Emily's Captive (A Lilly Town Shifter Novel Book 2) (17 page)

Emily had been staying at Bill’s for the past
two nights and was ready to get Stacy home. She
was doing so much better. She wasn’t a hundred
percent yet, but she was walking some. Bill was
going to come by every day until she was better to
check on her. She figured it had a lot to do with
him missing her.

“Are you sure Paul left you?” Stacy asked her.
“He said he was packing his things. I haven’t
seen him since he told me that. He’s gone.”
“I’m sorry, Em.”
“It just wasn’t meant to be,” she said sadly.
She really didn’t want to talk about it.
“I guess so.”
“Okay, let’s get you home,” Emily said with a
smile.

“Okay,” Stacy said, standing up.
“Do you need help?”

“No, I can walk to the car,” Stacy said a
little angrily.

Emily knew she was overdoing it, but she
couldn’t help herself. She should have been there
to protect Stacy and hadn’t been, so she was going
to be there through her entire recovery and make
sure she healed. “Are you sure?”

“Emily, I can walk. Bill said it’s okay for me
to move around as long as I don’t do it too much.
He’s taken the stitches out, so I’m not going to
pull them. My bones are healing. I can move. I
can do things on my own,” Stacy said.

“Okay, but if you need help, don’t be ashamed
to ask. I’m here to help you,” Emily said.

“Okay,” she grumbled, and slowly walked to the
car. Emily walked over and opened the door for
her. “Emily, I’m not that bad off.”

“I know, but…”

“Emily, I can open a door and I can sit down by
myself. I just want to get home and into my own
pjs and watch trashy shows for the rest of the
day.”

“Okay,” Emily said sadly, and walked over to
her side of the car. Stacy was helping her keep
her mind off Paul but was now pushing her away.
Just what she wanted.
***

Paul had moved all his stuff and was waiting
for Emily to come home. He wanted to talk to her.
He also wanted to know how Stacy was. He knew she
was going to be okay, but he still wanted to see
her alive and walking around for himself.

“She’s going to be happy about this,” Maggie
told him.
“Are you sure?” he asked her.

“Yes. She’s crazy about you, I can tell. I
know that girl better than anyone else does, even
Stacy and Martha on most days,” she said with a
smile.

“But, she seems to have been fighting me on
this the entire time.”
“Emily doesn’t know what she wants half the
time. That’s why she has me.”
“Really?” Paul asked skeptically.

“No, but she doesn’t know what she wants. I
try to help her with it,” she said with a knowing
smile.

“Okay, and if this all blows up in my face, I’m
going to rat you out.”
“And when it all works out, you can thank me by
getting me a raise.”
“You need a raise?” he asked.
“No, but that’s more money I can leave Emily
when I die.”

Paul laughed and went to wait in Emily’s room.
He knew she’d end up there at some point. He’d
picked out a good book. He knew he’d have a little
bit of a wait. He also knew that Maggie would
speed Emily up.

***

Emily walked into her house with Stacy. She
had her arm wrapped around her waist to help her.
Even though Stacy insisted she didn’t need help,
she wasn’t able to stop her from helping. Emily
didn’t want Stacy to feel any pain, so she would do
anything to prevent it.

“Emily, please, just let me walk,” Stacy said.
“Stacy, let me help you,” she said, opening the
door.
“I can walk to my room. Bill said I was okay
to move some,” she whined.
“I don’t want you to hurt yourself,” she said.
“Fine,” Stacy huffed, and kept walking slowly
into the house.

Emily walked her into the living room and onto
the couch she’d set up for her. She didn’t want
her sister to have to walk up the stairs, not when
she was hurt.

She got her on the couch and pulled the covers
over her. “Now, yell if you need anything. Here’s
the remote and I’ll come check on you in a little
bit,” Emily said.

“Okay. Now let me get some rest,” Stacy
grumbled. Emily didn’t think Stacy liked being
taken care of.

“Just as a warning, Maggie’s going to want to
come check on you,” Emily sang as she left. She
went into the kitchen to talk to Maggie and find
out what was going on. The woman knew everything
that happened in the house.

