Didier's Sun

Didier’s Sun by

Shara Azod

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright© 2009 Shara Azod Cover Artist: Shara Azod Editor: Novellette Whyte

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving eBooks is a copyright infringement.

DEDICATION This book is dedicated to all those who have made this series a success. Thank you all so much I hope it doesn’t let you down. ~Shara

DIBBS ALERT Didier has been hereby dibbs by Dréa. She would appreciate it if y’all look but do not touch. You know how some women are about their men harems… Thank you.

Chapter One All in all, the grand event had the ingredients of a beautiful, even moving wedding, well, except for the bride declaring in a loud voice just after repeating her vows that not only was she not, repeat NOT pregnant, including a full turn to glare at the assembled well wishers, but she wasn’t going to get pregnant either. Didier was kind of glad he’d consented to being one of Aubrey’s groomsmen. It was something of a trial to stand next to the man who’d married the woman he’d though he wanted, but he really held no ill will towards Rance anymore. Jade was not for him, never had been really. He’d wanted to protect her, but that was just his nature. While he had been attracted, after sulking around a bit he couldn’t really say his heart had been broken. The attraction waned as soon as she’d said “I do” to his Southern cousin. Glancing over at the matron of honor who was trying her best not to laugh out loud at the harried priest’s face after Katrina corrected a few of the vows before her infamous declaration. No, not even a little ache. It was strange because at one time Didier could have sworn he was really in love with Jade. He’d nursed the hurt for so long he hardly knew what to do with himself once he faced the fact that he hadn’t been in love at all. Seeing her interact with her husband made it abundantly clear she would never be his. She loved Rance completely, so much so they were expecting their second child soon. Didier had once told himself it was the glaring fact Jade and Rance were so content, so happy in their life together he just gave it all up, but that was a lie. Sure Jade was sweet and loving, not to mention sexy and beautiful, but she had just been the personification of his ideal woman. The woman herself was perfect—perfect for Rance. With that realization came a great bog—ball of nothing. If Jade couldn’t make him fall deeply and madly, who the hell could? Without waiting for his permission, his eyes wandered into the crowd and rested on a woman sitting near the back on the bride’s side of the aisle. Again. He couldn’t explain what his eyes found so fascinating about the woman, but every time she attended one of these family functions he found himself watching her more and more. All he knew about her was that she was Jade’s cousin, and though he’d heard her name, it kept escaping him. Very much on purpose he had to admit, as if by not remembering whatever Mother Earth, new age type of name she had would banish her from his thoughts—not even close. When had she started attending family gatherings anyway? Didier had made himself scarce immediately following Rance and Jade’s wedding. It had been easy to avoid being thrust into the family fold after his mother and Grandpére Baptiste had returned to Canada. However, given that both had returned with all of Didier’s brothers, his father and Grandmére Vivienne he had found himself right back in the thick of Chevalier life whether he liked it or not. His plan to escape back to the Great White North and lick his wounds for a while wasn’t going to happen, so here he was and it looked like here he would stay. “Family is family. You can’t chose them, so just make the best of it and try not the kill them,” was something Grandmére Vivienne was all too fond of saying. No one

ever argued with the grande dame of the Northern branch of the family, something the Southern cousins were quickly learning. Jade’s cousin (what the hell was her name?) had been at most of the recent events; Zelime and Zulime’s birthday, Teres and Thereze’s birthday, then huge private family celebration of the eldest Chevalier’s anniversary which brought down the rest of the clan briefly from Canada. From what he could tell she was definitely the modern day hippie type, complete with very tiny locs that fell to her waist, very little make up and very light, almost misty kind of floaty clothing that alternately clung to her curves and blowing in the wind. She didn’t look a thing like Jade, aside from her general coloring. Jade had a timeless beauty, quiet and refined. She inspired a man to want to take care of her. Her cousin has a wild quality about her. She wasn’t beautiful; the word seemed pallid when faced with the reality of her face. She was something earthy alright; primitive, sensual beyond reason. She challenged a man to take her and keep her if he could. Didier couldn’t help but wonder if her appearance matched her personality. Was she the tree hugging type, or was she half as fiery as she looked? Why the hell did he care? Because he did care, a little too much for comfort, he’d stayed far away. He told himself it was because she was Jade’s cousin. It would just be wrong, wouldn’t it? So as to why he was staring now, he really couldn’t say. It wasn’t something he was comfortable thinking about and really hated that he kept staring at her despite his best efforts. Not that there was anything wrong with her or anything, she just wasn’t his type, whatever that meant these days. Unfortunately, she caught him staring, as she often did. Soleil. That was her name. French for sun. The name jumped out and hit him as soon as her eyes began to narrow, those full lips thinning a bit and curving ever so slightly downward. Seems like she did that whenever she caught him staring. For some unexplained reason, that disapproving frown just made him hard. He wanted so badly to go taunt her, to get her angrier. Made no reasonable sense, but he felt like he was in elementary school again. He just wanted to pull her hair. Damn, but she looked gorgeous all done up, as trite as that observation was. Maybe seeing Soleil out of her usual flower power clothing was throwing him for a loop. He’d watched her when she arrived, wearing a peach silk dress that just clung, none of the usual floating. For some reason he’d always though she was bigger than that dress proved she was. Maybe he had deliberately been trying to fool himself. There was no denying the goddess figure she had the nerve to sashay into the church with, and damn it to hell and back, his hard on was growing precipitously by the second and starting to throb. He so didn’t need this in front of a few hundred or so people. With Herculean effort Didier managed to look away. Instead of concentrating on the rest of the increasingly farcical ceremony, he chose to watch Zelime and Zulime, the flower girls, silently torture the ring bearer, Pascal. The boy was every inch of his father, Thierry, right down to his absolute refusal to strike back at a female, or rather two of them. He suffered in silence casting longing glances at where his mother stood as a bridesmaid. It was more than enough entertainment to get Didier through the rest of the wedding, only turning

back to Soleil three times. Watching Pasqual helped. The kid was a trooper- until the ceremony was over. “Daddy, are you sure boys aren’t supposed to hit girls? Like all girls?” Didier heard the harried little guy whisper to his dad as the wedding party assembled for pictures. He managed to smolder his laugh, feeling a little better about life. Soleil had disappeared as soon as it was over. Maybe she wouldn’t be at the reception. The thought was supposed to soothe him, but he just made him a little sad. He really needed to get away. That woman unnerved him; he wasn’t sure of his reactions if forced to actually interact with her, as was inevitable.  

What a waste of a perfectly good white boy. Soleil swallowed back the burning urge to just walk right up and slap that too pretty face of his. Okay so maybe that was unfair, he wasn’t all that damn pretty. Fine as hell, to tell the truth, but she wasn’t feeling particularly truthful. He was so handsome he made the archangels pout like teenage school girls in their jealousy, Lord have mercy yes. But pretty? You couldn’t really call Didier DeCapêt pretty, still, if he didn’t stop making moon eyes at her cousin, looking like he was going to cry every time his gaze wandered down to Jade’s rounded belly, well, she couldn’t be the only one in this church that wanted to beat some sense into him. Rance damn sure did. Soleil could understand it to a point, she really could. There was just something about Cousin Jade that made men want to pick her up and protect her from possibly stubbing her toe on a pebble. It was just that Jade and Rance had been married for two freaking years. That was more than enough time for Didier to get the fuck over it already. Why didn’t he take his behind home to Canada already if it hurt so bad to look at Jade happily married to his cousin? Shifting in her seat, she tried to focus on the ceremony, which in and of itself was something of a miraculous occurrence. She didn’t know Jade’s friends all that well, but she knew enough to know that Aubrey Chevalier had to be one hell of a man to get Katrina Smith to the altar. As soon as the ceremony was over, Soleil practically ran from the church. The Chevaliers were an odd sort. Just because she was Jade’s cousin, who was a Chevalier by injection, she had become a part of the family in their very special minds. That was a big no thank you and hell no. Unfortunately she couldn’t get out of the reception. She’d promised Katrina. Her word was her bond. It was the nature of her business. “Thank you for coming, Soleil. I was afraid you wouldn’t.” It was just weird to see Katrina all nice and vulnerable. Jade had brought the woman out to what they affectingly called The Swamp, their grandmother’s huge home located in the bayou for a few sessions. Soleil had never gotten the impression that any of the sessions actually worked. Apparently they had because that had definitely been Katrina’s wedding she’d witnessed, and Katrina was standing right there in front of

her, still wearing the custom made gown; made by none other than Solange, another one of Soleil’s new “patients”. The family was…interesting. “Of course I came. Jade would kill me if I didn’t.” Soleil cast a glance to where her cousin was being fussed over by her husband, who was trying to keep their twoyear-old daughter, Chloe from climbing on the table while trying to get Jade to eat more. Out of the corner of her eye she spied Boden and Beaumont with their shared wife, Solange, and their twins. In an odd way they made a perfect family picture, in an alternative kind of way. Soleil had never seen the two little girls dressed like girls before, which could possibly explain the disgruntled expressions on their faces. Thierry and Angelique sat near, Thierry frowning furiously at his wife’s stomach which probably meant there was probably yet another Chevalier on the way while Pascal tried to hide under his father’s chair from his bevy of female cousins. . Man but these people could breed. And all of them were in interracial relationships, even the flipping grandfather. It was just plain weird to see. On the whole, the Canadian branch seemed somewhat normal compared to their Southern counterparts; sort of. The grandparents looked rather sweet in the way most grandparents did. Didier’s father did have a tendency to frown at anything male that got too close his wife, Therese. Not that anything of the sort as likely, seeing as she was flanked by her boys. Lord love her, the woman had managed to have four boys. And of course there was the man she was trying to avoid looking anywhere near. Didier. The man who was hopelessly in love with her very married, very pregnant cousin. Soleil gritted her teeth, pointedly turning from him. She managed to say all the things one should say to a new bride, just praying she could get the hell out of there. Only she wasn’t exactly dealing with the average bride. “Please spare me the best wishes bullshit.”Katrina actually rolled her eyes, and then turned to glare at her new spouse. “He got his damn wedding, now I can have some peace at home. What I want to know is do you think you can work Didier into your schedule?” Soleil blinked and swallowed the immediate “Oh hell no!” that rose to her tongue. Instead she managed to pull it together and utter a semi-polite, “Excuse me?” “Didi. The hottie in his mid-thirties, used to be into Jade but not so much anymore; one of the Canadian cousins, the oldest.” Aside from the immediate revulsion at the very idea, Soleil really didn’t think Didier would be down for a session with her and Madére, her grandmother. In fact, she could pretty much bank on none of the Chevalier male types would be very good “patients”. “Um, maybe a more traditional therapist like Regina would be-” “Hell no I would NOT.” And just like that, Regina was by one elbow, and Soleil had a pretty good idea who was at the other. “We’ve worked it all out.” Yep, that was definitely Angelique who had somehow managed to shake off her shadow, also known as her husband. Soleil was positive she

didn’t want to know what Angelique meant by that, but unfortunately the other woman kept talking. “Baptiste knows you grandmother and has agreed to encourage him to go.” “All you have to do is take him to Madére.” Great. Jade. Soleil casts glances around looking for the husbands of these demon women. They had to be evil to even think she wanted to be anywhere near Didier alone for any amount of time. Each and every last man attached to the women surrounding her now were deep into their own little pow wow, only surrounding Didier. This was really too much to ask. She despised Didier; at least she hated that he was in love with another man’s woman. The reasons behind that animosity weren’t as clear; however, it wasn’t anything she wanted clearly defined in her own mind. The Chevalier clan was legendary in the area. Being a Louisianan born and bred, Soleil knew all the rumors and now thanks to her cousin’s marriage, some of the truth. Didier was a lot like his cousins, yet, different. She wasn’t sure how to even begin to help him. The whole family was chock full of lethal type men—all alpha types, which Soleil loved in principle. But Didier wasn’t exactly alpha, being all moonstruck for his cousin’s wife. There was no generalized box to put him in. “I have to be honest, I really don’t think Didier would be a very good patient.” He was fine for Madére maybe, but not for her. Never ever for her. “Hello, Soleil.” Shit, shit, shit! They had to roll out the sweet old man didn’t they? Baptiste Chevalier looked like the quintessential white grandfatherly figure, all dignified but gentle. How was she supposed to say no to him? “Your grandmother helped me immensely once as no one else could. I know you both can help my grandson. He is going through…a difficult time. Perhaps the two of you can help him find his way.” Oh these people were unreal. He was in love with a chick he couldn’t have. It was just that cut and dried! Help him do what? Find someone else? The thought made her slightly nauseous. She wasn’t some kind of pimp. Whoa, maybe that was taking it a tad too far. It was the atmosphere surely. She needed to get out of here before her mouth ran before her brain could catch it. “Fine, fine. I am leaving the city tomorrow, so he needs to meet me in the lobby at my hotel by six a.m.” Soleil had had just about all she could take of this weird family. She wanted back to her bayou, to peace and tranquility. The gators weren’t half as dangerous. “I’ll escort you both part of the way,” Baptiste volunteered. “I need to, er, inform him of the change in plans.” That’s when it hit her. They hadn’t discussed any of this with the man in question. Oh, hell no - a thousand times no! “On second thought, why don’t you call me after you’ve talked to him? We will decide where to meet then.” Excellent. With any luck, Didier would run. “Jade, why is your cousin staying at a hotel?” Katrina demanded, hand on her hip getting ready to…well, probably not much but complain.

“She won’t stay with us.” Jade sounded slightly hurt, for which Soleil was truly sorry, but really, she’d had about enough. “I stay at a hotel because I like peace, quiet and privacy, and because I choose to.” It was time to go. Her blood pressure was increasing, she just knew it. So what if she had never really had blood pressure problems, she could feel herself developing a serious one now. “Here is my number Mr. Chevalier, I look forward to hearing from you. If y’all will excuse me, I have to run.” “But the reception just started, you didn’t eat.” Katrina was hip to what she was doing alright. Thank the Lord and all the saints she had too much class to put her on blast just now. “I’m sorry but I really have to go.” Just that. No false excuses or half truths. She really did need to go. If she stayed another second, she was going to scream.

Chapter Two “I don’t need any kind of voodoo spiritual cleansing, healing or whatever. The idea is ridiculous on its face.” These people, the one Didier had felt closest to his entire life, thought that there was something wrong with him. He felt betrayed by their lack of faith, even if he was experiencing similar emotions. The thing was that he wanted to deal with it in his own way, in his own time. It was galling that his loved ones had so little faith in him. Each person assembled in the grandiose living room of the Chevalier country estate believed he was suffering from unrequited love. No matter how many times he’d explained himself, no one seemed to believe him. He had liked Jade, a lot, but it hadn’t been love. He was man enough to realize that. His heart had accepted what Fate decreed long ago. The melancholy that weighed on his now was about him, his life, his loneliness. Just because he had no interest in going back out there and trying to fill a void that seemed to be unable to be filled didn’t mean he was pining. Didier was simply tired. “Didi, it’s not like that. We don’t think there is anything seriously wrong.” Papa Baptiste threw his arm around his shoulder just as he’d done so often when Didi was a child. The gesture used to bring comfort and acceptance. Now it seemed patronizing. For an elderly man, Baptiste Chevalier was certainly spry and strong. Didi found he couldn’t move away so easily. “Sometimes a person needs to find their center, remember who they are.” Yeah, he certainly needed that. But the truth was, they all thought something was wrong with him. An unhealthy obsession that brought on tension in the family, something every member had tried like hell to stem since the events surrounding the death of Lady Rienne and Piers, poor bastard. After Piers had killed Baptiste’s first wife, mother to Didi’s own mother even if the connection was never acknowledged, he had lost complete control of the tenuous hold he’d had on sanity. Hell, Didi had spent quite a bit of time suffering alongside the man in Lady Rienne’s home and he hadn’t seen any warning signs. No one had. Didi couldn’t help but feel partially responsible for that. He’d been trained by Boden, the best intelligence office in the business, to look for tiny signs a person gives off without noticing. Looking back, Didi still couldn’t remember a single instance he’d been unsure of Piers. Failure never sat well with him, but this had been a failure of catastrophic proportions. It weighed heavily on his heart, intensifying just how off and alone Didi felt. Who could he talk to about this kind of thing? All the people here would support him without question, but they would never give him an honest assessment. Being a natural stoic, it just wasn’t in him to share or complain. He endured, that was just his way. There were days when Didi wondered if perhaps he was more than a little bit off himself. “Perhaps I am more like Uncle Ian. The passionate French side of me seems to be broken.” As soon as Didi mentioned his black sheep uncle he was immediately sorry.

