Soar (The Empire Chronicles #1) Read online

  “I’ll be right here.” He rubbed my arm with his hand, and I eventually slipped off to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Toby

  People sometimes confuse Pterons with angels if they catch a glimpse of us, but when Casey slept against my shoulder, she looked a heck of a lot more like an angel than I ever did.

  Her breathing was even, and she looked so peaceful, although occasionally a troubled expression crossed her face. I hoped it wasn’t a nightmare. Each time that happened, she tightened her hold on my shirt. I liked it. I wanted her to feel secure with me.

  I’d been nervous about telling her what I actually was, but she’d taken it like a champ. If I wasn’t imagining things, she seemed even more into me. That kiss back at the estate was epic, and I was definitely ready to discover more of her. I wasn’t sure of the speed of how things would go with us, but she had a place in my life. If I needed to push other things out of the way to make room, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’d do a lot to be with her, and I was getting the sense she felt the same way.

  “She’s sweet,” Nelly whispered from the aisle next to me. Standing up, she wasn’t that much taller than me sitting.

  “That she is.”

  “Marv was telling me she’s a great employee too. Sounds like she understands hard work. I guess you two have a lot in common.”

  “Yeah? Because I’m such a hard worker?”

  “You are. You just don’t give yourself enough credit.” She put a hand on my arm. “You really are incredible at what you do.”

  “Thanks.” I tried to tactfully shrug off her hand. She was more of a touchy-feeling person than I’d prefer to have working for me, but she did her job well. “Hopefully Bryant has some answers. This better not be a wild goose chase.” I knew Marv could hear me, and that was intentional. I wanted him to know there would be consequences if he was wasting our time. Even if I let it slide, Levi wouldn’t. He had to use a strong arm to maintain his kingship.

  “I put out a request for information on her.” Nelly looked slightly guilty.

  “Information? I didn’t ask for any.”

  “I know, but I have to protect you. She could be lying about who she is.”

  “She works for Marv.”

  “Yeah, and look at how trustworthy he is.”

  Marv turned around in his seat to glare at Nelly.

  “Anyway. I haven’t heard anything back yet.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks.” I wasn’t going to sabotage our relationship that way. Casey would tell me what she wanted to tell me when she was ready. “Who’d you contact? I want you to cancel it.”

  She pursed her lips. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “Yes. I insist you cancel it.”

  She nodded. “You really like her.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Then isn’t a background check even more important?”

  “I’ll ask her about her past when the time is right.”

  “All right. I’ll let you enjoy yourself.” She patted me on the shoulder and walked back to the front.

  I groaned internally. I didn’t want to think about Casey having any kind of history. The last time I found out a girl I liked had history, it was to learn that Allie was like a magnet to any Pteron heir. That’s how she ended up as queen. If Casey’s history had anything to do with Jared’s interest in her, I’d hurt someone. I wasn’t losing another girl to a crow.

  Casey snuggled further into my chest. She smiled and mumbled something resembling my name. It may have been something else, but I took it.

  Casey slept the whole flight. So much for the questions she’d promised to throw my way. Hopefully, we’d have more than enough time to talk about them on our trip. I’d reserved us a two bedroom suite at the Crescent City Hotel. Booking a room at a hotel owned by Allie’s dad felt weird, but it also housed the headquarters for The Society and was the safest place in the city. I hoped she didn’t mind the presumption that she’d share a suite with me. I figured it wasn’t all that different from staying in my apartment.

  She didn’t even wake up when we landed. I gently shook her and spoke quietly. “We’re here.”

  “What?” she asked groggily.

  “We’re in New Orleans.”

  She opened her eyes, still resting her head on me. “Already?”

  “Yeah. You were out cold.”

  “Did you sleep?”

  “No.” I decided not to fill her in on just how little sleep I needed.

  “Oh. Sorry that I just abandoned you then.”

  I brushed some hair away from her face. “I was very comfortable.”

  Evidently, it was the wrong thing to say because she picked up her head and unbuckled her seatbelt. “What’s the plan?”

  “It’s late. We’re checking into the hotel.”

  “Hotel?” There was a note of nervousness in her voice.

  “You have your own room, but it’s in a suite with me. You’ll be safe.”

  “I’m not worried.” She let down the rest of her hair and ran her fingers through it before tying it back up. Her hair looked more wavy than usual and I wanted her to let it back down.

  We didn’t talk much when we deplaned and made the drive downtown. She still seemed sleepy, and I was happy to have her sitting next to me in the car. She waited quietly while I checked us in and we took the elevator up to our floor. Marv and Nelly decided to get a drink at the bar.

  I pushed open the door to our suite and gestured for her to walk in first. “You can take either room.”

  “Oh, thanks. I’ll take this one.” She chose the one further from the door, the room I wanted her to take because I could protect her better that way.

  “Great.” I carried her duffel bag in for her.

  “Believe it or not, I’m still tired.” She leaned against the door frame.

  “It was only a two and a half hour flight. You need more sleep than that.”

  “Are you going to sleep?” She yawned the cutest yawn I’d ever heard, but then she covered her mouth as though she’d done something embarrassing.

