"That's a big sigh. You alright?" He asked.
She snuggled closer. "Yeah. Just my magic. You're sure Evelyn is okay?"
"Yeah. I called Evelyn yesterday, and everything was fine. You heard me. She's nearly healed thanks to Annie, oh and her Fae lineage. I still can't believe I never noticed."
She nodded. "Right. So strange."
Marci jumped as her cellphone rang. "Who would call me at this hour?"
Caleb yawned. "It's afternoon. Just go answer it. At this point, someone is going to think you're dead. Why did you bother charging it, if you planned to ignore the calls?"
Would it really matter if anyone thought she was dead?
"When did you become social?"
He grunted, but she got up anyway. The absence of his body made the room colder.
She glanced at the screen and scowled. "I'm not answering it."
He sat up. "Why?
"It's my ex. I'm not answering it."
She dropped the phone to her side and caught the change in Caleb, his eyes all animal.
"Let me answer it then," he growled.
She placed the phone back on his dresser. "I'm guessing that wouldn't be a good choice, although you're welcome to it if you want to."
Crawling back into bed, she knelt next to him. A muscle twitched at his temple.
"Caleb? Are you okay?" Reaching out, she rested her hand on his forearm, the muscles tense.
"Fine."
He didn't look fine. He still hadn't looked at her either.
"I don't think you are."
Leaning in, Marci pressed her lips to his. At first, he hesitated, but slowly he kissed her back. His hand looped around her waist as she crawled closer to him.
The phone chirped again, but this time he jumped out of bed. He grabbed it and held it out to her.
"If you don't get rid of him, I will."
That didn't sound legal, so she reached a hand out to his chest. The heat radiating off of him brought her a little courage to deal with a voice she'd never miss. He put the phone in her palm. Pressing the green button, she said, "Hello." Pulling the phone away from her ear, the loud shriek of her name audible without speakerphone had her heading back to the red button on the screen.
Caleb gripped her hand and shook his head.
"Marci? Where in God's name are you?"
"I left. You wouldn't know where I am even if I told you."
"For shit sake, Marci. I know you left. I mean where in the fuck are you now? I'm sitting in a rental car in front of some shithole you're supposed to be at. What? Did you lie to your mother too?"
Her face burned, her eyes widened, and the room tinted red. "I didn't lie to you or my mother. I don't - wait! What? Are you..."
She swore as she dropped the phone and looked for her clothes. "This is not happening."
Her panties dangled from Caleb's finger as she looked up. Her hands were shaking, and logic had flown the coop seconds ago.
"I'm coming with."
She took in his six-foot-something stature, the broadness of his shoulders, the five o'clock shadow that only made him look more menacing and sexy than anyone had the right to be. Yup. He'd do just fine.
"I'd fight you, but I can't face him alone."
Caleb said nothing as he picked up her shirt next and laid it out. The button on her pants had grown too big for the hole it seemed. Her hands didn't cooperate.
Taking a long slow pull of the air, she tried to forget her anger. Forgiveness. She'd moved on already. She could forgive him. Anger had no reason sometimes though.
Her heart felt like it was banging down her ribcage with a battering ram.
She didn't want to see her ex. She didn't want to see her mother. She didn't want to talk to them right now. Marci wanted to be on her own and live for herself.
Finally, she managed to dress. Caleb stood by the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. Right now, his arms looked safe, and all she wanted to do was fall apart and let him hold her. Instead, her walls went up.
They headed to the hallway, the click-clack of Frank's paws the only sound.
Why did it feel like she was walking to her funeral? She grabbed her coat and started to put it on, as Caleb grabbed it and held it out.
"You don't have to do everything alone, Marci."
She shrugged into her coat. "Says the man who just admitted he didn't even know his neighbor wasn't human."
His jaw twitched, and instant regret plopped into her stomach. "I. Sorry. I've been very used to doing it all on my own. Why would things be different now?"