“Hey, how’s our girl?” Maggie asked, when
Emily stepped into the kitchen.
“Good. She’s tired of me so I’ll let you take
over for a little while.”
“So she’ll be begging you to come back?”
Maggie asked.
“Exactly. So what’s going on?”
“Nothing much. Paul’s all packed and taken
care of.”
“Great,” Emily grumbled.
“Are you okay? You look a little tired.”

“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I know you’ve been taking care
of Stacy. Maybe you should go take a nap. I’ll
keep an eye on her,” Maggie said, pushing Emily out
of the kitchen and toward the stairs.

“All right, but if she needs me, go ahead and
wake me.”
“I will,” Maggie said, shooing her.

Emily nodded and went up the stairs. She was
really tired. She had barely slept in days. She
had been so worried about Stacy and hadn’t known
what to do about Paul.

Her heart was broken because of him and she
never thought she’d let that happen. Yet, there
she was, dragging herself up the stairs to try to
get some sleep, but she knew she’d just end up
lying in bed thinking about Paul. She didn’t want
to, but he just seemed to be on her mind.

Walking past Paul’s room, Emily looked inside
and found it empty. She knew he was gone, but she
couldn’t keep herself from looking. She would give
anything, well almost anything, to see his smile
again.

She walked in and sat on the bed. Looking
around, she saw that he hadn’t left anything
behind. No clothes, no shaving cream in the
bathroom. Nothing.

When she couldn’t take it anymore, she walked
to her room. Her light was on. She hadn’t been
home so she knew she hadn’t left it on. If it was
one of the maids, she was going to be pissed. She
didn’t like wasting electricity. It was expensive.

Emily pushed the door open and froze.
***

Paul could hear Emily outside the room. She
was walking around. He didn’t know what she was
doing, but she was there. The woman he’d missed so
much was right outside the door. He wished she’d
just get in the room. He wanted to see her more
than anything.

Smiling, he thought of a great way to greet
her. Naked. There wasn’t anything better than a
naked man on your bed. Okay, well, if you were a
man, then maybe not, but for a woman it was the
best thing.

Stripping, he sprawled out on the bed, cock
hard and waiting for her. He was beginning to get
anxious. He couldn’t believe it was taking her so
long. On top of it, he was getting cold and his
erection was wilting. He didn’t want her to see
him like that, but it was too late to change it.

The handle on the door turned and that had his
cock perking back up in an instant. He knew it was
her. She was too silent for it to be anyone else.

He smiled, knowing she’d like his present. He
just wished he had a bow to tie around himself.

The door opened and he saw the shock on Emily’s
face. He was starting to wonder if this had all
been a bad idea. He’d thought she wanted him, but
judging by the look on her face, he’d been wrong.

“I'm sorry, I’ll…” Paul didn’t get a chance to
finish what he was saying. Emily jumped on him,
peppering kisses on his face.

He smiled, knowing he was right in trusting his
gut.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” she said and kissed
him.
“I thought I’d surprise you,” he said, when she
leaned back.
“You said you were going to pack,” she said.
“I did.”
“Why?” she asked.
“I was moving.”
“Moving where?”
“Here,” he said with a smile, and kissed her
again.
“Wait, what?” she asked.
“I moved my stuff in here,” he said.
“You’re staying?”
“That was the plan.”
“Thank God,” she breathed out.

“I was hoping you’d be happy about it.” He
devoured her mouth, needing to be inside her. He
wanted to feel her in his arms again. It had been
so long since he’d held her.

“Maggie knew, didn’t she?” Emily said.
“Who do you think helped?” he asked with a
laugh.
“Paul?” she asked.
“Hmm?” he said, kissing her neck.
“I want to mate you.” Paul froze, not knowing
what to do or say.
***

Emily couldn’t believe she’d said that. She
wanted to, but she didn’t want him to know. She
didn’t really want to be with someone for the rest
of her life. She didn’t want anyone she had to
take care of. She didn’t want someone she had to
answer to. She was her own person. She couldn’t
be anything other than what she was.

“Wha… what?” he asked her.

She knew she couldn’t take it back. She had to
tell him what it was; she knew he wouldn’t let it
go. And she was the one who’d brought it up, so
she was stuck with having to tell him. “I want to
mark you. I want to bite you and make you mine.”

