Wolf Tales 11 (13 page)

Mik glanced at Logan. “Woof,” he said.

Logan merely shook his head. “I want to make sure my
medical bag is included with whatever luggage Beth and Ig might have with them.”

AJ stared at Logan. “Why? Is there a problem we don’t know about?”

Smiling, Logan held up both hands and shook his head. “No. Nothing to worry about. I just want to be prepared. We have two perfectly healthy young women, each going into her eighth month of pregnancy. They were both given an unknown drug when they were kidnapped. They’ve been under highly stressful conditions all day. I’m going to want to check blood pressure, heart rate of both of them and their babies … just the basics. AJ, I’m a doctor. I don’t go anywhere without my bag.”

AJ glared at him a moment. “Okay then. I just wanted to be sure.”

Mik took his partner’s hand and squeezed. “We’ve both been in touch with Tala. She’s fine. If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think she’s enjoying the excitement.”

AJ snorted. “I know better and she is enjoying the excitement. She’s making me crazy and scarin’ the crap out of me.”

Shrugging, Mik leaned back in the chair. “See? Just the usual thing with Tala.” Everyone laughed, but he squeezed AJ’s hand a second time and glanced his way.
I’m worried, too, man, but she’ll be okay. She has to be. We’ll get her out, and Lisa, too. Just hang in there.

AJ nodded, but his tension was a palpable force in the room. The only one who appeared even remotely relaxed was Anton.

Sitting on a tall stool at his worktable, Adam rubbed a soft, oiled rag over the old Philco he’d finished repairing for Stefan, a 1930s-era wooden radio that had been working perfectly until eighteen-month-old Alex decided to explore the inner mechanism. The tubes were now back in
place and the wires that had fallen victim to a toddler’s busy fingers had been repaired or replaced.

He almost wished it hadn’t been so easy to fix. He loved to bury himself in a project like this, whether it was something under the hood of a car or the intricate workings of Anton’s Rolex. Each represented a challenge and gave him an immense sense of satisfaction when he was able to return an item to its owner, completely restored and perfectly repaired.

Working on Stefan’s old radio had helped the afternoon pass quickly. It had taken his mind off the horrible situation with Tala and Lisa—but even more important, it had buried his apprehension over the night ahead and the fact he was actually going to bond with the woman he loved.

Now the evening stretched out ahead and the hands of the clock crawled toward the time they would leave to run as wolves.

To mate as wolves. With Liana.

No, it wasn’t apprehension at all. It was impatience. This waiting was making him crazy. Adam looked out the window at the long shadows stretching across the meadow and then glanced over his shoulder at Liana. “It’s already getting dark.” The expectant grin he shot at her was met with a soft laugh.

“It’s barely five, sweetheart. Relax. We have hours yet.” She leaned close and kissed him behind his right ear. The touch of her lips sent shivers racing along his spine.

Damn, he was definitely ready. “Well, if Anton expects an orgasm at precisely five minutes to ten, we’re going to have to start a whole lot earlier.” He tilted his head back and smiled at her. “Hours earlier. We certainly don’t want to rush anything.”

He breathed in the sweet scent of her, and at the same time opened his thoughts and listened in to the other voices nearby.

Mei and Oliver were on their way to the main house.
He sensed them crossing the driveway below his apartment. They’d planned dinner with Stefan and Xandi and an early evening wearing the kids out so the adults could have the night to themselves.

Adam chuckled. Mei had her toys. Lots of toys, and a slew of fresh batteries. Obviously she and Xandi were looking forward to building up as much sexual energy as they could.

Adam? Is that you? How’s my radio?

Hey, Stef. It’s ready to go. You need to have a talk with Alex. He’s not quite ready for the Philco. Not yet.

Stefan’s snort might have been telepathic, but Adam swore he actually heard it.
Try explaining that to the mobile monster from hell.

Your perfect son?

Yeah, right. Perfect in every way. You and Liana going to join us tonight?

Adam glanced at Liana and thought of their plans for the evening. No. Not tonight. We’re going to run, but we plan to keep to Anton’s timetable. Besides, it appears the girls have specific plans for you and Oliver.

He sensed Stefan’s laughter. They’re taking Anton’s request for a nine fifty-five orgasm as a challenge, and you know how Mei and Xandi are when someone challenges them to do anything.

