by Harms, C. A.
I can watch her for hours, she honestly doesn’t even have to be doing anything at all, having her close was all it took. The slight shift of her hips, the crease of her brows in confusion, or the way her mouth tilts up at the corners, it all gets me. It hits me someplace deep, leaving me feeling raw and exposed. Normally feeling vulnerable would piss me off, but with Taryn I welcome it. She is my life and soon our child would be sharing that affection.
The sound of boots thumping against the Oak board of the deck announces the arrival of a guest and I look back over my shoulder in time to see my father pause a few feet behind me. “I remember days like this,” he is staring out into the yard, at the exact location I was a moment ago. “I’d spend hours watching your mother. She didn’t have to be doing anything special, hell simply seeing her breathing was enough.”
Looking back, I allow him to carry on in silence.
“I know I can be difficult,” that is an understatement. “Pushy and even arrogant to the point of annoyance. But there is logic to my madness.
He steps on to the first step, then slowly lowers his body to my side settling in.
“The love you have for Taryn, the desire you have to be near her, the demand to protect her no matter the cost. That pull you feel, that connection that can’t be seen but felt in every fiber of your being.” Glancing in his direction I see a glossy appearance in his eyes and I wonder what has led up to it, until he continues and then I know. “Imagine what losing her would do to you,”
That burn, that intense ache that takes my breath away hits me hard.
“It’s maddening Merick, losing the one person you heart beats for. Your mother was the best part of me. She understood me, she kept me together, she made me whole, and without her, I feel like nothing more than a shell.”
I nod, knowing that no words I can speak will ease his ache. It's easy to judge, easy to assume that my father is nothing more than a coldhearted man, but the truth is, no one knows the pain he deals with unless they’ve suffered a comparable loss.
“I’m trying to let go of my need for vengeance, but—”
“Never let go of that,” he shifts his gaze to me and for a moment he looks surprised. “That’s when we become vulnerable, when we become a target for a recurrence. That will never happen, we will stand strong, we will rebuild an army and this time we will be impenetrable. I need you to be the man you’ve been, we all do. But every once in a while, seeing that hardness shifts and the resemblance of the man I know without a doubt my mother adored is nice too.”
It’s his turn to nod and I know it's because he is unable to speak without showing weakness. I understand.
In silence we sit beside one another, staring out toward Taryn. Her still lying peacefully in the sun basking in the solace while we both watch over her. Never again will I question my father's intentions, because I now know without a doubt in my mind, my family—our family—means just as much to him as it does to me.
The movie playing on the television holds little interest for me, but I pretend for her. I would much rather be holding her, tasting her, getting lost in the feel of her body pressing to mine. Taryn is like a drug I can’t get enough of. She is an addiction I never want to be cured of.
But for Taryn I would suffer through hours upon hours of meaningless film if it brought the smile she is now wearing to her lips each time. To be honest I could not even tell you what the movie was about, because she holds my full attention and has since she sat next to me and curled into my side like a little kitten.
“There will be a quiz once it's over so you better catch up.”
I pause looking at her side profile and wait for her to look my way, only she doesn’t.
“Watching me isn’t watching the movie.”
This whole reading mind thing is something I am still not entirely used to.
“Not sure if this is strictly a pregnancy gift or one I will have forever, but for now you better get used to it.”
What if I told you that all I can imagine is gathering you in my arms and taking you to bed?
A trace of a smile tugs at her lips though she attempts to hide it a moment too late.
Gliding my hands over your body, kissing along the way. I continue to allow the intimate thoughts to roll through my mind knowing full and well that she isn’t missing a word. Her throat bobs as she swallows hard trying to maintain some control. Feeling you tremble beneath my palms, panting as you silently beg me to give you more.
“Merick,” her voice is breathy and I place my hand on her thigh, moving upward slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“You need to stop.” She shifts, I’m sure it’s more so she can get some semblance of relief from the tension that is now building inside her.
What if I can’t stop?
Waiting, wondering if she is going to react, I feel myself losing control by the second.
“I’ll never be able to stop with you,” leaning in I kiss her jaw. “I’ll never want to.”
It's as if something snaps inside of her. Suddenly she is moving, rising up off the couch and climbing over me. Her mouth seals over mine and with her tongue she pushes against my lips. A low hum vibrates someplace deep in her chest before she shifts her hips seeking the friction she is desperate for. I don’t stop her, I wait, enjoying the desperate drive for more I’ve inflicted on her and allow her to take from me what she needs.
“Please,” Taryn begs. I smile, pleased with her desperation.
“Please what?”
A low deep breath, another shift of her hips, the heat from her being felt on my cock straight through her thin pants.
“What do you need Taryn?”
“You,” she practically snarls. “You, you, please you.”
“Me?”
When she growls and her hands come to rest upon my cheeks, she forces me to look directly at her to ensure I hear every single word. “You did this, with all your dirty thoughts. Knowing I’d hear the things you wanted, the things you were imagining. So, don’t be coy now, do them.”
Arching a brow, I fight my grin.
