To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(22)

Suddenly he realized what that aroma meant, however, and his good mood turned foul.

He flung open the door to the kitchen to see Graciella stooping to pull a tray of loaves from the oven. The air was thick with the delectable aromas of the other dishes she’d prepared. A row of shepherd’s pies sat on the side table, heaped with mashed potatoes and sprinkled with herbs. Trays of braised carrots fragrant with butter and dill lined the top of the buffet. Rows of leeks were grilling on iron grates over an open flame. She must have worked all afternoon to put together this feast.

“What in Tejeshwar’s name is going on here?” he thundered.

Jiandra whirled around, startled. Graciella quickly set the tray of fresh-baked loaves on the worktable. Kitran and a serving girl huddled near the dishpans in the back, staring at him.

“We—we’re making dinner,” Jiandra supplied.

Graciella’s cheeks were red with heat and exertion, and escaped strands of her silky dark hair clung to her neck. Her hands and dress were covered in flour, and as he stared at her, she reached up to push a stray lock of hair out of her face, leaving a swipe of white powder across her cheekbone. Her pale-hazel eyes blinked at him, beautifully framed with long black eyelashes.

He grated out, “Graciella, you are a guest. You do not need to work in my kitchen.”

Jiandra held up her hands defensively. “Yavi, she wants to work in here. I kept telling you—”

“Jiandra!” he snapped at her. “Can’t you see that you’re taking advantage of your younger sister’s desire to please you? She should be at leisure during her visit here, not breaking her back to peel potatoes all day like some servant!”

Jiandra fell silent, but Graciella pinched off a piece of bread, came around the worktable, and held it up to his lips. “Taste,” she ordered softly.

The fragrance of the buttery-looking bread was almost overwhelmingly tempting, but he refused to open his lips and sample the fruit of her sacrifice to please her sister.

She focused her gaze resolutely on his lips, tapping them with the warm bread. “Open.”

He did, and she popped the bite inside. He chewed, and the softly crusted bread melted decadently in his mouth. The ripe currants and tangy orange peel gave the bread just the right hint of sweetness.

Graciella watched his reaction. Her sweet little mouth curved into the most bewitching, mischievous grin he’d ever seen, and it wasn’t just his sense of taste that became thoroughly aroused.

When did little Graciella become…like this? He swallowed the bite of bread.

She nodded knowingly. “Hm? Good?”

“Delicious,” he admitted, a slow smile spreading across his face.

“Do you want more?”

Yes. Yes, I do, Hazel-Eyes. He cleared his throat. “Yes.”

She went back to her worktable and faced him, hands on hips. “Then let me work as much as I want to in the kitchen and stop yelling at us.”

He saw Jiandra stifle a giggle.

Holding Graciella’s gaze, Yavi smiled wryly at his own defeat, and bowed. “As you wish, my dear Graciella.”





Five


Yavi found himself bounding up the stairs with more energy than he’d had in many weeks. Yajna passed him in the second-floor hallway.

“What’s that delicious smell?”

“Currant bread. Graciella’s making dinner.”

“Yes!” Yajna slapped Yavi’s shoulder and continued toward his quarters.

Yavi entered his wing, closed himself up in his room, and shed his armor. He washed up at his washstand, unable to get the image of Graciella’s amused grin out of his mind. She had a kissable mouth with plump pink lips, perfect white teeth, and her skin looked as smooth as fresh cream, from the slim column of her neck down to the enticing swell of her perfect little breasts. He’d gone erect the moment she’d reached up to push her hair out of her flushed face, and the stiffness hadn’t subsided yet.

Stop this, Yavi, he chided himself. The girl is too young for you. And you swore an oath. An oath not to cause hurt to an innocent young woman through his lust.

“Never again,” he vowed aloud to his reflection. “Especially not Graciella.”

He dressed in black leather breeches and tucked a white lawn shirt into the waistband, then tugged on his boots. Going back to the looking-glass over the washstand, he tucked the emperor’s ruby out of sight into his shirt, and ran a hand through his close-cropped, silver hair. He glanced down at the persistent bulge in his pants.

Get it under control, he mentally commanded his body as he went to the door.

When he got halfway down the stairs, he knew he was ruined. She was wearing that same pink dress she’d had on at breakfast, the one that drew his stare directly to her chest.

§

Graciella turned to see Yavi descending the stairs, looking absolutely dashing. She straightened her shoulders to lift her breasts a bit.

He nodded curtly, barely making eye contact. “Good evening, Graciella.”

“Good evening, Emperor.”

He reached down to pull out her chair, then spoke in a gruff tone. “Forgive my behavior earlier, in the kitchen.”

She seated herself and turned to look up at him. He was staring down the front of her neckline, but instantly moved his gaze to her face.

She smiled sweetly. “Of course. No harm done.”