Harlequin Nocturne March 2014 Bundle: Shadowmaster\Running with Wolves (39 page)

Her grandmother's eyes misted. “Not nearly as glad as we are that Jason brought you home to us. We were so afraid we'd never get to meet you. It's been so long.” She rose from the table, turning her back on Shay to stir the stew.

Shay gave her a moment. “If you don't mind my asking...”

“You can ask me anything,” her grandmother said, turning back to her, her eyes damp. “I know this all must be very strange to you.”

“Yes, well, how come you look—” Shay couldn't finish the words.

“Old?” Kate asked, a twinkle lighting her dark eyes.

“Well, older,” Shay admitted. “Jason told me that once we make the change we age differently. Slower.”

“Yes, that's true. But Robert and I stopped making the transformation a while ago. We no longer felt the urge to run. We knew if we didn't force ourselves to change, then the aging process would begin for us again. After losing your dad and then our daughter, Maggie, well, we no longer cared. We'd lost our joy. Our bliss. We didn't see any reason to prolong our time here. Not without them.”

Her words resonated within Shay, drawing deep into the empty well of sadness she had lived with for so long. She knew how it felt to be alone in the world. To lose everyone you loved. The loneliness. It could be debilitating. “I'm so sorry,” she said. “I know after a loss like that, nothing seems to matter much anymore.”

“Don't be.” Kate patted her hand as she sat back down at the table across from her. “We've been given a second chance at a family. You can't imagine how happy that makes me.”

Shay's heart ached and unbidden tears burned her eyes. “Me, too.” She fiddled with the napkins on the sideboard, pulling them down and placing them on the table.

Without saying another word, Kate walked over to the cabinet above the kitchen counter, pulled down several large bowls and handed them to Shay. “I'm sorry if I got too mushy. We are both just so happy you're here.”

“Thanks,” Shay said over the lump in her throat. She placed the bowls on the table, noticing there was an extra one for Scott. “But I'm not sure my cousin shares your feelings on that one.”

“Oh, pooh. Don't worry about Scott. He is obsessed with unseating Malcolm and is afraid that if Malcolm forces you to marry him, it will solidify his position so that Scott won't have a chance at taking over leadership of the pack.”

“How could Malcolm possibly force me? Don't women have rights here?”

“Yes, of course we do. But Malcolm has his ways of getting what he wants. He always has.”

“Well, you don't have to worry about me on that account. I'm with Jason now and we're very happy.”

“I saw that,” her grandmother said. A shadow passed in front of her eyes and Shay couldn't help remembering Jason's fears that her grandparents might not understand their being together. Though she couldn't imagine why.

“He is a great guy. I feel very lucky to have found him,” she prompted, hoping her grandmother would say something to help her understand.

“That he is,” Kate agreed.

Shay stared at her. There was more here. More she wasn't saying. Her grandparents obviously liked and respected him, so why wouldn't they want them together?

“He saved me from an incredible nightmare. There was this horrible buzzing all the time and I kept seeing colors around people. I thought I was losing my mind, and then the
Abatu
attacked. But Jason stopped them. Not just once, but over and over again. He'd been hurt pretty badly, too, and yet he still got me here. You should have seen him.” She was rambling. And smiling too wide. She knew that, she just couldn't seem to help herself. “He was incredible.”

Kate didn't seem as impressed as she should have been. Was Shay reading something into her grandmother's reaction that wasn't there? Or was there something more going on? Whatever it was, Shay had to know. She took a deep breath to ask when she noticed her grandmother's eyes drifting to a picture on the sideboard, a picture of a beautiful woman with dark brown curls and smiling eyes. For a second, heartbreak filled her face so completely, it was almost as if her grandmother had left and had been replaced by someone else. And then just as quickly the look was gone. She turned and walked toward the door to the other room. “Let's call the boys in to dinner. You must be starving.”

* * *

“Malcolm will not let this go,” Scott said to Jason. “That girl in there is the only chance he has of maintaining his leadership.”

“Malcolm will understand we had no choice,” Jason assured him, though he wasn't 100 percent sure he believed it. He looked toward the kitchen. He hoped dinner would be ready soon. Now that he knew Scott's plans to take over the pack, he wasn't sure he wanted any part of it. The man was a loose cannon. He would set them back to the dark ages if he could. No internet, no TV, no communication at all with the outside world.

