by S. E. Smith
Zoran was concerned by the distant sound to Abby’s voice. Ever since she got out of the shower she seemed to have withdrawn into a world of her own. He walked over to her and tilted her head back until she was forced to look at him. His breath caught at the deep sadness he saw there. Bending, he gently kissed her. He wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly against his body while he ran his hand up and down her back trying to give her comfort and reassurance.
Abby felt her body relax as Zoran held her. She wouldn’t let the depression of knowing their time was short ruin what time she did have. With a determined smile, Abby tilted her head back and gave Zoran a light kiss before pulling out of his arms. Grabbing his hand, she motioned for him to follow her.
Abby called out for Bo to follow as she led Zoran down the path to her workshop. She unlocked the double doors pushing them open so the light breeze could float through it.
Zoran stood still as he took in all the different colors as they flowed through the bright interior. Delicate flowers, birds, bowls, and other creatures including dragons were hanging, sitting, and spinning from every corner of the huge building. In the center was a magnificent piece standing almost three feet high. The beautiful sculpture was encased in clear glass, inside were small creatures with wings fluttering around delicate, brightly colored and intricately designed flowers. As Zoran moved closer to it, he could see what appeared to be tiny dragons floating in thin air.
He had never seen anything so beautiful. He looked at Abby as she tied a large cloth around her slim waist. He watched for the next two hours as Abby heated different color glass in a huge furnace then moved it around blowing and turning it over a smaller flame until more flowers appeared. Her slim fingers, twisting and turning as she moved, turned a molten liquid into flowers and tiny creatures. When she had a dozen little flowers, she moved to the glass enclosed case moving the figures inside a tiny opening and heating them until they stayed where she wanted them. He liked listening to her sing as she worked. She didn’t even seem to realize she was doing it or that he was even there as she became totally absorbed in her work.
Zoran was surprised when Abby began talking after being quiet for a while.
“I’ve been working on this piece for over six months now. I started it right after my grandfather died.” Abby began softly. “My grandmother and grandfather raised me after my mom decided raising a baby was too much effort.” Abby sighed. “I guess that isn’t right. My mom was young and had gotten in with the wrong crowd. My grandparents were very well-to-do in Los Angeles and thought moving here might help her. It didn’t. She had me when she was still a child herself. She, at least, recognized that and left me with my grandparents when I was a month old. My mom died from a drug overdose when I was two.”
Abby paused as she attached another flower. Glancing up at Zoran, she saw he was watching her intently as she talked, so she continued. “I had the best childhood any child could have. I had a whole mountain as a playground and two wonderful people who loved me very much. There was always music and laughter in the house. My grandmother started doing blown glass as a hobby to help her deal with the loss of my mom. Soon, my grandfather was doing it and between the two of them they started making money off of it. I was doing it by the time I could walk. Now, I enjoy being able to do it and make a comfortable living off of it. I consider it a gift from my grandparents.”
Abby turned as she heated a rod to close the small opening. She finished the piece at last. She would take pictures of it before she went up to the house and email it to her clients. She would need to schedule when they wanted it delivered. They said they would send their private jet to Shelby’s small airport so she could personally deliver it. Maybe she would need the time away to get her feelings under control. If she was lucky, she thought sadly, maybe Zoran would be gone before she returned. She didn’t know how she was going to have the strength to say goodbye to him without making a fool of herself.
“I’m finally done with this piece. If you have some things you would like to do, I can finish up here. I just need to take some pictures for my client and clean up. I can meet you up at the cabin later. I don’t think you’ve been to see Goldie yet.” Abby said with a teasing smile.
“Goldie?” Zoran frowned as he watched Abby shut down the furnace and start to pick up the scraps of glass on the work table.
Abby laughed as she held up her wrist and gently rubbed the gold band. “Goldie!”