  “Yeah. I’ll get some sleep.” I probably would get an hour or so.

  I said good night and went into my bathroom to take a shower. I couldn’t stop the thoughts of Casey that ran through my head as I stood under the hot water. She’d gotten under my skin, and I knew it wasn’t going to get any better.

  Dressed in just my boxers, I sat back on the bed. I picked up my phone and flipped through my emails. Nothing but work related ones waited for me.

  I slipped into the sheets and closed my eyes. I’d need some sleep to deal with the circus of my life the next day. Levi was in charge, but I wasn’t going to sit back and let him call all the shots.

  A scream came from Casey’s room and I sat up with a start. I ran to her room, pushing open her door within seconds of leaving my bed. I looked into the mostly dark room. She’d left the bathroom door ajar with a light on. She lay in bed with a look of absolute fear on her face.

  “Toby?” She said my name softly, and it got me right in the heart.

  “Yeah. I’m here.” I sat down on her bed right next to her. I looked her over. She seemed physically fine, and I wondered if it were more nightmares.

  “Did I scream out loud? Did I wake you up?”

  “You screamed, but you didn’t wake me up. Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “But would…”

  “Would I what?”

  “Never mind.”

  I was pretty sure what she wanted, but if I was wrong I’d make a fool of myself. I went with it. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

  “Yeah.” She played with the sheet at her waist. She was wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts. Hopefully she didn’t mind the sleeping attire I’d picked either.

  “Of course.” I stretched out next to her on top of the covers.

  “No, you can come under. The fan is on and you’ll get cold.”

  I could have assured her I was
n’t going to get cold, but that would have involved turning down the opportunity to get into bed with her. I wasn’t making that mistake again. I maneuvered under the sheets, keeping a small distance between us, not sure what she wanted.

  “Thanks.” She moved over, resting her head on my chest again. This time was different. This time I was nearly naked, and we were in bed together. It was intimate, something couples did, and I loved it. I wanted to know it wasn’t a one-time thing, because going to sleep with Casey in my arms was perfect.

  “If you want to talk about your dream, just let me know. But you don’t have to.” I didn’t want to break the spell of comfort between us, but I wanted her to know she could tell me anything. I’d do anything for her. That realization hit me hard as I ran a hand gently down the bare section of her back that the tank top didn’t cover.

  “It’s about my sister. I have it a lot.”

  I didn’t push her any further. I just kept rubbing her back, hoping my presence and touch helped her fall asleep.

  “I’m glad you know my name.”

  I smiled. “Yeah, me too. I’ve known it a long time though.”

  “I mean that you liked me too, and that my name mattered.” She said it all sleepily, but I knew what she was getting at.

  “I feel the same way about you having feelings for me. I thought you were just friendly to everyone.”

  “I’ve thought about this a lot.” She ran her hand down my chest, and I never wanted her to stop touching me.

  “About what?”

  “Lying with you this way. I thought about it the first time I stayed over at your place.”

  “So did I.” I’d also thought about it every night since.

  “I can’t believe I came down to New Orleans with you.”

  “Me either. It was a nice surprise.”

  “Thanks for letting me come.”

  “Of course. I wanted you here.” I rubbed her back gently.

  “Do you think we’ll find my sister?” She sounded so sad it nearly broke my heart.

  “I will do everything in my power to help you find her.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What are you thanking me for?”

  “Making my life better.” I kissed the top of her head.

  “I hope that continues.”

  “Me too.” My resistance was tested that night. Everything about her lured me in. Her scent, that sweet face, her warm body resting against mine—I loved it all. I couldn’t ruin it. I couldn’t push her if it wasn’t what she wanted. If she needed to take things slow, I’d wait. I’d wait as long as I had to. In that moment, lying with her in my arms, I realized something. I was over Allie.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Jared

  “They’re twenty minutes late.” I checked my watch for the third time. We’d been waiting in the lobby of the Crescent City Hotel for over twenty minutes, and so far Toby and Casey had failed to show.

  “It’s fine. An extra few minutes isn’t going to kill us.” Levi shrugged it off. Of course he did. He took everything calmly now that he had Allie. It’s like they were on an extended honeymoon even though their wedding hadn’t happened yet.

  “It’s just rude.”

  “Rude? Is Jared Florence really complaining about someone being rude?” Allie tore herself away from Levi’s side long enough to get in my face.

  “Yes.”

  Levi put his hands on her hips, pulling her back to lean against him. “No, it’s because he wants to sleep with her.”

  “No.” Allie groaned. “You’re not allowed to go after Toby’s girlfriend.”

  “Girlfriend? She’s not his girlfriend.”

  “Says who?” Allie challenged with her words and eyes. One of Allie’s best attributes was her tough as nails attitude. From what I knew of Casey so far, she had that trait too.

  “Casey. She told me she wasn’t with him.”

  “Maybe it’s like me telling people I didn’t really want to be with Levi…”

  “We all knew that was crap.” Levi grinned but he wasn’t doing that when she played hard to get for months.

  “Either way, leave her alone. She seems cool, and she doesn’t need you messing with her.” Allie got this pouty look I’m pretty sure she reserved for me.

