York (14 page)

Chapter
26

Sky stared out at the dismal Montana winter.  She used to
think the crystalline landscape was breathtaking, but not now.  Her eyes were locked on York where he stood staring back at her from beneath a tall pine.  Each morning for the past two weeks when she woke she found him there, and it’s where he remained until the sun set each night.  He was waiting for her to make up her mind.  Her mind was already made up.  She was falling in love with him.  In the days they’d been apart, a dull ache had settled in her chest.  A void she quickly realized existed due to the absence of York.  He cared for her, and protected her with dutiful diligence, but it wasn’t just the extremes she missed.  The light caresses and thoughtful gestures hadn’t gone unnoticed either.  If his actions were anything to go by, York truly did love her.

Her sister’s soft voice spoke from behind her.  “How much longer are you going to torture him?”

“I didn’t tell him to stand out in the cold.  He can go home anytime.”

“No
, he can’t.”

Sky tore her gaz
e from York’s to frown at Shy as she held her son, Lyon, clutched to her chest and paced slowly to the fridge and pulled out a carton of milk.  “What do you mean?”

Shy’s tone was clipped with disapproval
.  “You’re
here
.”

Sky froze, her brows furrowing in her own annoyance.  “And clearly I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

“Don’t pull that shit, Sky.  You can stay here forever for all I care, but I just think it’s stupid to run from what he’s offering you.”

“And what’s that?”

Shy poured herself a glass of milk with one hand while brushing her lips over Lyon’s head.  “The same thing Leto’s given me.  A home, a family, love…
completeness.
  He yearns to give you everything you’ve ever wanted, and you refuse to take it, and I don’t understand why.”

“Of course
you
don’t understand why!” Shy struggled to keep her tone even.  “You’ve never been anyone’s second friggin’ choice!”

Shy frowned at her sister.  “Language
.”

Sky threw her hands in the air.  “Christ, he’s
like a minute old!  Plus, you said shit like two seconds ago.”

“Don’t pick your nose and change the subject
.” Shy admonished.

“What?  Pick my…what!”

“What are you so afraid of?”

“I’m afraid of getting hurt,” Sk
y hissed.  “I’m afraid of giving my heart to someone who’ll change his mind in a year and throw it back in my face.  I’m afraid of going all in and ending up alone and with nothing!”

Sighing, Sky’s expression softened.  “It won’t happen
, Sky.  I promise.  It
can’t
happen.  Walkers aren’t made that way.  They aren’t like human men.  They’re like wolves.  They mate for life.  Leto says once a male Walker is mated it’s impossible for him to even get an erection with another woman, but it doesn’t matter because they’d never want to.”  She smiled and her eyes filled with tears.  “This is it, Sissy.  The real thing.”

Turning to eye the window
, Sky shook her head and spoke softly.  “We only spent a short time together.  He doesn’t even know me.”  She frowned over her shoulder at her sister.  “He doesn’t know that I hate to cook, or that my idea of a great Saturday is watching MMA at home with cold beers and pizza.”

“Is that what you’re worried about?  That he’ll see the real you and not want it?”

“I just…I just don’t know what his deal breakers are.”

“He has none.”  Both Sky and Shy turned at the masculine voice that entered the conversation. 

Dressed in his winter camo BDUs, Leto stood hulking in the doorway.

Smiling, Shy crossed to her mate and tiptoed as he lowered his head and captured her lips in a passionate kiss
before beaming and reaching for their son. 

Sky watched in envy before
Leto finally lifted his adoring eyes from his family and addressed her.  “Walkers have no deal breakers because there isn’t anything about our Angels that we are not only willing, but eager, to accept.  York more so than anyone else.”

Sky knew it must pain
Leto to speak favorably of York considering their history, so for him to do so now meant a great deal.

“He’s waited for you. 
Searched
for you.  He’s wanted his mate more than he’s wanted anything else in his life.”  Leto crossed to the window holding Lyon and scowled out at York.  “Christ, give the guy a break.  It’s been two weeks.  He can’t go much longer without eating or drinking.”

Shock laced Sky’s voice
. “What?”

“You didn’t tell her,” humor was evident in
Leto’s tone.

“No.” 
Shy shook her head.  “I didn’t want to sway her decision.”

