Nikolas (33 page)

Music floated through the air from down the stairs. Nik grinned and retreated to the library. When he got through the door he froze. Sophia was on the ladder looking at books. He placed the wine and glasses on an end table and walked over to where she was reaching for something on the next shelf up. His mate was wearing a negligee and no panties. It wasn’t the skirt he’d pictured in his mind, but it’d do. His mouth watered, and his dick sprang to life at the sight of her bare ass.

“Get your fine ass down here now, woman,” he instructed. Sophia looked down at him and cocked an eyebrow. “Now,” he ordered. She obeyed, but she did so slowly. His mate was giving him a show as she lowered herself to him one rung at a time. When her ass was eye level, he placed his hands on her waist to stop her. He pushed the flimsy material aside and kissed both perfect cheeks. Sophia pushed her ass closer to his face. When the negligee fell back down, Nik ripped the offending garment from her body.

Sophia gasped, but she stayed where she was. “You’ve been a bad girl, Baby. What do you think I should do about that?”

She wiggled her ass and said, “You should spank me.”

Nik had to unbutton his jeans and lower his zipper. His cock was begging to be inside her delicious body, but he wanted to play first. He smacked her right cheek and she moaned. He popped the left one, leaving a handprint. “More,” she pleaded breathily. He didn’t want to disappoint her, so he smacked both sides again, her skin growing redder with each strike. Before he gave her more of what she wanted, Nik kissed and licked where his hands had been. When his tongue neared her crack, Sophia pushed back into his face once again.

He placed his hands on her cheeks and pulled them apart. He licked her pucker, and her body dipped down. Nik didn’t want her to fall off the ladder, so he wrapped his arms around her waist and carried her to the sofa. He placed her knees on the cushions and pushed her chest over the back. He knelt behind her and went back to licking her hole. His thumbs caressed the inside of her legs and came away wet with her juices. “You like this, Baby. You’re ready for my cock, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Nik. Stop teasing me and fuck me.”

Those dirty words coming from her pretty mouth had Nik’s dick leaking. She was going to make him come without touching him. He stood so he could remove his clothes before getting back on his knees. He pushed her legs wider so he had better access. Nik slid his tongue from her clit up to her pucker.

“Nik dammit, fuck me. I need to feel you buried deep.”

He couldn’t stand her begging. He wanted to please his mate, give her exactly what she wanted. Nik smacked her ass hard as he stood and stroked his length. He placed one foot on the sofa and angled his cock at her entrance. His mate didn’t wait on him. Sophia pushed her ass back and impaled her core with his dick. She placed her hands on the back of the sofa and began thrusting hard. He had fucked some wanton women in his time, but to see his mate using his body for her pleasure had his beast roaring.

Nik normally kept his wilder side at bay during sex, but deep down he knew what Sophia needed. He grabbed her hips before handing over control to that voice inside begging to be turned loose. His fangs dropped as he pounded his cock into his mate’s willing body. Sophia’s claws came out, finding purchase in the leather of the sofa. The primality of their mating was palpable as Sophia growled at him.

Nik found himself lifting Sophia from the sofa. He picked her up so she was straddling his waist, and his dick was again pounding her core. He slammed her body into the bookcase, her claws digging into his shoulders. Her eyes were dark and her hair was wild. She licked her lips and demanded, “Harder.” He was pretty sure her shifter was front and center as well.

The music in the background could no longer be heard over the slapping of skin, the grunts as he thrust into her hot pussy, or her jagged breathing. Her fangs were now cutting into her lip. Nik leaned in and licked the blood running down her chin. She grabbed her hair and pulled it to one side, exposing her neck. He took the invitation and sank his fangs into the skin where her shoulder and neck met. As soon as he punctured the surface, Sophia’s body jerked, her pussy clenching his cock. They came together, yelling out as their orgasms overtook them.

Nik held on tightly to his mate, pulling her back away from the wrecked rows of books that were now scattered on the floor. Sophia dropped her head to his shoulder and whimpered.

“Baby, are you okay? Did I hurt you?” He sat down on the already ruined sofa with her straddling his lap. He pushed her hair away from her face so he could see her eyes.

“I’m… perfect,” she assured him, scrunching her nose.