Ian was not a subject his grandfather cared to discuss much. Baptiste’s expression closed off as he stepped away from him. Yes, it had been a low blow to bring up Grandmére’s son from her first marriage. Ian and Baptiste famously didn’t get along. It was a sore subject, not brought up much. Ian rejected all things Chevalier, except for his family, and that didn’t include Baptiste, It was whispered Ian blamed Baptiste for the death of his father. Such things weren’t discussed openly; but everyone felt the tension. Ian used to disappear for weeks at a time up into the Northern frozen wilderness when Didi was a small child. It would drive Grandmére crazy with worry. Eventually he had come to terms with whatever demons he’d been battling, settling down with a wife and kids, even coming to an uneasy truce with Baptiste. Still, the older man didn’t care to have any of his progeny compared to Ian. As much a Didi would have loved to just disappear for weeks at a time, he couldn’t. Because he was his parent’s eldest, he always felt responsible—for his brother, in part for his parents and grandparents, even if none of them asked or expected him to take on such responsibilities. It was just his nature. He’d always been a quiet, introspective kind of person, everything was serious to him. When he’d gone to work for uncle Boden in the American military (his dual citizenship and family connection getting him into the Naval Academy at the same time as his cousin Rance), the innate characteristics he already had intensified. He was a care-giver, a protector; that was simply the role the Fates had destined him for. Now he felt all out of sorts. There was no threat to be on the lookout for, no enemy to watch or plot against. Worse, there was no one who needed his protection. That left him feeling empty, of little use. Long ago Didi had realized that was one of the things that held such a strong attraction for him; it was the reason he had become enamored with Jade. She was the kind of woman that inspired the things that were so much a part of him already. Sure he still felt a vague sense of jealousy when it came to her and Rance, and no he never in a million years would’ve expected his cold, untouchable cousin could have been touched on such a deep level by any woman—But they worked. Jade’s intense inner light and instinctive calm seemed to soothe Rance, healing the man as nothing else could. And Didi was sincerely happy for them. He just didn’t know where the hell that left him. Alone. That wasn’t so unusual. It was something he should be used to, something that, until Jade, had never bothered him. Now the people he loved most in the world thought there was something wrong with him. As if he would continue to obsess over an unattainable woman. Jade was a jewel of a woman, sure, but he just wasn’t the type to pine; especially since coming to the realization that just because he liked her a lot didn’t mean he was in love with her. “Didi, don’t be flippant.” LaMére Vivi, as the family affectionately referred to his grandmother, rarely admonished any of her grandchildren, and never, ever had she admonished Didier. She’d always been his closest ally. The words were simple and not at all harsh, but they cut him to the quick nevertheless. “You are yourself, of course, and we love you just the way you are.” In typical LaMére Vivi fashion, she gave a little

shrug as if it were all nothing very serious at all which didn’t stop Didi from making a calculated mental readjustment of his attitude. “This is only a little retreat, non? Go, take time to find yourself; just like your Uncle Ian.” Oh she was good. Ever the expert at reprimand without mentioning the offense and smoothing out conflicts, she just managed to reprimand him and Papa Baptiste while validating each of them at the same time. Didi would be going into the Louisiana swamp, and Baptiste would be keeping his dislike of her eldest son under wraps. “I’m not lost,” Didi couldn’t stop himself from muttering, though his grandmother had effectively deflated all his righteous indignation. He as lost, and he knew it. Just had no clue where to begin looking, and wasn’t really sure he wanted to be found. “Of course you’re not, bébe.” That came from his mother as she came over to peck him on the cheek. Didn’t matter that he was older than his brothers, or how mature he had always acted, no matter how many other sons she had, Thérèse had always and he suspected would always treat him like a small child. In his mother’s mind, he would always be her baby, her first little miracle. Amazingly, none of his brothers seemed to mind it much, she loved each of her sons; she just could not seem to accept the fact Didi was in his thirties rather than three years old. “But you are hurting. I know, I know, it is not your cousin’s wife. But there is something, yes?” Didi had done a lot in his life, more than most. He’d worked in American military intelligence, he’d worked as a private investigator and enforcer for his cousin Thierry, worked on his grandfather’s behalf to reunite the Canadian and American branches of the family’s corporation after Lady Rienne’s death. Through it all there’d been times when he’s had to lie so convincingly he could’ve fooled himself a time or two. The thing he could not, would not do was lie to his mother. So he said nothing. He was well aware it only confirmed what she’d just said, but it was better than openly admitting he had no idea what was wrong or how to fix it. It was so much better than opening his mouth and saying it out loud. The bitch of it was, he’d tried over and over again to break himself out of his funk. He knew down to his soul that he should just get up and move on. Going out, meeting people, dating, living his life. Hell, he had a privileged one; there was no reason to be despondent over—over what? He had no clue. It wasn’t Jade, it wasn’t Rance. Yeah he was lonely but this was deeper. “Maybe I should just go home, to Canada.” He hadn’t meant to say that one out loud. Thankfully none of the Southern representatives of the family were currently present. It made his slip of the tongue less offensive; that crazy bunch loved this weird yet strangely beautiful state of theirs. He received looks from shock, hurt to betrayal nonetheless. Letting his family down was not something Didi could handle very well. It was killing him, but he really, really didn’t want to do this. He knew he would, for his mother and LaMére if no one else. The exposure of weakness in front of these people, ones who loved him unconditionally, was hard enough—this going to some random

spiritual/voodoo/priestess woman and the granddaughter that haunted him was something entirely different. Again with Jade’s cousin. He did not want to see her again. Just because his heart started to beat a little bit faster and his palms were suddenly sweaty didn’t mean a damn thing. Fuck! There was no way he needed the strangely compelling Soleil to see him like this. He already got the distinct impression she didn’t care for him much. Whenever she caught him staring she gave him a disapproving frown which had been turning into a full blown sneer lately. “Didi, I know this is hard for you.” Rainier DeCapêt, his father, was perhaps the only person in the world who fully understood him. Didi suspected it was because he was very much like him. As it usually did, his father’s words soothed him a bit. “But if you hate it, come home.” It was actually implicit permission to go, tolerate it for a day or so and then go about dealing with his problems his own way. “D’accord, d’accord, I’ll go.” It wasn’t because of the specter of seeing Soleil again; he wasn’t excited at the chance to finally have a conversation with her. Mérde, this was confusing, He wanted his life to change for the better. Being a solitary persona had its perks; however, as manly as he liked to consider himself, his overly serious nature did cause him to feel isolated. Forget it; he didn’t want to think about any of this stiff anymore. “Who is coming?” Soleil almost dropped the bucket of precious rain water she was carrying; Spring rain, perfect for cleansing. Bathing in it symbolized the washing away of old worries, fears and sins to become a new being. She’d been collecting and purifying since the first spring rain, though there was only three scarce barrels of the stuff, and she almost spilled one of them. It was a damn good thing she caught it in time after her grandmother’s untimely announcement. She felt an intense need for every drop to wash away all the mess she’d brought back with her from the spectacle of a wedding she’d just returned from attending. “Didier DeCapêt. He is one of those Chevalier boys, though his branch is from up North, Canada.” Madére fluttered around the porch as if she just commented on the good weather they’d been having. “Helped his granddaddy once, long ago. Poor man.” Madére stopped, placing her hands on her hips as she stared off into the distance. “That is one strange, mixed-up family.” That was the understatement of the year. “Anyway, his granddaddy is worried about him. Assured him you could help the boy.” His granddaddy should well be worried about him. Didier was a sad sorry man— Man, damn it, not some little boy. Sure he was pitiful, and he was mostly behind her need for a thorough cleansing. It looked like she was going to need to add a two day fast to her purification ritual. This was just karma gone amuck, punishment for sins not yet committed. Soleil hated him. Didn’t matter she didn’t really know him, never spoke more than a few words in passing. She despised the very thought of him. Never in her life

had Soleil been envious of her cousin until now, and for that alone, Didier was on her shit list. It wasn’t as if she and Jade had ever been the best of friends, they were just too different for that. But they had been good family, which was rarer than having a good friend in far too many instances. That Soleil found herself resenting Jade for the torch Didier still carried for her was galling. There was no way in heaven, earth, or hell she would ever admit that to anyone she felt an undeniable attraction to the FrenchCanadian man child. She certainly did not want him. Let some other woman try to raise him so to speak. There were thousands of other females out there that would deal with his unrequited love for a woman he could never have. So much for thinking she had gotten away home free. When Didier hadn’t shown up before she left New Orleans she figured his family hadn’t been able to talk him into it. Gleefully, Soleil returned to the bayou, lifted her face to the sun as it rose over the murky waters. She welcomed the sweet songs of the birds welcoming her home. The lazy dives of gators off the muddy banks were a tacit approval she hadn’t brought what didn’t belong onto her bluish-gray water highway. In fact, she could’ve sworn she saw a grin on a couple of the scaly reptiles before they disappeared beneath the surface. By the time she’s arrived at the dock, spying the large white-washed threestorey house on a rise about a half a mile away, she was light as air. She was home; all was right with the world. The lingering taint of all that alpha maleness, the intrigue, family secrets and overall weirdness of the Chevaliers was a bit much for anyone. Even if Soleil wasn’t completely adverse to spending any of her precious time anywhere near a man too fine for his own good and too stupid not to want to kick him somewhere vital, it would be trying being around all that Chevalier male dominance for too long. Plus, it was incredibly difficult not to be envious of their women. As intense as those men were, they did love the women they married. All in all the females were more or less likeable, she supposed. However, when forced to attend one of their gatherings Soleil tended to gravitate toward Thérèse and Solange. Their men were intense, just a bit more mellow. Came with age one would guess. Plus those two particular women had a calmness about them, a kind of “fuck the rest of the world” vibe generally only achieved after one had gone through their own personal hellfire and came out stronger, honed and secure in themselves. Both of them amplified “love me or hate me, I’m okay either way” kind of lifestyle that Soleil herself had come to embrace. “What’s the matter, child? You look like you swallowed a mess of castor oil.” Soleil jerked her head back toward her grandmother. “Nothing.” As soon as the word dropped from her mouth, she knew she’s said it too quickly. Madère may be known in Southern Louisiana as the best voodoo queen since Marie Laveau, but the truth was there was no voodoo going on in the house. Ceseline Armand Laveau was indeed a wise woman, and an extremely spiritual one too. She’d raised seven children, all college graduates, all responsible members of society. She also happened to have two PhDs in psychology and Easter Religions. One had to get up really early to put one over on her, like maybe a hundred or so years early. “Hummm.”

Not a good sound at all. It meant there would be no words of wisdom, no reprimands, but worse there was a lingering suggestion Madère was thinking something Soleil didn’t want to hear. Soleil had a sneaking suspicion she knew exactly what the grandmother was thinking. “I am not interested in Didier DeCapêt. There is nothing about that man that appeals to me.” Open mouth and insert foot. She had to set her bucket of rainwater all the way down and turn completely from her grandmother’s sight. Her grandmother could spot a lie at fifty paces. Just because her grandmother knew she was lying didn’t mean she had to look at her and confirm it. Lord, it was galling. From the first moment she saw Didier sulking at Jade’s wedding Soleil had been more than just a little attracted. She’s been drawn to him in a big way. At first she’d thought, so what if he had a thing for Jade. Most red blooded men did, Jade just never realized it. It was amazing her cousin had stayed single for as long as she had. Jade was a sweetheart, the kind of woman that was truly beautiful inside and out. One of the main reasons she and Jade hadn’t been close growing up was that Jade was a genuinely good person, whereas Soleil hadn’t always been. In fact she’d been the complete opposite in every way. Madére had saved her in more ways than one. Both of Soleil’s parents never paid much attention to her. Her father had always been far too busy being a political activist while her mother’s time had been consumed by being one of the premiere African-American womanist novelist. Had it not been for Madére, Soleil would’ve been lost long ago. As it was, she had abandonment issues and tended to push people away before they got too close. “Soleil Niccoline, did you hear what I just said to you?” Oops. “No Madère. I’m sorry I was thinking.” Remembering, over-analyzing, feeling sorry for herself. “I said if you’re going to do your cleansing, do it tonight. They should be here tomorrow.” “They?” Good grief who else was coming? Rance and Jade? Were they supposed to heal the rift caused by one man’s inability to let go? “Baptiste and Didier. Lord, child what have we been talking about for the last ten minutes?” Great, just great. Now she had to gather some fresh lavender. Damn Didier’s sorry behind.

Chapter Three Full moon, spring rainwater boiled and purified, full sprigs of dried lavender on the pit fire, and best of all, a brand spanking new mosquito net that actually worked surrounding her little slice of paradise. Soleil sighed in contentment as she sank down into the custom made pure white porcelain outdoor tub. This was just what she needed; a serene environment complete with pure white beeswax candles bathing her oasis in soft light. Drawing in a deep breath, she relaxed letting the soothing scent of lavender calm her frayed nerves. Expel the foul, inhale the pure. Release the negative, embrace the positive. She repeated the mantra in her mind over and over as she sank deeper into the steamy water. Crushing extra lavender for her bath had been a masterful idea. Usually she used aloe and chamomile, but given what she was in for in the next few days, she needed all the calming she could get. Expel the foul, inhale the pure. Release the negative, embrace the positive. Forget Didier, that’s a bag of problems you don’t need. Release, release, release. What she needed was a lover. Nothing serious, just someone to kick it with and an avenue to work off excess sexual energy. Someone who wouldn’t step into her personal space, but who could be loving without the pretense of falling in love. A stress-free, easy man who understood boundaries and was easy to talk... Ewww! She just described the complete antithesis of the type of man she was usually attracted to. It was the intense men that did it for her, someone who would completely overwhelm her mind, body and soul, a true alpha male in every way. And that was the main reason she was all alone. The problem was she was generally attracted to men who wanted someone who was a hell of a lot easier to get along with, or they cramped her lifestyle and threatened her independence. She was cursed to want what she could not stand. As a former wild child Soleil had plenty of mistakes under her belt, the last thing she needed was more, now that she’d finally found her equilibrium. Which brought her back to Didier. Usually she was really good at reading people’s vibes. Most folks rarely bothered to hide their true selves outside their words. Words were easy to manipulate, but the way a person walked, hand gestures, even the way their eyes moved as they observed others often gave away what kind of person they were. Didier tended to keep his body still, not betraying the least amount of tension, though he seemed like he was always ready to pounce if need be. There was this attitude about him, as if he were daring the world to take him on. That was something that just didn’t track with what she knew about the man. The long mourning over a woman that wasn’t and would never be his screamed beta. What kind of a man did that? Sniffed after his cousin’s woman? Despite what his body language told Soleil, his actions declared otherwise. It pissed Soleil off so much. Didier had excellent ultra alpha potential. Alphas don’t sulk however; it was almost like he was pissing away all that lovely maleness that family had in overabundance. Mooning over her cousin like some tragic figure was just so melodramatic. After a few months, a person moves on. Betas never got over what