Adam thought about the evening ahead. He hadn’t intended to, but he went ahead and shared his intentions with Stefan, a man he honored as much as he did Anton.

Good, Adam. It’s time. You and Liana have a connection that’s greater than I ever saw between you and Eve. In this particular instance, I have to agree with Anton. Some events, some relationships, are fated. The two of you are meant to be bonded mates. There was a pause. A moment later, Stefan was back. I hear Mei and Oliver. We’ll talk later, after Lisa and Tala are home safe.

That’s a promise.
Adam blinked, pulling himself out of
Stefan’s mind. He realized Liana now stood in front of him with a soft smile on her lips. She ran her fingertips along his jaw. He tilted his chin and caught three fingers between his teeth for a gentle nip.

She sighed softly and brushed them over his lower lip. “The girls will be fine, my love. Tala and Lisa and the babies have so much yet ahead of them. They have full lives to live. Not only Anton, but all of us will see to it that they survive.”

He thought about her words for a moment, and wondered once again just how much Liana remembered from her life as their Goddess. Eve had most of Liana’s knowledge now, but Liana still seemed to know more than she should, more than the rest of them.

Did she have knowledge of Lisa and Tala that the rest of them didn’t? Would he discover that information when they bonded? Would he learn things from Liana’s life as their Goddess before she’d gained mortality? The thought was exhilarating, but a little frightening, too. Did he really want to know of things to come? Did he want to share knowledge better left to gods and goddesses?

She’d promised him that the memories that might have been dangerous to him were gone, that a total bond was physically safe, but what of his emotions? Could he handle it? He could be such a jerk sometimes. What of her memories that stretched into prehistory, the men she’d loved, the mistakes she’d made, the amazing things she’d experienced? Would he be strong enough to accept all those many parts that made up the woman he loved?

Would she be strong enough to accept him and his failings? He knew his had been greater than most. So many mistakes he’d made, so many promises unfulfilled, and yet Liana loved him. She loved him even more than Eve had.

Unlike Eve, Liana had every intention of staying with him. No, that wasn’t fair. He couldn’t blame Eve for anything
She was blameless … actually, all of them were. Who could control the vagaries of fate?

He gazed into Liana’s luminous gray-green eyes and knew he was falling harder each moment he spent with her. He still thought of Eve, still remembered the way they’d loved, the times they’d shared, but in many ways their life together had been so brief and his time with Liana so much more intense that he felt he’d known this woman forever.

Her soft whisper in his ear dragged Adam away from his swirling thoughts. She stood behind him once again.

“There’s something I want to do tonight.” Liana pressed against his back and draped her arms over his shoulders. She rested her cheek on top of his head.

He turned his head and kissed her. “And that is?”

“I want to ask Eve to bless our bond. Are you okay with that?”

He never would’ve thought of such a thing, but if that was what Liana wanted … “Of course. If you like. But why?”

He felt Liana’s sigh against his back. “I owe her so much, Adam. My chance at a mortal life, the freedom to be the woman I never thought I’d be. You. If she hadn’t made you promise to watch out for me, do you honestly think we would be here, on this day, loving each other? Planning to bond as mates?”

He chuckled. “I guess I was pretty stubborn. And I wasn’t very nice to you.” He reached behind, caught her in his arms, and tugged her around his side and into his lap.

She snuggled against his chest, a petite yet terribly womanly armful of warmth and life. “We both had so much to learn,” she said. “I worry, though, what you’ll feel when you see what’s in my mind. My memories of so many men, so many lovers, so many terrible mistakes stretching over hundreds of lifetimes. When Eve took my knowledge,
she left those memories intact. I wasn’t a very nice goddess, Adam. I like to think I’m better than I was, that I’ve left my selfish ways behind, but will you see who I was and think less of me?”

He nuzzled the soft fall of her hair and laughed. They even worried alike. “Never, my love. We are two very flawed people with a lifetime of mistakes behind us. This step we’re taking? It’s forward, not backward, and it’s not a mistake. I imagine we’re perfect for each other.”