Nik laughed. “Yes, you are.” He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. Her breasts squashed against his chest had his dick coming back to life.

Sophia pressed their mouths together, her tongue finding his. His mate loved to kiss. She rose up on her knees and placed his erection at her entrance. She lowered herself on his cock and set a slow rhythm that matched the music. Their beasts sated, Nik and Sophia made love until they could barely move.

As they were walking up the stairs to the bedroom, Sophia said, “We keep that up, we’ll be needing a nursery in no time.”

Nik couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Dante did mention the color pink.”

Sophia stopped walking and stared at her mate. Nik reached over and nudged her chin up. He grabbed her hands and kissed her knuckles. “What do you think about the name Lydia?”

2057

Sophia said goodbye to the children at the library where she volunteered once a week, reading to kids who were left in a mother’s day out program. Even though she had a child of her own and another on the way, she had room in her heart for those whose family lives were less than perfect.

She was on her way to meet Isabelle at the diner where Dane had first met Marley. The sky was growing darker with every step she took. She could take the bus, but the diner was close enough she could walk. She hoped the rain held off until she was safely inside. When she was less than a block away, her phone rang. Amelia.

“Hello, sweet girl.”

“Aunt So, where are you?”

“I’m headed to the diner to see Izzy, why?”

“I need you. I remembered you went to the library on Wednesdays. You’re the closest one to me.”

“Slow down. Where are you?”

“I’m at the bus terminal. Some creep is following me, and I don’t have time to wait on Dad.”

“I’ll be right there. Don’t go outside. Stay near other people.”

Sophia’s mind drifted back to when she was sixteen and she encountered a similar situation. The bus depot was three blocks from the diner. She took off running in that direction, calling her shifter forward. When she arrived at the terminal, it was like déjà vu. Her sixteen year-old self was sitting, waiting on JoJo to come rescue her from the man who had exposed himself to her on the darkened bus.

Only Amelia wasn’t waiting for her. Sophia opened her senses and heard Amelia’s voice coming from the men’s restroom. When Sophia pushed open the door, a nasty man had her niece cornered. He had his cock in his hand, stroking it. “You want some of this?” he asked, shaking his dick in her direction.

Before he could shake it again, Sophia shoved his body against the wall holding him in place with her claws. “Get out of here, sweet girl. Go wait for me in the lobby.” Amelia nodded and ran out the door. The man struggled with Sophia and managed to twist around facing her. Her mind flashed back, recognizing his black eyes. He was older, but the same man who exposed himself to her all those years ago had been ready to assault her family. Her claws were digging into his neck as she seethed, “You filthy bastard. I should have let my grandfather kill you.” With her free hand, Sophia pushed the man’s hand out of the way and latched onto his penis. She raked her claws down the length of his shaft, leaving it attached by a sliver of skin.

She clamped her hand down over the man’s mouth, smothering his scream. She pressed his nose together, restricting his oxygen until he passed out. When he slumped onto the floor, Sophia washed her hands and exited the restroom. She found Amelia and hauled the girl out of the terminal. “What did you do, Aunt So?”

“What should have been done a long time ago.”

“Did you kill him?” the girl whispered.

“No. But I guarantee he’ll never molest another young girl.” She wrapped her arm around her niece’s shoulder and hugged her tight. When they arrived at the diner, she told Amelia, “Go on in and tell Aunt Izzy to order me some tea. I have to make a phone call.”

Once the girl was inside, Sophia called Nik. “Hey, Gorgeous. I need a favor.”

“Anything for you, Baby.”

“First, I need to you to hack into the security monitors at the bus terminal, if there are any. If they actually have some, I need you to wipe the feed from the last half hour.”

“Okay, then what?”

“I need you to call Dane. There’s a man in need of medical assistance in the restroom.”

“Soph, Baby. What did you do?”

“I took care of our family. I promise I’m okay, but I need to get inside and check on Amelia before I call Abbi.”

“I’m on it. But Soph, please come home so I can see with my own eyes you’re all right.”

“I will, just as soon as I have tea with Isabelle. Love you.” Sophia hung up and headed into the diner. Her unborn baby was wild enough without her drinking coffee, so she settled for hot tea. Sophia slid into the booth next to an animated teenager.