they considered “true love”. So in Soleil’s opinion Didier was a goner for good. He was forever watching Jade, staring in her direction. It was pathetic. Then again, he was so damn stoic. That was generally an alpha trait; unless he was just some hybrid intellectual beta. Wait… why was she thinking about him again? Didier was none of her concern. Let Madére deal with him, she had better things to do. “Besides, he’s still in love with my damn cousin. Forget him.” Leaning back against the rim of the tub, Soleil closed her eyes and forced herself to think of anything else: The sounds of the bayou at night, the chorus of crickets, frogs and various other creatures serenading the moon; the heady perfume of flora and fauna in first bloom, just beginning to bring forth new life. She tried to picture herself in the midst of it all, calm and serene, at one with nature. Just as she was really getting into the self-imposed vision, Didier stood right there in her imagination, daring her with those eyes of his. It should be illegal to invade someone’s day dreams. “Want me to wash your back?” Nope. This was not happening. There was no way she was hearing the faint trace of a French-Canadian accent practically purred into her ear. That wasn’t breath she felt against her skin causing a wealth of goose bumps to rise all over her arms and chest. Most of all, there was absolutely no way a beta male would invade her sanctuary so brazenly and dare to run his fingertips light as a feather along the back of her shoulders. This had to be spring fever running wild; an unhealthy suppressed obsession manifesting itself in a vivid hallucination. Or maybe some nefarious soul or sprite slipped a little something among the sprigs of lavender she’s thrown into the fire. “You are not here. If you were you would sputter out an apology for invading my personal private ritual and high tail it in the opposite direction. I don’t even know you that well, so there is no way Didier of those damnable Chevaliers would have the unmitigated gall to think to touch me in my bath.” Soleil refused to open her eyes. Even though she was positive this was some kind of waking dream, somewhere deep down inside she knew if she looked she would just be disappointed to find Didier really wasn’t there. “No beta male would be so bold, and Didier DeCapêt is most certainly certified beta.” She spoke out loud only because words had power. People never seemed to realize just how powerful the spoken word could be. Words could create or destroy with just one careless slip of the tongue. “What the hell are you talking about?” Visions should never talk aback once you’ve banished them. They reacted in ways the subconscious could understand, they reflected how the dreamer wanted the person to act. Visions in and of themselves had no true will of their own. So what was up with the righteous indignation in her visions voice? Soleil’s eyes popped open in spite of herself. There he was, those strange bluishgrey eyes locked on her face, finger frozen still on her shoulder blade. If he were well and truly a figment of her imagination, he would understand the boundary issues he

was crossing right now. Instinctively, since he would only be there in her intuitive dream, he wouldn’t dare to touch without invitation. “You. You’re not really here, and I would like to have some peace so disappear back into the part of my mind I don’t have to be aware of, and stay there. Geez, what do you think this ritual is about anyway? Getting rid of thoughts of you.” Soleil resumed her reclined position, sure she’d dispelled her newfound personal demon at last. She really and truly expected that she’d banished her apparition as soon as she’d acknowledged and rejected him. Therefore the hand that tangled itself in her locs was a surprise. The lips that claimed her own in a demanding, overpowering, and so anti-beta kiss it wasn’t even funny was a downright shock. Never in the history of the universe could a secondary, weak man invade a woman’s mouth and conquer all reluctance with his tongue like that. Oh Soleil had been kissed before, passionately, with pussy wetting mastery too; but this, this was soul shattering. Okay, this was no vivid daydream. At this point she had two very clear choices; stop it, push him away and give him a piece of her mind or, allow herself to be seduced. If only she could just get a minute to think clearly, collect the thoughts that had splintered into a thousand different directions at his sensual onslaught she was sure she could end this. If only his lips weren’t melting that steel core she was so proud of. In a minute she’d stop him. She would somehow get the upper and manage to turn this around. But then his went on to cup her breast. It wasn’t the grope of a needy, sensitive type of man. The large, slightly calloused hand caressed with a firm and steady pressure. Fingers slowly worked around the dark, puckered disc of her areola, working their way to the stiff nipples standing proud, just begging for attention. A thumb and forefinger pressing down on the hard little nubbins destroyed any reluctance she might have managed to string together. A bolt of blistering red hot need shot from her nipples being steadily pressed, massaged and manipulated by Didier’s very talented fingers and went straight to her core. The wetness growing between her thighs had nothing to do with the steamy bath she was sitting in. “I don’t think- I don’t…” Soleil was drawing some serious blanks where there should be thoughts, words of actions, reprimands or something. There was something she was about to say, something profoundly significant. She was sure of it. If only she could remember what the hell it was. “Don’t think, just feel.” Well, damn. She hadn’t realized Didier’s voice was so deep, so sexy. And when the hell had he taken off his clothes. Had he had them on when she first opened her eyes? She really didn’t remember. Right now, he was climbing into the tub with her. Thankfully it was a custom made, extra large garden tub, bought specifically for her urge to cleanse from time to time, outdoors. If she were the romantic type she would admit it as perfect for lovers, but really she just loved having plenty of room. This was not a place she’d ever brought any man. This was her refuge, and Didier had just invaded it without her being pissed about it.

“Why?” Perhaps it was a really girly thing to ask, but he had never shown the least bit of interest in her before. At least none that she’d noticed. Didier didn’t seem inclined to answer. He slid into her tub, pulled her onto his lap as if he had every right. The way his mouth slid over her, his lips and tongue working magic uniquely their own, she wasn’t sure he heard her, and wasn’t sure she cared about the answer. Those hands, large and sure drew her closer to him, rubbing over her wet skin, pressing her closer into him. Honestly she was really starting not to care of he answered or not. Later she could press him on it if it still seemed important. Not right now, as she pressed against him while sitting on his lap. Not even the water could get between them. Lord, but his skin felt so good against her own. All those glorious hard muscles pressed against the softness of her curves. There was something incredibly long and thick up against her lower belly. She wanted it. As his mouth started to slide downward, Soleil had the strangest urge to bite him. She wanted to claw, taste, pull. It was wildness she wanted, his. There was a primal need to push him, draw the untamed raw male she sensed under the thin veneer; make him crazy for it, dare him to take her. “Why?” This time her demand wasn’t softly spoken. Taking the passion that was quickly getting out of control, she carefully steered in a different direction. Anger. It was so much easier than admitting to herself that there was a reason she was sitting naked with a man she professed to dislike. “I’m nothing like my cousin. Why the hell are you here?” Even in the growing twilight she could see something flicker then come to full flame in his eyes. His hands briefly tightened on her hips. “I’m fully aware of who you are, Soleil.” All traces of playful warmth were gone as he said it. A lesser woman might’ve been intimidated. Soleil couldn’t afford to be. Yeah, she’s been attracted to Didier from first sight if she was brutally honest with herself, but nothing she’d learned about him had been encouraging since then. For crying out loud, he’d openly scowled throughout Jade’s wedding, he’d actually sneered at the groom throughout the reception. He hadn’t even been around for the baptism of little Chloe. “So why are you here with me, in my bathtub.” Cause she’d let him. Aside from her appalling lack of sense, she needed a reminder of why she should keep this man at arm’s length. She was not about to fall for someone who was in love with someone else. She may press all against his incredibly sexy body, but she would manage to put some distance between them. “Why put the moves on me when I’m so obviously not the one you want to be with?” Even though her pussy was aching, throbbing to be filled and her body was wound so tight she was afraid if she moved wrong she might snap. Even though every nerve in her body screamed for her to shut the hell up and jump the man, she just couldn’t do it. In the end, Soleil needed to be the only person her lover was thinking about when she chose to take one. In this case, she was far from sure. Didier released her immediately, just as she suspected he would. He didn’t move away from her as she’d planned. Instead he did the very last thing she’d expected. One of the very large hands that had been driving her crazy held her head, forcing her to

look directly at him. God, he had the most beautiful eyes. He leaned closer so his face was so close to her they were almost touching. He didn’t even blink as he stared at her, not really glaring but not far from it. “This would’ve been because I want it; I want you, just like you want me.” Thank the saints above the water had been so hot, because his words made her feel a distinct chill. He was pissed. Although he gave no real outward sign of anger, she could feel it. It was in the stillness of his body, the utter lack of any emotion in his voice. “Do not doubt for a second, Sunshine-mine, this is going to happen eventually. You and I will come together. You know it as well as I do, and when it does happen, there will be no doubt in your mind that the only people that will be involved are you and me.” Soleil was helpless to do much more than allow him to lift her off his lap and watch as he rose and climbed out of the tub. The man was seriously fine, she had to give him that. Long and lean, all well defined muscle and the most grabbable ass. Without making so much of a sound he gathered his clothing and made toward the exit of her little screened in sanctuary. It was only when he reached the opening of the enclosure that he turned back. The look he shot her way bore no resemblance to the one he’d given her before leaving her all hot and bothered in the bath. Sure she’s pushed, but damn even now her body was screaming for him to come back. “No matter what you may think, there’s nothing keeping us from coming together, Sunshine—except you.” Soleil watched as he disappeared into the night not sure what to make of that last statement. Everything she’d seen had led her to believe Didier was still not over Jade. Didn’t it? Maybe he hadn’t been staring at Jade as much as he used to. Honestly, no more than a passing glance here and there. But wasn’t that just because he was being inconspicuous? Shit, what if she was wrong?

Chapter Four Didier sat silently as his grandfather spoke with Madame Armand-Laveau in that God-awful corruption of French that was prevalent here in the South. He wasn’t really listening to their conversation. It was just too much work to translate the sometimes French, or rather a form of the language, sometimes English, of sorts, into anything understandable. However the biggest reason for his preoccupation was literally stomping in and out of the room. It was more than obvious by her rigid back, stilted movements, or the frown marring her gorgeous face she’d rather be anywhere but here. Her grandmother unfortunately kept her busy fetching this and that for her and her guests. She didn’t look as if she slept much at all last night. Good. Heaven knows he certainly hadn’t. The memory of what could’ve been tormented him through the night. Even now he was half erect just watching Soleil move around the room. The more he sat and stewed, the harder he got. Memories of that voluptuous body, the taste of her lips tormented him. She was excellent at pretending he wasn’t sitting in the front parlor of her grandmother’s home. He could’ve even been fooled she was completely unaffected by him if it weren’t for those beautiful unbound breasts giving her away. Her nipples were hard, pressing against the light fabric of the loose, filmy blouse she wore. Only a woman like his Sunshine could get away with wearing a chiffon blouse in the middle of a swamp, bayou- whatever. Wait…His Sunshine? And hadn’t he so much as called her that last night? Mérde that had happened rather quickly hadn’t it? Generally Didier thought long and hard before choosing to give his affections to any woman. How was it that this strange, often mean woman had managed to crawl inside his mind and refused to budge? Now she’d apparently awakened the infamous possessive nature so common to the men of his family, both sides of his family; a reaction that hadn’t happened to this extent even with Jade. Some primitive part of his brain had decided to up and claim Soleil against his wishes. That was a kicker. He wasn’t even sure he liked Soleil. She was insulting, biting, and well, just mean. He preferred softer, gentler women. That didn’t explain why after spotting her behind the house in the garden from the window of the guest room he’s been given he’d snuck downstairs. At first he swore it was only to talk to her, ask her why she was always glaring at him. From the day they’d met she always seemed to look at him with something akin to disgust. He had no idea why or what he might’ve done to her. When he saw her…well, he had no idea what the hell he was thinking. By all rights she should have slapped him silly. In a way she had, she’s just used words to do it. To actually think he’d try to make love to her while pining for her cousin sowed she clearly didn’t think much of him. He wanted to hate her for that. Unfortunately, Didier knew full well there were men who would treat women so callously. She really had no way of knowing he wasn’t one of them. Not yet anyway. It made him wonder what kind of men she was used to, which only led to more anger, just not toward Soleil. The rage he felt was for any man who’d ever let her down, who’d ever dared to touch

her without respecting who she was, and cherishing her. He wanted to hunt down every ex-boyfriend, every man she’s ever dated and beat the shit out of them. The thing was, he knew Soleil would never allow him to do any such thing. “Soleil, honey, why don’t you offer Didier some tea?” Madame Armand-Laveau’s voice snapped him out of the glowering stare in Soleil’s direction. Both she and his grandfather were gawking at him as if he’d just ran through the room screaming and throwing things around. He’d been so deep in thought he’d tuned them out completely, forgetting they were in the room. “My deepest apologies, Madame.” Didier made sure to speak in the deepest accent he could muster while smiling in the older woman’s direction. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from keeping one eye trained on Soleil. “I was remembering something rather unpleasant. I’m afraid you caught me deep in thought.” Who said he couldn’t be charming when he wanted to? Didier wasn’t a vain man, but he was well aware of what a cheeky dimpled smile could do given the right circumstances. Unfortunately, this particular woman seemed as immune as her granddaughter. A single raised brow was all he got for his troubles. And that dam smile had been one of his best. “Would you like some chamomile tea to sooth your frayed nerves?” Soleil asked the question in a tone a little too sweet to be genuine. Ah, but the lady did know how to get under his skin. How strange he seemed to enjoy it. “I much prefer bourbon, but I doubt you could handle…I mean, that you would happen to have any.” Right back at you, sweetheart. In truth, he couldn’t stand the stuff, but she didn’t need to know that. Soleil’s eye narrowed. A visible tick appeared in her right jaw. Adorable. And he was relieved to see he could get to her as easily as she seemed to get to him. “Do you want me to make you some tea, yes or no?” The smile that came to his lips this time was one hundred percent genuine, if a little on the wolfish side. “Only if I can help.” There was no way he was taking no for an answer either. Before she could even blink he was on his feet, his hand clutching her elbow before turning to his grandfather and their host. “If you’ll excuse us? I’m sure the two of you would like to catch up. We’ll just drink our tea in the kitchen.” Kind of bold and borderline rude to just invade someone’s household, but damn it, Soleil had him walking a very fine edge. “I don’t want any tea,” Soleil hissed at him under her breath. “Sure you do, Sunshine. As my hostess you wouldn’t want me sitting there drinking all by my lonesome would you?” He could practically hear her teeth grinding as he steered her out of the room. Under the fascinated gaze of his grandfather and her grandmother, there was very little she could do without making an ugly scene. He seriously doubted that she would, for her grandmother’s sake if nothing else. She looked ready to spit nails but she went along with it, turning on her heel and leading the way. Snatching her arm from his grasp she literally stomped down the hall. Not about to wait for an invitation that

would never come, Didier gleefully followed, chuckling softly to himself at her childlike petulance. “Are you always like this?” As a grown man he knew better than to poke an already irritated female. Just because he knew it didn’t mean he could help himself. Damned if he wasn’t looking forward to the consequences. She came to a dead stop whipping around to face him so fast her long, thin dreads slapped him in the face. It would be kind of sick to admit it turned him on a little, so he tried to suppress the natural reaction. Unfortunately she just happened to glance down in time to see his bulge jump a little against the fabric of his jeans. Oh well. At least she didn’t look put out about it. In fact, she seemed more interested than he knew she wanted to be. “Around men like you?” Her eyes returned to his face. There was considerably more than anger in those deep brown irises. “Yeah, I would say that I am.” How was it possible to exist for thirty-five years and never realize how sexy a woman looked when she was spitting mad and aroused at the same time. And she was indeed very aroused. He’d always tended to gravitate toward softer, gentler females; the kind that needed protecting. There hadn’t been a relationship in his life where he didn’t have fondness for his partner, but never this burning need before. Soleil made him crazy while intriguing him beyond comprehension. Maybe it was just that he had never experienced all the vim and vigor of a fully grown, spicy American Southern woman. Whatever it was, this woman with all her vinegar had him spinning in circles and panting like a dog. The longer he was around her the more he wanted to claim her. He’d had to fight the urge to push her against the wall and drive into her hard and fast as he sat in the parlor watching her. There seemed to be no getting her out of his system. “I’m well aware of what you think of me,” her retorted drily. It grated on his nerves, but there was no denying for some reason Soleil disliked the idea of him enough to fight against the attraction she felt. If he had any doubt she wanted him he would’ve backed off. Knowing that she did but still refused him had him climbing the metaphorical walls. Won’t she be shocked when she finally realized how very wrong she was about his feelings? Until last night he knew Soleil fascinated him, but he hadn’t realized how badly he wanted her. The reason he couldn’t stop himself from staring, from wondering all the times he’d caught of glimpse at her was because there was just something about her that called to him. Whereas every woman before her had been a calculated decision to woo, including Jade, Soleil demanded his undivided attention without saying a word. Her fierce independence, something Didier claimed not to appreciate in a woman, had him standing up and taking notice. She had him thinking of things that frankly never crossed his mind before. Like children, a legacy of his own. With a mother like her, his daughters could take over the world. Daughters. It was a possibility that had never, ever crossed his mind. Looking at her now he couldn’t help but imagine little Soleil Jr.’s running around the house

