BirthStone (16 page)

Earlier she had changed, and now wore a
v-neck pale yellow dress with cap sleeves that fell mid-thigh,
along with black and yellow low-heeled sandals. Since the removal
of her braids, she wore her hair down or up in a pony tail. Today,
she had it pulled back from her face with a yellow and black polka
dot band which allowed it to fall down her back.

She glanced up at Tyrone. He was dressed in
fitted jeans and a nice printed short-sleeve cotton shirt. His hair
had grown out a bit and curled against his collar. His
caramel-colored complexion glowed, which was a dramatic change from
the other day. “You look much better, Rone.” She smiled at Rose as
a feeling of genuine warmth surged through her for the young woman.
“You take great care of him.”

Rose’s face reddened. “He’s a big baby, but
I’m glad he’s doing better.” Tyrone gazed at his wife before
placing a kiss on her forehead. The top of her head reached her
mate’s chest.

“Thanks, Ma. I feel better.” He paused.
“Rese says they just cleared security and are on the way up. He
sent their luggage to their rooms. He wanted to know if Silas was
here yet, I told him no.” He gazed at her for confirmation.

Jasmine nodded and turned toward the
elevator. Silas had not returned, but then she hadn’t expected him.
Today had been the worst day for a surprise visit from her mother.
She still couldn’t understand how they had gotten the days mixed
up.

“Jasmine,” her mother said, moving quickly
toward her with outstretched arms. Jasmine met the smaller woman
midway and they embraced. The smell of lavender and something else
tickled her nose. Soft strands of reddish brown hair brushed
against her cheek. The strength and length of her mother’s embrace
surprised her. Eventually, Jasmine pulled back and met her mother’s
dark gaze. Perhaps it was the knowledge of breeding wolves or
living with Silas, but she recognized uncertainty, fear and yes,
secrets, in her mother’s stare.

“I’m so glad you could make it, Mom,”
Jasmine said when the silence stretched a bit long.

“Oh, I’m glad to be here.” Her mom looked
over Jasmine’s shoulder. “Oh…Rone. My baby, look at you. How are
you feeling? Better I can tell.” She moved past Jasmine and took
Tyrone in her arms. Seeing her mother rise on tip-toes to cuddle
her grandson brought a smile to Jasmine’s face.

“This is my wife, Rose,” Tyrone said, a
large grin on his face as he introduced his mate.

“Wife? I missed the wedding?” Her warm tone
changed into one of surprise.

“No, we just went to the courthouse. No
wedding,” he said, still smiling.

“Oh… I’ve done that a few times myself.” She
hugged Rose. “Welcome to the family, call me Nana like my boys do.
I’m happy to have another granddaughter.” She turned and waved
toward the handsome tanned male who stood near Tyrese. He appeared
to be Indian or someone with Middle East ties with his olive
complexion, dark hair and eyes. Right now, his eyes were focused on
her mom. Jasmine’s spirits lightened as her mom accepted the tight
embrace and kiss from her man.

“I want you all to meet Mark, he and I will
be getting married next month in Aruba.”

Jasmine hid her surprise. She thought her
mom had already tied the knot with this one. “Hi Mark.” Jasmine
shook his outstretched hand, keeping her distance.

“Hello Jasmine, I have heard great things
about you and Renee. Victoria is the best thing to happen to me.
She’s the light of my life.” His gaze left her mother and met hers.
“I’m honored to be a part of your family’s event.” His warm smile
lit up his face, making him appear more handsome. Jasmine
understood why her mom claimed he was the one. Then she remembered
her mom had made that pronouncement a few times before. She hoped
for her mom’s sake that Mark would be the last man in her life for
a while.

Jasmine nodded and stepped back so Tyrone
and Rose could greet him. She caught her mother’s eye. Was she
gloating? The look seemed a bit off. Her mother’s smile grew wider
as Mark returned to her side.

