hallway to the bathroom.
Inside she took a deep breath. She didn't know what was more disturbing, the fact that Scottie had been to Jamison on her behalf or the fact that she had to hear it from this oversexed witch. Obviously he doesn't think I can take care of myself, either , she thought, gripping the countertop. I don't think I can take one more man trying to protect me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Parker had been nervous to leave Charmaine with Jamison's wife. Christine's lips were as loose as her morals, and he didn't need her spilling anything to his wife that didn't need to be said. Charmaine hated secrets, and Christine knew far too many of them. He shifted uncomfortably, thinking about how many times the older woman had tried to seduce him, how many times he almost gave in to her potent charms when he was younger. Thank God he hadn't. He could explain away a lot about himself, but he'd seen the way Charmaine looked at Christine. If he'd ever actually done anything with her there was no way he could confess that to Charmaine.
There wasn't much to say about Jamison's meeting with Christopher. As it turned out, Christopher arrived, asked where Parker was, and then left. Sure, he'd told Jamison as he departed that they'd be hearing from them, but his threats were likely empty ones. Elder Samson had already verified Parker's Mating with Charmaine, so any harm to either of them would be cause for immediate sanctions by the Council. He figured Charmaine's brother would likely remain just below the Council's radar, causing no real trouble. He'd get his chance to air his grievances with the Council in a couple weeks, but there wasn't much the Elders could do to appease him at this point.
He could tell Charmaine—without stretching the truth too much—that the immediate threat was over. Just in case, he'd double up on security between now and the Council Meeting. For now, he was free to take his bride home.
No doubt Charmaine would want to contact her mother and maybe even give Scottie a call. His pulse quickened slightly thinking of how eager she'd been to call her friend, but that was just his own jealousy.
Rationally, he knew Scottie was no threat. Parker had Charmaine's hand, heart, body, and future. All Scottie had was her past. He could deal with that, though if he was honest with himself, the thought of some time off dealing with the ginger bastard would be more than welcome.
Besides, he'd made a promise to be less controlling and he had every intention of trying. I would do anything for Charmaine , he thought. Anything in the world for her .
But he was concerned when she was so quiet on the way home. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. "Nothing at all to say about the two of them?"
"I have a lot to say about both of them, actually," she retorted, her voice sharp. "I'm trying to be polite."
He grinned. "Lay it on me. They're a pair. You won't offend me."
"First of all, he's gross and I don't trust him."
"Gross? Why do you say that?"
"The way he touched me... It gave me the creeps. When he kissed my cheek... ugh!" She shuddered and Parker chuckled.
"I guess I wouldn't want him kissing me, either," he agreed. "What did you think of her?"
"She's a whore."
Her vehemence was shocking and he looked closely at her. "Wow. I've never heard you talk like that. What did she say to you?" His heart was in his throat. "I swear, Charmaine, I never touched her."
"Well, I hope not!" she fumed. "She's like forty . A total cougar. She kept talking about Scottie, saying how hot she thinks he is. First of all, she's old enough to be his mom. Second of all, she's married—and her husband was right there!"
Ah, so that's it . He should have warned her about their lifestyle. "They have an interesting relationship. I don't know the details, but it seems to be more... uh... I guess you could say open than most."
"They have an open relationship?"