“A… are you sure?” he asked.

She knew he was just being cautious, and he was
right to be. He knew her pretty well, it seemed,
and she was happy for it. That meant a lot to her,
and she knew she was making the right choice. He
knew her and wouldn’t change her, she hoped, but
she had to trust him. She’d lose him if she
didn’t.

“Yes, I’m sure. That’ll mean that you’re mine
and I’m yours. You can’t leave me and you can’t
live without me. You’re stuck with me and me being
a killer.”

“I think I’ll take you just as you are. As
long as you let me watch a few of those
Die Hard
movies with you,” he said with a smile. That smile
made her heart melt. She knew it was definitely
the right choice.

Emily kissed him with everything she had. He
moved down her neck and she felt her fangs
lengthen. She craved to sink them in his neck, to
make him hers.

Paul turned her on her back, lying on top of
her, kissing her breasts, sucking on them, biting
them. It felt so good. She couldn’t help but pull
his head closer. He moved down, kissing her
stomach. He knew all the right spots.

She couldn’t take any more. She needed him
inside her. Pulling him up, she kissed him,
needing to taste him. He devoured her mouth and
pinched her nipple, rubbing it between his fingers.

“Paul,” she moaned.
“I’ve got you,” he said, and plunged into her.

“I love you,” she breathed into his mouth.
That was something else she didn’t want to tell
him. Something she didn’t want anyone to know. It
was a weakness. Something people could use against
her. She didn’t want that, but it was the truth.
She did love him.

“I love you too,” he replied, and kissed her
again.

She pulled away and sank her fangs into his
neck, marking him, tasting his blood. He tasted so
good. She never imagined it would be that good.

“Emily!” he yelled as he came. That sound, the
taste of his blood, it was all too much. She came,
and it was the most intense orgasm she’d ever had.

“I love you,” he whispered in her ear.

Paul had been living with Emily for a few
months and he was loving it. He was afraid she
would keep him at her side, but she didn’t. She
would keep to herself and do her thing and let him
do his. He loved it. He also loved that he got to
go on a lot of her missions with her.

“Hey Paul,” Mike said as he walked into the
living room.
“Hey, how’s everything?” he asked.

“Sammy’s okay. He’s keeping us up all night,
but he’s good. Lucy, she’s driving me crazy. It’s
a good thing I love the woman.”

“Yeah?”

“Lucy normally is a little crazy, but cute
crazy. However, Lucy on no sleep is just fucking
scary. She’s cooking everything she can, writing
like crazy, and then eventually crashing. And I
mean she is sitting at her computer one second, and
the next you hear a bang because she’s fallen
asleep on the keyboard.”

“That’s a little scary.”

“I’m afraid for Sammy sometimes that she’ll be
holding him and pass out from exhaustion. I don’t
think she’d intentionally hurt him or anything, but
she’s so tired.”

“Do you want me to watch him one afternoon so
you guys can get some sleep?” he asked. He
probably shouldn’t have offered without checking
with Emily, but the man just looked so defeated.
He could fight bad guys and win, but one baby
seemed to be taking the wolverine down.

“How about now?” he asked.
“Huh?”

“If I go get him, can you watch him this
afternoon so I can get sleep and maybe sleep with
my wife?” he said hopefully.

“Sure, go get him,” Paul said.

“You are a godsend,” Mike said, and practically
ran for the door. Paul couldn’t hold back the
laugh. The man apparently had missed his wife.

***

Emily heard some screaming coming from her
living room. It wasn’t fear; it was crying. She
had no idea what it was. She was afraid to walk
into the room. She had a feeling she knew what it
was, but she didn’t want to guess. She hoped she
was wrong.

There was another wail.

Emily went running. She knew that sound.
Stacy had made it quite often when she was a baby.
It was the “help me” scream.

“Paul, why is there a baby in my house?” she
asked.
“I offered to take care of Sammy,” he said
sheepishly.
“Do you know how to take care of a baby?” she
asked him.
“Um, no. I thought it would be easy. You just
feed it and hold it.”

“No. Here, let me have him,” she said, and
took the baby. She’d never actually seen the baby
before. She knew his name and everything, but
she’d never gone over to see him, and Mike had
never brought him over.