plotting to take over schools and playgrounds. Mon Dieu, she was sexy beyond reason. She already turned and continued down the hall, affording Didier an excellent view of her backside as she went. The skirt she wore billowed as she swished, clinging then releasing in the wind she made by her brisk movements. Despite her attempt at an angry stomp her hips swayed to and fro, the natural swing to her hips enough to hypnotize any man. Even with her head held high and her back ramrod straight there was an innate fluidity he doubted she was even aware of. They entered a spacious naturally lit kitchen before she spun back to face him, fire snapping in her eyes, with the sun shining behind her making her look as if she was glowing almost. The light also afforded him a clear view of the shape of her body under her light clothing. Too much temptation. He could smell the lavender on her skin, see the fire snapping in her eyes, feel the heat of arousal she probably didn’t want to feel. As soon as she opened her mouth, probably to give him another solid piece of her mind, Didier’s own mouth swept down and pressed against hers, his tongue invading at first contact. The way she melted against him as he pressed her close didn’t really surprise him. There was a very real, tangible chemistry between them, a combustible heat bound to explode sooner or later. He’d expected maybe a little fight, but when he got none he was unable to let the moment pass. Turned on didn’t begin to describe how he felt right about now. Turned on was how he felt watching her during Aubrey and Katrina’s wedding. He just hadn’t recognized it for what it was. After the experience last night, holding her nude body against his own, hearing her moan with need, he’d left turned on well behind and was crashing towards insatiable need. Like now, touching her had drawn him in, and kissing her sealed both their fates. No kiss had ever tasted the way hers did. Like an addict fiending for his drug of choice he wanted more and more, even though he was taking all he could. There would never be enough. The surety scared the shit out of him as much as it oddly comforted him. Shit, it’d been less than twelve hours since he last held her and he’d hardly been able to think of anything else. He wanted more, he wanted forever. Holding her felt like coming home. This was it; the thing that had been nagging him, plaguing the back of his mind like an ever present ghost. The vague feeling of not belonging wasn’t present whenever he was around her. He was starting to have a feeling of almost completeness; almost, because the woman refused to accept he was into her, not as some substitute for her cousin, but her, Soleil. He would fight, beg, borrow or steal, whatever he had to do to prove to her she was the only woman on his mind. Didier wasn’t really conscious of the fact he’d moved until Soleil was pressed against the wall, his lips traveling steadily downward. Oh yes, this was better. Much, much better. He was able to explore the delicate column of her neck with his lips while cupping the gloriously generous breasts in his hands. God, he loved that she seemed to be adverse to bras. On more than one occasion he’s noticed she didn’t appear to be wearing one. Large, round and proud, there was little choice but to worship them appropriately with his mouth as soon as he managed to undo all the tiny buttons on her blouse. The light but present moans of pleasure further heated his near boiling blood.

Experimenting a little, he allowed his teeth to scrape over each nipple slowly, deliberately. Soleil gasped, pulling at his hair as her pelvis thrust up and forward. The more he sucked, the harder she ground against him. It felt good, so fucking good; but it wasn’t nearly enough. He pushed her breasts together, sucking both nipples into his mouth as if he were sucking on a thick shake. Soleil let out a little cry, her body jerking against him. “Yes, oh God yes, Didi.” The whispered plea enflamed him—Never had a woman’s reaction had that much effect on him. His cock was so hard it hurt, pressing hard against his jeans. He didn’t dare let up to release it. If he did it would be over too soon, and he needed to feast, feel, share with this woman longer than a quick romp in the kitchen. It had become his personal mission in life to drive this woman wild with passion. He wanted her desperate for this, for their coming together. Lord only knew he was. Most of all, she’d thrown out a challenge, albeit unknowingly. Everything about her screamed for a man to step up, and damn it that was what he was going to do. He intended to always keep her on the edge like this. It was imperative that he be the only one she would ever consider when she thought of a man. “We have to stop.” Although Soleil had said it, Didier noted the way she pulled his head hard against her, not to mention the way she hadn’t stop grinding against his ready to burst erection. There was no way he’d stop her. “They’re going to hear us.” With great reluctance he lifted his head, but as if he couldn’t stand for his lips to be away from her skin his mouth lingered along her neck. “Not if you’re quiet, bienaimée.” He had to pull her hips away from his crotch. He didn’t want to, but there was only so much a man could take. To compensate he ran his mouth down her torso, dipping his tongue into her belly button. A half shattered groan was the only reply he received. It was a more eloquent statement than anything she could’ve said clearly. He needed to touch her; his hand slid up the smooth silky texture of her leg, finally arriving at the apex of her thighs. Now it was Didier’s turn to moan. So smooth, so wet; it was one hell of a reward for a man who’d been stretched to the limits of his endurance. She was tight around the two fingers he inserted, clamping against the digits in a silken vise. “Please, Didi. I need you.” He had to taste her, knowing as he lowered his head he would never be able to walk this back. It was something akin to standing buying the ring before the first date, but being sure nonetheless. Kissing was one thing, but as soon as they moved into deeper sexual contact, Didier knew beyond a doubt it would seal the deal for him. Odd premonition though it was, he didn’t doubt it, didn’t question it, just accepted it as truth. The first swipe of his tongue along the seam of her labia caused her to shiver, the tug on his hair sharpening to a steady sting against his scalp. It was a reaction he found he enjoyed a great deal. Moving his tongue deeper to join his driving fingers he used

his free hand to move her leg over his shoulder to give him better access. She tasted like some exotic sweet and spicy dessert. He could feast for hours. He was however conscious they should probably take this elsewhere. First, he really needed to make her come harder than the few soft orgasms he’d felt deep in her channel around his fingers. Reluctantly removing his tongue from her warm, inviting pussy, he closed his lips around her clit, sucking with earnest. Soleil’s breath caught for a moment before she let out a sound of pure orgasmic bliss, muffled by her lips firmly pressed together. God, Didier needed that cry out loud. He wanted to hear every sigh, every moan, every cry, clearly. He wanted his name on her lips, her nails scratching down his back as he watched her fall to pieces over and over again. “Oh. My God! Didi, I’m going to – Oh, damn!” To his absolute amazement and delight, she did it again. Right after the first massive climax, another came right behind it. This time her exclamation was something of a whispered broken plea, which just pissed him off. The controlled cry implied restraint, control. He didn’t want her in control. He needed her as wild as he felt inside. He wanted to see her lose herself in the passion swirling so thick around him you could almost grab hold of it as a physical thing. It wasn’t enough to make her come, he needed to make her scream. He rose in one smooth move, taking her with him as he wrapped her legs around his waist. “Where’s your bedroom?”

Chapter Five Soleil blinked, trying to process what he’d just asked her. She was pretty sure it was a question, though she couldn’t be sure. He couldn’t possibly expect her to think after that, could he? It wasn’t as if she had shit loads of experience in the sexual arena, but she was a long way from being a virgin. In her experience, very few men were very good at oral sex, though they all claimed to be. What she just experienced wasn’t just good, she was very much afraid Didier DeCapêt, the man she’d pegged as less than his more overtly masculine cousins, had ruined receiving oral sex forever. No one could possibly measure up to that. “Sunshine?” “Yes?” Lord, she was losing it. There was a reason why she wanted to keep this man at a distance. Maybe her internal warning system had known what she couldn’t see. He wouldn’t just have sex with her and move on. He wasn’t going to have sex with her at all; this man was after everything, her entire being. The sneakiest kind of alpha being, known to womanhood, appearing all safe on the outside when he was a predator on the inside. There had been a serious miscalculation on her part. She’d assumed since Rance had won her cousin, Didier had to have been falling short in some way. And the looks he cast at Jade didn’t look a dang thing like the way those eerie eyes were looking at her now. “Your bedroom, unless you’d like to finish this on the kitchen table?” Yes, yes she would. He could finish it anywhere at all, as long as he finished it. She was burning alive inside her skin. “Upstairs, all the way at the end of the hall.” Instead of moving immediately as she would’ve liked, Didier stared pointedly from the direction in which they’d entered the kitchen. It took a second, but Soleil caught on. “We can take the back stair, just over there at the far end of the kitchen. It’s quicker.” She was more relieved than she cared to admit as he proceeded to carry her to their destination. It was dubious whether or not her legs would be able to support her weight at this point. Her entire body felt like a limp noodle fresh from a steamy pot of water. And he carried her without so much of a huff. It wasn’t like she was a petite little thing. Though she may not be as tall as she’d like, she was solidly built, complete with all the curves of a real woman. It had been far longer than a couple of years since someone had picked her up and carried her. Not like you date the type of men who would. Inner voices could be such nuisances sometimes. No she didn’t date men like Didier, she liked to have complete control over every aspect of her life. There was no way a man like this would allow her control, at least not in the bedroom. And doesn’t it feel good? Oh, hell yes it did. God, it felt so right it was frightening. Against the megafeminist, stand on her own chick Soleil believed herself to be, she nestled against the man who carried her, resting her head on his broad shoulder. There had never been a

time when she felt so completely surrounded by strength and safety, one at a time yes, but never together. Not even as a child had she felt completely secure. He wasn’t going to hurt her. Not physically, not emotional, and it bugged the heck out of her not understanding why she as so certain of it—But not enough to push him away. There was no way that was possible with the way her clit throbbed painfully, sated yet hungry for more. Despite the fact she wore no underwear she was completely unashamed as proof her readiness was soaking into his jeans. If Didier didn’t fill her soon she was liable to lose her mind, what little that was left of it. All the warning bells and whistles going off in her brain was so easy to ignore when being in the arms of this man felt so much like coming home after a long journey. Soleil’s heart jumped as Didier slammed her bedroom door closed with his foot. She hadn’t even had to tell him which room specifically. Stalking straight to the bed he lay her down, then immediately began to strip her clothing away from her body. He systematically stripped her layers off, piece by piece He moved in no particular hurry, but he gave her no chance to even think about what he was doing. As was the case downstairs, Soleil was mesmerized by him. The way he watched her body as it was revealed slowly, she felt beautiful, she felt alluring. She tended to hide her body under layers, even light filmy ones to hide her figure; people tended not to take her seriously whenever she wore something form fitting. Clients, especially females ones seemed far more at ease with her in the guise of a modern day gypsy, So she’d always hid herself. It kept attention off her and guaranteed whenever someone asked her out it wasn’t for the way she looked. But Didier hadn’t hesitated. He looked at her with hot eyes even before last night if she wanted to be honest about it. All the things she used in defense, the acid tongue, the disapproving frowns, hadn’t stopped him. He seemed to see through her defenses as if they were made of clear glass. And now here she was, completely bare under his blistering glaze. While he was fully dressed, she was a naked as a newborn, and she couldn’t care less. This was the man she professed to detest, and she had just let him past most of her defenses. “You’re so far beyond beautiful it almost hurts to look at you.” From any other man she would’ve scoffed. There was something in the way Didier said it; the deepening of his voice, the lightening of blue parts of his eyes, the tightness on his stance, the sheer male possessiveness in all three; eye, voice and stance. Soleil believed he meant every word he said, may God please help her. After today, it was quite possible her world would be rocked on its axis. Finally he moved. He didn’t disrobe as she would’ve wished, but climbed on the bed with her fully clothed. “You’re an expert in holding back, aren’t you, Sunshine?” She couldn’t answer him, she couldn’t speak. Much to her dismay she just stared owlishly back at him, not willing to admit the truth but unable to lie. No snappy comeback sprang to her lips, her razor wit seemed to have departed her. Yes, she was very good at holding back. It was an excellent way to protect herself from being vulnerable. “You’re not going to do that with me, Sunshine. I want all of you.” She’d no doubt he’d get just that. There was simply no will to fight it left in her. “And Sunshine, I swear to you, you’ll get all of me.”

How stupid could she have been to think this man wasn’t all one hundred percent man? He said it, she believed it, and she didn’t really know him all that well. Oh yes, he’s been good at hiding his more primitive self among men who were so overtly masculine it was damn near obscene, but all the signs had probably been there. She was so screwed, and worse, she was going to love it. That look, those words weren’t about a nice little fling. Dear Lord and all the saints combined, this man was playing for keeps. Soleil shivered as Didier ran a single finger down the side of her face, slowly making his way down to her throat, through the valley between her breast to stop and circle around her belly button. “When was the last time you’ve been touched, bien-aimée?” he purred, languidly stroking her skin. “I- I don’t know.” When had been the last time? She couldn’t remember. She hadn’t had a lover since…well, a while. Over a year. Even then she couldn’t remember being touched like this. As if he wasn’t in a hurry to get it on. Like he wanted to play with her body all day. No hurried grasping, straining tangled limbs, pelvises thrusting in a race to the finish. This was slow, unhurried, the effects completely devastating. He was making her hot and burning just by paying attention to those parts of the body never even thought about during sex. His lips lingered against her shoulder, parts of her arm, her collarbone. “Your skin is so soft, so sweet.” Another soft kiss just below her breast had Soleil arching her back off the bed. No overt sexual movements and she was so very wet, so very ready. This was nothing like he’d been just moments ago in the kitchen, yet she wanted it even more if that was possible. “Didi, please touch me. Please?” Begging was not something she had much experience in doing, but she couldn’t find it in her to care at this point. She wanted him so badly she hurt. All that mattered was she needed him on a much deeper level, and she needed it now! “I am touching you, Sunshine.” God, that accent; it got deeper, sexier with every passing second. “Can you not feel me touching you?” Not enough, nowhere near enough! By his soft chuckle she realized she said it out loud. Oh well, there were far worse things, like him not touching her at all. “Tell me something, cherie. Last night you called something before you realized I was there. What was it?” Oh no, not now. She really didn’t want to go through what an idiot she’d been prior to last night. She’d spent the entire night trying to rid herself of the desire he’d awakened in her to no avail. Throughout the night she’d gone over and over every instance in which she’d encountered Didier, trying to figure him out. She hadn’t been happy with the results, which was why she’d been more than a little pissy all day. By the first light of dawn she’d come to the conclusion she had no idea what to make of Didier, she had simply attributed things to him that should’ve made him completely unattractive to her. And it hadn’t worked.