Zoran chuckled as he walked down the path. He was going to check on his ship and check in with his brothers. He wanted to tell them he had mated. He knew they would be surprised. None of them thought they would ever settle down with just one woman. He especially never thought to do so. He could imagine their surprise. He never thought to name his symbiosis, either. It would have been like naming himself. That Abby affectionately called it ‘Goldie’ made him laugh.
“Kelan, how are thing?” Zoran asked as he stared at his brother.
“Well. Creon has information you will be interested in. He wants to meet with you as soon as we return. We are ahead of schedule and should be there as much as a day earlier. Trelon and his symbiosis have been playing with the engines again.” Kelan said with a grin.
Trelon and his symbiosis were always messing with something. His brother could never leave anything alone. He took a deep breath. He was reluctant to break the news of his mating to his brothers separately. He would rather tell them once he could introduce Abby to them. He didn’t know why he felt the need to wait, he just did. He wanted them to like and accept Abby for the beautiful woman she was. He talked to Kelan for another hour before breaking off. He realized he missed Abby. He would finish preparing his symbiosis for departure before he went to her. He couldn’t shake the feeling of fear that she would hate him after he did what he was planning.
Abby finished cleaning the workshop, took the needed pictures, emailed them from her cell phone, and prepared the packing material. She received a text stating a plane would arrive for her early the day after tomorrow after she explained she couldn’t leave before then. Edna was due back tomorrow and she needed to be there for Edna, Bo, and Gloria. Abby sent a confirmation. She had a feeling Zoran wasn’t going to be happy with her but realized she had no choice. She promised she would deliver and set the piece up. It was part of the price and she had already been paid. She still had her responsibilities and her reputation to maintain.
There was still plenty of light left and Abby knew she could always use the firewood so she decided to cut up the tree that had fallen by the barn. Abby was in the middle of chopping it up when the sound of a truck pulling up out front caused her to stop. Abby walked around to the front thinking that maybe Edna made it back sooner than she expected only to stop with a groan when she saw Clay climbing out of his Sheriff’s truck. This was the last thing she needed right now, she thought with dismay.
“Hey Clay, what brings you up to the mountains?” Abby asked setting the ax down to lean against the door to the barn. Taking off her gloves and wiping her hands on her jeans, she moved towards the cabin.
“You beautiful!” Clay said as he walked over and pulled Abby into his arms pressing a kiss to her surprised lips.
“Clay!” Abby flushed. She had never known him to be so aggressive before. “Seriously. Let me go.”
Clay laughed as he held Abby close to his body. “Abby, I’ve tried being patient. A man can only wait so long, you know.”
Abby felt a flush of unease fill her at his words. “Clay, I thought you understood. I like you but I don’t feel that way about you. I…”
Clay laid a finger against Abby’s lips. “Shush, all I’m asking is for a chance, Abby.”
Abby shook her head sadly. She knew she could never love him. Tears filled Abby’s eyes, she didn’t like hurting anyone or anything and she knew she was about to hurt Clay.
“Clay, I can’t give you false hope. I like you as a friend, nothing more.” Abby said softly.
Clay look
ed down into Abby’s eyes. His face tightened in anger. He spent the last four years trying to get Abby to notice him, to give him a chance, and she wouldn’t even try.
“Is there someone else?” Clay demanded angrily.
Abby tried to pull away but Clay tightened his arms around her, refusing to let her go. “Yes.”
“Who is he? How long?” Clay demanded hoarsely.
“You don’t know him. I just met him a few days ago.” Abby said trying not to hurt Clay anymore than she had too.
“That’s bullshit, Abby. A few days ago? Shit, you haven’t been off this mountain in over a week until yesterday! How could you have just met him if you haven’t left this damn mountain?” Clay asked roughly.
Abby frowned, “How could you know the last time I left the mountain? For that matter, how can you know every time I come into town and exactly where I am?”
“I know everything about you, Abby. For the past four years I’ve tracked every move you’ve made. I know when you go to a gallery showing and who you talk too, who you call, when you leave your mountain, everything, baby.” Clay said softly.