“You are impossible Merick, but I also know that you can’t deny me something I want.”
“True,” I reply. My woman knows me well. “So what should I do now?”
“Take me upstairs and make me scream your name.”
“Your wish is my command.” Standing up, still holding her body to mine I ensure her legs are hooked securely around me. With one palm stretched out, cupping her ass and the other spread out over her lower back I carry her as if she weighs nothing.
I have every intention of making her scream my name until her throat hurts, because tonight I am extremely hungry.
Taryn
Merick grabs my hips, powering into me with such force it’s bordering on painful, but I don’t care as I push back against him. His cock hammers into me over and over-- my pussy gripping him, drenching his shaft.
“Such a beautiful pussy and it’s all mine.” His thoughts make me blush and then Merick wraps his arms around me, pulling me up until my back meets his front.
I groan as he sinks deeper into my body. One arm goes around my breasts and the other goes just under my belly. “Taryn, you’re fucking beautiful, and with my baby inside you’re a goddamn goddess.” He nips at his marking on my shoulder. “Ohh...my girl likes that don’t you. I’m gonna make you come from biting it,” Merick whispers against my ear.
I whimper as he stops moving, keeping himself immersed inside of me. He licks the spot, dragging his tongue over the sensitive flesh. I try to move my hips, but he holds me tight, keeping me immobile.
There’s another lick and my body shudders around him. “Oh baby, you got really wet and really hot.”
“Please move,” I beg. I’m so close to coming if he’d only do something. His chuckle vibrates through my body. “Are you really going to deny me?” I pout knowing I can get to him this way.
“Does my girl need to come?” Merick thinks as h
e begins to nibble at his mark. “Okay, I’ll let you come,” he thinks before he bites down on that spot, holding tight.
“Oh...oh...oh!” I cry out as I begin to come violently. Wave after wave, the euphoric feeling flows through my body. Thank god he’s holding me tight because I’m sure I’d float away. Stars dance behind my closed lids as I drench his cock and fill my arousal run down my thighs.
Then I’m down on all fours as Merick grips my hips, fucking me with abandonment. When he comes deep inside me he does it with a roar.
He situates us where he’s on his back and I'm semi-draped across him. Our room is bathed in moonlight as I draw imaginary patterns on his chest. “I should go get cleaned up, but I can’t move.” I whisper before kissing his chest.
Our baby gives a little kick, making us both laugh. Merick’s large hand covers my slightly swollen belly. “Someone’s ready to party.”
“I know,” I wrap my arm around his waist and yawn, “but I’m sleepy.” I tilt my head back as Merick leans close to kiss me. I open to him, our tongues doing a slow sensual dance before I push back away from him. “No more. It’s sleepy time.”
I roll over giving him my back, but that’s so he can pull me against his front. I’ll never get used to the warmth that immediately lulls me to sleep, but I welcome it.
I look around the room and pinch the underside of my thigh--am I dreaming? Is this my life? I’m in a living room with three shifters, a healer, a witch—I had no idea that’s what Amelia was—and one vampire.
My mind is racing, this is surreal.
Merick’s father stands by the fireplace, staring into the flames. As usual, I can’t hear anything he’s thinking. All I can feel is love and pain. Is this what either Merick or I would feel if either of us lost the other? I place my hand on my stomach as a wave of sadness washes over me. I asked Merick to invite them here because I want to learn the history of Stone Ridge. How did all of these special people end up here? Why is my baby the key to everything?
As I look around the room it’s like this is a TV series about supernatural beings. Everyone looks like they could be a movie star. Next to Merick, Ryder is possibly one of the hottest men I’ve ever seen. He looks like a paler younger version of Brad Pitt. Of course, Jonathon’s no slouch with his wavy sable colored hair and chocolate brown eyes.
“I wish you’d forgive me for running away? I still fucking love you.” It takes a minute to figure out that it was Jonathon who thought that. He keeps his eyes locked on Rowan, who is obviously trying to ignore him even though they’re sitting together.
Every time I try to get her to talk about Jonathon, Rowan shuts me down. She’s even managed to block her thoughts from me. How, I don’t know. In the meantime, I’ll be there for her and if she wants to tell me then she will.
I’m perched on the arm of Merick’s chair, but he doesn’t like it and pulls me down to his lap. He kisses me soundly on the mouth, certainly not bothered with showing his affection in public. Me on the other hand, it’s taking some getting used to.
I pull back from him. “Let’s start?”
Merick nods. “We’ve asked you all here because I thought we could share our town’s history with Taryn. I want her to know everything.”
Josef, Merick’s dad, turns toward us. “Stone Ridge was founded two hundred-fifty years ago. My ancestors and yours were some of the first to settle here. They knew about magic and protected this land.” He takes a drink of his water.
“Your great, great, great, great grandmother, Mary was very close to my great, great, great, great uncle, Richard. History says that she became pregnant with his child. Their coupling triggered events that would change our families’ history. That child was going to become the protector of our land. But, a black mist appeared through the trees, attacking Richard and killing him. Mary was distraught afterward, so devastated by his passing, she lost the baby...”