Now he wanted answers? With his fingers working their way back up her torso to stop finally on her breasts. The skin tightened and puckered under the lazy stroke round and round her areola. Groaning in pure frustration she tried shoving her chest upward, hoping he would take them in his mouth again. He didn’t. This had to be payback for every bad thought she’d ever had about him, Karma had awakened to kick her in the ass. Soleil had a personal code of ethics she tried to live her life by- never say anything she didn’t mean, never apologize for what she’d said, and a few others already broken today like never beg. Each and every one of them could go take a flying leap right about now. She’d apologize, plead, even promise to be relatively nice if he would just relieve this gnawing ache in her core. “Soleil?” suddenly his touch was gone, leaving ghosts of sensations in its wake. “What did you mean by referring to me as a certified beta?” “Why did you stop?” Maybe she could avoid the question altogether. The very last thing she wanted to do was answer him. He may have been driving her crazy, but it was a far cry better than not having his touch at all. “Answer the question.” There was absolutely no give in Didier’s voice. It was still sexy as all get out, but no longer seductive. His eyes flashed blue and grey ice, as if he were thinking about more by the second. Fuck! Not now! “I, uh, was referring to your personality. Or at least what I thought it was before I, uh got to know you.” There, she’d answered without admitting to the sad, totally misguided truth. An admission without copping to anything. “Oh? And you know me so well now?” Busted. “And what exactly about my personality were you referring to?” Shit. Soleil wasn’t in the habit of lying about anything she said or did. Lies took a vast amount of time and energy to maintain and always came back to bite you in the ass in the end. The truth took about five minutes. “Beta men are, um, less than alpha.” It took a minute, but Soleil could see clearly when what she meant sank in. His entire body froze. She could feel every muscle seize and those eyes become devoid of all emotion. “Is that right?” The accent was gone, his voice becoming dead. That was all he said as he stared down out her. Soleil had always prided herself on never backing down to anyone or anything. At this particular point in time she just wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. She was scared. Not for her physical safety, but rather scared on a deeper level. She might’ve just said the one thing that crossed the line with this man. Even the thought of it terrified her. Shit, shit, shit. There was no way out of this one. Didn’t seem to stop her mouth from running though. “Look, it wasn’t personal. I just knew, well, thought you were still carrying this thing for Jade and you don’t act anything like the rest of them. You seemed to be much more, uh, mellow?” Probably not wise ending that little piece of verbal diarrhea with a question. She was suddenly all too aware she lay naked with a fully clothed man laying across her

body. Talk about seriously fucking up. He stared down at her relentlessly without saying a single word for what seemed like forever before he shook his head sadly. He climbed off the bed and started to move toward the door without a word to her. Soleil panicked. She had no idea what to say or do to make it better, but she knew she really needed to. What if walked away and never looked back? It was crazy she should care so much this quickly, but she did. She didn’t want to lose him without ever having had him. “Didier, wait!” He stopped, but he didn’t turn. Soleil felt a lump forming in her throat. What the hell was she going to say? “Don’t leave. I didn’t mean-” “Yes you did.” For a second there, she could’ve sworn he sounded slightly sad under the layers of ice in his voice. “Don’t ever lie to me, Soleil. And don’t lie to yourself.” Then he was gone, closing the door softly behind him. What had she done? How could she be so stupid? True there was no way she could’ve known he’d walked up on her in the garden last night. She couldn’t even be blamed for thinking he was a vision brought on by her own confused feelings about him. But she had read him completely wrong. She had looked on him in disdain quite simply because she was jealous and couldn’t stand the thought that she could feel that way. Gathering her blanket around her trembling body Soleil allowed herself a luxury she hadn’t indulged in for years. She cried. Cried because she’d insulted the hell out of Didier’s manhood and she couldn’t really blame him if he never wanted to see her again. Cried because deep down she knew something special just walked out that door, and there wasn’t anything she could do to get him back. Hell if she were him, she would leave without a backward glance, cursing her name the entire way. But what killed the most wasn’t that nauseous feeling she’d just lost out on something special, once in a lifetime special. No the thing that made her cry harder than any other thought was she just hurt a man who did nothing to deserve being hurt. She knew because she’d felt it. In a selfish pique she’d attributed characteristic to someone she didn’t know just to make herself feel better. She didn’t deserve someone like Didier.

Chapter Six Didier left unsure what the hell to think. On one had he was livid. Less than alpha? Exactly what the fuck had she meant by that? It was fucking ridiculous. No, he didn’t pound his chest and grunt like some damn Neanderthal. Yes, his Louisiana cousins were much more overt in their masculinity. It was something he’d always assumed was an American thing, having seen it over and over again when he served in the military. He’d personally never felt the need for blatant shows of his manhood. He was who he was. In fact, he rather liked who he was, all things considered. But Soleil obviously hadn’t. There was no doubt she desired him. It would be nice if he could channel some of his righteous anger in her direction, but he honestly didn’t blame or begrudge her the misguided opinion. Whether or not she’d really changed her mind was left to be seen. Were it possible to be mad at Soleil he would be able to walk away from her and never look back. That’s what he’d like to think anyway. It was far from true. He had been bitten, there was no going back. He would walk away, but he would always look back. The question was, should he? Honestly as much as he hated to admit it he could see where Soleil might get the idea from. When Rance and Jade had first gotten together, he’d been sore. More than a little. His pride had been hurt, and really he’d been concerned. Didier served in the military with Rance. While he could never claim to know him as well as the other Southern cousins, he’d never seen Rance warm up to another human being. Rance was a deeply intense, often cold man. At least he had been. After their marriage Rance was a completely different man. And more power to him. Didier really was happy for them both. He just hadn’t liked what letting go meant for him. To one on the outside looking in he could see how it might’ve looked as if he were pining for a woman he’d lost. Nothing could be further from the truth. He never had Jade so how could he have lost her? He supposed pining would be the sort of thing a weaker man might do, but hell Rance pined from afar for years before letting go of his past and getting on with his life. He was willing to bet Soleil didn’t think his cousin weak. Mérde! He really didn’t like the thought of his Sunshine thinking of any other man, in any way. So he was left with the question did he stay and fight for her respect? The woman was undeniably ornery, hiding her innate fire under an iceberg designed to keep all others at arm’s length. He was willing to bet his considerable personal fortune she convinced herself he was…beta…in order to keep others at arm’s distance. After holding her, kissing her, coming oh so close to making love Didier knew he was a goner. There was no walking away from her. She would only come haunt his dreams, probably with a sneer and a flippant comment or two. Packing up and leaving would mean not only leaving her, but he’d have to leave New Orleans. That was not feasible since his parents and brothers had moved down. He had real, if self-imposed responsibilities to his family. He; may have come to New Orleans as a favor to his cousin Thierry at first, but after babysitting a batty old woman he would never admit being related to, then assisting his grandfather’s colossal task of

reunited the Northern and Southern branches of LeBlanc, Inc. There was just too much keeping him in Louisiana. And there was no way he could be anywhere in this state without seeking Soleil out. God, she had been so responsive, yet too restrained for his piece of mind. He was still rock hard and fighting with all his might not to turn around and finish what he started. His skin felt tight and uncomfortable, his jeans were strangling him. There was an ache that wasn’t going to go away. Last night he’d lain awake for hours trying to will his erection away. Hadn’t helped a bit. He could take care of it himself, but he found the idea lacking. There would be no satisfaction for him until he could be with Soleil, and there would be no being with her until she fully understood exactly who he was. So he would be staying. As if there had been any other choice. He would go through this ridiculous spiritual whatever it was. However, Ms. Laveau would be introduced to the real, unvarnished Didier. He would be damned if he would allow his woman to think he was anything more or less than he really was. First he would look up this beta male thing, then he’d figure out the best route to go with his Sunshine. ***** “You were right. They were made for each other.” Ceseline listened to the retreating footsteps, smiling softly to herself. The more she considered what was happening right in front of her, the wider her grin became. She’d worried about her granddaughter for so long; prayed, fasted, pleaded with Fate itself to please send Soleil happiness. Not the transient kind, but something real and lasting. For most of her young life, Soleil had been so alone. Her parents had forgotten all about the precious baby girl they brought into the world as soon as she was old enough to walk and talk. Too busy with their own lives they’d left Soleil with a succession of nannies and babysitters. Ceseline wanted to smack her son every time she thought about how they treated that girl. By the time she was ten, Ceseline had had enough, She went and collected her grandbaby, and Soleil hadn’t been back since. Of course by that time it was too late to make proper amends for her parents neglect. Soleil had learned to depend on no one very heavily or for very long. And her parents, well Ceseline doubted Soleil had spoken to either in years, and to her knowledge neither had come close to trying to bridge the gap between them. “Didi has been watching her for months now.” Baptiste shook his head and cast a look at the ceiling. “And Soleil has gone out of her way to ignore him for just as long, when she’s not shooting him dirty looks.” “Yes, that would be her way,” Ceseline agreed sadly. “Never could stand to get too close, never wanted a man who might want more than what’s on the surface.” It was all coming together now. Every time Soleil returned from a Chevalier gathering she was distracted, upset, and she always seemed to need a cleansing. Ceseline had known something was up, but trying to get a thing out of her granddaughter was like trying to coax water from rocks. Soleil had always been rather

solitary, unwilling, and maybe even unable to share her feelings with anyone. Ceseline was probably the closest thing she had to a real friend, and she was some fifty years the girl’s senior. As far as she knew, Soleil had never connected to anyone on an intimate level. Abandonment issues ran deep with that child. Noting a door softly closing and slow footsteps retreating from Soleil’s room down the hall Ceseline shook her head while Baptiste chuckled. The couple certainly hadn’t been in the room for long. However, Ceseline had been offering people guidance, spiritual and otherwise for a long time. She knew from the first time she set eyes on Didier DeCapêt he was nothing like anything in her granddaughter’s experience. He wasn’t exactly like his troubled but otherwise loveable cousins born and raised here. For one thing he wasn’t carrying any baggage. But he wouldn’t let Soleil walk all over him. But if what Baptiste claimed was true, and she had every reason to believe it was, Didier wouldn’t be letting Soleil get away with her infamous ice brush offs either. When Ceseline first received the phone call from Baptiste and Vivienne, she hadn’t dared hope to believe what they said was true. Now after seeing the two younger people interact, she’d come to the same conclusion as the two of them had. Soleil had gone and stumbled across her soul mate, without even trying to look. While the rest of Didier’s family really did believe Baptiste had brought Didi out here for guidance, the grandparents knew what was really going on. No sense letting the rest of them know just let, they wouldn’t believe it anyway. “Well if the boy’s any of your blood, I suspect he won’t be giving in anytime soon. Though I am here to warn you, my granddaughter’s a tough nut to crack.” Even with the warning Ceseline’s heart was so full it was near to bursting. If anyone deserved to be complete, it was Soleil. “You can count on it.” Baptiste leaned back in his own chair with a beatific smile making him look far younger than he really was. Memories of a much, much younger very confused Baptiste Chevalier flashed briefly through her mind. Once this man had been so lost there was very little hope of being found, the toxins in his system added to the pure venom from the witch that was once his wife had damn near killed him. It had taken months to cleanse his system and fully restore his memory. After a while, he’d made his way. If he could do all that, this little thing of the younger people’s pride could be overcome. “I think the best thing we can do is stay out of their way and let nature take its course. But you’re the expert.” “Oh, I whole heartedly agree,” Ceseline chuckled. “And that is the reason Soleil will be the one guiding Didi through his cleansing.” It was devious she knew, but she wasn’t above using whatever weapons she had at her disposal to assist her granddaughter in choosing the right path; and Ceseline was a master manipulator when she had to be. Dinner that evening was quite amusing, at least to herself and Baptiste. Although Soleil was notably absent, it hadn’t stopped the girl from slipping back downstairs and cooking up one hell of a meal. The subconscious mind was a wonderful thing sometimes, Ceseline had always believed. It certainly wasn’t Baptiste her

granddaughter was trying to impress with the crawfish etouffee and blackened red fish. There was even fresh banana fritters for dessert. Soleil knew good and well Ceseline wouldn’t take the credit. Too bad her effort was wasted on the person she was trying to impress. . Didier sat through the meal scowling at the empty place at the table, barely eating a bite. Ceseline and Baptiste had quite a time pointedly asking him a question, only to be completely ignored, so they filled in the answers themselves. Ceseline couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so hard. If the look on Didi’s face was any indication, wouldn’t be long before she’d have herself some great-grandbabies to spoil. “Well,” Baptiste began after they had drawn out the meal as long as they could, “I will be getting off to bed, got an early start back to New Orleans.” They both waited, looking straight at Didier who seemed completely oblivious. It took him three full minutes before he looked up askance at the silence. “I’m sorry, what?” Oh, the poor thing. Ceseline found herself biting her bottom lip so she wouldn’t laugh outright in the poor boy’s face. “I’m leaving tomorrow morning,” Baptiste repeated, then waited. “Oh. Well, good night then. Be safe on the way back. Remy is coming to get you right?” Didi turned back to stare at the empty place at the table once more. Baptiste looked to Ceseline and shot her a wink and a grin. “No, Thierry and Rance are.” Ceseline knew that to be a lie. Remy was coming to pick up his grandfather Neither of the other two could stand being away from their pregnant wives for long. Nice to see a man could still have his nose wide open like that. “Send Maman my love,” Didi answered absently, drifting to his feet. Both elders watched in bemused fascination as the younger man drifted toward the door before turning back. “Can I help clean up?” He didn’t look like he would be doing anyone much help at all, but Ceseline admired that he remembered his manners. “No, that’s okay dear you run along. I suspect Soleil will be up early and ready to begin in the morning.” He looked completely blank for a few moments, then he broke out into the biggest grin Ceseline believed she’d ever seen. “Soleil will? Oh that is perfect.” For a second Ceseline almost felt sorry for her granddaughter—almost, but not quite.

Chapter Seven “Good morning, Soleil. Missed you at dinner.” She’d known she would have to explain her actions to her grandmother this morning, but what Soleil didn’t expect was for the older woman to be so cheerful and pleasant. Disrespecting guests was a big deal, and Soleil had done that. While her grandmother couldn’t feasibly threaten her with the switch anymore, she could put a bug in her ear. Soleil expected that at the very least. “I, uh, had a migraine.” It was absolutely true. After Didier had left her, buck naked and all worked up, Soleil had cried silently until she had a headache. Then she’d just lain there and suffered, figuring she deserved no less. Cooking dinner had been something of a way to make amends, even if it was a cowardly one seeing as how she didn’t stay around to face the music. But how could she possibly face Didier after yesterday? She felt like all kinds of a fool. His abrupt departure led to long overdue soul searching. Not surprisingly, she hadn’t liked what she found all that much. While priding herself on being independent, honest and true to her values, she had become judgmental, bitter and cynical. All along she’d been projecting things on other people that quite possibly weren’t there, making decisions about their character while knowing nothing about them. Generally, she didn’t have to be bothered with the truth of the matter because she naturally pushed those people away. This was the first time she had ever had to deal with her own special form of bigotry up front and personal. “Umpf. Well, I hope you’re feeling better now. You have a patient to see to.” All Soleil could do was stare at the back of her grandmother’s back while she went about making the shrimp and grits for breakfast. She had a patient? First of all, they were hardly doctors, nor were they the voodoo queens most folks whispered they were. They simply used homeopathic means to help people see through their own personal blockages and hopefully make a breakthrough. Those who were really sick were referred to a real doctor. Secondly, she couldn’t take Didier on. He probably hated her right about now. Not to mention the insane sexual tension between them. “I can’t do it.” She swallowed hard, trying to come up with a viable excuse. Nothing was coming to mind, unfortunately and lying to Madére did her no good. “Oh? And why is that?” Madére turned to face her head on, hands on hip and eyebrow cocked. Soleil could’ve sworn there was more than a bit of merriment in those sharp brown eyes. “I don’t think it is a good idea. Didi and I didn’t hit it off.” That was about as honest as she could get. It wasn’t like she could tell her grandmother they’d almost got it on twice until she opened her mouth and inserted her foot. I- uh, don’t think he likes me.” “Whatever gave you that idea?” Damn it! Why the hell was Didier up? It wasn’t even six yet. “Good morning, Madame Laveau. You are looking lovely this morning.” Madére blushed—Blushed!—waving her hand at the handsome younger man. No, she couldn’t be jealous of her own grandmother. That would be pathetic.