“You are a fool, Jason. Malcolm won't understand, nor will he care. All that matters to him is staying in charge. Hell, Celia took off and left him over this. She's gone and that only leaves us with one Keeper of the Crystals. If it had been up to me, she'd never have been allowed to leave.”

“Celia left the Colony?” Jason asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.

“She is the only one who can. With her gift of regenerating the crystals, she'll be able to secure a perimeter for herself.”

“Yeah, but for how long?”

Scott's black eyes hardened. “Long enough for her to get over that bastard Malcolm. This pack has never been more vulnerable and I place that solely on his doorstep.”

Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could Malcolm have gotten so out of control? The man was losing everything. “I will talk to Malcolm in the morning.”

Scott laughed, a short annoying bark. “Are you sure that will do you any good? Time for talking is over.”

“I get how you feel about this, Scott, but are you sure you're not letting your animosity toward Malcolm skew your judgment? You want to be pack leader as badly as Malcolm wants to keep it. But both of you seem to have lost touch with what's best for the pack.”

“Are you sure about that? I'm not the one who went to the council to ask for a marriage permit to marry a girl I haven't even met. Who may or may not even agree or want to.”

Jason stilled. “Did they give it to him?”

“Yes. They want peace as much as everyone else, and it appears will do anything to keep it. Just because you helped her through her transformation doesn't mean Malcolm still won't claim her as his.”

“He can't,” Jason whispered.

Scott looked at him and shook his head. “He already has.”

Chapter 13

D
inner had been wonderful and hit the spot. Before Shay could finish, exhaustion had set in and she hadn't been able to take another bite. Luckily, Kate had seen it and sent her straight to bed. Even Buddy was content lying in the corner of the guest room, snoring away. But the best part was climbing into this big soft bed next to Jason and snuggling up into his arms. She'd been through hell, but it appeared the worst was behind her.

She was surprised how happy she was that Jason was there with her, even if her grandparents seemed more than a little shocked and surprised when Jason had said he wanted to stay with her. Of course, he'd wanted to take her back to his house, but they wouldn't hear of it and had finally relented and let him stay. She had to admit, she wouldn't have minded seeing his house and lying with him in
his
bed, but she really was too tired to move. She rested her head on his chest and listened to the thudding of his heart. “Is everything going to be okay now?” she asked after he'd been silent for too long.

“Scott is going to come by with his people in the morning. They are going to fill me in on their case against Malcolm, what they believe he's done and what their evidence is against him, before I go see him. They want to strategize a plan for his removal from power.”

“You don't sound like you are sure that's what you want.”

“I'm not. But before today I never would have believed Malcolm was capable of the things he's done. I guess I'm not sure of anything, except that I want you to be safe.” He pulled her closer, tightening his arms around her.

She sighed in contentment as her eyelids grew heavy.

“I want to marry you, Shay. If you agree, we could approach the council tomorrow and apply for a marriage permit, and let them know in no uncertain terms that we want to be together.”

“A marriage permit?” Suddenly awake, Shay pulled back and looked at him, stunned. “Why? What's up? Isn't this a little fast?”

Jason laughed and nuzzled her neck. “Yes.”

Happiness bubbled through her, but she didn't believe it. Didn't trust that what she was feeling was real. “Why so soon?” But even as she said the words the answer came to her, stealing her happiness and leaving doubt and insecurity in its path. “This has something to do with Malcolm.”

He was silent for a moment and his arms tightened around her as he pulled her back to him once again. “Yes, I know he wants you for himself and I want to ensure that he can't touch you. That he can't take you away from me.”

She smiled indulgently. “That would never happen. I won't let it. We have been through too much.”

“I just want to be certain,” he said, his voice soft.

His tone was starting to scare her. He was worried about something. “Shouldn't we go on a date or two? A normal date like with dinner and movie where monsters and men with guns are on a screen instead of trying to kill us?”

Jason stilled, and she could feel his trepidation in the gentle current filling the air around him. And yet, he still wasn't telling her everything. “I'm afraid it's the only way to protect you from Malcolm.”

She sat up, drawing her knees to her chest. “This isn't exactly how I'd dreamed about getting engaged. How do I know you aren't just marrying me to keep someone I've never met from claiming me? What if Malcolm wasn't in the picture, would you still be asking? We just met.”

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have sprung this on you so soon.”

