by Thorne, Elle
She looked around at the plush bedroom.
That’s for sure.
Chapter Seven
Days later…
Playing.
That summed up Anya’s daily activities—playing and taking Pepper to ballet classes at Signora Isabel’s. Each day, she and Pepper played in Marleis’s playroom until Pepper wanted to go outside and swing. There had been no sign of Marleis, though Anya had a ton of questions about elementals.
There wasn’t much sign of Bryson, either.
Anya looked at her watch. “It’s time for you to get ready.”
While Pepper was changing into her ballet outfit, she slipped into her room and washed her face then reapplied some powder and lip gloss.
Pepper should be ready by now. She made a dash toward the door and was one step away from leaving her room when she ran into a wall of solid, muscled chest. She bounced back with an “Oomph.”
Bryson put a hand on her elbow, steadying her. “Sorry. I didn’t anticipate you’d come barreling out.”
His fingertips on her flesh transmitted a heat that flushed throughout her.
I should stay away from this man. He’s bad for business. The kind of business I’m in shouldn’t involve emotions of any kind—not love, and certainly not lust.
But she knew it was much more than lust. The way her tigress was reacting to his leopard was unlike anything she’d ever felt before.
Think. Think.
It was hard to put a sentence together when he was so close to her. Her brain refused to function, as if all the blood had flowed elsewhere—to the very place that pulsed a beat matching the pulse of her tigress, which she could feel in her fingertips.
Clearly, he felt something, or his body wouldn’t react this way.
But this is so very wrong. I’m here to do a job and then get out. I don’t do emotions.
She had given up on emotions after Astra’s mother was killed and Astra had moved. Love led to nothing more than heartbreak. People you loved left your life. She would have counted her parents in that too, if she’d remembered them, but she had no memory of her parents. The only one she remembered was Mae.
She’d been raised in a shifter orphanage until she was twelve, then one day, Mae had appeared at the orphanage and taken her to Bear Canyon Valley, the first and last place she’d called home.
Until the shifters attacked. Now, she didn’t call any place home. It was easier that way.
Sadness washed through her at the thought of Mae, who’d cared for her and loved her. Mae, who’d sent her to Cas to help her get over her past.
Bryson leaned against the jamb, one arm held high, as if he was supporting the wall, his muscular body blocking her exit. His head was cocked, that strong jawline softened by his lips, the full bottom one and the sensually curved upper lip. His body screamed predator, his stance a hunter’s. His gaze took in her face, as if he was intent on reading her.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
“Don’t what?” His voice was low and sounded as if it was wrapping her in an embrace.
She swallowed her breathlessness down. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Don’t look at you as if I want to do this?” His other hand reached for her, landed on her hip, and pulled her close. “Or this?”
He lowered his head.
He’s going to kiss me.
She knew that. Knew she should pull back, that she should push him away, but she wouldn’t. Deep down, she wanted this with a fierceness that made her body feel like she was a string on an instrument, ready to be plucked and played.
She had no business feeling anything for him, much less this crazy attraction, as if she’d known him all her life, as if they’d always had this chemistry, as if it had always been just the two of them.
God. I’ve given up already. Why did he have to come into my life and screw everything up?
She wanted to be angry, but staring into those blue eyes, seeing his leopard’s amber glow in their depths—it was too damned easy to give in. She’d spent so many years, so much time, fighting the demons inside her and protecting Cas’s clients from the evil on the outside.
* * *
Bryson fought his leopard’s urge to claim her mouth, her tongue, her heart. He wanted to rip every shred of clothing from this woman and let her release her tigress inside her. But Cas had warned him. Without giving too many details, he’d told Bryson she wasn’t to be pushed.
Fuck, this is hard.
It was harder than hell not to take what he knew was his, what he was ready to claim. He lowered his head to hers, and a jolt of joy pinged him when she angled her head. He hadn’t been expecting that. He’d been expecting to be decked, not to have her yield her lips to him.
He pressed forward, his lips brushing against hers, his tongue sliding along the seam, parting her lips, their hot breaths mingling.