I jump up and run toward the bathroom. As soon as I’m safely inside I throw up into the toilet. Tears stream down my face just thinking about what would happen if I lost Merick and then our baby.
“Taryn, baby? Open the door,” Merick’s deep voice comes from the other side. “Come on baby, we don’t have to talk about it anymore tonight.”
I rinse my mouth out and look at myself in the mirror. I turn to the side and rub a hand over my growing belly. My baby moves against my palm providing me exactly what I need. “I’ll protect you until my dying breath.” I say within my mind and another kick tells me that he or she heard my thoughts. Of course that’s impossible, but it’s nice to think our baby can hear me.
I take a deep breath and then pull open the door. Merick crowds me until I back up into the bathroom.
He cups my face in his large hands. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “Yes, sorry.”
Merick shakes his head. “Don’t be sorry. There’s a lot of history to go over and it can be a little shocking. We’re done for tonight. I sent everyone home. Well, everyone except for Dad. He wanted to see for himself that you were okay.”
His dad is definitely starting to grow on me. Will we be best friends? I highly doubt it, but I’m feeling less and less uncomfortable around him.
What hits me in the gut is that there has been a lot of loss in our ancestors' lives. Is that what’s destined for me or for Merick? What if something happened to us, who would protect our child?
Maybe I don’t want to know the rest of our history.
Merick
I’m unsure of the hour, only that it is early. The sun has not risen yet, the darkness looms outside the large picture window that overlooks the tall trees. I slip from bed, reluctantly leaving behind my gorgeous beauty. My mind races, and has been since the very second she ran off during our recap of history. I worry that this all may be too much for her. I fear that our life, and what's to come, may be overwhelming and eventually I could lose the one thing I live for.
They are coming, all of them. They chose to leave when we lost so many before. Being here, it has been a constant reminder of our failure. It was also hard to be in a place where they know those that had fallen would never walk again. Slowly, the cabins that were deserted are being filled. The businesses that to someone without gifts may presume to be nothing more than a regular everyday jewelry store but to us it’s so much more. It’s the place that holds another key to our rebirth, a connection that brings us all together as one. The need for the protection of Taryn and our child is growing, my people can feel my pull to have them here. I should feel safe, like a force field has been built around us, only I don’t. Instead with each person who returns, I feel more unsettled. Because it means that danger is also looming out there somewhere.
The stairs creak, gaining my attention, and I turn in time to see bare feet appear on the upper step. Slowly one by one Taryn grows closer, her bare legs in nothing but a T-shirt hitting mid-thigh. My heart races as I watch and wait.
The very second I see her standing at the bottom I feel like the wind has been knocked from my lungs. A deep ache, a love so strong that I tremble from the effects of it.
“I woke to an empty bed,” her voice is low and husky, filled with sleep. She steps closer and I’m finally able to focus enough to see her face. Eyes puffy, lips swollen, hair a mess, and only one thing comes to mine.
Devastatingly beautiful.
“I was worried you’d gone out.”
“No need to worry, baby.” I hold out a hand to her and she places hers in mine. Pulling her closer, she takes the empty space beside me. Cuddling in close, I bury my nose in her hair and breath her in. Nothing smells more alluring than Taryn. “I couldn’t sleep and I didn’t want to interrupt you.”
“Well,” arching her neck she looks up at me and our mouths are now only inches apart. “I would much rather you wake me. I don’t like waking up without you.”
“I’m never far,” if only she knew how true that statement is, not just now but from the moment I first saw her. I’ve watched over h
er, ensuring she was safe from harm. But most of all I’ve watched over her for my own piece of mind.
“Talk to me,” she whispers and I close my eyes for a moment wondering if I should tell her what I am thinking or play it down to keep her from worrying about me. I want her to feel nothing but peace. “Please, and before you decide to tell me you are fine you should know that I can see you are not.”
When I open my eyes, I see her watching me closely and I realize even if I wanted to, I can’t lie. “I worry every second of every day.” Worry was putting it lightly. “I fear that this may all be too much for you. I’m terrified that I will lose you and if that happens, I know that I won’t survive that loss.”
Suddenly Taryn moves and her body is positioned over mine, straddling me. Her palms hold my face firmly as she looks me directly in the eyes. “You are not going to lose me. I am here. I need you as much, if not more, and nothing will keep me from you. I love you,” she says. Her forehead rests against mine and quiet settles over us as we both sit in silence letting the words sink in.
“Nothing is too much if it means that I have you.”
Wrapping my arms around her I pull her closer and press my lips to hers. Love, it is not a strong enough word to describe the pull and need I have for Taryn. Nothing could come close to expressing how much I feel for her.
“Tell me I will always have you,” I don’t let her say the words before I kiss her once more. “Tell me that you will never fear me, you will always trust me and that wherever life shall lead us we go there together.”
“Yes,” her whisper is hushed by my lips as I kiss her slowly, trying my very best to convey without words.
“You are my world baby, you are everything to me.”