Page 12 of Peacemaker

My heart began to thump.

Rhys was the only one of the five I had not yet connected with through sex. I was both nervous and excited about the inevitable bonding.

More excited than nervous.

“Shane just arrived,” Leo said.

I took Rhys’s hand. “Can you catch him up?” I asked Angus.

He leaned over to kiss my forehead. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

I nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Go clean up and we’ll talk at dinner.”

Shane walked in, and his stare sharpened immediately. “What’s going on?” He tossed his keys onto the breakfront and took my shoulders, giving me a kiss when I offered him my lips. “Why are you bloody?”

“Angus will tell you. I’m going to clean up for dinner.” But my breath caught as my gaze lingered on his face. Shane was my hunter. “I love you,” I murmured, without really meaning to.

He frowned. “Trinity?”

I shook my head. “I’m okay.” But I was getting a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, a feeling of dread and worry. Maybe it was just the events that’d happened. Maybe it was the realization that things were going to get worse before they got better.

Maybe I was just afraid for my men.

Whatever it was, it hurt my heart.

Rhys squeezed my hand. “Come with me, love.”

I heard Shane asking Angus what the hell had happened as I left the living room, my hand tucked securely in Rhys’s strong grip.

We met Jin coming down the hallway. “I’ve started a warm bath in the master bedroom. Don’t be late for dinner.”

“Thanks, Jin,” Rhys said.

The big bathtub was filling rapidly, and sweet-smelling bubbles swelled and fizzed. I sat down on the edge off the tub and ran my fingers through the water, not looking at Rhys. I had no idea why I was so nervous. “Jin is a helpful sort.”

Rhys grunted and kicked off his shoes. “He’s afraid you’ll expel him. This is his home now, and he doesn’t want to leave it.”

I looked at him, surprised. “I would never make him leave. I didn’t even know I could. I’ll talk to him.”

He pulled off his ruined shirt and then pushed off his pants. “He’s the only spirit I know of who was able to stay after he came through. I doubt even he knows why.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I repeated, absently. My stare lingered on his body.

God, his body.

He was smooth and lean, his muscles defined, and tattoos covered his arms and chest. He had yet to remove his underwear, and I found myself holding my breath as he hooked his thumb in the waistband.

“Come here, Trinity. I want to show you something.”

“Oh, my.” It didn’t take me all day to get up and hurry to him.

He laughed and took my hand when I stood beside him. He carried my fingers to his chest, above his heart. “This.”

He’d had a sword tattooed on his chest, and my name was written on the blade. I traced the tattoo tenderly. I knew that when I met his stare, my heart was in my eyes.

“It’s beautiful.”