Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down by Lisa Olsen Read Free Book Online

exactly?”
    “It means you are my companion, in every way.”
    “But I’m not.  We broke up.” 
    A furrow appeared on his brow.  “I thought you wanted me to see you safe.  I have publically claimed you now, none will do so much as look askance at you.”
    “Hey, I’m super glad you publically admitted to being my Sire, but I’m not yours to claim , claim.”  Boy howdy was I in a world of trouble if he didn’t get that.
    “Aren’t you?”  He raised a single brow.
    “Not that way.” 
    Jakob took in a long breath like he was prepared to say one thing, but changed his mind.  “I don’t understand the objection.  Have you rekindled your affair with Ulrik?”
    “No.”
    “Surely you don’t prefer the company of that cowboy to mine,” he scoffed.
    “Mac?  No.”  Actually I did, but I chose not to make things worse by saying it.  “Jakob, the same thing holds true here as it did back in San Francisco.  We’re not well suited for each other.  I don’t know if we ever will be.  I am grateful for you saving us all from Volkov’s inquisition, but don’t mistake gratitude for something else.”
    “I see,” Jakob said, drawing himself up stiffly.  “In my time the maiden generally showed her gratitude to the dashing hero in exchange for saving her life.”
    “I’m sorry if you were expecting something different, but we’re not living in those times anymore,” I said as gently as I could.  “Things have changed.” 
    “Very well, but you will comport yourself as my consort while we are here.”
    “Which means what?”
    “It means you will do as I say without argument while we are in public.”
    “Or what?”
    His brow crumpled in confusion.  “How do you mean?”
    “What happens if I don’t agree with every single thing you say or do?” 
    “I can see I have erred in my treatment of you, allowing you to cling to your modern sensibilities because I enjoy your free spirit .  Make no mistake, my word is law.  I am Ellri .”
    “Maybe that’s true in a public arena, but not between the two of us.  I’m not going to stick around and let you dictate what I say and what I do.”
    “Have a care, älskling .  You have little choice in the matter.”  The indulgent tilt to his smile disappeared, replaced by a hardness that made my palms sweat.  Cripes, what had I gotten myself into?  In the next instant his expression softened again, his touch at my elbow solicitous.  “But you are over tired.  You should go back to our room, I’ll join you presently.”
    I allowed him to steer me halfway across the room until his words sank in.  “Wait – our room?” 
    “Of course.  I left instructions for your Warden and his feeder to find other accommodations .  We’ll have the suite to ourselves.”
    I didn’t dare look at Rob to see his opinion on the turn of events.  “You can’t boot them out, the mansion’s full up with guests for the Gathering.”
    “It’s already done.  They’ll make do, I’m sure.”
    “So I get no say in this whatsoever?”  I don’t know why I was so surprised, I should’ve anticipated a move like this.  Jakob could hardly reappear in society and not commandeer the rooms he wanted, but he had another thing coming if he thought he could commandeer me too.
    “I don’t understand why you’re making such a fuss.  It’s not as though we haven’t been intimate with one another.  I look forward to re-establishing these intimacies.”
    “By ordering me to sleep with you?  That’s not intimacy, that’s rape.”
    “Enough drama,” Jakob barked, and it took everything I had in me not to jump back a foot.  “I will not force your charms, but make no mistake, we will be sharing a room.”
    “Fine, we’ll share the suite, but not the same bed.”
    His jaw clenched, but Jakob gave a short nod.  “Agreed.  In exchange you will act the doting companion whenever we are in public.”
    “It’s a deal,” I replied, glad to have