“Honey?” She looked up at him. Even to him, his voice sounded sort of strangled. “You’re nearly naked. I mean, I love it, but a man needs to be warned when a goddess steps in the room with him. You might kill him.”
She giggled, and he smiled at her. Of all the giggles ever made, he’d bet this one was the best one ever. Taking her into his arms, he held her to him as he kissed her, backing her to the bed as he went. He wanted her, and figured that this was as good a time as any to show her that she could dress and undress without much effort.
“You knew this? You have no idea how hard it was for me to reach the stupid buttons on that dress.” He told her that he would have helped. “You would have ripped all the buttons off, then I would have had to spend an hour just to find them. Then sew them on. I don’t know if you know how to sew or not, but you can bet your sweet ass that—”
“You think I have a sweet ass?” She smacked him on the chest. “And you’re right about Mom’s dress. It was safer the way you did it. But I don’t want to talk about my mom, dresses, or Joey. He’s in good hands, by the way. We just might not get him back.”
“I know. And for now, I’m all right with that.” She smiled up at him. “Are you going to talk all night, or are you going to make love to your wife? If it’s the first one, I need to get something on. Like a sweatshirt and some joggers. I want to be warm.”
Tyler kissed her. He was going to warm her up if it was the last thing he did. But when she broke it off, kissing him on his chest, then his nipples, Tyler held onto the bed post when she got down on her knees. Swallowing three times, not sure that he was breathing, he moaned loudly when she rubbed her soft cheek on his cock.
“I’ve thought of nothing but taking you in my mouth for a couple of days now.” He nodded, feeling like his head was on a string and that was the only way that it was moving. “I’m going to rock your world.”
“You— Holy jingle bells.”
Tyler lost his hold on his climax as soon as she wrapped her warm lips over him and then took him deep inside of her mouth. He was never going to survive, he thought. His wedding night, and they were going to find him dead on the floor with an unexplained huge grin on his face.
Chapter 6
Jazzie stretched and her body hurt. Smiling, she looked over at Tyler and watched him sleeping. They had made love, sometimes desperately and violently, all night long. And today she’d bet they would both pay for it. Glancing at the clock, she wondered what the rest of the household was doing and slipped out of the bed. Going into the bathroom, she looked at her poor abused body.
They were like badges of honor, she thought. Each place Tyler had put his hands, there were marks of his fingers. She’d never thought of them as that before. When she’d been hit by Ryan, she— Jazzie scolded herself. Thinking about that man today of all days wasn’t going to work for her.
The water was getting warmed up by the time Tyler joined her. She was glad that she’d brushed her teeth first thing, because when he kissed her, she wanted him to taste her freshness and not her morning breath.
“Have I told you that you worry too much?” She laughed when he pressed his thumb over the skin between her eyes. “I want you to be happy, not thinking of things that we can’t control. At least for the day. You and I are going to shower together, eat some breakfast, then we’re going to go and see my brother. He has a problem.”
“What sort of problem?” Tyler brushed his teeth and she slipped into the stall. The water, almost too hot, made all her tight and sore muscles relax, and she moaned. “Oh, Tyler, this is amazing.”
“I have something for you.” He got under the spray with her, getting his hair wet before he smiled at her. “I was going to give it to you last night, but you made me forget. Hell, I forgot my name a few times there.”
She smiled at him, and when he handed her the little blue box, she just stared at it. Whatever was in it was going to be really expensive, and she was afraid she’d lose it. When he pulled her to him, even getting the box wet, Jazzie asked if it could wait until they were dry.
“No. Because if we do that, I’m going to forget again and you’re going to never get it. It happens every time that I’m close to you. I forget everything but you.” He opened it for her and slipped the ring on her finger. “It took me forever to find the one that I love. And one I thought would look good on you.”
It was a ring, but that was really understating what it was. The jewels on it were their birthstones—Tyler’s, Joey’s, and her own. And in the middle of them was the stone for November—for the wedding day, he told her.
“It’s beautiful.” He told her how he had plans to get her a bracelet with the birthstones of the children they had, or brought into their lives, put on it. But this day, the first of their life together, had to have its own piece. “I just don’t know what to say to you. I’ve never had anything this lovely before. Thank you so much.”
“I love you.”
They washed up, touching and kissing each other. Jazzie had come to realize that the entire family did that, touched a great deal. And hugged. She loved her family, but she didn’t remember the last time she’d gotten a hug from them. She wasn’t going to think of when that man—the way she planned on thinking about Ryan from now on—had been killed.
They were both dressed and in the kitchen when Caleb came by. And like the rest of the family would do, he sat down and was given breakfast—bigger than hers, but she was fine with that. The fact that they ate all the time like it was going to be their last meal was because they were wolves, and burned more energy. But she thought it had a little to do with their childhood.
They’d been poor. Kelley had told her that they’d been more than just poor for money—they’d barely had enough to keep them in matches to keep the lights on. She wasn’t sure what that meant—he was forever saying something like that—but she did get that they’d had very little when the boys were children.
