Read Online Blood Tied by Jacob Z. Flores - Free Book Online

weaver.”
    “Not to mention the Conclave’s complete incompetence dealing with those situations,” I added.
    She inhaled sharply. Like a good little soldier, Charlotte followed whatever our superiors said. If they told us not to worry, she didn’t. If they told us to jump off a bridge, she’d leap over the railing. The wizards were the same way. For being so logical, they were far too trusting of the Conclave’s motives.
    Warlocks didn’t blindly follow anyone. Not anymore. Not since Bartram Kane.
    “Anyway,” she said, completely sidestepping my insult of her precious Conclave, “you and your family have been through a lot. You almost died. It makes sense you’d be constantly looking over your shoulder.”
    Was that what I was being? Overly cautious? I hadn’t acted that way with Aiden in the woods. Maybe Charlotte was right.
    “So what you’re saying is I need to take a chill pill?”
    “That would be a start,” she said with a grin. “You’ve always been too serious for your own good. Let your hair down every now and then.”
    I glared at her. “Why do people keep telling me that?”
    “Maybe it’s because we can all see you’re wound tighter than a jittery Chihuahua.”
    I frowned at the analogy. I considered myself more of a German shepherd, cautious and alert. I was not a temperamental yelper!
    She gently shoved me in Ben’s direction. “Go talk to him,” she said. He’d just finished being introduced to Kate and Keaton, the younger Stonewall twins. Their big white smiles beamed against the ebony skin they’d inherited from their father. “Get to know him with clothes on. That might make you feel better.”
    I did need to get to know him better but not how Charlotte thought I should. Ben presented yet another mystery I needed to solve.
    I made my way over to where Ben chatted with Mrs. Stonewall, and his dark eyes drifted over to me. A huge smile hitched up his lips. My heart fluttered and familiar warmth spread in my groin.
     
     
    “I WAS beginning to think you were ignoring me,” Ben said after I’d interrupted his conversation with Mrs. Stonewall and escorted him into the kitchen. It had taken me a few moments and half a dozen deep breaths to get my hormones under control. I stood with the granite counter between us, because that was the only way I wasn’t going to grab him and bend him over.
    Undeterred, Ben rounded the island until only a few inches separated us.
    The overwhelming scent of copper slammed into me as he leaned closer, a naughty smile dangling from his perfectly symmetrical lips. He was clearly angling for another round of sweaty fun, and as the overpowering metallic aroma that hung about him filled my lungs, the more I craved his flesh on mine, my tongue on his neck, and my dick in his ass.
    I had to bite the inside of my cheek to regain focus.
    “What are you doing here?” I asked. My tone was more biting than I intended, but at least I was no longer remembering the warm tightness of Ben’s hole.
    Ben stepped back, a strange look on his face, as if my sudden restraint was unexpected. Not that it surprised me that much. Ben struck me as a warlock who was used to getting his way. Still, he put a respectful distance between us and leaned against the island. He pulled the chain with the green pendant out of his shirt and fidgeted with the stone. “I’m here on business with your brother, but you already knew that.” He paused, studying me. “What’s going on?”
    “How long have you been working with Pierce?”
    He strummed his fingers across the counter in thought. “A few weeks. I recently acquired a software company in California, and your brother approached me about buying me out. It seems that Blackmoor Enterprises is interested in snatching up what I have to offer.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Kinda like you yesterday.” He paused, studying me with a knowing half grin as he fingered the emerald encased in gold. “And if I’m right, you’re ready