by Maya Banks
“I’m tired. I think I would like nothing more than to go to sleep with my mates.”
Jericho raised his head and stared into her eyes. “Your mates would like that very much.”
Hunter ran his fingers down the curve of her arm and around the swell of her breasts. “And who says we have to sleep all the time?”
She caught his lips with hers. “I like the way you think.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“How long is it going to take?” Hunter asked with a scowl. “And why the hell did she ask us to wait out here?”
Aliyah smiled at him and patted him on the arm. “I imagine the poor midwife was thoroughly intimidated by you and Jericho hovering over Kaya like you’d cut off the arm of the person who dared touch her.”
“We aren’t that bad,” Jericho muttered.
Duncan snickered but didn’t move from his perch against the wall.
“Like you’ll be any better when Aliyah is pregnant,” Hunter said in Duncan’s direction.
“You two have lost any and all good sense,” Duncan said in disgust.
Aliyah checked her watch again. “Mama and Papa should be here soon. Oh, I can’t wait for them to see her. I don’t think Mama has stopped crying since I called her.”
Hunter wished he could share Aliyah’s enthusiasm, but the fact was he wasn’t as excited over Kaya’s parents’ arrival, and he knew Kaya was scared. He would have honestly preferred for the reunion to take place after the birth of their child. Until then he wanted to keep her as happy and as stress-free as possible.
Jericho sighed impatiently and dug his hands into his pockets. “Do you think something’s wrong? This was supposed to be a routine exam. Shouldn’t be taking this long.”
Hunter frowned. They’d arranged to take Kaya to a midwife after much argument from her. They’d sworn the midwife would do nothing more than examine her, offer advice, make sure she was as healthy as she needed to be. Her secret would be safe, and moreover, they’d never allow anyone to take her from them.
It was a vow they gave often in an attempt to reassure her. Though she’d forgiven the circumstances that kept them away from her for so long, she hadn’t forgotten the terror she’d lived.
Finally the door to the tiny exam room opened and Kaya stepped out, her cheeks blooming with a smile. Her gaze instantly found Jericho and Hunter, and her smile widened as she hurried over to them.
“I got to hear her heartbeat,” she exclaimed. “Oh, Jericho, it was wonderful. The midwife had this little machine, and she put it on my stomach, and it made the most amazing sound.”
Hunter smiled at her excitement and reached out for her hand, unable to keep from touching her. She responded by leaning into him. He didn’t even know if she was cognizant of doing it, but it thrilled him all the same how she instinctively sought him out. Somehow, he and Jericho hadn’t lost her trust. God knew they’d deserved to. They’d made mistakes with her, mistakes that almost cost them everything, and yet her trust in them was whole.
“Is everything okay with the baby?” Jericho asked anxiously. “And with you? She told you that you should be eating more, didn’t she? She probably thinks we’re not taking very good care of you.”
Kaya laughed and reached up to touch Jericho’s cheek which immediately halted his tirade. “I’m fine. Our daughter is fine.”
“Is that all?” Hunter asked, directing her attention back to him.
“Well, she did mention my weight.”
“I knew it,” Jericho muttered.
“But she said I was strong and healthy and that she couldn’t foresee any problems with the pregnancy.”
“Good,” Hunter said in satisfaction. “Jericho and I can certainly fatten you up.”
Kaya blushed and squeezed his hand, her fingers curling around his in a little flutter. Her gaze went to where Aliyah and Duncan stood across the room, and her hand began to shake in his.
“Relax, honey,” Hunter murmured soothingly. “You don’t have to do this, you know. We can go back to the cabin. You don’t have to see them at all.”
She shook her head. “No, I want to see them. I’m just scared.”
He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t be scared. Jericho and I will be with you the entire time.”
She looked up at him, her eyes shining. “I know. I love you.”
He dropped a kiss on her lips then turned her toward the door. It had been agreed that the reunion would be held at Duncan and Aliyah’s. That way if Kaya needed to escape, they could simply leave and return to the cabin, and there would be no awkwardness of expecting her parents to leave.
Jericho took her hand as they walked outside to get into their vehicles. The breeze blew over them, lifting her hair at the ends. She turned her face into the sun and closed her eyes, and Hunter was struck by how utterly beautiful she was. And she was his.
He found himself praying when he thought he didn’t believe in prayer anymore. Just a whisper to God to help him to love and keep her and their daughter from harm. If the sun shone a little brighter over her upturned face, he was sure it was a coincidence.
A brief memory flashed across his mind. Rebeccah smiling, her face soft with love. For a moment he grabbed on and held tight…and then gently let it go, watching as it was carried away on the waves of his past.
It didn’t hurt so much anymore. The shadows slowly dissipated. For the first time he looked to his future with such hope and joy that his heart positively ached.
“Thank you,” he whispered, and felt the tight bands around his chest loosen and fall away. Freedom was such a sweet, sweet gift. Love? That he be granted a second chance to love and be loved was more than he could have ever asked for. He was going to grab it and hang on for all he was worth.
