His Attention

Moreau's statement hung on the edge of her throat. She held her breath when she detected her stepfather leaning over with both hands pressed against the surface of the bed. Even the man's arms felt so close. There were lines of solid, manly sinew rising to the surface.

Moreau swallowed roughly, then made sure her irises were fixed on Abihirt's handsome face. The man didn't look like he was going to say anything, though in the end she always knew; Abihirt was very contradictory in certain situations.

"I'll leave after making sure you get punished, for disobeying my orders. Twice."

There was an emphasis at the end of that deep, husky voice. In extremes it left a burning feeling of tension. Moreau knew she might not get away with things like this. There was no new ground to dig another grave. Already trapped. There was no shortcut.

"You're so possessive of me. Why not my mother?"

Better to ask questions. Let Abihirt sort it out, though it seemed the man w