She started jiggling him some and rubbing his
back. He stopped crying instantly. “Hey, Sammy,”
she said to him with a smile. He smiled at her
with a big toothless smile. The kid was actually
kind of cute.

“How did you do that?” Paul asked
incredulously.
“I helped my mom with Stacy when she was a
baby,” Emily said.
“What were you then? Twelve?” he asked her.
“Fifty I think,” she said.
“Wait, what?”

“I’m sixty-six,” Emily said with a smile. She
knew she’d surprised him when his eyes practically
bugged out.

“How?”
“We age a lot slower than humans. We live for
a long time.”
“But…”

“Because you’re my mate, you’ll live just as
long as I do, don’t worry. You’re going to age
just as slowly as I am too,” she said with a smile.
Sammy reached out and wrapped his little hand
around her finger. She loved holding babies this
little. They were always so cute and lovable.

“Okay,” he said with a relieved sigh. She
thought she should wait before she dropped the
bomb, but then it would be so much fun to watch his
jaw hit the floor. She couldn’t resist.

“Paul, I have something to tell you.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” he said
suspiciously.

“It’s not bad. Not really. I hope,” she said.
She wanted to drag it out. She was having so much
fun.

“Okay,” he said nervously.
“How would you feel about having one of these?”
she asked him.
“You want to have a baby?”
“Um, well, I’m going to have a baby.”
“You’re pregnant?” he asked.

She nodded and watched as he fell to the floor.
That was the reaction she’d wanted. She looked at
Sammy and saw the big smile on his face. He seemed
to be happy he was going to have a friend to play
with.

Jason walked into the living room and saw Paul
on the floor and a baby in Emily’s arms. He
probably didn’t expect that.

“Did the baby take out Paul? I know it was
working to take down Mike, but I figured Paul would
be able to handle one afternoon.”

“No. I told him I was pregnant.”
“Oh, I thought he knew,” Jason said.

“No, I hadn’t told him. You have to remember
that he’s human, so can’t smell it on me,” she
said.

“Got it,” he said with a smile.
“How’s Stacy doing?” she asked him.
“She’s relaxing. She looks like she lost her
best friend. I don’t know how to help her.”

“Well, Jason, you’ve only known her for a few
months. You’re right, though. She does look
lost.”
“Any suggestions to help her?” he asked.

Emily sighed. “I don’t know. I was trying to
give her space and be there for her. Aunt Martha
has tried, but she hasn’t had any luck.”

“Where is she? I haven’t seen her since I got
here,” Jason asked.
“She’s on a mission. She’ll be back in a week
or so.”
“Hey, when did Jason get here?” Paul asked
sitting up.
“After you passed out,” Emily said.
“Oh, okay,” he said, and stood up.
“Here,” Emily said, handing Sammy back to Paul.
“You need the practice.”
“I know. I think I need to get a book or fifty
to get ready,” Paul said, taking Sammy.
***

Jason watched as Paul paled at the sight of the
smiling baby. Looking a little closer, Jason saw
the smile was evil. It looked like he took more
after his father than anyone thought. The kid
looked so much like Lucy so it seemed everyone
thought he’d take after her.

“I’m going to go back and try to talk to
Stacy,” Jason said, and walked back outside.

Stacy was in a lounge chair, staring into the
sky. “Hey,” he said to her. She looked at him and
went back to staring at the sky. “Stacy, please,
talk to me.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.

“Will you go for a run with me?” he asked. He
had to do something. He hated seeing her like
that. She looked hopeless.

She nodded and stood up. That was something.
She’d never agreed to go for a run with him before.
He stripped down, shifted into his lion form, and
waited for her to shift.

When she had shifted, he walked over to her and
rubbed his head into her side. He needed to say
thank you to her for doing it for him. It was some
progress. He roared, hopefully letting Emily know
he’d helped her a little. Stacy rubbed her head
against him and let out a roar of her own before
darting into the woods.

Jason ran after her, enjoying the feel of the
warm air running through his fur and the sight of
the tiger running ahead of him. He was in heaven.
He knew he couldn’t be with her, but that didn’t
mean he wasn’t going to spend a little time with
her. He wanted her as a friend, even if he
couldn’t have her as his mate.