“Call me Madére, son. And save your flattery for those young girls. Don’t do you any good here.” And yet she’d blushed. Soleil stood there gawking, not really sure what she should do. Instead of looking at his face, she found herself concentrating on Didier’s knees. She wasn’t too sure she wanted to see whatever it was showcased on his face. “Good morning, Soleil.” The man had the audacity to purr it. He had no right to sound so sexy this early in the morning. She felt her body responding in spite of herself, and she wasn’t wearing her “armor”, the often shapeless, diaphanous layers that made her stand out while keeping people more or less away. “Morning,” she muttered turning her back and stomping over to the coffee machine. She needed fortification, it looked like it was going to be a long day. “I’ll take a cup.” She jumped, not expecting to hear him so close behind her. She hadn’t heard him move. “And what makes you think I don’t like you?” Concentration and sheer will kept her hand from shaking too much as she poured two cups. “How do you like it?” she asked ignoring the question. He knew damn well why. “Black.” Okay, he was talking about his coffee, not his women. It didn’t matter that it sounded sexual, or that his voice was closer, right next to her ear in fact. The fact she could feel his body heat against her back made no difference at all. He was referring to his coffee. Before she could hand it to him, he reached around to grasp the cup where she was holding it. Oh Lord she couldn’t move. Her grandmother was in the room for crying out loud! But a quick glance toward the stove showed her grandmother had ghosted, leaving her alone with a man she’d insulted. The man she degraded. The man she wanted so bad right now her knees were knocking from it. “Your grandmother left a few seconds ago, Maybe she felt we needed some time alone.” Soleil still didn’t speak. She couldn’t. He was pressing up against her now, his arm snaking around her waist. “And you didn’t answer my question.” “Because of what I said about you.” Believing that if she turned, he’d back up, Soleil did so. Didier stayed right where he was, forcing her to look up to see his face. He didn’t look mad. Even the cold deadness that was in his expression yesterday was gone. At the moment he looked, sort of hungry. “Ah, yes. To you I am a beta male.” Even his smirk looked sexy. “I believe Urban Dictionary defined that as ‘an unremarkable, careful man who avoids risk and confrontation. Beta males lack the physical presence, charisma and confidence of the Alpha male’. Is that what I am, Sunshine?” So he could quote Urban Dictionary.com word for word. Impressive. “No.” Hell, no. Not now anyway. “I mean, I had, but I was just…” Nope, she wasn’t going to admit she was into him. That was just a bridge too far. “Just what?”

God, he was so close. He’d bent down so his face was right in front of hers. All she had to do was push up on her toes a little and their lips would meet. She wanted to so bad she could already taste him. Just when she thought she would, Didier moved away suddenly, putting distance between them.   “I am going out in the pirogue. I will be back this afternoon.” As if that moment just seconds before had never happened, Didier turned, downing his coffee and setting the cup in the sink. Soleil blinked, trying to process what had just happened. “Wait!” Okay, she knew she wasn’t the only one who felt the electricity between them, and he obviously wasn’t mad. Or, at least not so mad that he didn’t want her anymore. And he was leaving where? The swamp? “The bayou is dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing or where you’re going.” “And you are assuming I don’t know either right?” Now that right there was sarcasm, and that pissed her off. Yeah she’d been wrong but she was trying to apologize damn it! “I’m sorry I mislabeled you. It was wrong of me to make a snap judgment like that.” Crow tasted like shit. She couldn’t look at him when she said it. Shame seemed to have a way of weighing down the head, making hers fall to her chin as she examined her bare feet. “I don’t blame you for your assumption.” Soleil’s head snapped up. He wasn’t mocking her. He looked serious at least, even sheepish. “I was never upset with you about that.” “But…Then why did you leave yesterday?” Oh, that was galling. Asking a man why he didn’t sleep with her was something she wasn’t used to doing, and she hoped like hell she never, ever had to do it again. Didier actually had the nerve to look bemused. “You don’t remember everything you said that night in the garden do you?” Yes she did. “Yes, I do. I didn’t say anything else that would’ve made you mad.” She was beginning to get indignant. Try as she might not to, the man was beyond frustrating. She’d apologized, which may not be a big deal to him, but it was a huge deal to her. “Just tell me, what did I say?” “Oh, I don’t think so, Sunshine. I’ll let you figure that out yourself.” Turning back around, he made his way to the side door without sparing her another glance. “Love the shorts by the way. You look good.” Soleil stood frozen in her spot as he took his leave—again. She was getting sick and tired of Didier DeCapêt walking out on her. And with a riddle no less. Being pissed about a debasing his manhood she could get. Hell, she would be pissed if anyone ever questioned her femininity. There was no memory of insulting him in any other way. She swore she didn’t. There was no reason for him to be upset if he wasn’t insulted by her extremely wrong assessment of him. “Didier left then?” Madére came back into the kitchen carrying an empty tray. Oh right, Didier’s grandfather.

“Did you tell him he could take the pirogue? He could get lost, or hurt, or worse!” Getting sassy with her grandmother wasn’t very smart of her. Soleil realized it as soon as the words were out of her mouth. All ready to apologize to high heaven she was shocked mute by Madére’s full belly laugh. “That boy will be just fine. Why don’t you go gather the things you’ll need for when he gets back.” There wasn’t a thing left for Soleil to say. She made her way to the workroom located behind the kitchen, right next to the garden. Her mind was going too fast for her to concentrate on whatever she was supposed to be doing for long. Something was going on here, something she wasn’t privy to. But what really got under her skin was she had no earthly idea what Didier had been talking about. What the hell had she said? Before long she found herself sitting on the dock looking down the waterway for any sign of the boat or the man. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, but when the shadows from the sun began to get longer, she began to get worried. Why was Madére so sure Didier would be fine in the bayou? People who lived here for years still got lost or worse. She should go after him. If she didn’t, anything could happen to him. He was an aggravating man, but that didn’t mean he should be gator bait. Looking back towards the house, Soleil considered telling her grandmother she was going after Didier, then decided against it. She would just go down the way a bit and see if she could find him. She’d be back before anyone noticed she was gone. Not thinking twice about her decision she climbed into the extra boat, not bothering to even go back for shoes. Hopefully he hadn’t gone far, she’d probably be right back.

Didier returned sooner than he’d expected. It was amusing Soleil had assumed he was taking chances going out by himself. Only a fool would take off by themselves in a rural setting without knowing the terrain or the dangers that lie in the area. As soon as he’s arrived in Louisiana he’s made it his business to learn all about the area, urban and rural. He’d been all through the bayous surrounding New Orleans, including this one. He’d even passed the big white house on the rise before, never knowing this was Soleil’s home when she wasn’t in New Orleans. Oh, he knew full well she had a New Orleans residence, had known it for a while. Even knew exactly where it was. Until his trip here he’d had no idea why he seemed to be deeply interested in everything involving Soleil. No, that was a lie. He just hadn’t wanted to recognize it. Soleil represented a real departure from the familiar and the comfortable. Somewhere along the line, he’d become a creature of comfort, set in his ways and unwilling to change. It was easy to pinpoint when he had become such a stuck-in-the-mud. The few years he’d spent living in Lady Rienne’s house had done it to him. Not a day went by that he didn’t have to watch his back, front and all sides. That crazy old witch had been batty, and she hated him with a passion, for no other reason than he was his mother’s son. How anyone could deny their own child because they didn’t come out the right

shade was so far beyond anything Didier had grown up with, it shocked him. Never really trusting Piers, thank God, Didier had walked on eggshells, all in the name of family. After Lady Rienne became an invalid, Didier really did believe he could start living a somewhat decent life again. Turned out it hadn’t worked that way at all. It wasn’t until Piers had killed the old woman, only to be killed himself had Didier seen a return to any kind of normalcy. Soleil challenged his sense of normal. Her profession for one thing was…interesting. It wasn’t entirely clear what it is she did exactly, but he knew damn well it wasn’t voodoo unlike what he had let on in front of his family. Homeopathic assisted self-help psychology as far as he could tell. He wasn’t as adverse to the idea as he liked to play. Truth was he was quite fascinated; but then, there isn’t much that didn’t fascinate him about Soleil. The woman was frustrating, irritating, and completely unforgettable, undeniably sexy, and his. Today was the first time he’d ever seen her wearing normal clothes. Khaki shorts that cupped her luscious backside to perfection, short enough to show off those shapely legs that should be wrapped around him right now. The tank top hadn’t been bad either. She still hadn’t been wearing a bra. That just drove him crazy. He really hadn’t planned on touching her this morning, he just couldn’t seem to help himself; she belonged in his arms. As soon she pulled up the dock, he noted the other boat was missing. She went after him. The woman needed to be spanked. Not satisfied with his answer she’d gone looking for him, he knew it. “Oh, you’re back!” Madam Laveau’s voice jolted Didier from his anger. It was simply not possible to be upset in the woman’s presence. She had a calm that seemed to reach out and wrap everyone around her in love and peace. “I can’t seem to find Sol anywhere around the house. Let her know I’ve gone to visit Lila and Jasper. Oh, here comes my ride now. You’re in good hands don’t you worry.” There hadn’t been time to say much more than hello and goodbye before Madam Laveau climbed on an air boat piloted by Jade’s brother Dante and was gone. Oh, she was clever. She knew Soleil had gone in search for him, she also knew he knew his way around the bayou. In fact, she probably knew more about his life history than the government, and he used to work for them, had a top secret security clearance. Obviously she trusted him enough to go collect her granddaughter, but she was also banking on Soleil and himself making a love connection. As much as he would like that, he wasn’t going to make a move on Soleil while she still believed him to be in love with her cousin. That was the one thing that had really gotten under his skin. And Soleil didn’t have a clue how he felt about it. Until she did, he would tease, dare, tempt, but he wasn’t going to push it any further. She needed to know beyond a doubt that she was the only woman on his mind. It perhaps was silly, but it was important to him, to them both if they were going to have a future together, which he was determined to make happen.

Shaking his head, Didier push the pirogue from the dock and went in search of his woman.

Soleil couldn’t believe she was lost. She couldn’t be. This bayou had been her home since she was ten-years-old! Had she been paying attention instead of thinking about Didier this wouldn’t have happened. Damn the man for burrowing into her brain and refusing to get out. What the hell had he meant by what he said this morning? If being called a beta man hadn’t made him mad, what could it have been? Try as she might she just couldn’t think of what it was that would upset him. Damn it, where the hell was she? To her knowledge she’d only rounded one bend, but nothing around her looked familiar. She needed to get back before Didier, if she didn’t run into him that was. Wouldn’t today be the day she’d gotten into this damn little boat without her gun and hunting knife. If anything happened to her out here, she was going to make Didier pay big time. Lord, help him if she died while looking for him. She would come back and haunt him wherever he was. He’d never had a peaceful night’s sleep again. Just when she was about to panic she heard a boat behind her. “Looking for me?” Smug asshole. “You hadn’t come back, I got concerned.” Truth. He didn’t need to know she was lost. “So you came to find me and got lost?”How the heck did he know that? She could deny it, but what was the point? “Come on, I’ll guide you back.” God, that sounded better than she wanted to admit. If only he could.

Chapter Eight Madére certainly pulled a fast one. She’d never once left Soleil alone when someone was staying at the house. Her grandmother was a wily one. The older woman had probably seen or sensed something between her and Didier, so she left them alone to work it out. Soleil didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or relieved. “Okay, so how does this voodoo thing work?” Didier leaned against the frame of the workroom with that crooked smile on his face. He really was devastatingly handsome. He even had dimples. “I wouldn’t know how voodoo works, I don’t practice.” Sounding stern wasn’t working. She sounded more like a breathless groupie of some sort. What to do? Generally when someone came to see her or Madére she could easily read them. People tended to give themselves away. With Didier, Soleil couldn’t really detect a damn thing wrong. Maybe she had a little at the wedding; he’d seemed dissatisfied, unhappy, blocked in some way. That hadn’t been in evidence the entire two days he’d been here. Maybe the bayou was good for him. He certainly seemed to know his way around it easy enough. It was still galling that she had gotten lost and he had known exactly where he was. The bayou had a strange sense of humor. So where to begin? Maybe herbs could wait for now. “Follow me.” She didn’t wait to see if he would, she knew he would. Just as she knew his eyes were firmly glued to her behind. After returning to the house they’d silently gone their separate ways, showered and kind of met up again in the kitchen. Soleil figured it was a good a time as any to start. For the first time since she started working with her grandmother she was at a complete loss. Calming tea would have no affect on this man. She didn’t want to suggest a scented sauna. Picturing Didier nude and sweaty did things to her that miles from professional. So she settled on a question session instead. It may help her know how to proceed. Leading him to a secluded little alcove, she gestured to a padded chair while she sat in one across from it. Of course he couldn’t just sit like a normal person. He had to move his chair right next to her, his gaze never wavering from her face. “Before we- I know how to proceed I’d like to as you a few questions.” Damn, she should’ve brought a pad and pen with her. Oh well, she would just have to remember the answers. “Okay, doc shoot.” Soleil frowned. There was no way he could know she actually did have a doctorate. “I’m not a doctor.” “Sure you are. You have a PhD in psychology don’t you?” That brought her up short. “How the hell did you know that?” Defensive probably wasn’t the best way to go, but it wasn’t something she liked to be widely known. People came to see her and her grandmother because they really did believe they had some kind of power, not matter how they might’ve rationalized it in their mind.

“Was it a secret?” Just that quickly he’d turned the tables on her. She needed to get the upper hand back. “No, it isn’t.” Taking a deep breath Soleil made a valiant attempt to pull herself together. “Tell me about yourself.” Inane chatter, but it may give her some insight if she was lucky. “What would you like to know, Sunshine?” His voice deepened, turning into that slightly accented purr again. She should’ve known he wouldn’t just answer the question. “Whatever you’d like to tell me.” Would you be slow and easy or hard and fast? Do you prefer women on the top, the bottom, or on her knees with her ass up? None of that she could actually say. Yet. “Do you really think I’m in love with your cousin?” Oh, God. That was it. That was the thing she’d said that pissed him off. Why? It was a fair assumption wasn’t it? Soleil opened her mouth then closed it again. Before yesterday all she’d done was assume, definitely making an ass out of herself. Sitting back she really had to think about that one. When it came right down to it, she didn’t really think he was. Before she’d thought it was wishful thinking, but looking back on the little interactions she’d seen between Didier, Rance and Jade, there hadn’t been any real tension for a while now. There’d been no longing glances, no bitterness in his gaze or manner. “No, I don’t believe you are.” And she meant it. The words seemed to have lifted some huge weight off of her, which was crazy. She wasn’t the one who needed cleansing, she did that on a regular basis. “Dieu merci!” Soleil was snatched from her chair so fast she didn’t know what hit her; at least until she found herself on Didier’s lap, his mouth crashing down on hers. Thank goodness the garden chairs didn’t have armrests. Her legs might’ve been crushed otherwise. As it was, the sturdy iron seal allowed her to wrap her legs around him and grind down hard. A familiar position now, but one she wasn’t going to give up this time. It didn’t appear Didier was going to give up either. She sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving she was wearing a dress, it made it so much easier for his marauding fingers. Soleil had her answer to the question she hadn’t asked earlier. Hard and fast. There was no chance to catch her breath, to prepare herself before his hand had snaked under the edge of her panties and his fingers were thrusting hard inside her increasingly soaking pussy. Between those fingers, his tongue deep in her mouth tangling with her own, the strong arm chained around her waist keeping her anchored, Soleil was lost. This was more intense than the bath, the kitchen and the bedroom episodes prior. Didier was taking no prisoners. Within moments Soleil was whimpering into his mouth as tremors from her first orgasm rushed through her body. Only when the slight shake began to subside did he move his mouth away from hers.

