Free HEAT Vol. 3 (Master Chefs: HEAT Series #3) by Kailin Gow

their beloved pet, Blanche, to a park
near his school, but had neglected to keep the small dog on a leash.  Eager to
cross the street to chase another smaller dog, Blanche had been struck by an
oncoming car and her life had been snuffed out right in front of Rial.
    I
could still remember it, his devastation and his guilt.  His father, so cold
and heartless, had berated him instead of consoling him.  After the tirade,
Rial had retreated to the study.
    I
turned around and followed the same path he’d taken that day, certain I’d find
him as I had found him then.  Heartbroken and inconsolable, he’d sat stiff and
unresponsive when I finally found him, tears streaming down his cheeks.  Even a
hug from my frail little arms and the promise that everything would be all
right hadn’t stemmed the flow of tears.
    A
boy of fourteen isn’t supposed to cry, I’d thought.  But I’d been charmed and
warmed to see this soft hearted side of him.
    As
I opened the door to the study and found him gazing out at the acres that
surrounded the chateau, I was charmed and warmed all over again.  He could be
so brash and bold, even arrogant, but I’d always adored the tender side of him.
    At
that moment, seeing his sorrow reflected in the window, I saw the young boy, so
sad, and so lonely.  Feeling just like the little girl who’d desperately wanted
to console him then, I walked up to him and touched my hand to his shoulder. 
He turned to me and I was crushed by his stormy eyes.  So far away, it seemed
he was in another time, reliving the tragedy that had been his life.
    Unshed
tears gleamed in his eyes, but he quickly hardened his gaze and blinked the
tears away as his gaze dipped into the opening of my robe.  My breasts
glistened with sweat and I could see the battle in his eyes; lust and loss;
anger and hunger.
    Caught
up in all the emotion, I too battled with my need to set things straight and a
sudden desire to ease his pain in any way possible.  My body longed for the
latter, to ease his pain by satisfying my growing hunger.  I was more aroused
than the situation should have allowed, but I couldn’t deny the dampness in my
panties and the burning in my gut.
    “You
shouldn’t have had to go through all that alone,” I managed to say.  “I’m sorry
you feel such anger towards my father, that you hold him responsible for what
happened, but you must put it past you and drop this whole revenge scheme of
yours.”
    “He
ruined our lives, Lilly.  I lost everything because of him… my father… you. 
How should I get past that?”  He grabbed my arms and pulled me close, crushing
me against his chest, against the length of his body, so hard and tense, but it
was the large bulge that poked at my belly that held my attention.
    For
all his pain, he was just as aroused as I was.  With his every breath, his
hardened shaft twitched and nudged me, reminding me of the attention it sought,
and reminding me how hungry I was.
    “My
father’s no longer here,” I said softly.  “You need to let it go.  You need to
move on from your past, from our past and move forward.”  I brought my hand to
his shoulder, hoping to soothe him.  “Let go of the anger, Rial, before it
consumes you for good.”
    “I
can’t,” he muttered, his eyes pained, but still refusing to leave my breasts. 
“He insulted my family’s honor.  He broke a sacred brotherhood. He betrayed me,
but worse…what he did…he caused you to forget me, to forget everything about
us.”
    Cupping
his handsome face in my hands, I brought his gaze to mine and was once again
taken aback by the beauty and pain.  “But, Rial.  I’m here.  Despite
everything, you found me and I’m back in your life once again.  Please, let go
of all that and let me help you.  I can set everything straight between our
families; help you find your honor again.”
    “Do
you realize how far our families go back, Lilly?  The ties that bound them as
brothers, and the ties that