“Come on inside, let’s talk, catch up.
Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes,” Jasmine said, still
puzzled by her mom’s attitude. Granted, Mark was handsome with
hazel eyes, she put him around forty-five years of age, much
younger than her mom’s sixty. The scar on his chin made his face
interesting. He wore a thin gold necklace, but no other jewelry.
Jasmine liked a man who toned down on accessories. He was shorter
than both her sons, so that would put him under six feet with what
appeared to be a nice firm body. For some reason, her mother acted
as though she had hit the jackpot, and that was a surprise.
Normally her mother took her lovers in stride, like you’d take a
bus. If you miss one, there would be another shortly.

“Good. I’d like a glass of chardonnay if you
have it,” her mother said, holding onto Mark’s arm as they moved
into the living room.

Jasmine glanced at Rose and smiled. Tyrone
and Tyrese exchanged glances as they followed behind her mom and
Mark.

“How was Florida?” Jasmine asked after they
all took seats in the living area. She went to the mini
refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Chardonnay, as well as a
Moscato for herself.

“It was hot, humid, and lovely,” her mother
said, patting her face with a handkerchief. “I had a great time.
We’re thinking of relocating there.” Her gaze slid from Jasmine to
Mark with predatory intent.

“I want to go to Orlando, see Disney,” Rose
said, breaking the silence. Jasmine handed her mom and Mark each a
glass of wine.

He raised his hand. “No thank you. Water or
a soft drink for me, please.” Heat exploded in Jasmine’s cheeks as
she realized she hadn’t asked him what he wanted. Instead she had
assumed he wanted what her mother did.

“Okay. Rese could you get him a bottle of
water please?” She placed the wineglass on the table and took a
seat across from her mom.

“Where is your… boyfriend?”

Jasmine choked and started coughing at the
idea of Silas being called a boy or anything in that arena. Heat
flared in her cheeks and she tamped down the snappy comment that
rose to her lips.

Rose and Tyrone snickered.

Tyrese shook his head and looked away.

Once Jasmine got her breathing under
control, she eyed her mother to see if that had been a deliberate
dig. The pleasant smile plastered on the older woman’s face left
Jasmine unsure, but she needed to correct this now before Silas
arrived.

“My fiancé is working a little late. He’ll
be here for dinner. And Mama…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t ever call him a boy. There is nothing
remotely boyish about Silas.”

Her mother blinked repeatedly but didn’t
speak.

“Victoria didn’t—”

“Seriously.” Jasmine cut Mark off, her gaze
still on her mother. “This is his home and I will not allow you to
disrespect him, not even as a joke.” This time she sharpened her
words so that everyone in the room knew she was not teasing.

“I didn’t mean it as disrespect. I’d
forgotten he was your fiancé. Sorry about that.”

Jasmine held onto her mother’s gaze a moment
longer, reading her sincerity. “Okay.” How her mother could have
forgotten was beyond her. She had told Renee and her mother a few
weeks ago that she and Silas were engaged. It was the best cover
she could come up with to explain her current living situation
without getting too deep. The conversation had veered into a
possible engagement party, and then a wedding at the christening,
both which Jasmine promptly vetoed.

As La Patron, a formal mating was a huge
deal which would take months to prepare. She and Silas planned to
have that ceremony once the threats were neutralized.

“Where are the babies?” her mother asked as
she looked around the room.

“In the nursery, we'll see them after
dinner,” Jasmine said, using her no-nonsense voice again. Silas had
been adamant that he scan Mark before the man was allowed near his
children and she would honor that.

“Nana, Rose and I are thinking of buying a
vacation house in Colorado, have you spent much time near the
Rockies?” Tyrone asked, drawing his grandmother’s attention.

Mark glanced at Jasmine before turning his
interest to Tyrone. He continued rubbing her mother’s back,
something he had been doing since they sat on the loveseat
together. Jasmine’s opinion of him rose a notch.

Silas had finally arrived at the compound.
Butterflies filled her belly as she sat still on the long sofa,
pretending the discussion on vacation homes was of interest.

“
Hello beautiful
.” His voice had
taken on a dark, wicked cadence that had her creaming in her
panties. It didn’t make sense that he could still do this to her,
from a distance no less.

“
Wolfie
,” she purred through their
link, making sure he heard her desire for him. After dealing with
his duties at the police station she felt his sharp need for her.
It was a pulsating live wire through their link.

He chuckled. The intimate husky sound was
refined fire. Her hand flew to her throat. Her breath hitched as
molten heat raced through her.