Abby felt a chill go down her spine. Clay was in the Marine’s Special Ops before he was hired four years ago as Sheriff of Shelby. She didn’t know much more except he had been discharged after his last tour. She figured it was just time for him to get out.
“Clay, please let go of me. You’re scaring me.” Abby said as she tried to get her hands between them.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me, baby. I just want to protect you. I love you, Abby. I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.” Clay said as he brushed a kiss along her forehead.
Abby began to struggle a little, stopping only when Clay grabbed her hair tightly in one fist. He brushed a kiss over her lips. “It will be good between us, Abby. You’ll see. You won’t remember anyone else but me.”
Abby shivered as Clay continued kissing her. She couldn’t move her head because of the grip he had on her hair. He held her close to his body with one of her legs between his and bent slightly back so she couldn’t knee him without falling first. She cried out in pain as he jerked her head to one side pressing a biting kiss to her neck. She fought the urge to gag when he ran his tongue up her neck and along her jaw. Surely, Zoran would come soon. If she could get to the gold bands on her wrists maybe she could somehow call him. He seemed to be able to communicate with them. As if the symbiosis could tell Abby needed help, the ones on her wrists moved up her arms.
Clay let out a yell when he felt a shock go through him. Jerking back away from Abby, he stared down at her in disbelief as he shook out his arms.
“What the hell was that?” Clay demanded furious.
“Clay, you need to leave. Right now. I apologize if you think I’ve been leading you on but I never tried to. I told you over and over I wasn’t interested. If you know what is good for you, you’ll leave right now.” Abby said moving back towards the cabin. If she could get away from him she would be okay.
“What. The. Hell. Was. That.” Clay said through clinched teeth.
“It’s a new personal protection device I picked up in New York.” Abby lied. “Like you said, it can sometimes be dangerous living alone in the mountains. Now, please leave.”
Clay took a step towards Abby just as Bo burst out of the path leading to the meadow barking excitedly. He glanced at Bo for a moment before backing towards his truck. He looked at Abby one more time before he slammed the door shut.
“It’s not over, Abby. You are mine and I keep what is mine.” Clay said as he put the truck into drive and pulled out spinning gravel as he went.
Abby sank to the ground shaking so badly she couldn’t stand any longer. She had never been so scared in her life. How could Clay know every move she made? She shivered as she realized what could have happened if she hadn’t been wearing the gold bands or Bo hadn’t come back to her. Abby fought tears as she tried to understand what Clay had told her. She no longer felt safe and the bad part was- she couldn’t call the local authorities.
Zoran gave Abby as much space as he could before his need to touch her overwhelmed him. Moving down the path, he watched as Bo took off at a run. He had grown attached to the little fur ball. He found it amusing how Bo never went anywhere without the odd little green ball in his mouth. Zoran had just reached the beginning of the path when the symbiosis on Abby sent a sharp warning out to him. Zoran froze as the breath was knocked out of him. He reached out, feeling Abby’s fear. He sensed the presence of another male near her. Letting out a loud roar, he fought to keep his body from shifting but the dragon sensed a danger to his mate and burst forth. He felt the shift come over him as he burst down the path leaping into the air. In moments, he was soaring high above the trees. He flew over Abby’s cabin, his sharp eyesight seeing her sitting on the ground with her arms around Bo. Turning his head, he looked around him for the danger he sensed. His gaze locked onto a transport similar to Abby’s moving at a high rate of speed down the winding road. Flying ahead, he landed and shifted moving into the shadows of the trees alongside the road. He wanted to see what had scared his mate and determine how much danger there was from the male. He watched as the transport slowed to make a turn. His eyes narrowed in on the man behind the wheel of the transport. Breathing in deeply, he drew the man’s scent into his body. He would never forget the scent and if the man ever came near Abby again he would know. He let a low growl roll out as he recognized it as the man who kissed Abby yesterday when she went to town. He breathed a stream of dragon fire, curving it through the air straight towards the truck. The almost translucent symbol of a dragon appeared on the hood of the truck. The man had been marked. If he came close to Abby, Zoran would kill him.