As Bay ran a comb through his hair, he caught Manda’s reflection in the dressing-room mirror. She was slipping into a dress, covering up all those perfect curves with something soft and dark. Not black. No, as she smoothed the soft fabric over her slim hips he realized it was a bluish green so dark it almost looked black, but it shimmered with blue fire when she turned beneath the overhead light, and it clung to all those perfect curves and valleys as if it were her second skin.

She raised her head and smiled at him, and just like that, he was hard as a post. She blinked, and he knew she’d caught the sense of his desire, maybe even scented the arousal she caused in him.

“Baylor Quinn!” She laughed and sauntered across the room, kissed him teasingly on the nose. “No. Absolutely not.” Then she palmed him, running her warm hand lightly over the erection straining to life beneath his dark slacks. “Down, boy! Behave. I can’t take you out like this.”

He leaned close and kissed her. “We could always stay in.”

The laughter went out of her eyes. Bay felt like a jerk for what he’d said. “I didn’t mean …”

Manda shook her head. “I know. I wish we could, but
we have to do this for Lisa and Tala.” She sighed and leaned against his chest. “It’s for all of us. It has to end, this constant threat against us. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us.”

He swallowed back a lump in his throat and tasted fear. Unwelcome, terrifying fear. “If something were to happen to you, I…” No. He really couldn’t go there. Couldn’t allow himself to even imagine anything happening to Manda. To his one, true love.

“I want your child, Bay. I want a baby.”

Stunned, he frowned at her. Now? With the threat still out there? With Lisa and Tala in such jeopardy? “Manda … sweetheart. It’s so dangerous right now. We don’t even know who’s after us this time. Not for sure. Are you certain?”

She nodded and held his gaze with hers. Steady. Unwavering. He wished he could be half as brave as Manda. Even half as sure of himself.

“I’ve been thinking of it for a long time, ever since Tia and Luc had their twins, but I didn’t want it to be a decision driven by holding those gorgeous babies.” She blinked. Her eyes were suspiciously shiny.

He tried to see her thoughts, but she was blocking him as she turned away and grabbed her coat off the bed. Slipped the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

She fiddled with the clasp on the purse and didn’t meet his eyes. “I won’t force the issue. It’s not one any woman should make on her own, but I want you to think about it. Maybe try and get used to the idea.” She glanced up and gave him a tentative smile, one that let him know how uncertain she’d been of his reaction.

He hadn’t reacted very well. It made him feel like a selfish jerk. Neither of them was getting any younger, and she’d already lost more than half her life. Had it stolen from her, while he … he’d always just worried about himself. He hadn’t even worried about his sisters.

Lisa and Tala. Beautiful women now. In danger again, through no fault of their own. In many ways, their lives hadn’t been a whole lot better than Manda’s. They’d each lived in their own hell. Trapped in a nightmare childhood that no child should have to endure.

The decision was much simpler than it might have been if he’d really let himself agonize over all the potential problems. He was good at that—agonizing. Dissecting. Creating problems where none should exist. Instead, he stepped forward, drew Manda into his arms, and rested his chin atop her head. Her smooth hair felt like silk. She smelled amazing, like fresh air and clean woman and sex. She always made him think of sex, of losing himself within her heat, of loving her.

“When’s your next heat? How soon can we …?”

She pushed herself away, far enough to look into his eyes. The surprise, the happiness on her face reaffirmed everything he was feeling. He brushed his palm over the soft curve of her belly. “You’re sure you want to mess with perfection? Goddess, but I love this body.” Laughing, he leaned close and kissed her. “Are you going to tell me when, or make me guess?”

“Tonight,” she said. “I should be fertile tonight.” A small frown puckered her eyebrows. She cupped his jaw with her palm. “Bay? Are you sure? I know you’ve had doubts. It’s not like we both had ideal childhoods.”

“No doubts. We can give a baby something we never had. Unconditional love, a stable home, two parents who want the very best for their child.” His arms were actually shaking when he drew her close against him again. Kissed her gently, then deeper as the emotions swamped him. “Damn it, Amanda Smith. I love you so much. Will you marry me? I know we’re mated, that our mating is forever, but I want the world to know you’re mine. And, yes, I want a baby.”

Shaken, he kissed her again. In his mind’s eye, he saw
her body change, growing ripe with his child, and he realized it was true. He had no doubts. None where Manda was concerned.