Heavy Metal Heartbeat (7 page)

“
I have to agree with Jaxson. Ozzie was a good man while he was human. According to you and Jaxson, he was all about upholding and protecting humanity, which means he had a lot of it,” Sebastian explained.

“
I get that, but he was hit by two supernatural beings within an hour. Not to mention, we have no idea about how that will affect his bloodline. You saw the tattoo.”

“
That’s exactly why we need to be patient and see what happens,” Sebastian continued.

“
I say we test him, see what he is capable of.”

“
That is a given. Let him have some time with Paige. He does love her and he almost died. I’m not taking any chances. Perhaps tomorrow we can take him out and see what he can do,”Jaxson replied.

She darted her eyes to each of them, perfect pictures of resolve and acceptance. Inhaling, she gave in.

“Fine. I guess we wait. I am just nervous.”

“
Are you nervous because you want to know what he is? Or because you want to know what he can do? Or does it have to do with you wanting to know what you’re up against when he finds out what you have done?”

She glared at the vampire across from her, giving him her best 'piss off' stare. He returned her expression laced with that crooked grin of his. She caved.

“Fine! Both! I am worried about both.”

Jaxson pulled her close and she let him. Her head
lay on his shoulder as he whispered in her ear.

“I promise you
, it will all be all right. Ozzie may get mad, but he is also a reasonable man. He will understand.”

“
He used to be a reasonable man. We don't know what he is now.”

“
Perfect! He is perfect, that is what he is.”

Anna
, along with everyone else, turned their gaze toward the coffee pot. There, freshly showered and dressed, stood Paige in her jeans and T-shirt.

“Paige
. We were...”

“
Anna, it’s OK. I had the same fears the three of you are discussing, but I'm telling you, he is perfect. He is Ozzie! Speaking of which, he said he was tired and he is sleeping. When he wakes, would you tell him I will be back soon? I told him, but he was fading out, so he may not have heard me.”

Anna stood and walked her friend to the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I am going to run to the house and grab Ozzie and I some clothes and things. He needs to rest. I think we need to stay here until things calm down. You guys are worried about Ozzie, but he is the least of our worries. We did kill
Perry's wolf pack and, if you'll remember, Ozzie said he wasn't sure Perry was the Alpha of that group. If he is right, we have big problems.”

Jaw slack and dumbfounded
, she stared at Paige. After a moment her sense returned. She hugged her friend and said, “Bye. Hurry back. I'm not sure how Ozzie will react without you here. Remember, when I did what I did, I told him to focus on you.”

“
I remember. I will be back as soon as possible.”

She watched the door close and Paige disappeared behind it. As soon as she heard Ozzie's car start she turned to the men in her kitchen.

“We never found out if the wolves we killed were just Perry's pack or if they were a smaller group passing through that belonged to a larger pack. She is right. We do have big problems.”

Anna stood in front of the stove stirring and flipping food as she cooked.
She danced around the kitchen to “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner.

The steak smelled of garlic and lime juice while she
sautéed it in onions. Fried okra sizzled in the pan and the potatoes boiled in the pot on the back burner. Sweet garlic and cheese rolls baked in the oven, adding to the hearty aroma.

“
Jaxson, can you get the door please?”

She heard the door open
. Jaxson welcomed someone in and old man Zane’s voice followed.
“
Is Ozzie still around?”

“
He is resting at the moment.”

“
Mr. Zane, you are welcome to stay and wait until Ozzie awakens. Are you hungry? I have plenty,” Anna told him.

“
Well, it smells wonderful.”

“
I think Ozzie told me once that steak was your favorite. I am frying it in garlic, lime juice and onions.”

She smiled back at the man when he rubbed his stomach and answered her.

“
Well, how could I turn down a home cooked meal that smells so...mouth-watering?”

Jaxson laughed and patted the old man on the back.

“
She is a pretty good cook, too.”

Mr. Zane's eyes lit up and his smile grew even bigger.

“
Well, my dear, after that compliment, I will definitely stay. I love a good steak.”

“
Great, have a seat. Dinner is almost done. Would you like some sweet iced tea?”

“
That would be lovely, thank you.”

Her eyes on Mr. Zane, she watched as he sat on the couch
and struck up a conversation with Sebastian, of all people.  She felt Jaxson right behind her, following her into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she bent down to grab the pitcher of iced tea when he felt a hand grip her bottom. She jumped up quickly. Giggling, she sat the tea on the counter and smacked Jaxson on the shoulder playfully.

“
Sorry, I couldn't help myself. You were bent over and it was right there, asking for it.”

Laughing, she pulled him close and kissed him.

“So, my ass was asking you to pinch it? Funny, I didn't hear anything.”

He lifted her and sat her on top of the counter
. With her back against the cabinets, she kissed around his smile, her hands ruffling through his hair. His whispered words sent vibrations down her spine, making her intimates tingle.

“
If Ozzie's dad wasn't here, I would take you right here right now.”

She wrapped
her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, and whispered back.

“
If Ozzie's dad wasn't here, I would let you.”

Her eyes closed and her head fell back
as his growl fluttered against her neck.

“
Later,” he promised and disappeared with a glass of iced tea.