Zoran turned, shifting, as he moved back into the shadows. With a quick swept of his powerful wings, he flew straight up into the air until he reached the path between the meadow and the cabin. Feelings of self-doubt filled him. What if Abby’s fear was of him discovering her with another man, not of the man himself? A bright flame of anger and jealousy flared inside him. It would not matter. He had claimed her. He had marked her with his scent. Jealousy turned his vision red at the thought of Abby wanting to be with another male. Zoran leaped up to the porch, throwing the door open as he fought his own fear of losing her.
Abby jumped when the door of the cabin swung back so hard it bounced off the doorframe. Zoran stood in the door outlined by the late afternoon light. Abby wiped frantically at the tears she couldn’t seem to stop. She was shaking so bad she felt like she was going to shatter.
Zoran stood for a moment taking in Abby’s tear-stained cheeks and her pale complexion. She looked so delicate, so fragile, so vulnerable. When she raised a shaking hand to wipe away the tears Zoran’s heart melted. He could smell her fear. Breathing deeply, Zoran’s eyes glittered a dark gold as he smelled the man’s scent on her.
“Oh Zoran.” Abby whispered moving towards him. She wrapped her arms around him, afraid her shaking legs would give out at any moment. “I was so scared.”
Zoran held Abby tightly as she buried her face in his chest sobbing out her fear. Zoran gently picked Abby up in his arms, shutting the door with one foot, he moved towards the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed holding Abby tightly while he rocked her back and forth until she stopped shaking.
“Tell me.” Zoran said frustrated.
Abby wasn’t sure what Zoran just said but she guessed he wanted to know what happened. She owed him that considering she just soaked his brand new shirt. Laying her head on his chest, she let out a shaky breath before she began.
“Four years ago, a man named Clay Butler moved to Shelby. He was a decorated soldier and considered a hero. The people of Shelby elected him as Sheriff. A sheriff is our local law. They are there to protect people. Not long after he started, he began following me around whenever I went to town. I thought it was kind of funny. He is a good ten to twelve years older than I am but it wasn’t only that. I just wasn’t i
nterested. He didn’t push it too much when my granddad was with me but he was a little more aggressive when I was alone so I didn’t go often without gramps. Anyway, about six months ago, right after my grandfather died, he started pursuing me a little more aggressively. I never encouraged him. I told him I wasn’t interested but he always seemed to know when I left the mountain. He would show up at the post office when I did, or the grocery store, or the hardware store. It didn’t matter. He would be there. I just thought it was strange that he always knew where and when I was there. Yesterday, when I went to town, he showed up at the post office. I could tell he was mad when Mrs. Patterson mentioned I had received some men’s clothing in the mail. He asked me who they were for and I told him it was none of his business. He took the packages off the counter before I could and I didn’t want to make a fuss in front of Mrs. Patterson.” Abby looked at Zoran with red-rimmed eyes. “She’s the biggest gossip in town.”
Zoran pulled Abby’s head back down to his chest. He could feel the rage beginning to build as he thought of what she was about to say. “Clay asked me again when we were outside who I was buying the clothes for. Before I could say anything, he grabbed me and kissed me. Mrs. Patterson came out of the post office and caught him. He just grinned like it was natural for him to be kissing me. I told him again to leave me alone.”
Abby rubbed her face in Zoran’s chest, drawing in a deep breath before she continued. “He pulled up a little while ago. He grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. He told me he loves me. He said he knows every move I make, who I talk to, who I meet. He said I was his. He said he keeps what is his. I told him to leave, that I had met someone else.”
Abby drew in a shuddering breath, fighting back a sob. How did her life get so screwed up so fast? She tried to keep a low profile. She didn’t go asking for trouble. She just wanted to be left alone.