He paused, pulling his leopard back because he had almost thrust his tongue into her mouth and claimed hers. Lowering his arm from the jamb, he wrapped his fingers in her hair, twisting and twining, until his knuckles brushed her scalp.
“Mine,” he uttered into her hot mouth, letting her swallow the word, along with the idea of it.
Her low moan was a response that shot through him, leaving him throbbing and desperate. When her tongue slid along his lips, his grip on her hip tightened. Was this the same woman he could see battling her emotions—reaching out for him—opening herself up? Her arms snaked upward, fingertips trailing along his arms then his shoulders, reaching his hair, raking his skin.
Bryson hoisted her, pushing her against the wall, his lower body pinning hers. His erection pressed against the softness of her torso.
Her tongue teased his softly, as if asking for permission, as if she was still unsure.
His hand crept up from her hip, over her waist, brushing the side of her breast, while his thumb slipped over the straining, pebbled peak, evident even beneath its half-lace, half-cotton cup.
“Bryson.” His name was a whisper on her lips.
It was the tone in her voice. Bryson didn’t catch it, but his leopard did—the tiniest niggle of apprehension beneath the waves of desire.
He pulled back and ran a fingertip along her jawline. “Anya.”
Her eyes closed, slowly, trusting, like a cat’s, then opened again. Her chest rose and then a sigh followed, teasing his lips with her breath, teasing his heart with her promise.
“Anya!”
Pepper’s voice.
Anya jerked away from him with a flinch.
A door slammed.
He pulled away from her reluctantly. “To be continued.”
Pepper appeared in the doorway. “Daddy! You’re home. Are you going to ballet with us?”
“I thought I would.” Bryson picked up his baby girl. Until today, she’d been the only thing that mattered to him. Now he had another one who mattered. “I was thinking, too, that we should have a picnic tomorrow. What say you?” He planted a kiss on her cheek, but his gaze was pinned on Anya, whose cheeks had a light flush of pink that rose from her neckline.
“All of us?”
“All of us.” He put her down. Now, let’s get to Signora Isabel’s. This is your last class until after New Year’s.”
Chapter Eight
Anya let Bryson drive, but she insisted they needed to be in the Peugeot. She assured him it was better to be in a vehicle that wasn’t easily identifiable as his and wasn’t so distinct.
“Are you saying the Lamborghini is obvious?”
She rolled her eyes.
Bryson pulled the car into Signora Isabel’s driveway. The beautiful white villa was set against a backdrop of green trees on the hill behind it.
Isabel Tiero was a white tigress shifter, like Anya. Curvy and attractive, the dark-haired, dark-eyed former dancer now gave private lessons. Pepper adored her, and it was easy for Anya to see why. Not only was Isabel beautiful, she was gracious.
She was waiting outside by the
pool, lying on a lounge chair, reading a magazine.
Pepper ran to her, wrapped her arms around her. “We’re going to have a picnic tomorrow, Signora. Will you come? Will you? Please? Let’s have it by the lake in the back.” Pepper turned to her father. “Can Signora Isabel come? Can she?”
Bryson laughed. “Of course.”
Isabel knelt in front of Pepper, putting her arms around her. “I’m sorry. I can’t come tomorrow.” She gave Pepper an apologetic smile. “I have family coming today. I haven’t seen my son and daughter in a long time. Rafael and Sophie are coming to visit.” Isabel rose to her feet. “Are you ready for your lesson? I expect you to practice while you are on holiday break.”
Pepper nodded eagerly, her little head bobbing up and down frantically.
“How are you?” Isabel asked Anya and Bryson.
“Fine,” Bryson said. “Would you like to cancel today’s lesson? Since you have family in town?”
“No, they aren’t here yet. Let’s help Pepper burn off some of her energy.”
Isabel took Pepper into a room with floor-to-ceiling mirrors while Anya and Bryson sat in the waiting area overlooking the pool from one wall and the dance studio from the other.
Bryson watched Pepper, while Anya made every effort not to glance at him. She couldn’t escape her mindfulness of his presence next to her, the way her heartbeat synchronized with his, the way every one of her nerve endings tingled with awareness of him.