Taking a deep breath
, she attempted to calm her desire and douse the fire he had lit. His whispered promise lingered in her ears, leaving her dizzy and weak in the knees.

Shaking her head free of the lustful fog, she returned to the meal still cooking on the stove.
The plates lined the counter and the table was set. Frying pan in hand, she dished out the meal onto each empty plate. Leaning her head around the corner, she saw Jaxson, Sebastian and Old Man Zane engrossed in conversation.

That must be why they didn't
hear the door.

Setting the pan aside, she stopped by the window and looked to see who was
at the door.

A delivery man? Who is expecting a package?

S
he let go of the curtain and answered the front door.

“Can I help you?”

“
I have a delivery for Anna Skott. Is that you?”

“
Yes, I am she.”

He thrust out paperwork attached to a clipboard.

“
Sign here, please.”

She used the pen under the latch and signed her name to accept the delivery. The young man handed her the package and walked away.

No sender’s name. Who would send me something?

She closed the door and turned to
ward the living room to find everyone standing, looking at her. Jaxson was within kissing range.

“
What is it?” He asked.

“
I don't know. I'm not expecting anything.”

“
Does it say who it’s from?” Sebastian asked.

“
No. It just has my name and address.”

“
Aye, Lass, you might wanna be careful. That looks a bit suspicious.”

She shook the box slightly, trying to get a feel for what was inside. It made a slight rustling noise. She set the box on the kitchen table and opened it.
As she pulled the flaps back, the smell hit her. Looking into the small box, she gasped and just about fainted.

****

Ozzie caught her scent as it wafted into the house. His senses had heightened so much so quickly that it was almost disorienting.

She is back!

He savored the tropical aroma that was the love of life, Paige. It was so much stronger than before.

Like i
ce chasing fire, his blood ran cold and he jumped from the bed.

Oh no, something is wrong. That is her…

He rounded the corner and his eyes witnessed what his heart had feared.  Shock had him in a death grip, choking the life from him His steps staggered as he made his way stiffly through the living room. Fear and anger held hands, feeding off each other and caressing his mind, bringing to life images of the unimaginable. He knew the pain he saw in their eyes when they turned and looked at him as he entered the room.

No one moved, no one cried, no one even breathed.  Everyone had gathered around Anna and a small box which sat open on the kitchen table. She held a large bouquet of virgin white roses covered and dripping with blood, Paige’s blood.

Oh God, no!

He felt it coming and he couldn’t stop it. The sound of war drums pounded in his ears and matched the rhythm of his beating heart.  Each powerful boom set his blood on fire
, scorching through his veins and burning away his frozen fear. His muscles flexed and moved, filling with the experience of his ancestors. Decades upon decades of knowledge and power infused his muscles and hardened his skin.

He dropped to his knees.

The cool bed of grass felt smooth against his back. Soft sunlight kissed his closed eyelids as he lay on the ground with her in his arms. He wore her scent like a security blanket. She was soft, warm, familiar and
his.
He felt her stir and opened his eyes. There she lay, naked, next to him, looking blissfully happy.  Her hay-colored hair was messy from their outdoor romp, and her sky blue eyes shined brightly as she smiled at him.

So beautiful and all mine.

He softly rolled her over and kissed her. His teeth nibbled her ear and he smiled when she squirmed under him, rubbing herself against him. His inner animal came to life. “Suck My Kiss” by Red Hot Chili Peppers played off in the distance.

He pressed his face into her
, wetting her neck, one long kiss at a time.  Her warm, supple body grew hotter with each passing moment, exciting his beast.  She was an erotic buffet spread before him to devour, and he craved all of her. She smelled of tropical flowers and sex. Her skin, a tantalizing combination of sweet and salty, melted on his tongue. She was the air in his lungs, the blood in veins and the cells of his being. She was…life.

She opened herself to him and he took her. He pushed against her, burying himself
, and she crooned in his ear.  Her words caressed his skin, setting it ablaze. He moved with her slowly, teasingly, until he could handle no more.

He stood at the base of
the euphoric cliff, looking over the edge, and he knew what he wanted. Just a small step, he was almost there. His body ached for it. Her body, moving and swaying, asked for it, and her words begged for it.

Her blood swam across his tongue and he froze.

“Please, Ozzie, do it.”

Her words echoed in his ear. Confusion filled his mind. He drew back and looked into her face. She begged him once more.

“Ozzie, please.”

He fought his urge. He didn’t want to. Something was off.

“What do you want me to do?”

His words asked the question but the know-it-all in the back of his mind nagged him with the truth.

He felt her nuzzle closer to him and he knew he should pull away, but he couldn’t.  He opened his mouth and kissed her. She moved her tongue with his briefly before moving slightly. Just as he thought she would break the kiss, she confirmed his fear.

“
I need this Ozzie,” she said against his mouth as she ran her tongue across his fangs.

What the…

The fog in his mind finally broke free.  He jumped from her grasp and to the ground.

Fangs? Why do I have fangs
? I am not a vampire.

On the verge of hyperventilating, he stood
, trying to sort through the storm of unanswered questions threatening to level his mind.  The rays of the sun seemed to set his skin on fire and his heart attempted to explode from his chest. He knew this was it; he had finally gone bat-shit crazy!