Tempted by Darkness (13 page)

Jameson looked on as Kit slowly made her way
up the stairs, and put his hand on Trev’s shoulder to keep him from
following her. “Give her a few minutes to regain some equilibrium.
She isn’t seriously hurt and right now she is feeling foolish, she
just needs a few minutes to herself.” Then he turned to address the
pack members who had gathered around, “I don’t want any of you to
mention this to Kit or anyone else for that matter. Let’s remember,
she’d trying to cram a lifetime’s education into just a few weeks’
time, and she is doing it in order to protect all of us. I think
she deserves our support and our respect.” Most of those around him
had the decency to look contrite, but several seemed annoyed with
the warning and he made a mental note to speak with each of them
individually. Perhaps it was time to remind everyone that the pack
was only as strong as their weakest member.

Trev made his way up the stairs as soon as
Jameson returned to their office. He couldn’t remember ever seeing
Kit look as defeated as she had when she’d looked around her as
pack members had worked to hold back their amusement at her
misfortune. Seeing the sadness as she registered the betrayal
reflected in her eyes had made him want to lash out at those who
had made her the object of their ridicule. Damn it, she was busting
her ass to master the skills she was going to need to protect the
very people who were sneering at her. Hell, there were a lot of
times her antics had him biting the insides of his cheeks to keep
from smiling, but he also tried to make her understand how grateful
he was for all her hard work.

There had also been something else in her
eyes, a flash of uncertainty laced with fear but she’d shuttered it
so quickly he hadn’t been able to read it. For all her bravado and
apparent self-confidence, she was still a very real woman trying
desperately to fit in and earn the respect of her new
family
and that made her more than a little vulnerable to their scorn.
He’d felt her pain and disillusionment just before a flash of
terror moved though her mind, it wasn’t fear of what might happen
to her, but a very real fear that she might hurt someone else. Trev
wasn’t sure what had set her mind on that path, but it wasn’t
something he intended to let go.

Stepping up to the door of the master bath,
he heard her soft sniffles and wanted to pound his fist into the
wall in frustration. Their sweet woman already had enough
insecurities about being mated, she certainly didn’t need their
pack adding to that burden. He’d heard Jameson’s admonishment to
the members who had been looking on downstairs and then his mental
inventory of the members whose reactions hadn’t set well. Trev
could only hope his brother followed through on those come to Jesus
meetings he had planned—and sooner rather than later.

Taking a deep breath to calm the internal
storm swirling through him and schooling his features, Trev knocked
softly before opening the door. Kit was leaning back in the large
tub surrounded by bubbles. Her pose might appear relaxed but her
entire body was practically quaking with tension. When she saw him,
she quickly swiped the soft washcloth she’d been clutching over her
face trying to erase the evidence she’d been crying. She might have
hidden the tears, but her red-rimmed eyes would have still given
her away even if he hadn’t heard her soft sobs just a few seconds
ago.

He didn’t say anything, just quickly set
about stripping out of his clothes and then easing into the large
tub to settle behind her. Taking the cloth out of her hand, he
gently rubbed it over her back and frowned at the bruises he found
there. Obviously she’d been battered from all sides and he wondered
briefly how much damage the small lab had sustained.

Leaning forward, he pressed his lips softly
against her bruised skin, pleased when he felt her relax into his
touch. “That’s it, baby. Let me love you. Just relax and let me
take care of you.” He continued his gentle ministrations and then
cupped his hands over the shoulders to pull back gently until she
was cradled against his chest. Leaning down to press his lips
against the damp skin below her ear, he let his words whisper
softly against the spot he knew was particularly sensitive, “We are
all very proud of you, baby, even when we don’t do a very good job
of showing you.” He hoped she felt his sincerity, and that it would
leach from his soul into hers. Trev had felt their heartbeats
synchronize as soon as he’d pulled her against his chest, it was a
phenomenon their fathers had talked to them about frequently, but
they’d honestly assumed their dads were exaggerating—until they’d
met Kit.

One of the most challenging things about
having a mate as brilliant as Kit was how creative they’d had to be
in order to keep her focused on all the progress she was making
rather than fixating on all the ways she could improve. They’d
tried to show her that bumps in the road were a part of life, they
were meant to remind you that perfection wasn’t the goal—putting
forth your best effort was all anyone should expect. Kit had
unreasonably high expectations for herself and a work ethic that
often left everyone around her exhausted just trying to keep up
with her. Braden had called it correctly when he’d referred to her
as a Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96. Damn kid had a real affinity for trivia
and Trev had been forced to Google it late one night just to find
out what the young wizard had been talking about. He’d laughed when
he realized his spirited mate had been likened to the most powerful
motor ever made. And at 3,209.085 HP, the comparison was probably
about right.