“I want more of that, Sunshine.” The steel colored eyes were on fire. They burned down to her bones. “Don’t think, just feel. Will you just feel for me, cocotte?” “Yes, yes. Please don’t stop?” He couldn’t stop this time. She didn’t think she would be able to handle it. “I won’t, Sunshine. I promise.” But he did remove his fingers. Soleil protested with a broken cry that was stopped by another soul-searing kiss. She heard a ripping sound but it didn’t really register what it could’ve been, even when she felt a cool breeze against her chest. It wasn’t until Didier roughly pushed her dress down her arms did it occur to her that he had ripped the front of the sundress she’d worn specifically to entice him. The dress had been fitted to her torso, showing off her figure to her best advantage. She could care less at this point, it served its purpose well apparently. Large, rough hands cupped both breasts, lifting them while they massaged. A pinch to the nipples had her jerking down against the glorious erection she’d felt underneath his pants but never bare against her before. She had no idea when he’d managed to release himself from his pants, but Soleil could have cried in relief that he had. His hot, tight skin rubbed against her still lace covered core, teasing unbearably. She needed her panties off; she needed his cock inside her. She didn’t have a chance to plead for it, not when his heated mouth clamped down on her breast. Her back arched, her pelvis moving against him. Oh God, it felt so good, almost too good. “That’s it, Sunshine. Ride against me. Make yourself come.” As if she could do anything else. The lace against her clit was driving her crazy. She couldn’t seem to get close enough to the heated organ however, and that was driving her insane. It didn’t seem to matter however, at his command Soleil came again, this time shuddering against him as her nails dug into his shoulders. So good, but she still needed more. Almost like he read her mind, Didier ripped her panties, lifting her and impaling her down on one beautifully heavy, lengthy organ. Her mind blanked for a moment, not able to do anything more than revel in the feel of him. And his eyes, oh dear Lord he watched her every reaction, his face showcasing all the desire, all the exquisite pleasure she was feeling herself. Without moving, without any other prompting at all, Soleil exploded. Her walls clinched down on him, her entire being pulsating around him. It was beautiful, it was heaven, it was right. The last thing she expected was the sharp pinch against her clit. Her eyes popped open, unsure exactly when she had closed them. Didier’s face was one of pure male, primal and aroused. It was a heady sight. “We’re a long way from being done, Sunshine-mine. Now ride.”

Didier was going to lose it. She was so damn tight, the sweltering liquid velvet of her pussy was literally milking his cock mercilessly. Being inside Soleil was so far beyond anything he’d ever imagined. It was coming home; he could never be inside any

other woman for as long as he lived. He waited as long as he could. He was not a small man, and Soleil was more than a little smug. But when she came after being fully seated on his cock, Didier had to fight with every fiber of his being not to thrown her down on the grass and take her hard, fast and completely. Then she started to move. All the moans he’d swallowed before that moment came pouring out. It didn’t feel good, it felt like heaven. Using his hands to cup her ass he guided her up and down, slowly, but thrusting upward every time she descended. His balls felt like they were on fire, but he couldn’t come yet. He needed more. He needed her wild in abandon. To distract himself he leaned forward and captured a pert little nipple in his mouth. Damn, he loved her breasts. While seated on his lap her breast were at perfect mouth level. Desperate to distract himself he concentrated on each breast. He used his teeth to pull a little on each nubbin, then laved the area with his tongue before suckling. It was meant to tease her a little of course, but mostly to divert him from the sensation of her tight sheath sucking his dick inside, then the ridges of her walls massaging as she lifted. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the immediate clamping of her pussy down on him when he played with her breast threw him for a loop. Oh God, it was too good. His fingers dug into her buttocks, forcing her down harder. He had to move his mouth or he was going to blow. He kissed her everywhere he could reach, loving the taste of her skin, loving the way she trembled for him. But no matter what he tried he knew this wasn’t going to last very long. They’d both been primed for two days, their first coming together was every bit as explosive as he’d known it would be. “Ma choux, I’m going to come.” He just couldn’t hold it back any longer. He tried to reach down to pinch her clit again, bit her hips rocked hard against his. He couldn’t hold back, couldn’t stop it. Her quim closed down on him so tight, her walls vibrating so perfectly, Didier came with a roar. He could feel her shaking all around him, heard her answering cry but he couldn’t do a damn thing but feel. They stayed there wrapped tightly together until Didier could begin to think again, and as soon as his brain started working, he was all too aware he was nestled deep inside the woman he never wanted to let go of. Without a word he rose, keeping her held tightly against him. “Where are you…we going?” It was a good thing she modified the comment. We—he loved the sound of that. “To bed. We’re not done” It was a miracle he made it all the way to her bedroom because he hadn’t been paying the least bit of attention. Somehow he made it up the stairs and into her room before reluctantly pulling away. “Strip. Take it all off.” Not that there was much to take off. He’d destroyed her dress, and he was pretty sure her panties had been left behind somewhere in the garden. As for himself, he threw off his clothing. He needed nothing between then, just skin on skin. It was seconds before Didier was all over her again, this time taking the time to properly

worship her body, as much as he could. It didn’t matter that he had just came, he was rock hard again. “Please, Didi. I need you.” God how he wanted to give into her plea as he ran his mouth all over her body. But this time he wanted it to last; in order for that to happen he was going to have to calm down a little. “I know, Sunshine, I promise to give you what you need.” Looking up at her face was a mistake. There is was, the wild neediness he’d longed for. Her body was writhing, arching off the bed. She looked feverishly sexy, like she wanted him, like she needed him. There was little he could do. She clutched him as he climbed up her body, sinking deep inside her in one forceful thrust. He’d thought he would be able to go slower this time, to draw out their love making just a little longer. All thoughts of that flew out the window at first contact. “Soleil, bébé, I can’t hold back.” He was slowly losing what little sanity he had left. “Tell me if I hurt you okay?” “Do it, just do it. Now please?” Oh, God. His hips powered into her, unable to stop himself. She opened so sweetly, her hand clutching at him, nails scratching down his back. “Yes, Didi. Just like that! Please don’t stop.” As if he had any control left. Their bodies came together in perfect time, fusing then departing, and with every stroke Didier found himself falling deeper and harder. This was it, the one thing men fought and died for. He felt her trembling all too soon under him. He knew he should stop, but he just couldn’t. It was as if her orgasms triggered his own. Before he could stop himself he exploded as she did, coming so hard the room began to spin. And it still wasn’t enough. Yet, he knew it would be a bad idea to keep going at the current point in time. Instead he rolled off her, taking her with him as he gathered her in his arms. “That was…I never felt anything like that before,” Soleil softly admitted, her words slurred with an intoxicating combination of sleep and satisfaction. It was music to his ears. “Neither have I.” And he hadn’t. Sex had just been sex before now. As hot and frantic as it may have been, that was the first time he’s every truly made love. “I think I want to do it again.” She did things to a man’s ego. “You think?” He did too, but in truth he didn’t think he could move just yet. “Ummm, I do want to do it again. A lot.” Even while she spoke he could tell she was falling asleep. “I can guarantee you we will. A lot. Now get some rest.” After Soleil fell asleep, Didier lay there wide awake. He was tired yes, but he just didn’t want to close his eyes just yet. All his life he’d considered himself a romantic. He was the one who was sensitive to a woman’s needs, the one who wined and dined and always cuddled after sex. He realized as he lay there holding the woman he would

never let go he hadn’t known a damn thing about romance—or rather love. He may have known Soleil for a little over a year, but he hadn’t really even tried to know her until two days ago, and already he was in love. He knew it with every fiber of his being, But then, he had been in love with her for a while now. Almost from the first time she curled up the side of her lip and sneered at him. It was nothing like he expected it to be, but he had to admit he lied it. Liked it hell, he loved it.

Chapter Nine Three months. Three short months, and already Soleil found herself more or less living with Didier. Oh, she still had her condo, but most of her clothes, all her personal things were in the luxury apartment he kept in the business district. Funny thing was, she loved it. It felt right. The very best thing was Didier didn’t expect or even ask her to start hanging out with his sometimes hard-to-take-family. She didn’t mind so much having the occasional lunch or Sunday dinner with Solange or Didi’s mother, Thérèse; it was just the rest of them were a tad hard to take, her own cousin included. There was nothing wrong with the wives of the Didi’s cousins. Truthfully they were really sweet, nice and successful women, They just didn’t understand so much about boundaries. She had them, theirs were harder to define. Angelique, Regina, Katrina and Jade tended to share everything. Because they’d been the best of friends for years, they tended to want to fold everyone into their club. It was nothing personal, but Soleil didn’t want to be in that club. She did, however, adore Pascal and Laurent, Didi’s younger brothers—Like now, as she was kicking their collective asses in Black Ops. A semi-permanent fixture at the apartment, Pascal (not to be confused with the much younger Pascal Chevalier, Thierry and Angelique’s son) and Laurent were always good for a video game, televised sporting event complete with beer, and they never asked personal questions. Perfect companions whenever she was kicking it at home and Didier wasn’t around. “Zut alors! You have to give us a chance, non?” Laurent groused as she killed him—again. “Did you seriously just say, zut alors?” Soleil raised a brow but didn’t fall for his oh so obvious trick. By using a term more suited to his grandfather he was trying to distract her enough to for his brother to sneak up and do her in. Fat chance! Within seconds, Pascal’s man too was dead as a doornail, while she was victorious once again. “Like I would really let you distract me. But hey, that was a really good try.” She managed not to rub it in too much by holding back on her customary victory dance, barely. She wouldn’t have been so kind with Didi, but then Didi didn’t have the cute heavily French-Canadian accents, nor was he adorably befuddled by a woman who could kick his ass at any video game created. “You are an unusual woman.” Laurent, the baby of the family, scratched his head as he dropped on the couch in defeat. “You dress like a fairy princess, but you act like, how do you say? The Godfather, ruthless.” “Ahh, that is the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Soleil ruffled the curls on the younger man’s head. She would’ve loved to rub it in, just a little bit more, unfortunately the doorbell rang. “Re-match later. Promise to be gentle.” There was a chorus of groans as she fairly skipped out of the den/game room. It really was kind of surreal she was so happy here. It felt suspiciously like home. She couldn’t keep the huge grin that crept up off her face, until she opened the door. At first, she thought maybe the woman on the other side of the door had the wrong place.

“Can I help you?” It wasn’t as polite as it could’ve been, wasn’t inviting at all, but something about the woman sent icy tendrils of dread up her spine. The woman was petite, almost fragile looking. A wealth of long black curls fell in perfection almost to her waist while wide, deep blue eyes almost too big for her face stared back at Soleil as if she’d cursed her out or something. Damned if the woman’s lips didn’t tremble just a bit. The helpless Perils of Pauline type; the kind of woman who just got under Soleil’s skin. They were always hapless, innocent victims of the cold, cruel world around them. Men tended to eat that shit up. “I’m sorry I think I may have the wrong apartment. I’m looking for Didier DeCapêt?” Lord, she even sounded helpless. Soleil wanted to throw up—right in the chicks face if she could. “For?” This time she didn’t even try to disguise her disdain. Her stomach was doing somersaults while her heart started to beat erratically. Who the hell was this woman, and what the hell did she want? “Becca?” The sound of Didi’s voice wasn’t something Soleil wanted to hear. Watching the smallish woman turn and literally throw herself at her boyfriend was something Soleil really hadn’t wanted to see. His arms enclosed the woman immediately. “Becca, what’s wrong?” Something broke inside her. She turned and ran, unable to look, not wanting to hear. She just had to get out. White noise filled her ears, drowning out the pitiful sobs of the bitch in the hall. She ran all the way to the master bedroom she had shared with Didi. How silly she’d been to think that maybe this was it, that this thing between them could work out. Throwing clothes in the first bag she could find, she fought the tears that threatened to fall, fought and lost. That should teach her. It was better to keep people at a distance, she’d always known that. She could just imagine what was taking place downstairs: Didi comforting the little damsel in distress, remembering what it was like to be with a woman who needed him, who would lean on him. It was the sort of thing that generally made men feel all big and strong. Fuck that and fuck him. She would be fine. She didn’t need Didier, she didn’t need anyone at all. “Excuse me.” Didier tried to pry the small woman off of him, however, she clung like a barnacle on the bottom of a ship. “Oh, Didi. It took me forever to find you! I even went all the way to Canada!” There was a time when Becca Caldwell’s tears might’ve given him pause. They’d never really moved him as much as she thought they had, but he would’ve been considerate. Now was no tone of those times. “I need you to let go, Becca. Now!” Perhaps he shouldn’t have yelled, but this particular woman wasn’t known for her listening skills. She jumped back as if he’d hit her. Looking up at him with those

owlish blue eyes, she allowed a fine sheen of tears to make them all glossy. Not one single tear would fall on those pale cheeks. He knew that from experience. Not even when she’d left him to marry a man he’d thought a friend at one time. She’d claimed to be so sorry, the eyes had shone appropriately as if a crystalline drop would fall at any second. It never had. “Aren’t you happy to see me?” She had to be kidding. “Why would I be?” Damn, he was sounding like Rance. “I’m sorry Becca, but this is a really bad time.” “But you said I could look you up whenever I needed you.” A sniff here, a dab at the eye. Still no tears. “David left me for his secretary! I had nowhere to go, no money, no friends to turn to. I looked everywhere for you, only to hunt you down here. Didi? What am I going to do?” There was a time when Becca was exactly the kind of woman he’d been attracted to. Not for her looks, beautiful came in every shape, size and color. It was her complete helpless act that had drawn him in, Becca herself had pushed him away by showing herself to be selfish, completely unrealistic and a grasping gold digger. He’d actually tried to warn David about her, which was the real reason they’d ceased being friends. Becca had taught him that looks and acts were deceiving and Jade had taught him you can’t force love where it didn’t exist just because a person thought the other person was their ideal. It was Soleil who’d really shown him what love was, what true need and desire was. Since his Sunshine, there was no going back. “Go home to your parents.” He didn’t invite her in, didn’t offer to help her make her way back to Washington, DC. He simply closed the door as he entered his apartment. Soleil, of course, was gone, having left by the back entrance. He’d expected as much. Most of her things were still in their place, where they’d remain. Instead of going after her, as she probably expected, Didier sat down and pulled out his phone. Although Soleil had gradually agreed to move in with him, she had been expecting something like this since the beginning. He was more aware with each passing day that she was waiting for something, anything to happen so she could run. There hadn’t been anything he could say or do to ease her anxieties, so he didn’t. He had however been waiting for her to run. Having had a few months to think about it, he knew exactly was he was going to do.

Soleil didn’t want to open the door, but she had a feeling Jade wasn’t going to go away. All she wanted was to be alone and lick her wounds, even if they were self inflicted. It had been four days since the woman, Becca had shown up at Didi’s apartment, four days since she ran, and four days since the last time she’d seen or heard from Didi. She wasn’t locked in her apartment because she thought he might be with the woman who had just shown up. Deep down she knew he wasn’t. Because she’d been waiting for a moment like the one that had occurred, because she’d been so damn

insecure she kept expecting something bad to happen, she ran when there had been no reason to. Didier hadn’t called her, hadn’t come by; hadn’t made a move to see or talk to her because she had been dead wrong. She hadn’t trusted him. Quite simply she’d panicked. She had projected everything she feared into one moment and taken the opportunity to scurry away from something that was becoming increasingly real. She was in love with Didier DeCapêt of the Chevalier clan and there wasn’t any amount of running that would change that. “Go away!” The pounding on the door didn’t stop. That was okay, her hand was already moving to unlock it. Thankfully Jade was only accompanied by her husband. Soleil just didn’t think she could take the rest of the gang today. “What is wrong with you?” Whoa, she’d expected Jade to come and plead Didier’s case, she didn’t expect this pregnant fire breathing dragon. What happened to her sweet, biddable cousin? “That man loves you to distraction, and you run because some random bitch shows up at the door?’ Soleil wasn’t really sure she should speak. Jade just said bitch, like out loud. Surely Jesus was on the way back to earth right this second, or the world was about to implode. Adding her voice couldn’t possibly help. “You know, I used to look up to you. I thought you had it all together, but the truth is you are just a scared little girl.” Ouch. Still no reply came to mind. Jade was right. She wasn’t just scared though, she was terrified shitless. “Why don’t you put your big girl panties on and go apologize!” Okay now that was something she just wasn’t going to do. “No.” “But why? I don’t get you, Soleil. You know you were dead wrong.” Yeah she did, she still wasn’t going to say she was sorry. That would only give him the upper hand. “Yeah, well it isn’t like he wants to hear it, is it?” Snappishness wasn’t really something Soleil did often, but damn it, he hadn’t even called! “Why are you even here? He hasn’t called, hasn’t emailed, texted—nothing! If he wanted to hear from me again he would’ve said something!” Jade didn’t have a comeback for that. “Really?” Soleil dropped on her chaise and buried her head in a throw pillow. Man she was pathetic. Truthfully, she felt so bad, so lost she would apologize to high heaven, if only Didier made some effort to contact her. Each day she waited, jumping at every noise, and so far nothing. Suddenly being right about him changing his mind about her being worth his time wasn’t so important. What mattered was he hadn’t bothered to come after her. She had obviously burned her bridges, and damn it, it hurt. “How can someone with a PhD in Psychology be so stupid?” Rance mumbled. That made Soleil’s head jerk up. “Excuse me?” “Didier,” Rance clarified. “The man has a doctorate in Psychology, yet of all the bone head moves…”

Didier had a PhD in Psychology? Son of a bitch! Well hell, now it made sense. Of course he wasn’t going to call her. However, Soleil got the feeling he wasn’t exactly waiting her out either. He was up to something. He had probably been expecting this all along, but had simply waited until she bolted over some imagined slight or another. He was planning something. Insecurity aside, Soleil knew it to her marrow, he was up to something. What, she couldn’t imagine, but her heart didn’t care, just as long as he hadn’t given up on her.

