Projected Pleasure (2 page)

“Wow, he’s grown. What in the world are you feeding him?” He traced his finger along Demetri’s chubby cheek. Quicker than what seemed possible for Marley to comprehend, her son’s mouth tried to latch on to his finger. He jerked it back just in time, laughing.

“Wow, he’s fast. I would expect nothing less from my future alpha.”

“Yes, well, he’s hungry. Let’s get him inside and I’ll feed him.

Then we can visit before dinner.” Marley took the carrier from Kylie and led everyone inside.

Making her way upstairs she headed for the nursery. Her best friend was right behind her with a fresh bottle. Unhooking the buckles, Marley picked up her son and began rocking him in the wooden chair by the large opened windows. The sucking sounds he made from eating soothed the growing anxiety building inside her.

The way she reacted in the car when she felt the panic of Zachary stopping refreshed inside her mind. What was happening to her? Her
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skin felt like it literally had moved, like she would burst from it at any moment. The need to protect her son had turned automatic. Sure, she was his mother, but it was something so much more than that.

“What are you thinking about?” Kylie stared at her inquisitively.

The frown darkening her face made Marley chew her lip. As much as she wanted to lie, she couldn’t, not to Kylie. Lowering her breath barely above a whisper, she tried to make sure her husband wouldn’t overhear.

“When I thought Zachary was going to pull over, I almost lost it.

Kylie, it’s getting worse. My skin felt alive, like something was crawling around inside. All I could think about doing was protecting Demetri.” Marley ran her fingers through her hair, nervously.

“There’s no telling what I would have done if he would’ve followed his instructs and actually stopped.

“You need to tell Zachary. I know you don’t want to worry him, but, Marley, if it’s getting that bad maybe you should see a doctor.”

“Why, so they can tell me it’s postpartum depression and drug me? No way!” Marley took a breath, trying to control her rising temper. It was also something she was having a problem with lately.

Lifting Demetri to her shoulder, she began to gently pat his back.

“Kylie, promise me you’re not going to tell Zachary. I don’t want to concern him. He has so much on his mind lately with the pack. The last thing he needs to worry about is the sanity of his wife.”

“I told you this before, and I’ll tell you again. As long as you’re acting sane in my book, my lips are sealed. If I feel you’re not safe or something is wrong I’m going to my brother, my leader. I shouldn’t be hiding this from him to begin with, but you’re my best friend. I’ll keep your secret as long as I can.”

A ragged breath broke through her lips. “Thank you, Kylie, that’s all I can ask.”

While Marley began feeding her son again the thoughts about what could possibly be happening drifted along the lines of crazy and impossible. Things began to enter her mind that she didn’t even want
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to consider. It was bad enough that these new feelings left her questioning her sanity, but if her skin had actually moved, what did that mean?

Soon Demetri drifted to sleep in her arms, and Kylie took him, placing him in the crib. They both tip-toed out of the room, bringing the voice monitor with them.

“I should get ready for dinner.” Marley stretched her stiff limbs, feeling them pull. Every inch of her body ached from the tension of their earlier scare.

“Let me take the monitor while you get showered and changed.

We’ll talk more, later. Zachary has pack business, and we’ll have privacy since he makes me stay here with both of you. The house will be empty, so we won’t have to worry about someone overhearing.”

Marley nodded and handed her the voice monitor. “If he wakes up come and get me.”

“Will do, sister dear,” Kylie purred, rolling her eyes playfully.

A smile broke across her face while she shook her head and walked in the direction of her and Zachary’s room. The moment she found herself alone in the hallway, she felt a sense of mental whiplash. She couldn’t help but wonder what was happening. Was she losing her mind? Or was it worse? Over and over, questions poured through until she was sure a headache was on the way. They repeated so fast Marley could hardly process what they were even saying.

The unstableness caused her to tremble in fear. Did she really want to question the truth, or had she known all along? Maybe her mind was just telling her to pay attention and focus on what she sensed was her new reality.

Flashes blinded her while an all too familiar voice echoed in her ears. Chills covered ever inch of her body, tightening her flesh and permeating to the bone. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear Jordan was standing behind her. No! She couldn’t believe that or even think
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about the last time she saw him. She’d spent months locking everything away in her mind, and locked they would stay.

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Marley opened her bedroom door and quickly turned, closing it.

The need to rest her head against the wood and collect her thoughts was tempting, but she didn’t have time. Dinner would be served soon, and all she wanted to do was to get back downstairs around her family and friends. They proved to be the perfect distraction from having to think too much on her condition.

Heading toward the restroom, she almost fell over her feet at the abruptness of her stop. The sight of Cole standing at the foot of the bed, only clad in a towel, caused her heart to beat double time. The smile that edged across his face only made things worse. It had been so long since he had joined her and Zachary in their bed.

“Cole.” Marley wasn’t sure what to say. What exactly was he doing here? His room wasn’t but three doors down from theirs.

“Zachary seemed to think you wanted to see me, privately. Is that the case?”

The huskiness of Cole’s voice tightened her stomach, causing havoc to her insides. Not to mention the water that kept catching her eye as it dripped from his blond hair down to his tanned, muscular chest. It took all of her control not to rush over there and lick it off.

“Cole…” Still the words wouldn’t come to her mind. She couldn’t think with him standing there looking so damn edible.

* * * *

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Cole didn’t give her a chance to think. Her scent told him enough.

She wanted him. With Zachary’s permission, this was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Marley haunted his dreams. Trying to find a mate proved impossible when all he could think about was his alphas. If he could have her just one more time, he was sure he could at least focus on finding someone else.

“You want me. Don’t fight it, Marley.” He molded her curves into his body, needing to feel what he had longed for all these months.

Nails gripped into his back. The heaviness of her breathing brushed against his cheek while he leaned down toward her lips. He had to taste her, all of her.