“What do you mean he hasn’t had anything to eat or drink?
  It’s been two weeks.  He’d be dead if…”  Worry hit hard and had her mouth suddenly going dry.

“It’s part of the affliction,”
Leto explained.  “He’ll forego eating, drinking, hell even sleeping until he’s fully claimed you.  I’m certain he visits Dr. Houlton nightly to receive nutritional supplements and to be drugged to sleep, but it’s not the same and it certainly can’t last much longer.  He’s like an addict going through withdrawal.  The only thing that’ll make him better is you.”

“For that to be true, he’d have to be addicted to me,”
she scoffed.  “Besides, he’s
already
claimed me.” She lifted a hand to the halo around her neck.

“No.  He hasn’t.  He’s bound you.  That’s only part of it.  He needs to…”
Leto flushed and turned to Shy.

Smiling,
Shy sidled up to her husband, hugging her Walker’s waist over her large belly while eyeing her sister.  “He needs to consummate
while
binding you with his halo or sometime after gifting it to you.  Otherwise, you’re not truly his.”

Sky paced to the window and stared
out at her Walker.  He did look tired and maybe a little wane.  She knew the feeling.  She hadn’t slept much either and her appetite was non-existent.  She’d been queasy each morning as the first thoughts that greeted her were of York.  She feared chasing him off, but she feared accepting him even more.  If she let him in, he’d only hurt her.  Wouldn’t he? 
There was only one way to find out. 
Turning with a renewed vigor, she stalked to the door, snagging her coat from where it hung on a hook.

Exiting the front door
of Shy and Leto’s cabin, crisp winter air assailed her and temporarily stole her breath.  Ignoring it, she tromped down the few stairs and toward York, who was already making powerful strides toward her.

***

Watching Sky exit the cabin, York knew what he’d do before he even took his first step toward her.  He’d given her time, but it had been a mistake.  She didn’t need time. She needed him!  For weeks, she’d tormented him.  They’d spent the days staring at each other, her from the safety of Leto and Shy’s home, and him from the cover of the forest.  It irked him that Leto was the one to provide a roof and protection for his mate.  Of all the Walkers, why did it have to be Leto?  Poetic justice he supposed, but eating up the ground to get to his Sky, he was done allowing another to care for his mate.

He wanted her home, back at Apex, but knew he’d relocate to
StoneCrow in a heartbeat if his Angel wished to live closer to her sister.  There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, now he just had to prove it.

***

Sky shrieked when York finally reached her and instantly scooped her off her feet and turned to stalk with her towards the manor.  “We need to
talk.
  What are you trying to do to me?” she yelled.

His response to her question was simple. 
“I’m trying to love you, Sky.”

“Put me down, damn it!”

He ignored her, stalking through the trees that thinned the closer they got to the manor.

She kicked her legs as he tromped through the snow, sinking  to his knees in some spots.  She wondered if he’d lose his footing and drop her.

“
I just wanted to talk.  I’m not giving in.  Where are you taking me?  Put me down before I…”  She didn’t know what she’d do.

“I’m taking you to our suite,”
he replied calmly.  “I knew you’d want to be closer to your sister.  They’re securing us a cabin.  For now, we’ll stay at the manor.”

“W-what about Apex?”

“My home is where you are.  You want to be here, so I want to be here.”

She let the words sink in and was dazed that he’d give up his life so easily for her.  “Put me down,” she whispered.

He didn’t respond but quickened his pace until he hit a plowed road that ran just behind the manor. 

YORK!” she shrieked.  “Put.  Me.  Down!  You can’t just manhandle me like this.”

“Yes.” He didn’t look at her.  His eyes were fixed the manor with a fierce determination.  “I can.”

“Well you shouldn’t!”

His lips tweaked. “More of your threats, my heart?”

“Stop calling me that!”
She pushed at the wall of his chest with no result.  “And no!  I’m done threatening you.”  She stilled and crossed her arms over her chest, turning her head to avoid his amused gaze.  “You’re too thick-headed to understand a threat when you hear or see one.”

The statement earned her an outright laugh that died just as quickly at her next words.

“I meant you shouldn’t manhandle me because I…” she swallowed hard.  “I didn’t want to rain on Shy’s parade, but…”  The next words left her in a rush, “I think I might be pregnant.”

