her head.Nathan almost groaned.
“Well, I was saying our book collection alsotakes up a fair amount of room in our trailer,” Simone said.
“You are extremely well-read.”
“I do try to be,” she replied. “But othersare much better read than me.”
Nathan fought the urge to shake some emotioninto her. To make her react with something other than a smile andhumility. He’d never seen her angry, never seen her cry. Did shepossess those feelings? She must, but the restraint she had overherself kept those emotions walled safely away.
What would she be like in bed after theirwedding? Her beauty was enough to arouse a saint, but what wouldshe be like in the heat of the moment?
He had the sinking suspicion she would smileand endure her wifely duties all while planning their nextmeal.
Nathan rubbed at the dull pounding startingin his temples.
“Have you spoken with Kadence lately?”Simone inquired.
Though they were complete opposites, Simonewas Kadence’s closest friend while his sister lived in thestronghold. “I called her this morning,” he said.
“How is she?”
For the first time, he detected someexcitement in Simone’s voice.Wasthere more to her thanthis automaton she presented to the world?
“She’s doing well,” he said.
“Is she still happy?”
“Very happy.”
“That’s wonderful,” Simone sighed andadjusted her basket.
“Let me,” he offered and took the basketfrom her.
She released it to him, and they continuedwalking to her trailer. “She was so unhappy before.”
“She was,” he agreed.
“I thought she’d get herself killed when shefled the stronghold, and then to learn she was in the hands ofvampires.” She shuddered. “I can’t believe she’s actuallywith one of those beasts as well as happy with him.”
You have no idea how alluring one ofthose beasts can be. “Sheisone of those beasts now,”Nathan reminded her.
“I meant no offense. Please—”
“None was taken,” he interrupted before shecould apologize again.
Simone ducked her head, and Nathan mentallykicked himself in the ass for being so brusque with her.
“Here we are,” he said when they arrived ather trailer. Taking her delicate hand, he helped her climb thestairs.