“You okay?” her mother asked, causing the
conversation in the room to stop and all eyes to fall on her.

Jasmine cleared her throat. “Yeah…um hmm,
I’m fine.”

“
That’s true
,” Silas said smugly.

Jasmine didn’t know what happened to change
Silas’ attitude from earlier today, but she was glad. He hadn’t
teased her like this in… months, now that she thought about it.

Silas stepped into the room and immediately
met Jasmine’s gaze. She was gorgeous in that dress. He wanted to
peel it off and sent her an image of him doing exactly that. The
scent of her lust punched him in the gut. Sitting on the chair,
with her hands folded in her lap, she presented a prim picture
while sizzling decadent thoughts danced through her mind. Some
centered on sexual aerobics which made him hot and hard. She wanted
him and it didn’t matter who knew.

“Hello there.”

The loud spoken words reminded him that
there was mixed company in the room. After another glance at his
mate, he strode forward, nodding at the twins and Rose. He stopped
next to Jasmine, his hand unerringly touching her back before
cupping the back of her head. Their gazes merged and he bent down
to accept the invitation of her kiss. Soft sweetness assailed him
as the kiss deepened.

His wolf growled.

The sound rolled from his throat as he
pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her waist. The day had
been long and brutal. Returning to her had been the one thing that
kept it from being a total loss. Heat poured from him as he fed
from the love she freely gave, allowing it to strengthen and renew
him.

“Mom?”

Silas felt Jasmine push against him and
tightened his hold. Neither he nor his wolf was ready for her to
move. His wolf howled, demanding to be one with his mate.

“Silas,” Jasmine whispered, her voice
sending sparks of need through him. He sought her mouth again as
his skin prickled. His gums itched and he knew his eyes had changed
colors. Reminders of the blood and loss of life he'd witnessed
earlier flew across his mind. It was her calm, her beauty, that
kept his wolf leashed all day, and now being so close to her, his
beast refused to be denied.

“Silas.” She turned her face aside. His lips
grazed her jaw as he fought to bring his wolf under control. This
was one part of living with humans he didn’t understand. In a den,
loving your mate was seen as a natural, beautiful occurrence. It
showed love and commitment to the pack as well as his pups. Jasmine
had been horrified at the idea of him loving her wherever. When he
realized it was a real problem for her, he had relented. But damn,
he didn’t like it. Her hand rubbed his back in understanding.
“
We have company
,” she reminded him through their link.

He blew out a frustrated breath and gave her
some space without releasing her. “
I need you
.”

She nodded and looked up at him.
“
Likewise. But first
…” She took a step back. His arm
tightened around her waist, he refused to let go. That, he would
not change, especially with an unknown male in the room.

“Silas, meet my Mom, Victoria Channing, and
her fiancé Mark…” She looked at Mark for him to supply his last
name. He stood and stepped forward with his hand outstretched.
Silas stepped in front of Jasmine to make sure the man did not come
too close to his mate.

“Mark Fulnory.” He shook Silas’ hand. The
two men stared at each other for a moment and then Silas released
him. Mark returned to his seat and retook Victoria’s hand.

“Well, after that greeting I can see why you
took offense earlier, Jasmine,” her mother said, chuckling. Silas
nodded but remained silent. From his peripheral view he noticed
Tyrone and Tyrese were seated a small distance from their
grandmother. He didn’t know much about family dynamics, but he
thought they’d be sitting closer.

“
Everything okay?”
he asked the twins
through their links.

“
Yeah, it’s good. I thought Nana was
married, I’m surprised mom made a mistake like that,
” Tyrese
said.

“
Also, Nana forgot that you and mom were
engaged, that’s not like her. I thought they didn’t age.”

Silas redirected his attention to Victoria.
The older woman could have passed for Jasmine’s sister. She was
shorter and a shade or two lighter, but she appeared to be in good
health. He released Jasmine and stepped forward. He took Victoria’s
hand, held onto it for a scan, and then kissed the back of it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who
delivered my Jasmine. She is my world.” He turned and met Mark’s
gaze. “And I take everything regarding her seriously.” He faced
Victoria again. “You are welcome in my home for as long as my lady
would like.”