Free Homecoming by Autumn Dawn Page B

simply, and rose. Moving as if he were the master of time itself, he walked toward his room, pulling his shirt over his head as he walked. He tossed it in the open door and unbuckled his belt. With the door still open, he stripped out of the rest of his clothes as casually as if she weren’t looking.
    There was a lot to see.
    He pulled back the covers and got into bed, then picked up a book. Opening the cover, he began to read.
    Wiley blinked, but it didn’t clear her head. The light gleamed off his chest, reflecting shadows as he turned the page, illuminating every line of muscle. He’d wound her so tight, his every move was pure temptation.
    As if her body weighed a thousand pounds, she turned and slowly walked to her room. It was like a nightmare where she wanted to run, but was unable. If she went in that door, she was going to become a wife.
    She couldn’t be a wife. She couldn’t.
    * * * *
    Jayems watched her slow retreat. Not tonight then, but soon.
     

Chapter 11

    Her mother had come.
    Wiley watched the huge double doors open to the family banquet hall and tried to control her breathing. She wasn’t ready for this.
    Jayems had sprung it on her that morning, told her that her mother was arriving that evening like he was handing her a gift. She’d gone ballistic, cursing him for not giving her more notice, cursing her mother for--she still didn’t want to think about it.
    It was Jasmine who’d talked sense into her. Jas had faced her own mother, an abusive addict, when she was still in her teens. The interview had not gone well, but it was behind her now, and at least she’d had the courage to face it. “Just get it over with,”
    she’d advised Wiley.
    Jasmine stood at her side now, silently supportive, and led the way into the room.
    She might be a dreamer, but sometimes she had ten times the courage Wiley would ever have.
    The room was decorated in simple elegance, as were the people inside. She searched the faces of the two older women there and had a bad moment. Neither of them were familiar. The fading brunette was soft and chubby, her flesh plumped around her many rings, and her purple and burnt orange gown draped around her like a high-priced dust cover. A platinum blonde stood at her side, slim and elegant in a pale yellow, grecian inspired gown. Gold clips held her gown together at the shoulders, elbows and wrists, and blue, red and yellow ribbon trimmed her hem and the wine red sash around her waist. Sprays of yellow and white flowers, fashioned of diamonds, flashed in her upswept braids. A matching necklace circled her neck. Her sky-blue eyes were alive with emotion and wet with tears.
    The queenly lady glided forward, her gaze devouring Wiley’s face. Her voice was hoarse when she whispered, “Daughter?” Without warning she threw herself in Wiley’s arms, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. “Rihlia. You’ve come home.”
    Wiley stiffened and shot a panicked glance at Jasmine, who shrugged her ignorance. Her mother had certainly never wept all over her. Besides, she seemed distracted by the blond man breathing down her neck. Wiley recognized him as the one called Fallon, the man who’d stumbled on her camp with Jayems and Keilor. Whatever his business had been, he seemed to be back, and he really, really seemed to dig Jasmine.
    Her dress was getting all wet. Trying not to seem rude, Wiley eased her mother back and tried out a smile. It was a sickly effort, but the best she could manage with her churning stomach. She’d exploded at Jayems that morning, but her anger had turned into anxiety. She was a little afraid of the woman sobbing in front of her, and very wary.
    Because her memories were twenty years old, she held them in check, but she had forgotten nothing. “Mother … how good to see you.”
    Lady Rhapsody dried her eyes with a little laugh. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just been so long …” The tears threatened to start up again.
    Jayems moved forward.