“Then we met a very nice gentleman named Cartwright, and he became our friend. More like a family member, I guess. The boys, they all thought of him as their granddaddy. And me and my own missus, we felt like he needed us as much as we did him. He was just a good soul.” He told her how he’d lost his own mate, and that Caleb had nearly killed him when he’d jumped in front of their old truck. “He was trying to join his missus. His heart was plum broken up. And so that boy of mine, you know what he did? Went over there and befriended the man, never mentioning that he’d been the one that nearly hit him. He’d be there for about all meals, and when he could, he’d take them boys fishing so that we’d have some meat on the table too. He left us, all of us, all his millions. And Caleb, who he’d taken the biggest shine to, he left him a billionaire. Can you believe that?”
While Tyler and Caleb talked, she went to pick up Joey. It had snowed overnight, and she drove slowly. She’d been told that she was an immortal, but didn’t want to test it. So as soon as she got to the house, she had to rest—it had taken that much out of her.
Joey was in an outfit that she’d never seen before and asked about it. Sheepishly, Kelley told her that they’d gotten him a bunch of outfits when they’d gone shopping, and had wanted to make sure that they got the right size. She might have believed that if there hadn’t been several bags from the baby store waiting for her to pack into the car.
“What will you give him for Christmas if you have given him everything now? Maybe you should keep a few of these so that he’ll have something to tear at.” Kelley flushed and so did Sara. “What have you done?”
“Who knew that there were so many things for little guys to wear? We have so many here that it’s doubtful that he’ll get to wear them. Unless someone is willing to change his outfits several times a day. And while I have noticed that he does get messy, we still have gone a little overboard.” Jazzie just laughed at Sara. “I have to admit, I got him several pairs of boots too, in different sizes so he’ll never be without any to wear.”
“I dear
ly love you two. You couldn’t be better grandparents to our son.” Sara told her that she loved her as well. And Kelley hugged her tightly, telling her that he was so happy that she’d found his Tyler that he could just about bust.
She decided as she was buckling Joey in that she needed to go shopping. Her mom and sister were going to be there for one more day, and she wondered if they would go with her. They were both still sleeping, Quinn said, but she’d go with her to catch some sales. In the end, all the woman, including Sara, joined them on the hunt for a bargain. Mom and Ash joined them a little later.
Tyler contacted her twice, and both times he told her to have fun. But the second call, he sounded tense, like he didn’t want her to know that he’d been hurt or something. When Addie said her name, they moved to a changing room while Mom watched over Joey and she spoke quietly to her.
“Tyler is hurt but not badly. There were some things going on with the pack that needed Caleb’s attention. And since Gabe is at the hospital, which they both knew that he would be, Tyler went with him, knowing that there was a chance they could both be hurt. And in case you didn’t know, Gabe is Caleb’s enforcer. It was a difficult choice for him to make, too, being a physician.” She asked her if she should go home. “I’d not. Tyler is in good health except for a few minor wounds. And the ones that aren’t, they’d heal before you got home. I’d just enjoy my day with everyone and let the men—not a sexist thing—but I’d let them sort it out. Trust me, you’ll be thought of as a hero if you can keep Quinn here instead of at home fussing over her mate.”
She noticed then that Quinn was extra talkative, and she was nervous as well. But Jazzie believed Addie. Jazzie also had a great deal of faith in Tyler. If he needed her, she knew, he’d call her. And when she got home, she was going to smack him, then tell him to let her know when things might be bloody for him.
By lunch time they had made a huge dent in their shopping—or so she thought. Apparently, the things that Sara and Clare were buying were for the auction that was going to happen next Saturday. It was all to make Christmas baskets.
Each family on the list was going to get a full meal of food for the holiday. Not only that, but there were gift certificates that would be used for when the children were home for the long holiday without school. It was a splendid idea, Jazzie thought, and asked if she could help.
“I was dearly hoping you’d ask. My goodness. We have so many things to do and very little time to get it all done. Why, just making up the baskets for the auction is going to take a great deal of time. Then there are the baskets for the families after it’s over.” Jazzie said she was very organized. “Then you’re in charge of all the baskets. Thank you, child. You have helped me so much.”
When Sara walked away, Jazzie stood there. What the hell had just happened? All she meant to help with was setting up some chairs or even to help bring things to the homes. But to be in charge of all the baskets? That was a bit more than she thought she could do. Then she looked at Quinn, who was being told about what Jazzie was going to do. The look on her face, the pure happiness from Jazzie saying she’d do it—which, she really didn’t think she had—was enough for her to give it her best. And she was going to make them the best damned baskets anyone had ever seen.
After picking up a few things for Joey for Christmas—she thought that he’d have more than he would ever need with this family—she began making purchases for the auction. This was the first year for it, she’d been told—at least on this scale—and they were trying their best to raise enough to give everyone who needed it food.
The next time that Tyler contacted her, he was in a better mood and that made her feel better. She told him what they were doing and what she’d spent so far on it.