“I’m telling you Aunt Izzy, the man was a creep.”

Isabelle cocked an eyebrow at Sophia. “I swear, I don’t know who’s worse... you or Tessa.

“Tessa,” she and Amelia answered at the same time.

“Why were you on the bus, anyway?” Sophia asked Amelia. “You’re too young to be wandering around alone.”

“One of mom’s favorite ballet dancers is performing at the civic center to raise charity. I wanted to surprise her with tickets.”

“You do know there’s this thing called the internet? You could have bought them online.”

“I don’t have a credit card. I had to go to the box office to pay cash.”

“Oh, sweet girl. Next time, call me, and I’ll get the tickets for you.”

“Thanks, Aunt So.” Amelia kissed her on the cheek before diving into her hot chocolate.

Once the waitress was out of earshot, Isabelle asked, “What exactly did you do?”

Sophia plunged her tea bag up and down in the hot water. “I need to tell you a story. You were already in Greece, and I was sixteen...”

Nikolas and Lydia were standing beside the garage, waiting for her. Lydia, mimicking Nik’s stance, was her father’s child in every way. Sophia didn’t bother hitting the garage door opener. She knew she had some explaining to do. She wouldn’t do it in front of Lydia, though. The girl was only nine.

Nik opened the car door and held out his hand. Sophia had been blessed with her mate. He was still as loving and attentive as when they first mated. The sex hadn’t gotten less in frequency, but they did have to be quieter now that they had a child in the house. “Hey, Gorgeous,” she greeted him with a kiss. “Hello, my beautiful girl.” She placed a kiss on her daughter’s head before closing the door. “What’s going on? You both act like I’ve been gone for weeks, not hours.”

Lydia folded her arms over her chest. “Daddy was cussing a blue streak. I want to know what you did to make him mad.”

Nik laughed and covered Lydia’s mouth. “You’re not supposed to tell my secrets.”

She wiggled away and scowled at Sophia. For a nine year old, she was wise beyond her years. “Mo-om,” she sang.

“Lydia,” she sang in return. “I didn’t do anything your father wouldn’t have done.” She tapped her daughter on the nose and headed toward the house. Once inside, Sophia decided to turn the interrogation tables. “I ran into Mrs. Mitchell at the library. She said you got another detention. Would you like to explain that?”

“Chip Abernathy was picking on Tabitha.”

“Where was her brother?” Sophia couldn’t believe Anthony would leave his twin alone long enough for someone to pick on her.

“In the principal’s office. He got in trouble for punching Chip before lunch. Chip went after her again, so I stepped in.”

Sophia couldn’t get mad at her daughter when she had just taken up for someone, too. Nik remained quiet, having a pretty good idea of what happened at the bus terminal. He allowed her to be the disciplinarian, anyway.

“I can’t believe Tabby didn’t smack him herself.”

“Nah, she has me and Anthony watching her six.”

“Her six? You’ve been hanging out with your Aunt Tessa too much.”

“Did you at least get a good shot in?” Nik asked. Sophia smacked him on the chest, and he rubbed the spot as if she actually hurt him. The only time she inflicted real pain was in the bedroom.

“Well, did you?” Sophia smirked.

“Of course I did. Uncle Frey would kick my butt if I didn’t use good form.”

Sophia and Nik laughed at their daughter even though she was not wrong. Until the kids were old enough to transition, Frey was teaching them martial arts.

“Besides, you’ve told me forever that family is everything, and we defend our family.”

“That we do, sweet girl.”

“So, am I in trouble?” Lydia batted her eyelashes at her father. Nik looked to Sophia who shook her head.

“No ma’am. Now, please go to your room so I can have a chat with your mom.”

Lydia hugged them both before running up the stairs.

“Now, it’s your turn, Mrs. Stone.” Sophia had legally changed her name when she found out she was pregnant with Lydia. She was mated to Nik, and as shifters, that was all they needed to commit themselves to one another. Still, she liked the sound of it.

“Were there video cameras?”

“Yes. Who was the man?” Nik asked.

“Remember the story I told you of my bus trip to New Atlanta?”

Nik nodded. “Yeah. I still want to find that sonofabitch and kill him.”

“Put it this way. He won’t be shaking his shit at girls anymore.”