“Does that mean you would have eventually?” She smiled, though she was fairly certain he couldn't see it in the darkness of the room. Excitement was growing inside her, but she didn't trust it. Didn't want to believe in it in case it wasn't true. In case the bubble burst and it didn't happen.

“I'm not certain you should want to marry me,” she warned, trying to give him an out. “You don't know anything about me. You could marry me, then two months later be kicking yourself in the butt for your impulsiveness.”

“Good point,” he said, and her breath caught. “But I think I know enough.”

“Really? Do you know I don't cook?”

“Sure you cook. You eat, don't you? I saw you buying food at the store.”

“Yes, I cook eggs. It's my specialty. And I make soup.”

“Soup is good,” he said, sitting up next to her, close enough that their shoulders were touching.

She smiled and buried her face in his neck at the doubt in his voice.

“What else should I know about you?” he asked.

“I hate to clean house. I'm not going to be one of those women who spends all day cooking hearty meals for her husband and scrubbing floors.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “I like housework. We should fit together fine.”

“No one likes housework. And I spend a lot of time on the computer.”

“Oh?”

“In fact, as soon as all this is settled, we need to go back to the truck and pick mine up. I have accounts I need to maintain.”

“What do you do?” he asked tentatively.

“Graphic design. You know, websites, blogs, brochures.”

“Sounds...interesting.”

“Will that be a problem?”

“No. We have computers. Internet. For now. I'll be able to get your stuff in the morning.”

“For now?”

“It's one of the changes Scott will make if he takes over. He feels constant access to the outside world is...damaging. Especially to the kids.”

Shay stilled. “I can't imagine not having the internet.”

“You're not alone,” he admitted.

“What about the demons? They know where they lost us. Will they be hovering around outside the gates, waiting?”

“I'm not worried about a few demons.” She shivered, and he pulled her closer, kissing her forehead. “You don't have to worry, Shay. Sooner or later, you'll come around to my way of thinking. You'll realize that you won't want to live without me.”

She grinned. “I will?”

“Yep. From what I hear, I'm quite the catch.”

“Really?” she said. “From what you hear?”

“Yep. I'm a great provider. Not only that, I cook
and
clean. I'm very self-sufficient. I've had to be. I've had to live on my own for a long time now.”

Had to?
That was an odd way of phrasing it. “Well, I must admit, you do sound like you'd make the perfect husband.” She leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips.

He deepened the kiss, making her muscles weaken and her stomach flutter. His strong, warm hands moved down her body, inch by slow inch, touching, caressing, stopping at all her sensitive places and giving them extra loving care until she felt liquid heat surging through her veins.

She ran her hands over and across his shoulders, feeling strong muscles beneath smooth skin. He was gorgeous. Irresistible. And he knew exactly how she liked to be touched. He rolled her on top of him, running his warm hands down the groove of her back, his strong fingers kneading, massaging. She let out a long sigh. Heaven. She was in heaven.

“You certainly are a good lover,” she muttered, and melted all over him when his fingers explored places that hadn't been touched in a long time.

He spun her back over, kissing her again, deeply, his lips moving with certainty down the column of her throat, igniting a trail of fire in their wake. He touched her breasts, taking them deep in his mouth and sucking on them until her back arched up off the bed and a deep guttural moan rose from her throat. She reached for him, taking his hardness in her hand, stroking him until a low moan left his throat. She shifted him between her legs, anxious to feel him inside her, to quell the insistent need pulsing within her. She lifted her legs up around his back, straddling him. Pulling him closer.

“I think I need more convincing,” she whispered.

He nipped her nipples, kissing and sucking until she thought she'd come apart if he didn't give her the release she needed.

“I want you now,” she insisted as the urgency inside her reached the breaking point. Her skin popped and sizzled, and she was certain that if he didn't enter her right then, if he didn't ease the throbbing ache pulsing deep within, setting her nerve endings on fire, she would come apart at the seams.

And then he was lifting her, pushing his thickness inside her, surrounding her with his warm, hard body. And all she could feel was his heat, and all she could smell was his warm earthy scent, and all she could hear was his breath firing in her ear, and his heart thudding against her rib cage.

But more than that, she could feel his love for her, washing over her in a strong stream so overwhelming it brought tears to her eyes. And she knew that no matter what she'd said, she wanted this man to love her and to make love to her every night for the rest of her life. She trusted him, not only with her heart, but with all of her.