“I do want you, Cole. If you ask me, it’s too much. It isn’t right. I can’t stop thinking about…I’m keeping you from your mate.”

The truth settled in his heart. So, she was having the same problem as him. He knew she loved Zachary. It wasn’t like she wanted to leave him, but she loved them both.

“You let me worry about my mate. Kiss me, Marley.”

Green eyes looked into his, and something passed through them Cole wasn’t sure of. Something was different about her, but what?

Even her scent held something unfamiliar. It smelled more powerful.

Had Zachary picked up on it, he wondered.

Marley suddenly stiffened in his arms and pulled away. “I can’t, Cole. You’ll never find a mate if this continues. You deserve to find happiness, and I won’t take that away from you.”

Sorrow, emptiness, every fear he had took over. Zachary found that moment to walk in. From the look on his leader’s face, Cole was sure Zach hadn’t miss the devastation Marley’s rejection had caused him.

“What’s wrong? Zachary asked, closing the door behind him.

He should have never come back. This was going to make things worse. What had he done? Why couldn’t he just stay away?

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Marley wiped a tear furiously off of her cheek and walked into the restroom, locking the door behind her. Cole looked at his best friend, who was still waiting for an explanation.

“Will you please tell me what’s wrong with my wife?” Zachary’s face began to turn to solid stone before him. He knew that look. His friend was not happy.

Cole dropped his head. “She thinks she’s making things harder on me.”

“Is she?”

Looking up into the distinct eyes of his leader, he couldn’t lie. But she wasn’t entirely to blame. Marley had no control over the way her scent affected him, intoxicated him to the point of madness.

“It’s not her, it’s me. After dinner, I’m leaving. I’m sorry for upsetting your mate.” Cole walked out of the door, not once looking back. If he looked, he’d be compelled to knock on the restroom door until Marley opened it. The need to comfort her, to beg her…no, he couldn’t look back.

* * * *

The red-eyed vision that stared back at Marley only angered her more. She loved her husband, dammit! So, then why was she letting how much she cared for Cole affect her the way it was? The need to see him happy was top on her list. But why did she feel selfish enough to want to keep him away from that? She wanted him back in her and Zachary’s bed, not with another mate, another female.

A knock brought her hands to her face, wiping her eyes. It was Zachary. She already heard Cole leave. Hesitantly, she listened while he walked into his room and threw himself down on the bed. It was the squeaking that made her realize that. The fact that she could hear that far only registered as something she’d think about later.

“Marley, honey, open the door.”

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She did, even though she would have preferred to spend more time alone.

“Zachary, I can explain. The last thing I wanted was to upset Cole, but I want him to be happy. He won’t be happy if we continue this.”

“It’s my fault. I sent him here. You’ve been so gloomy lately. I thought you missed him. I was just trying to cheer you up. My mistake. I didn’t think.”

Large arms embraced her, instantly filling her with Zachary’s cologne. The smell was so subtle she could barely sense it. It was always out of reach, from the first moment she met him. Just when she thought she grasped exactly what it smelled like, it was gone.

“Zachary, it’s not your fault. I should have mentioned this before, when Cole left. I like having him around too much, I guess.

“That’s not a bad thing. I like having him around, too. He keeps you occupied while I’m feasting.” Zachary said, whispering it into her ear. “That’s a plus in my book. I could taste you forever.”

Tightening settled again in Marley’s stomach. Her husband always had that effect on her. “Yes, well you know the invitation’s always open whenever you feel the need.”

“As much as I would love to right now, I can’t. The pack is gathering downstairs for dinner, and there’s some things I need to go over before you come down.”

He kissed her gently on the mouth and pulled back, looking into her eyes. “Are you feeling all right? You seem distant lately. Your thoughts, they’re not as clear as before. I’m not sure what to make of it. It doesn’t seem normal. I’ve never heard of anything like this happening before.”

Aching ran through her muscles while Marley’s body once again tensed. “I’m fine, just tired. I know nothing about how the bond works so I’m not sure. You should go. I’m going to jump in the shower and I’ll be down for dinner soon.”

With a kiss, her husband left. The need to drop to the floor in exhaustion hit her like a tidal wave. If she could make it through
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dinner she could retire early and get some much needed rest.

Whatever was happening to her mind was taking its toll on her body as well.

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While everyone finished up the last of their dinner, the fact that Cole hadn’t looked at her once drove Marley crazy. She wanted to apologize. They couldn’t leave on these terms. Aggravated from her tiring body and with how she handled things earlier, Marley stood from the long formal dining room table. Twenty people looked up, and every single man stood, which happened to be twelve of them.

“I’m sorry. I need some air. Zachary, I’m going for a walk in the gardens. Please excuse me for interrupting.”

Zachary nodded, still standing. “I’ll join you soon.”

“That’s not necessary. I know you have to get ready for the meeting tonight. I’ll see you afterward. I won’t be gone long.”

Cole shifted in his standing position. When he spoke, Marley could tell he whispered, but she had no problem hearing him.

“Zachary, may I walk with Marley? There are some things we need to discuss.”

Both of the men’s eyes came to rest on her. The sensations that took over her body made every pore on her react and come alive.

“Marley, is it all right if Cole accompanies you?” Zachary stared at her intently. The decision was ultimately being left up to her.

“Yes, I would love for him to join me.”

She led the way out of the formal dining area. The tingling feeling continued to tickle her skin while she walked through the living room and onto the balcony. Cool night air brushed against her skin, causing her to shiver. The black strapless dress left her shoulders completely bare, and with her dark hair in a French twist, nothing remained to shelter her skin from the chill.

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“Here, take my jacket,” Cole said, already draping it over her shoulders. The massive material engulfed her small frame leaving it to end at her knees.