To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(33)

Graciella picked up her glass of wine. “Here’s to two ruined dresses in one evening,” she said wryly.

Yavi tried to hide a smile. He lifted his glass to her. “Here’s to a girl so lovely that the condition of her attire matters not.”

“Here, here,” Yajna and Jiandra joined in.

Kitran took her time, finally returning with a wet towel several minutes later. She handed it to Graciella, who accepted the towel and then stuck her heel out just as Kitran turned to go.

Kitran tripped and tumbled to the floor with a grunt, then rolled over to glare at Graciella.

Graciella ignored her and primly sipped her wine.

“Oh, Kitran! Are you quite all right?” Jiandra rose from her seat to see over the table.

Kitran pushed herself to her feet and straightened her dress. “Yes, Your Highness. Excuse me.” She curtsied and disappeared into the kitchen.

“She’s certainly a little clumsy today,” Yavi said, amusement playing about his sexy lips as he held Graciella’s gaze.

§

Yavi invited his brother and sisters-in-law to join him in his study for an after-dinner drink, but Graciella excused herself first to go to her room and more thoroughly clean the lemon tart off her breasts. He would have loved to clean it off for her with his tongue, but figured that would be a clear violation of his oath, as well as potentially offensive to Graciella’s innocent sensibilities.

When she joined them in the study a few minutes later, he handed her a glass of katsuri and then led her to stand with him by the fireplace while his brother and Jiandra continued their conversation on the couch.

“A question for you, Graciella,” he said. “Why has Kitran decided she doesn’t like you?”

A lovely blush rose in her cheeks. “I haven’t the slightest idea.”

“Oh, I think you do.” He sipped his drink. “You won’t tell me?”

“It’s just a thing between women. Sometimes we get in little tiffs.”

“I will fire her if you wish. Her behavior is unacceptable.”

Graciella’s enchanting hazel eyes searched his expression, surprised. “You would be willing to fire her?”

“Of course. I know she needs the work, but she also needs to do her job and respect her employers.”

“But…where would she go…if you fired her?”

“Probably back to Ularia, where her grandparents live. Don’t worry—she would have a place to stay. She wouldn’t be out on the streets.”

“Her mother would miss her here at the palace, though.”

“Yes.”

“And perhaps you would miss her as well?”

He shrugged. “I’m sure we could find a suitable replacement.”

Graciella looked down at his chest. “I don’t think she should be fired. Maybe our tiff will blow over soon.”

“At the very least, I will speak to her and let her know that her behavior is inappropriate.” As were his thoughts at the moment, staring down at the sweet glossiness of her lower lip as well as the enticing fullness of her breasts. He could still picture her taut, upturned nipples under the wet muslin fabric, and his mouth worshipping them. He swallowed and averted his gaze, sipping a bit of the katsuri.

Graciella traced the rim of her glass with her finger. “Kitran is a pretty girl, don’t you think?”

“Pretty?”

“Yes, she has beautiful platinum-blonde hair, and…”

“Surely you wouldn’t wish to trade your dark brown hair for hers,” he smiled.

“No—no, I wouldn’t. My mother had dark brown hair and hazel eyes like me, and I’m happy I inherited her coloring.”

“You are the only one of your siblings who looks like your mother, then.”

“Yes. I mean, Jiandra has my mother’s slim nose, and Elio her hard-working spirit. Rafe has her kind heart.”

“And you have her beauty.” Yavi’s tongue was loosened by the wine and the katsuri, and he knew he was flirting too much, slipping into his old ways. He looked down at his drink and cleared his throat.

“Which of your parents do you resemble, Yavi?”

“We are the mirror image of our father, but with our mother’s eyes. My father was tall and well-built, strong as an ox. My mother was a beautiful woman, with clear, deep-set silver eyes.”

“I love your eyes,” she said.

I love yours as well, he wanted to respond. He decided to change the subject. “So how has your stay with us been so far? Are you comfortable in your room? Has it been warm enough?”

“Yes, everything has been fine.”

“Please let me know if there is anything I or my servants can do to make you more comfortable.”

“I will. Speaking of which, I’m a little tired.” She glanced over her shoulder at her sister and Yajna. “I might have to take my leave soon.”

“I can escort you to your room, if you like. No need to bother your sister.”

Graciella nodded her agreement.

Yavi set his glass down on the mantel and addressed the couple on the couch. “Graciella would like to retire for the evening.”

Jiandra moved to get up.

Yavi halted her. “No, sister, stay here and relax. I’ll escort her to her room.”