I know that this is going for a good cause. And my brothers and I have bought a new SUV for it to auction off. There will be a great many people there—even the vice-president is coming to buy a few things for it. And the clientele that Caleb and Clare know have some major bucks. She said that she had an idea to buy a baby bed and mattress for it. What a wonderful idea. I’m sure that there are a lot of people that could use something like that. Why don’t you buy an entire layette set? You know, dresser and changing table. A few nondescript clothes. Go on what you needed when you brought Joey home. That would be a fantastic thing to have there.
It might be expensive buying all that. I mean, at least a couple of thousand dollars. He told her to keep the receipts, and that way they could tell the people how much the package was worth. All right. I can do that. What about having it delivered? I mean, where would we put it?
You are so very clever. Have I told you lately how much I love you? I do. And Mom has been storing things in a warehouse that Caleb owns. That’s where the auction is going to be held too. It’s clean and warm, and we should be able to get everything in there.
Also, if you ever do something like this again, and not tell me, I’m going to make you hurt worse than whatever happened to you today.
They were both laughing when they closed the connection. It was nice, being able to talk to someone this way. But she was still going to need a cell phone, just to send pictures to her mom and sister.
For supper they decided on something fancy. To Jazzie everything they ate was that way, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. When they were settled at a table, a private room no less, the men joined them, as well as all the children. Even Conrad and Harley were there, along with their helpers.
She took inventory of each child. Jazzie still had to get them gifts, and was surprised when each of women handed out lists of things that they needed and wanted, along with sizes and allergies. That was something that she’d not thought about—that someone might be allergic to something that was given them. Putting away her list, she held hands with Tyler as everyone ordered and talked.
They were the loudest group she’d ever been around, and she thought that perhaps they tried to outdo each other when it came to telling stories. But she’d have it no other way. This, she knew, was what having a large family was all about.
~*~
Glenda was sort of worried about the court appearance that she had coming up. Having been put in jail twice and not having a pot to piss in, she knew that things could very well not go her way. That didn’t mean that she wasn’t going to get little Ryan from the bitch, but it might be a little longer before she was actually able to leave the cell. She’d not been overly nice in that either.
Just yesterday she’d hit one of the other inmates with a container of milk. Glenda thought that they had it coming. The man had been moaning and going on about his fucking turkey dinner since he’d gotten it. And in great detail he’d told her what he had on his two plates of food. How the potatoes were still hot, the gravy not lumpy at all. The green beans had tiny bits of ham in them. The thick slices of warm homemade bread tasted like bits of heaven to him. And when he started to describe the slices of pie, both of them, she picked up her container of milk and banged him right in the head with it. Milk, of course, went all over his dinner.
Her laughing at his ruined meal got her into trouble too. And when he’d been brought a whole new dinner, complete with the things that he’d already eaten, she pitched a fit of enormous proportions. That was when they came into her cell, took her cold sandwich, and put her in solitary confinement.
She had nothing in there with her. No cot to lie on, no toilet to use. There wasn’t a bit of privacy even if she had a commode. This was cruel and mean. She knew that there was a term for it, she’d heard it a million times, but she couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that they’d had two turkey dinners and she’d not been allowed either of them.
“Cruel and unusual.” Her voice echoed around the little room she was in and throughout the room that the cell was in. “Though I don’t know why that’s the name of the thing. For as far as I can see, that’s all the fucking police are is cruel and unusual. Fuckers.”
She was still trying to come up with a word
that she thought was better, or worse, depending on how they looked at it. Glenda loved to shock people, sometimes even kids. Those were her best memories, when she had shocked kids. And at Halloween? Well, hell, that was her favorite time of the year.
She’s lay in wait for them. And when they come up on her porch, she’d leap out at them, swinging an axe or something. One year she’d gotten a week in county when she fired a gun over their heads. And no matter how many times she’d told the police that she’d not hit them, they didn’t listen.
But, she only just realized, the kids hadn’t been by her house in a while. Even putting out a big bowl of the larger candy bars and having her light on hadn’t drawn them in. She knew they’d stopped coming after Ryan had left home, but it had been a few years before that, she thought. And that just sucked. They were taking her fun away, damn it.
The officer that had put her in the empty cell last night came toward her. He had his gun unsnapped, she noticed first, then he pulled a Taser out. This little shit meant business. Then when three more men, bigger than cars, came to where she was, Glenda decided that it might be in her best interest to mind what they said to her and not to hit. They’d be all too happy to use that shit on her, she thought. Keeping her mouth shut wasn’t her strong suit. Nothing was but being good at being a pain in the ass, her son had told her once. She knew that it wasn’t meant to be a nice thing, but Glenda had been happy as a lark for the rest of the week. The next time he saw her he was just as mean as he usually was, and she let him knock her around a bit. It gave him practice, she had thought, for when he had his own wife and kids.
“You’re going to behave yourself, or so help me, I’m going to use these on you until you shit yourself. Then I’m not going to give you any chance to change. Understand me?” She told him that she did, then called him a douche waffle. He laughed at her. “You’ll have to do better than that, Glenda. I’ve been in the service, and we heard that kind of shit every day. Now move to the front with your hands out.”
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