Everything was different, she could feel that, but habits or maybe it was instinct died slowly.
Her magic calmed around him like her soul had found precisely what she had needed. Laying near him had seemed like a lost puzzle piece that had finally been found. She finally felt complete.
His hand rested on her shoulder as he pulled her around to face him.
"Don't pull away from me," he said.
She noticed a small bit of fuzz on the shirt he wore and plucked it off.
Craning her neck, she finally met him face to face. The wild green of his eyes locked onto her.
"If I risk everything for you, you do not get to pull away from me." His voice rough, quiet. His words speaking to a place buried so far within her that she didn't realize it existed.
"I'm not pulling away. I'm afraid. What if this is all a dream? A mirror reflecting something we both want, but is easily shattered and broken?"
His hand trailed down her arm.
"I think you and I both have a lot to learn from each other. One is to take the risk. I thought living here would be safe. And instead ..."
The air thick with the unknown, he stepped closer.
"I thought I had a plan and instead I found someone who knocked down every wall I'd built."
He swallowed her reply with soft lips against hers. The woodsy wild taste of him made her head spin. She kissed him back, each taste of him calling her closer and closer. She couldn't stop once he started; good thing he had self-control.
"Marci, you can't just hide here. You have a guest that we need to greet."
She cringed but proceeded to drag her feet down the steps.
"Promise me you won't let him get to you?" she asked. "My ex. He's very good at manipulation. Don't let him get to you."
A rock sat at the bottom of her stomach. The bitterness surfaced of her ex and his ability to make everything seem like her fault. If she'd only been skinnier, only had a better job, only gave up her job and catered to his every whim; if she'd just stop being her.
No, She didn't want to see him, but maybe this was the final closure she needed.
"I. I'm going to head over. I'll meet you there?"
She didn't turn back but listened to the tinkle of Franks collar.
"Yeah. Okay. Frank and I are right behind you."
She clutched the door and opened her senses as she opened the door. The wind and the truth hit her in the face, cold and bitter. Her mother hadn't come to check on her; she'd sent one more pawn.
She marched head first into a past that she'd slam the door on once and for all.
14
A slow burn of acid replaced his blood. Everything tingled. Flexing his hands and clenching his teeth was all he could do to keep himself in check. The bear snarling, teeth bared.
She was his mate. Jealousy of someone having touched her in the past, and the anger that he'd interfere now, boiled within him. Everything screamed to mark her. Claim her as his own.
Caleb couldn't though. Not yet. He wouldn't do that, not like this. Or would he?
A small luxury car sat dripping gray snow as it melted. The cocky shit raised a brow as she stepped closer. This was what she'd agreed to marry?
Caleb's brow creased. A long trench coat, shiny black shoes, and hair so shiny from some grease Caleb almost laughed. Had this thing just crawled out of some magician's hat? He couldn't please Marci, ever. She'd eat him alive.
/> Caleb wouldn't mind offering to beat some sense into the little grease stain if she'd let him.
"Marci Adams. What the hell is going on here? I drive out here, and you're not where you said you'd be. This is highly unlike you." He paused as his eyes landed on Caleb.
"Who's this guy. Hey fellow, stop following her."
The guy waved his hand at Caleb like he was some gnat.
Caleb came to a stop as Marci paused, keeping her an arms length away to give her space, and him the ability to keep her safe.
Her energy pulsed like a heartbeat; he felt it even now. She was his.
The vibrations of her magic were so different, nothing like his. Curious that he hadn't marked her, and yet, he still felt her.
He ignored it. "Answer the boy, Marci. Who am I?" He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze on one shoulder.
"No. I don't have to answer to Jeff. Not anymore."
Caleb sputtered in laughter as he watched the guy's eyes nearly pop out of his head.
"Marci Adams. Who the hell is that? Get away from my fiancé."
He slammed the door behind him and started towards them.
