Taking Nicole (Vegas Mates Series)(#4) by Krystal Shannan Page A

noticed Aaron come in. She averted her eyes quickly and snatched a peach from a basket next to her empty plate.  
    The fruit smelled divine. She held back a moan as she bit into the soft meat of the fruit, slurping the juice before it could run down her hand.
    When she looked up again, four pairs of eyes were staring at her, desire hot in their gaze.
    That should do it.
    “Do what?” her wolf asked.
    Make Carlotta believe I’m playing my part.
    Her wolf snorted.
    Nicole glanced at her grandmother and received a small smile of approval. She used the damp towel on a small silver tray near her plate to wipe her hand and stood. All four men stood in unison with her.
    “Grandmother, I think I would like to enjoy the fresh morning air. Would it be all right if we headed out now?”
    Carlotta nodded and Nicole walked purposefully across the room to the dining room entrance. She stopped in front of Aaron and glanced up, trying to ignore the tingles of attraction heating every square inch of her skin.
    “Would you send someone to my room for a pair of sandals? I won’t be walking on the beach in these.” She glanced down at her stilettos.  
    “Of course, Miss Demakis.” Aaron glanced at Karl. The other shifter nodded and slipped quietly from the room.
    They stood around the hallway for only a few minutes before Karl returned, followed by Tempe carrying a pair of Roman-style, lace-up sandals. Nicole swapped out her shoes and handed off the zebra-print heels. The four suitors started for the door, but Renaldo hung back and offered his arm.
    Nicole gave him a polite smile, but shook her head. She didn’t want anyone touching her if she could avoid it. The closer they got to her, the more they’d sense Aaron’s magick and know hers was already starting to bond with it. The only way they weren’t suspicious of Aaron right now was that his scent was expected to be mixed with hers because he was her bodyguard. By the grace of the gods, that was the only thing keeping their secret safe.
    He frowned at her refusal, but didn’t comment. Instead, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and slowed his pace to match hers. He walked next to her, matching stride for stride.
    Nicole took a deep breath. They started up the path away from the palace and over the hill where she ran yesterday. Green grass and rocky terrain made her grateful for the sturdy sandals Tempe brought.  
    “Why are you here?” She glanced at Renaldo.
    “I don’t think I understand your question” he said. We are all here for the same reason.”
    “You’re not like the other three.”
    “You mean I’m not an arrogant ass with a death wish?”
    Nicole snorted and tried desperately to swallow a laugh. “I suppose that’s one way to word it. Do you know I’m here against my will and whoever wins this claiming ceremony will be expected to rape me in front of the entire Council?”
    The three men on the path a few paces ahead stopped and turned back to face her and Renaldo. Their faces were clouded with shame and disbelief. Even Masterson, the one with the deadly eyes seemed off put.
    Answers that question.
    Renaldo spoke first. “We were not told you were here against your wishes.”
    The others shook their heads, agreeing with his statement.  
    “The tradition is barbaric and antiquated, but we were never told you were being forced into it,” Masterson said. “All of us were requested by the Antipas family to participate. We assumed you personally chosen us.”
    “What can we do to make this more agreeable to you, Signorina?” Renaldo asked. “I fear it is too late to back out of the ceremony entirely.”
    Nicole sat slowly on a large boulder and sighed. “What if it’s not too late? Would you stand with me if I appealed to the Council?”
    Masterson folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. “It’s about time someone bucked this antiquated system of forging alliances. However, I do not want to be on the receiving