Chapter 27

York’s feet stuttered to a halt.  For long seconds the only sound was the whistling wind that blew crystalline snow across the quiet Estate.
  Sky was afraid to look at him.  She was worried about his reaction to the news.

“W-what did you say?”  He stared at the side of her face, willing her to look at him.  He noticed when her eyes welled with tears, her jaw working furiously.

“I said you can’t manhandle me because of the baby.”  She shook her head, seeming angry as her voice dropped to whisper. “I’m pregnant, York. 
You
got me pregnant,” her tone was accusatory.  “I was supposed to start last week.  I took a test.  Just one.  It could be wrong, but…”

York’s heart, which had stopped at the revelation, now thundered in his chest. 
Pregnant?  A child?  MY child!
  Elation filled him.  He’d done it!  He’d found his Angel, mated her, and had forged a family!  It was all he’d ever wanted in life, and now it was his.  It was all his. 
She
was his! 

He dropped to his knees and Sky shrieked, throwing her arms around his neck and clinging to him.  When she realized he wasn’t going to drop her, she attempted to wrestle out of his arms.  “Let me go, damn it!”

Still stunned, York could only blink as he knelt, slack-jawed, still trying to absorb Sky’s revelation.  It wasn’t until she emitted a frustrated sob that he turned his attention to her and realized she didn’t appear to share in his glorious jubilation.

“Sky?”

She punched at his chest as tears streamed down her cheeks.  “Put me down, you…you…you
idiot
!”

“What’s wrong, my heart?” York set her feet on the ground and steadied her hips before releasing her.  On his knees, his head was level with her chest.  “You aren’t happy with the news?”

“Happy with the news?” She spun on him.  “I just met you!  We slept together
once
!  I can’t have your baby.  I lost my apartment!  I don’t have clothes, food, a place to sleep, and yet I’m carrying a child!”  Tears were flowing freely.  “I’m not ready for this.  I just wanted…   I just wanted more…
time
!”

Distressed at his
Angel’s tears, York’s expression darkened at her words.  “You are mine, Sky.  My food is your food; my home is your home.  I’ll care for you
and
our child.”

“Okay, Mr. All-The-Right-Answers,” she swiped angrily at her tears.  “What about time, oh great Wizard!  Have you got anything in your bag of tricks that can give me that?”

“Sky.” He reached for her and pulled her onto his now upraised knee, ignoring her struggling.  “I know you’re not yet certain of my claiming, but
I am
.  You belong with me.  I am more certain of that than I am the sun will rise tomorrow.”  He lifted a hand to brush tears off her cheek.  “I understand your fear of trusting what you don’t know or understand, but trust in me.  Trust that
I
know and understand.”  His chest puffed as his eyes hardened.  “I am strong enough to protect you, and I will do so for both you and my child.  I will never stop, I will never tire. No animal or man on earth can keep me from my duties to you and our family.”

Sky’s heart melted a little at his words.  She shouldn’t take it out on him, she knew.  It took two to
tango
after all, but she was afraid, and she hated being afraid.  Her natural reaction to fear was to pinpoint a source, blame it, and then avoid it.  In this case, there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about the fact that she was pregnant from her Skin Walker. 

My Skin Walker
.  The thought had her heart warming.  He was hers!  He’d even admitted as much.  All she had to do was trust.

She stopped struggling in his arms to frown at her hands.  “I’m not Shy,
ya know?”  Not sure where that had come from, she felt her cheeks flame.

“I-I know.”  York used a strong finger to tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes.

“James told me that you…
wanted
Shy.”  She shook her head. “I’m not her, York.  I’m nothing like her.  She’s soft and feminine and sweet.  I’m…”

“My heart,” he supplied, surprising her.

“You want someone who obeys your commands,” she countered before she lost the courage to give him the out, “someone who is willing to let you do all the dirty work.  That’s not me.”  She sighed, wishing it was.  “We might be twins, but I’ve spent my entire life in her shadow.  She went to college, I didn’t.  She got the great internship, and I got a job at a bar.  She’s always put together, and I’m a friggin’ mess.”  Her expression hardened, “And I like it that way.  I don’t want to be her, because I’m not!  I’m me. 
Sky
!  I don’t want to dress like a girl all the time.  I like going out for beers and yes, sometimes I even pick fights with people twice my size.  It’s fun!” 

