The Secret (10 page)

They were just south of Savannah. It was late afternoon, beginning to grow dark, and the first thing she noticed when she stepped out of the vehicle was the smell of the ocean. Then the noise registered. Music. Voices. Laughter.

“Are we crashing a party?”

Carlos grinned and took her hand. “It’s Christmas Eve. My brother throws a big bash every year.”

Jaz winced at the announcement, and Sunny could smell her reluctance, her rising fear. Carlos pulled her close, tucked her under one shoulder. “Don’t worry, little sister. No one will harm you here.”

Her heart swelled. She couldn’t have loved him more than she did at that moment, as he protected her sister. It was a stunning, startling realization. She loved the way he listened to her, the way he touched her. And now the way he’d taken her family as his own. He pulled her under his other shoulder, and Declan took her free hand as they walked toward the back corner of the house.

She wasn’t sure if she imagined a split second of silence when they came into view or not. She was distracted by Jaz’s delighted laugh, quickly repressed, a sound she’d been afraid she’d never hear again. “They decorated the palms.”

“A silly thing my mom liked to do.”

His smile was wistful, and she leaned closer to him, too aware of how scant the comfort was, but knowing it was hers to offer. He kissed her, squeezed her shoulder, then led them to the center of the party.

She was distracted by him and by the lights and finally noticed people were nodding as they walked by, calling out greetings. Admonishing herself to pay more attention, she looked around and noticed the males far outnumbered the females, even among the children. She was so curious about that, a circumstance she hadn’t noticed in wolf packs, that she wasn’t aware they’d stopped until she looked up and met the gaze of the man who could only be Carlos’s brother. He had the same golden skin. The same tall, lanky build that spoke of speed and power. He met her gaze, then switched to Jaz’s.

“My brother, Isaac,” Carlos said, introducing them. “The pride’s king.” She’d known he was king, but she’d been expecting someone older. Distinguished. Not the sexy man who looked her over with hot, approving eyes.

“You’ve brought us sisters,” he said, lowering his voice. “And unless I’m mistaken, some of the rumored ones.”

The instinct to shrink back from his knowing gaze was powerful, but Carlos held her still. “Rumors or not, she’s mine.”

The king smiled, his eyes crinkling in a way that made him look completely harmless. She didn’t buy it for a minute. “So she is.”

Then he turned his assessing, appreciative gaze to Declan. She and Carlos both tensed.

“And the wolf?” the king asked.

“Is also mine,” Carlos snapped.

Isaac chuckled. “Damn. My loss. Your Christmas is definitely better than mine, brother.”

Grinning, Carlos released her and Jaz long enough to step forward and embrace his brother.

It was a long time later, lying sweaty and sated on rumpled sheets, that Sunny wondered about what the king hadn’t said. “He was ready to steal me and Dec away, but he didn’t say a word about Jaz,” she mused.

Carlos was behind her, tracing lazy circles on her back, while Declan sprawled in front of her, eyes half closed.

“He wouldn’t really try. But he will flirt and tease. It’s part of our nature.”

“But he practically ignored Jaz.”

“She wears the silver of protection. The whole pride knows she needs to be protected. And your sister also wears…an injured air about her. My brother is more sensitive than first acquaintance would make you believe. Like all weres, we protect our women. Treasure them.” His hand slid up her hip to her breast. “We like to keep them so pleasured they think of nothing but us.”

Oh yes. They certainly did. She groaned as his fingers slid south. A woman could get used to such treatment. “I’m not gonna be able to walk tomorrow,” she complained.

“Ah, well,” he teased. “We might take the pleasuring a bit further than others.”

That they did. Declan had moved to her torso, kissed his way down to her belly button and froze. His gaze lifted. “Carlos.”

He nodded. “I know.”

She frowned when they both inhaled deeply, wondering why they’d paused so completely in their play. “What?”

Two big male hands rested on her stomach.

“We need to get our own place.” They were staying at Isaac’s.

“And a crib. And all that baby stuff.”

Oh, hell no. She shoved both their hands away and sat up. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Little too late for protests,” Declan said, cocking an eyebrow. She wanted to punch him.

“We’re two lions and a wolf. Did it ever occur to y’all to wonder
what
we’d have? What kind of crazy mix? I can’t do that to a child!”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Carlos said, his expression turning worried. And reluctant. Now who was keeping secrets?

“Why’s that, honey?” she asked with saccharine sweetness that made him flinch. Smart man.

“Um, my sister can shift.” Sister? He had a sister? Who was also a shifter? Sunny was going to kill him. “She has two lion mates. And a bear mate,” he groused, like he was pretending she wasn’t ready to commit murder. “All their children are lions. We think it’s the mother’s DNA that determines what the child is.”

She was a little reassured, but he was talking about only one woman. And she wasn’t letting his withholding that secret go either. “Who else knows? Just your family?”

He shook his head. “Most of the pride. Her mates, of course.” He sighed. “You’ll meet them tomorrow.” He muttered, “Unfortunately.”

She had to grin, her anger softening at his obvious discomfort. She could guess why, too. “So you’re the obnoxious older brother, huh?”

He scowled. “She’s the baby. You can’t blame us for making sure she’s okay.”

“I thought I didn’t want girls. But it might just be the only appropriate punishment for you.”

“Bite your tongue, woman,” he said, rolling her to her back and leaning over her.

She didn’t repress the saucy retort. “But it’s so much more fun when you bite it.”

It was going to be okay. Everything. The three of them and whatever kind of shifter children they had. Carlos pressed against her front, and Declan her side. She wiggled around, freed her arms to embrace them, heart full of love for both of them, and sighed. It was a sound of pure contentment. She kissed each of them and lay back.

“Merry Christmas, my mates.”

~ About the Author ~

Loribelle is a former Army MP who traded in her combat boots for motherhood, flip flops, and all the Diet Coke she can drink. (She almost misses the combat boots.) She’s the author of more than 20 books, herder of three energetic children, and occasional sun worshipper.

Find out more about Loribelle Hunt here

http://www.loribellehunt.com

http://facebook.com/loribelle.hunt

http://twitter.com/loribellehunt

~ Coming Soon ~

The Return

Pride Law Book 2

© 2013 Loribelle Hunt

~ Also by Loribelle Hunt ~

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