Kaya paced the interior of Aliyah’s living room despite repeated pleas from Jericho and Hunter to sit down. They worried, she knew, but she positively could not sit down. Not when her stomach bubbled like a cauldron. It was all she could do not to go to the bathroom and be violently ill.
“They’re here,” Aliyah said softly.
Kaya froze, her legs trembling. Jericho and Hunter were immediately beside her, their touches light and reassuring.
Aliyah went out, closing the door behind her. Kaya appreciated the buffer because she was terrified. These people were strangers. And yet they were her parents. They loved her. Aliyah had told her how they suffered, how they all suffered after she’d disappeared in Alaska.
“Are you all right?” Jericho asked.
She nodded then stiffened all over when the front door opened.
A young-looking woman with long, dark hair stepped hesitantly into the living room. Her gaze locked with Kaya’s, and tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
Kaya stared in wonder. She knew this woman. It was the woman from her vision, the one who had placed Kaya’s daughter in her arms. Her mother.
“Mama,” she whispered.
“Kaya!”
With a broken sob, her mother moved forward, her arms outstretched. Kaya stumbled into them, absorbing the warm feeling of homecoming. She inhaled deeply, comforted by the familiar scent.
Her mother stroked her hair as Kaya’s face lay buried in her neck. Oh, there was nothing better than a mother’s hug. So much love, unfettered acceptance. So much that she had missed over the long years.
“Kaya, my daughter,” her mother whispered softly against her hair. “At last, you’ve come back to us.”
Kaya pulled away to stare at her through watery eyes. “I tried. I came back as soon as I could. I waited and waited.”
A strangled noise came from behind her mother, and she looked to see a large man standing just inside the doorway, tears streaking unabashedly down his face.
“Papa?”
He held out his arms for her and she ran forward, suddenly spurred by memories of doing the same thing when she was a girl. He’d catch her and whirl her around, a huge grin on his face. Only now he gathered
her against his massive chest almost as if he were afraid she’d disappear.
“My baby,” he said brokenly. “I’m so sorry we weren’t there, little one. You don’t know what it did to me when Aliyah told us what had happened. I’ve died a thousand deaths knowing my little girl needed me and I wasn’t there.”
Any anger or sadness lifted and was carried away as love filled her heart. “You’re here now,” she whispered.
He scooped her up in his big arms and hugged her tight against him. When he finally put her down, she was once more enfolded into her mother’s embrace.
“How beautiful you’ve grown.”
Her mother’s words hummed gently over her hair, and Kaya closed her eyes as she stood between the two people who had given her life.
Her father cupped her cheek and kissed her before pulling away and turning his attention to Hunter and Jericho. His gaze held both curiosity and concern. Kaya stepped back into the shelter of the two men and smiled tentatively at her parents.
Her father held out his hand to Jericho. “I’m Lawrence Carver, Kaya’s father. This is my wife, Merry.”
Jericho returned his shake. “Jericho Hartley.” He nodded at Merry when she offered a smile.
Lawrence turned to offer his hand to Hunter as well.
“Hunter Caldwell,” Hunter said grimly.
“Our family is growing,” Merry said, her eyes glistening with tears.
Jericho stared at her in disbelief. Just like that, she accepted his and Hunter’s place in Kaya’s life. There was subtle wariness in Lawrence’s expression, but nothing in his body language suggested he took exception to either him or Hunter.
Kaya took his hand then reached for Hunter’s. She pulled them forward until they stood flush against her sides. “Mama, Papa, these are my mates.”
Kaya shifted nervously against them, her hand shaking in Jericho’s grip. He squeezed to reassure her. She wanted her parents’ blessing, and for her sake, he hoped they gave it, but their disapproval wouldn’t stop Jericho and Hunter from having a life with Kaya.
Merry smiled gently at her daughter. “It is obvious they love you. They have my gratitude for caring for you well.”
“And mine,” Lawrence said.
“Now tell me of your little one.” Merry stepped forward to place her hand on the bulge of Kaya’s stomach.
Jericho watched as Kaya lit up like a Christmas tree and told her parents of the Great Maker’s gift to her daughter—his daughter. Hunter’s daughter. It all seemed surreal, something out of a bizarre dream to listen as shape-shifting was calmly discussed as if it were an everyday occurrence. But then for these people it was.
And now this was his family. He stole a glance at Hunter who looked as nonplussed as Jericho was. For two guys who had isolated themselves from the world, they were growing a damn big circle of people.
To his surprise, it felt pretty damn good.
Kaya rose on tiptoe and brushed her lips over his ear. “I love you,” she whispered.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. Somehow she knew just what to say and when. She moved to Hunter, and he let her go, knowing she’d return. As she settled into the crook of Hunter’s arm, Hunter’s arm came snug around her.
She laughed and smiled, her eyes bright and shining. The haunting loneliness was gone from her gaze.
The loneliness was gone from Jericho’s soul. The pain and fatigue eased from his body, replaced with warmth that went bone deep.
