Cloak & Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon Read Free Book Online Page B

respect that about you. I hate to be criticized. It’s like a knife in my heart.”
    Maris toyed with the handle on his cup. “I guess it comes from my childhood where I was insulted so much that I honestly thought my name was Idiot and Dumbass.”
    “You did not.”
    “Oh, I assure, I did. Darling is the only one whoever called me by name.”
    “I’m sorry, Mari.”
    He shrugged with a nonchalance that Ture was beginning to suspect was a front. “Nothing for you to be sorry over. We all have our burdens. Just some of us have the ones that strive to kill us vindictively.”
    “You joke about things that floor me.”
    “Yes, well, I tried seriousness once and found it rather depressing. Who wants to live like that?”
    In that moment, the urge to kiss Maris was so strong, he wasn’t sure how he refrained. All he could think about was peeling off the layers of clothing until he had him naked in his arms. If Maris was one tenth as animated in bed as he was in casual conversation, he’d be an incredible lover.
    Maris’s link buzzed. He pulled it out and checked it, then smiled. “Please excuse me for a second.” He flipped it open. “Hey, Hauk. How’s my luscious Andarion tonight?”
    Ture swallowed against the weird stab of jealousy that he couldn’t fathom. He had no right to be possessive of Maris, and yet. . . .
    He wanted to have the right to complain when Mari flirted with other men.
    “No, sweetie. I actually have company tonight.” Maris laughed. “You keep talking to me like that and you’ll have more of me than you can handle.”
    Feeling suddenly awkward, Ture was about to excuse himself when Maris ended the call.
    “Sure. I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up.
    Ture knew he should keep his mouth shut, but he couldn’t resist asking the one question foremost on his mind. “Boyfriend?”
    Maris flashed him an adorable grin. “You can stop asking me that. I don’t have one and have no interest in being tied down to any one man.”
    That stung like a slap. “Ah. You’re one of those .”
    Maris arched a brow. “Those?”
    “Players.”
    Maris laughed so hard, he choked. “Hardly. I assure you, I never play the field. My only problem is the man I love is currently in bed with your best friend.”
    “Darling?”
    He nodded.
    “So you and he—”
    “Have never touched.”
    “Not even a kiss?”
    “Not even.” Maris sighed. “I am forever drawn to what I can’t have. It’s extremely irritating.”
    Ture knew the feeling. “You think you’ll ever find someone?”
    “Honestly? I stopped looking. There’s only so many dreams a man can have shattered in one lifetime. I think I exceeded my quota when I was three.” Maris took a sip of his tea. “What about you?”
    “My work is my love. No man has ever been as seductive or as rewarding. It’s the only thing worth my time.”
    “So you love your kitchen.”
    Ture nodded. “I’m as married to it as Zarya is to Darling. It’s where I spend almost all my waking hours.”
    “Are you nervous about having been gone from it for so long?”
    “I was. But Anachelle said that she’s been staying on top of everything for me while I’ve been away.”
    “Anachelle?”
    Ture smiled. “Like Zarya, I rather adopted her. She was a waitress in the restaurant where I work and when she became pregnant, she lost everything. So I offered her a bed and she’s been with me for the last few months.”
    Maris was impressed with his kindness. “What made you trust her?”
    “If you ever meet her, you’ll understand. She’s a lot like Zarya. Guarded and wounded. Yet there’s a hope inside her that all her hardships have yet to extinguish. Not to mention, she’s precious and kind.”
    “I like her already.” Maris got up to refresh their teas then returned to converse with Ture until the sun came up.
    Yawning, Maris gaped as he realized what time it was. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d stayed up all night talking to anyone.
    Even