Chapter Ten Breaking into the Laveau home was ridiculously easy. Waiting patiently for Mr. and Mrs. Laveau to make it home was pure hell. The place had an incredibly cold feel to it. There was lots of artwork, various expensive knick knacks, but almost nothing personal. There were no pictures of Soleil anywhere, though each parent had various photos with celebrities and political figure framed around the living room. Didier was hard pressed to sit perfectly still as he waited, anger boiling in his veins higher and higher with each passing second. By the time he heard the key turn in the lock, he was a hairsbreadth from livid. It took the older couple several minutes to even notice he was sitting there in the room with them while they went over their coming schedules. “Who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing in my house?” By the time Mr. Laveau noticed him sitting in a rather uncomfortable arm chair, Didier calculated he could have killed them both several times over. Military habit. “Mr. Gerald Laveau?” He already knew, but it help to intimidate a person when they perceived you knew a heck of a lot more about them while they knew nothing about you. Cheap psychological trick, but it worked. “Yes, and who are you?” Soleil’s father was a tall, broad man who could’ve been powerfully built had he not let himself go. Her mother on the other hand looked as if she just stepped out of a boutique. Both reeked of an intellectual elitism that looked down on others. These were the people who had more or less given their daughter away because they had been too busy to bother raising her. He didn’t like them on sight. Hadn’t liked them much before he some them out either. “My name is Didier DeCapêt. I am the man who will be marrying your daughter, in about two days,” Judith Laveau laughed out loud, though Didier noted she didn’t move from where she cowered behind her husband’s back. “Soleil? Why would she marry some sort of criminal? I’m quite sure her grandmother would never allow it.” Didier hadn’t moved from the chair, He simply raised his brow, careful to keep his body relaxed and nonthreatening, while every fiber of his being wanted to punch Gerald in the face and give Judith a true piece of his mind. He wasn’t the kind of man to use his family name, ever, but he could see nothing less would work on these people. “I’ve been called many things, but criminal has never been one of them.” He made a show of looking at his nails, a straight metrosexual move that he would never live down had any male member of his family seen it. “I came to invite you to the nuptials. The invitation is on the side table over there.” He pointed to the far side of the room, and as he suspected, Judith rushed to open the fine linen envelope, her breath catching as she read its contents. “You’re a Chevalier?” She alternated from staring at him and back at the invitation as if the words would change from the last time she’d read it.

“I’m related, yes.” “What is the meaning of breaking into our home?” Gerald demanded. “You can tell that daughter of ours— ” “I won’t be relaying any messages from you to my fiancée. I get the distinct impression she couldn’t care less about anything you have to say.” At least they both had the grace to look embarrassed. “You’ll both be there. I’m afraid, Mr. Laveau your services will not be required to walk my bride down the aisle. My grandfather would be put out if he couldn’t do the honors, but you both WILL be there, in the front row, beaming at my Sunshine as if, well as if the sun rose and set on her. You will NOT talk down to her, you will NOT ignore her and you WILL give her a gift worthy of the woman she’s become.” “Now see here, you know nothing about our family affairs,” Gerald blustered. “I am her father, I should be giving my little girl away, I don’t care who you are related to!” “And really, the girl should’ve consulted us before scheduling such an important event,” Judith piled on. “I have several engagements in Los Angeles to attend.” If he hadn't had a good idea before, he knew for certain now that Soleil’s severe commitment phobia came from her parent’s neglect and thoughtlessness. Rising to his full six foot four inch height he stared down at both of them, not bothering to disguise his disgust for another second. “I don’t know what kind of people would bring a child into the world and wash their hands of her as soon as she became inconvenient to them. The two of you have to be a pair of the worst parents I have ever seen in my life.” Fuck being cordial. He was already sick of them. “You will be at her wedding or I can promise you, not only will you never see Soleil, but any grandchildren we may have will be kept away from you completely. I will personally contact every news outlet I can find and air your most excellent parenting skills to any and every one who will listen. Don’t even think about the parties and events you’ve previously been privy to. That would stop, and all I would have to do is say my name. You will be left here, with nothing. I should do it anyway, but I doubt that would make my fiancée very happy.” Shaking his head he started toward the door, then turned for one final parting shot. “Soleil is one hell of a woman, not a child, no thanks to you. Did you know she has not just one, but two PhDs?” He could tell by the shock on their faces they didn’t. “She works out of the bayou with her grandmother peddling vile voodoo superstitions!” Judith had the nerve to clutch her pearls as she said it. Man these people were dense. “She counsels people, using her degrees, teas, and some homeopathic medicines to help patients find a healthier cure for their problems; so does Madére, who also holds two PhDs. That you had no clue is just pathetic, as are you. Be at the wedding. My family isn’t known for forgiving trespasses.” He didn’t bother waiting for a response. There was only two days left to his waiting, he had a lot to take care of.

The very last people Soleil wanted to see on her doorstep were Didier’s mother, grandmother, and Madére. Whatever news they’d come to impart couldn’t be good. There was no way to get out of letting them in however. There are some days she really should’ve stayed in bed. “Child, it’s five o’clock in the evening, I know you’re not still in your pajamas.” Madére bustled into the condo, followed by Vivienne and Thérèse who was carrying a dress bag. This isn’t going to be good whatever it was. While it was sweet getting all these visitors in the past week, none of them had been the person she really wanted to see. Didier hadn’t come back, hadn’t called, yet, there was something definitely up. She’d seen at least one member of his damn family every day. “You must shower,” Vivienne actually took her by the arm, shuffling her up the stairs toward her bathroom. “We don’t have much time.” “Time for what? I don’t really feel like…” “Tsk, tsk, you will not worry about this not feeling good, non?” Vivienne chimed in. “We will make you some tea while you shower.” “And here,” Madére shoved a small bag in her hands. “Use this soap and lotion. And hurry, child. You don’t want to be late!” This had something to do with Didier. Soleil didn’t bother asking, the three older women clucking around her bedroom weren’t about to tell her a thing. There was little choice but to do as she was told and pray it would be over soon, besides, it may result in her seeing Didier. Soleil was so dangerously close to breaking down and calling him, but she had no idea what to expect. It was fear that kept her from it more than anything else besides, it had been two weeks now. She doubted a simple sorry would cut it. Surprisingly all three women were out of her bedroom by the time she got out of the shower, however she found underwear on her bed, with perfume, the same scent in which she’d bathed, and a note written in blood red marker “HURRY UP!!!” Oddly the lingerie was snow white, soft silk of excellent quality, complete with real silk nylons and garters. The mothers seemed to be going all out. They probably had a plan to sucker both hers and Didier into some kind of date to talk out their differences. That would mean Didier really had no intention of talking to her again. She found she just couldn’t accept that after fostering so much hope since that first visit from Jade and Rance. If Didi had expected her reaction, that means he’d worked out what he was going to do about it—didn’t it? It just hurt too much to think. Soleil did what she not instructed, using the items the mothers had left for her and slipping on a pretty if simply sundress. She took as long as she dared before going back down the stairs where all three older women were waiting for her. “Lord, it’s already six-thirty!” Madére exclaimed, shepherding her toward the door. “We have to go!”

The limousine was a bit odd, as was the fact Madére sat on one side of her while Vivienne sat on the other, both women effectively blocking any view she had of the passing scenery. As if she hadn’t seen New Orleans a hundred times already. The drive was relatively short; it was what she saw when she climbed out of the car that gave her pause—St. Louis Cathedral? “Why are we here?” They were going to mass? at night? To her knowledge there was no evening mass here. “Come, Soleil. We will answer questions later, oui?” It was hard to argue with Vivienne. The elder woman was such a sweetheart you just couldn’t be rude to her. To Soleil’s surprise they entered through a side door and walked up a narrow staircase to a rather large room on the second floor, where Jade, Jade’s mother Lila, Katrina, Katrina’s grandmother Lydia, Regina, Regina’s mother Marilyn, Angelique and… “What is my mother doing here?” Understanding dawned clear as a bell as the gaggle of women pressed forward, drawing her deeper into the room. Out of nowhere, no less than three women attacked her hair, carefully arranging her prided sister locks. There were various hair instruments, hot curlers, and a table full of make-up. Oh no, this was so not happening. Who the hell got kidnapped to a wedding? And how in the hell had Didier managed to enlist everyone—including her mother!— into this… this joke? “I’m here for your wedding dear.” Ever the actress, Judith Laveau played the doting mother to the tee, placing a dry kiss on Soleil’s cheek. Catching the rolling eyes from Jade and her mother Lila helped Soleil manage to hang on to her temper, barely. “This isn’t happening.” She seriously doubted anyone heard her. They were in a flurry of activity, voices chattering all around her. She would’ve stalked out if she hadn’t been held captive by the hairdressers and their dangerously hot weapons of hair construction. “I am NOT getting married!” They made a really great show of ignoring her little outburst, but she wasn’t fooled for a second. The loudest voices were the four scheming meddlers of the worst order; Regina, Katrina, Angelique, and her own flesh and blood, Jade—Jade who had pretended all her life to be all nice and sweet. The woman was a mini- Stalin without the murder, death, kills on her hands. They managed to get her hair done, a wedding dress on her body, beautiful silk pumps on her feet, and even make-up on her face without her putting up much of a struggle. Inside she was thrilled. Scared, but thrilled, and so relieved she wanted to cry. Outwardly she kept up her gruff exterior, but none seemed to be fooled. He did this for her. Somehow he’d put together a wedding—in a week no less— for her. Looking at the off-the-shoulder embroidered gown, Soleil really had to fight the urge to cry. He loved her. Really, truly and deeply. If this didn’t scream it to her, nothing would. “Don’t worry about the gown, bébé. I picked it out myself,” Thérèse whispered in her ear as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. “My son has not seen it, I swear.” Soleil was so touched by the woman who was to be her mother-in-law, touched by them all really, she threw her arms around Thérèse, giving her a quick whole-

hearted hug. “Oh, Soleil. I couldn’t be happier with my very first daughter, just as I was with my first child, non?” She’d said daughter, not daughter-in-law. Good Lord she was about to become a freaking Chevalier. These people didn’t do in-laws, half-siblings, or step-anythings. Family was family, whether you were born into it or married into it. Weirdly, Soleil had somehow become okay with that. “Come, you have to get married while the clock is going up,” Madére warned hustling everyone out of the room. Only she and Judith remained. “I am proud of you, Soleil,” Judith tried, looking half earnest. “I had no idea of your accomplishments.” It still hurt. Her mother had never had time for her, never bothered to call to see how she was growing up; half the time she and her father forgot birthdays, Christmases and every other special occasion that had ever happened in her life. “Can it, Judith.” Madére never could suffer fools gladly. “You’re here for appearances. Nothing else. You can’t make up what you’ve done by some half-assed sappy words minutes before my baby gets married. Why don’t you take yourself down to her your husband and smile like you’ve got some sense.” Judith never could stand up to her mother-in-law. Soleil was grateful for her grandmother’s presence She really didn’t want to deal with her mother now, perhaps not ever. “He loves me,” Soleil whispered as soon as they were alone. “Doesn’t he?” She was still in awe of it all. The man had recruited her grandmother to kidnap her so he could marry her, it may be a little twisted, but it was love. “Of course he does,” Madére assured her. “Now go down there, marry that boy and put him out of his misery. “Yes ma’am.” Truthfully she couldn’t wait. To her relief and surprise, it was Baptiste who walked her down the aisle, though if asked later, she doubted she could remember much of the walk. She saw the fresh tulips and lilies in abundance throughout the chapel. Pure white candles mixed with dried lavender lit the interior, bathing everything in a soft glow. It was only then she noticed Jade, Angel, Katrina and Regina were wearing identical gowns of pale peach with light lavender accents, the same colors as the flowers. Zelime and Zulime had once again been drafted to throw down the petals on which she walked, little Pascal stood tall and proud holding a white satin pillow that no doubt held the wedding rings. As soon as they entered through the door, all Soleil could see was Didier. He waited for her, looking devastatingly handsome in his tux, flanked by his brothers. She fairly floated down the aisle and took the hand of her destiny. The priest spoke the sacraments, Soleil managed to say all the right things, but when it came time for the vows, Didier shocked her by going down on his knee, holding her hand tightly. “I, Didier Baptiste Chevalier DeCapêt hereby swear I do not want or need for you to obey me, I just want your love. I don’t need for you to follow me, I just want you beside me. You don’t have to have babies, wash my clothes or clean up my messes. All I

ask is that you love me, because I will always love you, come hell or high water, war or peace, through arguments, misunderstandings and strife. Through the good times, through the tough times, please be my wife and I swear I will spend the rest of my life attempting to make you the happiest woman in the world.” Soleil had no idea what happened after that, she had no knowledge of repeating her vows. She made it through the ceremony, suffered through the reception, which was just as beautiful and thoughtful as the ceremony. She was married! She was now Soleil Laveau DeCapêt, and damn proud of it. Good Lord, what was the world coming to. Won’t it b e fun to find out?

Epilogue “You do know if you don’t stop playing with me and give me what I need, I will kill you right?” Didier simply chuckled at his wife’s impatience; as if she could do anything with her hands tied above her head like that. He didn’t stop using his hands and mouth to make her writhe on the bed. His wife…he loved the sound of that. “Didi, I am not playing with you!” Soleil griped, trying to use her legs to pull his much larger frame up higher. “No, but I am playing with you.” God, he loved the taste of her skin. Forcing her thighs open wide, he took several slow, lazy licks against her pussy. So damn sweet, he would never get enough. Soleil’s complaints ceased, replaced by loud moans as his tongue went deeper, probing her sheath, then curling up around her clit. Her hips bucked off the bed, her breathing turning into heavy pants. “Ummm, I think this is my favorite dessert.” The wedding cake had been delicious, and Remy really out-did himself with the reception dinner. It had been the very best Chevalier wedding Didier had every attended. But then again, it had been his. “Oh, God, Didi don’t stop! I’m going to come!” Oh yes she was. Over and over again tonight and every other night for the rest of his life. Not bothering to inform her of her fate just yet, he buried his head and feasted, driving her over the edge no less than three times before finally lifting his head to watch as she tried to gather her wits. She was so beautiful all wild with passion. “You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, Mrs. DeCapêt.” “And you’re a dead man if you don’t fill me right now.” Ah, that was his baby. She may be tied up, she could be all flushed and aroused, but she was still able to threaten him with all seriousness. “My pleasure, Sunshine.” Sliding deep inside her had never felt so good. This time he wasn’t just making love to a woman he loved, he was making love to his wife. The one woman who completed him as nothing else ever could.