She lost some of her steam when her hand settled on her belly
. “Well, I guess I won’t be doing those last two anytime soon, but you get my point.”  She lifted tear-filled eyes to meet his.  “This is it, York.”  She swiped a hand down the front of her. “This is the best it’s gonna get.  Messy hair, bad temper, foul mouth, late nights, and even later mornings.  I am
so
not a morning person, and I make no apologies for any of it.”  She glared up at him. “I’m not what you want, and I’m not about to fall in love with someone who would rather have my sister.  I’m.  Not.  Her!  I’m…I’m a…,” she laughed around her tears, “I’m a friggin’ mess, York!  You don’t want this.  You can’t possibly want this, and I don’t want to be left heart-broken and on my ass in a few months when you realize I’m not what you were hoping for.  You needed more time just as much as I did.”

“Listen to
me.”  He adjusted her until she was straddling him with her legs wrapped around his waist.  One strong hand shelved her ass while the other gripped her chin and forced her gaze to lock with his. “And know my words are the truth. I did not want Shy.  I wanted my mate.  I wanted
you. 
All those things you see as flaws are perfect imperfections to me, because they are what make you mine alone.  I don’t want you to be like the other Angels.  I enjoy your quirks and your ragged edges.  I don’t want predictable, and it fucking fascinates me that I never know what’s going on in that beautiful little head of yours.  I wanted someone to make me whole, someone I could call my own and create a family with.  That person is you, Sky.  Don’t ever doubt your significance, because you are my universe.  I am grateful to Shy for accepting my Commander, and because without her, I’d have never met you, but my affinity ends there.  My affection for any other living being pales in comparison to the love and devotion I feel for you.  Take the love you have for your twin and multiply by it by a thousand, and you still wouldn’t be close to the love I feel for you.  I call you my heart, not just as an endearment, but because that’s what you are to me.  Without you I cannot breathe, I cannot live.  And without you…I wouldn’t want to.”

Sky giggled as she swiped at her tears.

“What’s so funny?”

“You said love,” her smile faltered.  “You can’t love me, York, because you don’t really know me.”

He growled his dissent. “My heart knows you.”  His brow furrowed. “I have always loved you, Sky, and I always will.”  His frown broke as he chuffed a laugh.  “When I first saw you at that bar in the Philippines, when I realized you weren’t Shy,” he shook his head.  “I thought to myself; that woman is as strong as iron.  You were fearless and determined.  You commanded the room and my respect from the moment I laid eyes on you.”  He smiled, “I knew then that you were mine, just as I know it now, and I’m willing to risk my heart on the chance that you’ll want it.  I don’t care what you say. I’m keeping you, Sky.”

It was her turn to smile as she punched him in the arm
. “You have to!  You filled me with a baby.  I’m not raising him on my own.”

“Him?”

Sky laughed at the awe in York’s expression.  “Well, I don’t know for sure.  I just hope it’s a boy.  He and Shy’s baby will be like brothers.” 

When his hand slid up to caress her
abdomen, she placed her hand over his and asked, “What do you hope it is?”

York’s brows furrowed.
Looking up he pinned her with all seriousness.  “
Happy.”

She remembered his revelation
of having been discarded by his parents.  She understood his fear.  Lifting a finger she forced his chin up until it was even with hers.  “You’re going to marry me, I hope you know that.”

A beaming smile c
racked his stern demeanor.  “Yes!”  It didn’t sound like a response, but rather more of an exclamation.

“And you’re going to love me and our baby for the rest of our lives.  Do you understand?”

His smile broadened, and she felt his arms around her tighten by a fraction.  “Yes!”

“And in seven months
, when I’m the size of a house and moody, you’re going to rub my feet and lie to me and tell me I’m the most exquisite woman you’ve ever seen.”

He shook his head and her heart stuttered.

“It won’t be a lie, my heart.”

Her fear
vanished, and she leaned up to brush her lips lightly against his before blinking up at him “But first…” she smiled wickedly, “you owe me a proper claiming.”

Instantly, his expression darkened with undisguised lust.  His chest began to rumble in that contented cat way as he
hoisted her into his arms and made quickly for the manor and their suite.