In one hard thrust he entered her welcoming body, moving fast and deep, his rhythmic bucking fanning the flame that grew hotter with each long stroke. Her legs clung to him, trying to pull him deeper, the rhythm of her hips increasing in tempo. They were dancing, swaying with one another, bucking, moving with such intensity she burned inside and out until the passion within her exploded in a fiery storm of aching need.

She heard herself scream before she buried her face in his chest, muffling her moans as her body shuddered along with his in a mind-jolting, seismic release.

“Oh...my,” she whispered, feeling horrified and satisfied all at the same time.

He grinned, capturing her mouth with his and kissing her senseless. When he finally let up, she sucked in a deep breath. “Please tell me I wasn't too loud. That my grandparents didn't hear me scream.”

Jason laughed, a low chuckle that reverberated through her. She clung tighter to him, not wanting him to leave her. Not wanting to separate. But they did. He rolled off her, lying next to her on the bed.

She repositioned herself, nestling against his chest, laying her head on his shoulder as her muscles relaxed into a pool of liquid warmth. “I suppose you are right,” she said, relenting as her fingers caressed his warm skin. “You are a very good provider.”

“Marry me, Shay, and I will provide for you whenever you want. And once you move into my house, you can scream as loud as you want and no one will hear you. There will be no holding back.”

“Promise?” she whispered, smiling as she imagined the many nights of happiness and fulfillment ahead.

“Marry me and you can go to sleep wrapped in my arms every night. You won't regret it. I promise.”

Happiness at his words bubbled inside her. “All right, Jason,” she whispered as endorphins rushed through her brain, saturating her judgment in orgasmic pleasure. “I'll marry you.”

He smiled and pulled her closer, kissing her again and again, and then they made love once more before they both dropped into an exhausted sleep.

* * *

The next morning the sun was shining through the lace curtains when Shay woke to loud voices coming from the front of the house.

“You can't come in here like this,” her grandfather bellowed.

Jason jumped out of bed and pulled on his borrowed pants seconds before the door burst open.

Shay sat up, yanking the covers up to her chin as two men strode into the room.

“I'm sorry, Jason,” a man wearing what looked like a sheriff's uniform said. “But you're going to have to come with us.”

“Why?” Shay blurted.

The sheriff turned to her. “Ma'am,” he said. “Please excuse the interruption.” He turned back to Jason. “We'll wait in the other room while you get dressed.”

They left, shutting the door behind them. Shay jumped out of bed, picking up the sweats and the flannel shirt she'd worn the night before. “Jason, what's happening?”

“I don't know, but don't worry. Everything will be all right.”

“You're lying. I can feel the anxiety rolling off you.”

He gave her a sheepish smile. “I can see I won't be able to keep anything from you. Stay here with your grandfather. I'll be back as soon as I can and then we'll go see the council.” He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss then walked out of the room.

She finished dressing then rushed out into the living room in time to see, through the front window, Jason getting into the back of a Jeep. Whatever comfort she had managed to get from his words disappeared in an instant. “What are they doing?” she asked her grandfather, who was standing at the window beside her. “It looks like they are arresting him. Why?”

“Conspiracy, I suppose.”

“Conspiracy? To do what?”

“To dislodge the pack leader.”

“That's crazy! That's Scott, not Jason.”

“The way they see it, his job was to bring you back here for Malcolm. Once Malcolm helped you make the transition, you would be connected to him. You would be his mate. His wife. Solidifying Malcolm's position. Now you are with Jason instead.”

“That's absurd. Don't I get a choice in all this?”

His face troubled, he turned away. “Yeah, you could still choose to be with Malcolm.”

Shay gasped, outraged. “No!”

“It might be the only way to help Jason.”

Panic twisted her insides, squeezing. “That's crazy! No wonder my dad wanted to leave this place.”

Kate made a strangled sound from the doorway, her hand fluttering to her lips.

Shame and embarrassment washed over Shay, flaming her cheeks. “I'm so sorry,” she said, hurrying toward her. “I didn't mean that.”

“No.” Her grandmother stepped into the room, her voice and face resigned. “Don't be sorry. I understand your anger and confusion. There are a lot of reasons for the rules we have here. They may, at times, seem restrictive, especially to someone born and raised on the outside, but give us a chance. We have a lot of wonderful things here, too.”