Instinct flared. His bear demanded to be released, but Caleb pushed him back and stepped around their mate.
"I wouldn't come any closer," Caleb growled through clenched teeth.
"Who do you think you are. Some lumberjack? You aren't a warlock, why would she be of any interest. You know she can't spin you gold, or change your wood into something valuable. You keep yourself in check, and we won't have any issues."
He laughed. "We have issues if you think she's still yours."
"Caleb, move. Let me do this."
"What do you mean think? My family has a contract with her family. She is mine. Besides, she knows we were good together. Don't you, Marci."
Caleb vibrated with anger. He wouldn't step aside; he couldn't control the shift much longer if this guy came closer.
"Caleb. Let me talk to him. Please. Let me handle this."
She ran a hand over him as she came around. He tried to calm.
"Great. You're some kind of territorial creature. Let me guess. One of those shifter things. God. You're all the same. You think you can claim whatever woman you want. Ridiculous. The whole lot of you."
"Jeff. Stop baiting him. You have no right even to be here."
The static fog of anger clouded around him. This guy needed his face rearranged, maybe a new hole to breathe out of.
"Marci. I'm dead serious. We have a contract," Jeff said.
Energy rolled off her.
"No, Jeff. I believe that if either party proved to be of little value to the family or the partnership the contract would be void. Perhaps you should have read your family's contract. I do believe that you sleeping with everyone except me makes you of little value?"
He raised his hand and pointed. "Marci. You stop this nonsense. My father expects you back in two days. You know what that line means. It means should your powers not be helpful to the business or my family. Don't be stupid. I won't tell them of your little transgression if you come quietly."
Caleb couldn't see her face, but the snow around her seemed to be melting at an alarming rate.
"Although, I highly suggest you go through a purifying ritual before the marriage. I'm sure you have that things stench all over you."
Caleb snarled and as he took a single step, Marci blocked him.
God, he was going to fucking explode and rip that fucker's throat out in a second.
"No. Jeff, don't you worry. Please give my regards to your father. I won't be coming home to marry you. We're done. You can go now."
She took a step forward.
"Marci. Don't test my family's patience. You ran away and from what I can tell, you haven't exactly been riding the moral high ground."
Caleb smirked. "I am no moral high ground."
Jeff nearly choked at Caleb's words. "Crude. Like all shifters. No wonder, so few of you ever do anything with your lives. Seriously, Marci. You've gotten your revenge. I forgive you. Now get your ass in my car."
His shoulders tightened, he fisted his hands.
"You think that she could go back to someone like you? Do you have any idea what kind of woman she is? Do you have any idea the power surging through her?"
Caleb didn't dare turn away. The guy, Jeff apparently, started towards them pausing to shake off his shoes as he stepped in snow.
"I don't care about your thoughts, animal. But yes, I am aware of her power." He looked away from Caleb. "Marci. My father demands you come back."
Caleb hated the soft tone he took. He reminded Caleb of a snake.
"Marci, my dear. My father is not happy with my actions. I promise that I won't ever do that again. The business needs you."
Static in the air swirled about, the bear in him recognizing it as her magic.
"I should have known. This has nothing to do with me. You don't miss me. You miss what i could do. You miss me knowing where to invest. You miss me being able to tell you what risks weren't worthwhile," Marci stomped forward.
She moved unlike any human he'd ever seen as she approached Jeff. A faint cloud of magic surrounded her, crackling in the wind. "You screwed up. Not me. I am more than just a dollar sign. I am a woman, you ass."
She pressed a finger against his black wool coat. "And, even if you came here groveling, crawling across the snow I still wouldn't come back. Yes. Jeff, in-case you're wondering, you can't even compete with Caleb in this realm or another. Leave."
Jeff sputtered, and Caleb reveled in it. Sure she hadn't said that his dick was probably about three times the size of the little warlock's, but what she had said would do.