Tristan had stepped up behind him and laughed
when he’d seen what was on his laptop screen. “I keep telling Nick
and Angie we need to limit Braden’s internet usage, but I’m not
sure it would make any difference. I swear the kid’s mind is a
fucking steel trap. I’ve never met anyone who could retain
information like he does—it’s humbling to say the least. And I
shudder to think of what he’ll have stored in his head by the time
he’s thirty.” When Trev turned and looked at him with a brow raised
in question, their head of security didn’t miss a beat, “I know
this is one of his favorite ways to say something is kickass
strong, what was he referring to that has you Googling when you
don’t think anyone is around?”

“Kit. He was talking about how hard she
works.” Trev finally shook his head and smiled. “Damn, can’t you
teach that kid to speak normally when he is talking to those with
IQs closer to average? And I agree with you, I don’t even want to
consider how much worse he’s going to get as he gets older.”

“I’m hoping his social intelligence catches
up and he learns to be a little more diplomatic, or at least more
aware of the fact he isn’t spending all his time with a bunch of
Mensa think-tank hopefuls.” Trev knew Tristan Michaels was
incredibly bright, and his brother, Nick, would likely test in the
genius range. And everyone knew the men’s mate, Angie, was, without
question, the most intelligent person in a pack that had more than
its fair share of brilliant members.

Trev hadn’t even realized he’d left the
telepathic link between them open until he heard Kit’s whispered
words, “There might be a lot of intelligence floating around, but
not much kindness, and that just sucks if you ask me.” Kit had
spoken so softly Trev probably wouldn’t have heard her if he had
been a shifter blessed with superior hearing. He wrapped his arms
around her and just held her for several minutes, after all, what
was he going to say? He certainly couldn’t argue her point.

“Come on, sweet baby, let’s get you out of
the tub. The water isn’t warm enough anymore, you’ll get stiff and
sore if we don’t keep you warm.” He hated the idea of her being
sore, but there wasn’t much he’d be able to do to prevent it. “How
are your sessions with Devin progressing?” He felt her stiffen
under his hands and knew their harsh words when she’d had first
agreed to work with the wizard were still a sticking point between
them. Trev hated the fact he hadn’t been able to breach the chasm
they’d created, but it would take time for her to feel comfortable
enough to discuss it freely with either him or his brother.

Using his fingers to grip her chin, he turned
her face toward his own and framed her heart shaped face with the
palms of his hands letting his fingers spear into the soft tresses
of her auburn hair. He had to wait several heartbeats for her eyes
to raise and meet his, another thing he hated more than he could
say. “Listen to me and listen closely, baby. I’ll likely go to my
grave as an old man regretting the way my brother and I reacted
when you told us about the bargain you’d made with Devin. Fear does
that to men who love their mate with everything they have—it makes
them unreasonable and nastiness spews out of their mouths before
their brains are fully engaged in the process.” Unshed tears made
her eyes glisten, but she didn’t respond.

“We hurt you and that is something we’d both
sworn to you we’d never do. I’d like to amend that promise right
now. We’ll never intentionally hurt you—but, baby, we
will
make mistakes. We’re not perfect and we’ll probably fuck up
again—in fact, it’s likely. But I can promise you, we’ll
always
have your best interests at heart. Our love and
respect for you will never be in question, just our ability to
express it appropriately. Remember, we’re wolves at heart, so
civility isn’t always the first thing that comes out.” Who was he
kidding? Civility evaporated the minute anything threatened Kit or
their children, it simply ceased to exist. All their parents’
training, all those lectures on leadership and how to treat others,
most importantly their mate—were suddenly wasted effort on their
parts. He could almost feel his mother smacking him upside the head
every time he thought back on how they had reacted when Kit
announced she’d be working with Devin.
Yeah, not exactly a
stellar moment in your relationship, was it?

“I understand. I really do. But you have to
remember, trust is a two way street. You expect me to trust you
with my life, but you aren’t willing to trust me to protect you in
return. You both conveniently forget that I functioned on my own
for many years without your protection…actually it’s only been
since I met you that I actually
needed
protection of any
sort.” Trev felt his hackles come up, but if he was honest with
himself he’d have to concede that even though he didn’t like her
last statement one bit, it was in fact true.

Before Trev had time to respond he heard the
soft scrape of a boot over the polished wood plank floor. Looking
over Kit’s shoulder he saw Jameson leaning against the doorframe.
His posture was deceptively casual, but the pose didn’t fool Trev.
Looking back at Kit, she rolled her eyes, “He’s standing right
behind me, isn’t he?” When Trev nodded, she let out a long sigh
making her sound more like a condemned prisoner headed to the
gallows than a mate who was about to be fucked into oblivion.
Jameson nodded subtly letting Trev know he agreed, they both knew
they had some ground to make up with their lovely wife.