And then Kaya turned her beautiful amber gaze on him, and his heart was lost all over again.
About the Author
To learn more about Maya please visit www.mayabanks.com. Send an email to Maya at [email protected] or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Maya https://groups.yahoo.com/group/writeminded_readers.
Look for these titles by Maya Banks
Now Available:
Seducing Simon
Colters’ Woman
Understood
Overheard
Undenied
Brazen
Love Me, Still
Stay With Me
Reckless
Into the Mist
Into the Lair
Coming Soon:
Songbird
It was supposed to be an easy mission. But nobody told her that.
Into the Lair
© 2008 Maya Banks
Falcon Mercenary Group, Book 2
Ian and Braden Thomas return to the U.S. to extract Katie Buchanan, the sister of the teammate who betrayed them. She could very well be the key to taking down the man responsible for turning Ian and Braden into unstable cat shifters. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones after Katie.
Katie has no intention of going quietly or of offering her trust on a silver platter. She’s got troubles of her own that don’t include two pain-in-the-ass men who claim her dead brother sent them. She’s too busy trying to stay one step ahead of Ricardo de la Cruz, the brother of a man she killed.
As the bodies pile up, Ian and Braden are only sure of one thing: Katie makes them crazy. Something about her calls to their inner predator. They both want her, but she’s made a practice of making bad decisions and trusting the wrong men. And by the time she realizes that she can trust these two warriors, it might just be too late.
Warning: Blood, gray matter, guts and gore. Ass kicking, potty mouths, acerbic wit. More mean people, mean people dying, mean people getting what they deserve. Sex…explicit sex, rough sex, ménage a trois, voyeurism, light bondage. Oh, and avalanches.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Into the Lair:
Katie huddled under the steaming hot spray of the shower and let it pelt her skin until it was pink and raw. Even after she’d lathered her hair twice and soaped her body repeatedly, she stood still as the water cascaded over her.
She didn’t want to move. Ever.
But she had a strong suspicion if she didn’t get out soon, one of them would come haul her out.
With a regretful sigh, she turned off the water and stepped out, reaching for a towel. She dried briskly, taking care around the more tender parts. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she grimaced. Then she pulled the towel away and let her gaze trail down her body.
Her shoulders slid downward, and her eyes crossed with fatigue. She was starting to have some serious fantasies involving a pillow and a bed. Blankets were completely optional.
An irritated sigh escaped when she realized she’d neglected to bring clothes into the bathroom with her. And there was no way she was putting the nasty stuff she’d taken off back on.
She wrapped the towel around her and kept her arms pressed against the fabric so it had no chance of slipping down. Then she stuck her head out the door before exiting.
Braden was lying on the bed, eyes closed, and Ian was perched on the edge of the mattress, his expression brooding. Ian looked up at her, his eyes shuttered.
“I, uhm, just need to get some clothes,” she said in a low voice.
Ian stood. “Not yet.”
He walked toward her, and she blinked in surprise. His hand cupped her elbow, his touch gentle as he urged her toward the bed.
“You can keep the towel wrapped around you for now,” he said gruffly. “I need to tend to that cut on your foot, and then I’ll take a look at your arm.”
Braden opened his eyes and rolled to the edge of the bed before putting his feet down with a thud. He rubbed his face in a tired gesture then rose to stand beside her.
“Get the kit,” Ian told Braden.
Ian urged her down, and she sat awkwardly, keeping her gaze on her knees, bared just below the edge of the towel.
“Lay back and let me see your foot,” Ian directed.
She eyed him for a moment but did as he said. Her head bounced softly on the mattress as she settled down, and she focused on the ceiling.
Gentle hands covered the top of her foot and tilted it back as he examined the instep. His fingers were firm and warm
against her skin.
Braden leaned over and took her arm, lifting as he examined the bruising and swelling.
How long had it been since she’d simply enjoyed the touch of another? Close proximity, the feeling of not being so terribly alone?
It was overwhelming and yet so deeply pleasurable that she couldn’t ask them to stop. She didn’t want them to stop.
These were concerned touches. Caring and light. There was no desperate mark of possession, no shouted words, no deep-seated insecurity.
She shivered even as she craved more.
Ian felt her tremble beneath his fingers. He saw raw vulnerability behind a flash of sudden tears, and it tore at his gut. Here was a woman unused to any sort of tenderness. She expected the worst, and it seemed she usually got it.
What the hell kind of life had she led, and why had Gabe left her to fend for herself?
Trying not to let himself be too affected, he put antiseptic on her cut and quickly bandaged it. Braden was carefully manipulating her arm, but other than a few winces, she didn’t seem too bothered by it.
He thrust the small bottle at Braden along with fresh bandages. “For her hand.”
Braden took the stuff from him and settled next to Katie, his hip close to her shoulder. Her fingers shook against Braden’s as he carefully pried them apart.
Ian eased down on her other side. “I need to look at your ribs, Katie,” he said in a low, soothing voice.