"What? You want me to leave? I can't leave. This car barely made it here, and it's starting to snow again."
Caleb's ears perked up. This wasn't going to be good.
"I'm sure that car will do fine -" Caleb said.
"Caleb, shut it. Jeff, I run an inn. You pay the nightly rate, and you can stay here. But you leave the second this snow lets up. I will not be returning with you. If this is some ploy it won't work. You hear me?"
Caleb turned to her. "What the hell?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Caleb. Do not test me." She stepped closer. " I need the money, and I won't be the reason he dies trying to get back to the airport."
"He will not stay with you where I can't watch him."
Her hands flew to her hips. "I don't think this is your choice, Caleb."
His heart sank.
"Jeff. Go inside. You touch me, and you will die. There, are you happy?" she asked.
Caleb and his bear stood confused. Did they follow? Could he sleep outside her door to ensure the warlock didn't step near her?
"Caleb. Go home or come. I don't care. Just don't say anything."
His face burned. His nails cut sharp across his palms. "I think I have every right to say something." He stormed after her. She didn't slow.
"Go home, creature. She doesn't need you any longer," said Jeff. Caleb stopped in front of the car.
Clenching his jaw, he tried to bite the next words back. "She is mine. Take your parlor tricks elsewhere. You won't win her back."
Jeff chuckled. "Win her back? I wasn't aware there was even a competition. My family has money and our families have a contract. She has little choice. She might have had her fun with you, but in the end, it's my bed that she will be warming come this time next week."
Caleb's bear reared up. Before he could stop the anger surging through him, his fist connected with Jeff's face.
"You son of a bitch," Jeff sputtered between a spot of blood blooming against the white snow.
"Caleb!"
He closed his eyes.
"What did you do?"
He rolled his head back on his shoulders. "I shut him up." His words sounded more like a wounded kid to his ears. He knew he'd gone too far. But damn, it had felt good for a split second.
Caleb kept his eyes shut, but he
could sense her approaching, her flowery scent around him as she came to care for him.
"Jeff? Are you okay."
Her spicy scent of anger overpowered the calm that was her perfume.
"Caleb! Why did you hit him?"
What was he supposed to say? The truth? Probably. "He said you were his."
A growl even his bear was proud of echoed off the trees. "You hit him because he's stupid?"
He stood straight and opened his eyes. With a shrug, he said, "No. I hit him because he has a big mouth."
She crouched over Jeff as he made his home on the snow. The blood wasn't flowing nearly fast enough for a broken nose.
Great. I missed.
He scowled.
"Caleb. I can't believe you. Go home. Go home, sit in the snow, I don't really care what you do but do not come back here tonight. I can't deal with my crappy past and an angry - my - whatever you are - a bear. Take your testosterone and go."
His eyes flew open. "I will not. I am sleeping next to you tonight."
She helped up Jeff, who dared to smile behind the crusty red smearing his mouth.
"Caleb. No one. I repeat, no one is sleeping next to me except a ridiculous chicken. I don't need you to protect me."
Jeff snorted.
"Oh, and you. I don't need you or your family either. Just shut it. I won't be going back with you. So, you better figure out how to break the news to your daddy. Maybe you should actually figure out how to do your job from now on."
Caleb snorted this time.
"Shut it. Both of you super suck right now."
Caleb shut his mouth as he watched her go with a jerk leaning against her. Like hell, he'd let her stay alone with that asshole. He took a step forward.
"Don't you dare follow me, McIntyre. You go. I will call you when I feel like seeing you again. I can't do this right now."
Jeff looked back and winked.
Like hell, she couldn't. "No, Marci. I'm not going. I have the right to protect you. I will not let this fucking parlor trick hurt you."
She stopped and turned on him. "What right do you have? We just started - well, I don't even know what. Dating? What right do you think you have?"
Jeff stepped up. "Yeah."
Snowy With A Chance 0f Mating (Move Over Fate Book 3) Page 10