  “Why would I mess with her?”

  “Using her and throwing her out counts as messing with.”

  “Using her? Who said I was going to use her?” I found the insinuation offensive. My reaction alone should have had me running the other way from Casey.

  “I just mean she’s not looking for a one-night stand. Let it go. Besides, she’s definitely not your type. You just want her because she picked Toby instead.”

  “My type? And she didn’t pick Toby over me.”

  Levi’s phone rang. “Hi. Are you guys coming?” He smiled. “Okay, then. We’ll see you in five.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “They slept late…they’ll be down soon.”

  Levi was accepting that as an excuse? “Haven’t they heard of an alarm?”

  “I don’t think they were thinking about alarms.” Allie smiled.

  “What?”

  “Come on, what do you think they’ve been doing?”

  “No, thanks.” I really didn’t need to think about it. That girl deserved better. She actually had a sense of humor, and with a body like hers… I couldn’t let my mind go there. I needed to stay in complete control if we were seeing Bryant.

  I was about to suggest we leave to join Marv and Nelly for breakfast, when I saw Toby and Casey walking from the elevator, hand in hand. They kept stealing little glances at each other.

  Allie laughed. “Yeah, we know what they were doing.”

  “Holding hands means they’re having sex?” I was in no mood for Allie’s analysis.

  “No, but the looks they’re giving each other does. And look at that glow. That’s a post sex glow.”

  “Are you trying to piss me off?” I scowled at her.

  Levi, of course, jumped in to defend her. “Back off, Jared.”

  They reached us, and I made myself appear unaffected. I should have been unaffected. Instead, I wanted to rip Toby’s head off. If someone could read my mind at that moment, they probably would have had me restrained.

  “Hey, Casey!” Allie grinned. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yeah. Very well.” She looked around at the group, but when she reached me, she turned away.

  That wasn’t happening. “Oh yeah? Toby’s snoring didn’t keep you up?”

  If they slept in separate rooms, she’d correct me and tell me she wouldn’t know. “No. No snoring kept me up.” An intimate look passed between the two of them.

  Fuck. Allie was right. I shouldn’t have cared, but I did. I wanted Casey, and I always got the girls I wanted. It’s not like it was over. He may have had her first, but she wouldn’t look back after a night with me. The trick was getting her alone long enough to set that up.

  “Where are Nelly and Marv?” Toby asked.

  “At breakfast in the dining room.” Levi pointed to the entryway to the room.

  “Did you guys eat?”

  “No. I figure we can pick something up on the way. They were already ordering when we got here.”

  “Sounds fine to me.”

  “So, Casey, did you get a chance to see any of the city last night?” My eyes zeroed in on her face, she’d have to look up at me eventually.

  “No. We came right here from the airport and it was already late.” She looked up, and for a split second, our eyes met.

  “That’s too bad. I’ll have to remedy that tonight. Let’s plan on dinner at eight and go from there.”

  “We’ll be back by then?” Nice, she hadn’t completely shot me down.

  “We’ll be back tonight.” Toby put his arm around her waist. “Where did you want to do dinner?”

  “You weren’t invited.”

  “I wasn�
�t?” His smile said it all. He wasn’t going to play dead and roll over. That just made it better.

  “No. Casey’s never been here. I’m giving her the special treatment.”

  “I heard your dad owns this place, Allie. It’s gorgeous.” Casey glanced around the lobby. Her eyes stopped on the chandelier with dangling crystals.

  “I think so too. It’s got a lot of character.”

  I couldn’t resist that opening. “I’ll show you lots of places with character…”

  “You are a character, Jared.” Allie nudged my shoulder.

  I ignored Allie and focused all my attention on Casey. “I promise, Casey. It’ll be a good time.

  She bit her lip, and I knew I was in.

  “Eight sound good?”

  “Aren’t we supposed to be visiting Bryant?” Toby interrupted before she could even answer.

  Allie nodded. “We are. My Land Rover can seat everyone…”

  I finally tore my eyes from Casey. “I’d call shot gun, but I’m guessing Levi’s got that honor.”

  Allie shook her head. “No. He’s driving. I’ll take shot gun.”

  I laughed. “You still don’t like driving it, do you?”

  “Not when I don’t have to.”

  “If you don’t like the car, I’ll take it.” Casey smiled. She had this really pretty toothy smile. On some girls, it might have looked goofy, but it looked cute on her. It made you want to smile too.

  Allie laughed. “I like it, but I prefer to let Levi do the driving. He complains the whole time when I do, and it’s not worth it.”

  “Why are guys always like that?” Casey put her hand on her hip. “They are such back seat drivers.”

  “I know. It’s definitely a gender thing.”

  I had to jump in. “I’ve known plenty girls who were backseat drivers.”

  “Do you know any guys who aren’t if a girl is driving?” Casey asked.

  “Specifically if a girl is driving?” I nodded my head in greeting when I caught sight of Nelly and Marv.

  Casey held out one of her hands to the side. “Yeah. It’s like when a woman is behind the wheel, the man thinks he’s supposed to comment the whole time.”