She tried to process what had happened. She’d never been forward with a man like that. She’d never taken a step so bold. How could she even explain herself to him when she didn’t understand herself?
A noise sounded from outside—a car door.
She jumped up.
Anya put a finger to her lips, signaling Bryson to be quiet, but he was already on his feet, eyes narrowed, standing as if his muscles were bunched, ready for action.
She gazed out the window. Six figures were approaching—three men and three women, a mix of shifters and humans, judging from their stealthy strides.
She glanced back at Bryson, a question in her eyes.
He turned his attention from the window and shrugged. “I don’t know them,” he whispered.
“Maybe her company? She said a son and a daughter. There are six of them out there. Four are shifters. Two of the women aren’t. Maybe your ex-mother-in-law’s associates?”
The newcomers weren’t walking up the driveway as if they were hunting anyone, and they certainly weren’t hiding their approach.
The music stopped in the studio. Anya glanced through the viewing window as Isabel opened the door and peered outside.
“That’s Rafe and Sophie.” Isabel’s voice was full of joy, and tears shone in her eyes. “I haven’t seen them in months. They’ve been in America.”
She opened the door and ran toward the group. Pepper scrambled into Bryson’s arms, and they watched Isabel hugging the newcomers.
“They seem so happy, Daddy. I’ve never seen Signora Isabel smile so big.”
That’s what it’s like to have family. Anya chewed on her bottom lip.
“They do look happy.” Bryson was staring at Anya over Pepper’s blonde ponytail. “Family is good to have.”
“Do you have family, Anya?” the little girl piped.
“Pepper!” Bryson’s admonishment was gentle.
“It’s okay.” Anya placed the back of her hand against Pepper’s soft cheek. “I don’t.”
“We can be your family. Can’t we, Daddy? Can we?”
Pain stabbed through the armor Anya was certain she’d made impenetrable, stabbed right through to her heart. She felt the burn of tears in the bridge of her nose and looked outside, away from Bryson’s piercing and assessing gaze.
She watched Isabel hug and chatter with her guests and family. Then Isabel gestured in the direction of the house and started to lead the new arrivals their way.
Anya swallowed away her emotional response to Pepper’s question and turned to Bryson. “We should give her some privacy to enjoy her family.”
“Good idea.” Bryson opened the door for her and Pepper.
They’d have to walk past Isabel and the others, but they could keep it brief so they didn’t intrude.
“Rafe, Sophie, I want you to meet my sweetest little protégé, Pepper.”
Pepper stood taller and glowed at Isabel’s praise.
“Did you hear that, Daddy? I’m a protégé.” She tugged on Bryson’s arm then turned to Anya and whispered, but not very quietly, “That’s good, right, Anya?”
Anya nodded. “Very good indeed.”
Behind Isabel, a blonde woman with vibrant-green eyes gasped. “Anya?” Her voice was an emotion-laden whisper.
There was something remotely familiar about the woman, somewhere in the recesses of Anya’s mind, but she couldn’t place her. Perhaps she’d met her on one of the jobs Cas had sent her out on?
Isabel took the blonde by the hand and pulled her forward. “Astra, do you know Anya Masenti?”
It was Anya’s turn to gasp.
Can it be?
The hair. The luminescent-green eyes…
But this was a woman, nothing like the girl she used to know.
“Astra?” She could feel a quaver in her voice. “Astra? From Bear Canyon Valley?”
“Anya, is it really you? Mae said you were in Monaco, but…”
The man next to Astra, clearly a shifter, a giant of a man, stepped forward. “I’m Kane, Anya. You have no idea how much I’ve heard about you.”
Shame flooded through Anya. She hoped he hadn’t heard she was the reason Astra’s mother was dead.
Kane studied her face. “It was good. All of it. She’s wondered about you, worried about you.” He put his arm around Astra.
Tears streamed from Astra’s eyes. To her amazement, Anya discovered her own face was wet.
Isabel was looking from Anya to Astra then back.
Rafe put his arm around his mother. “Astra came from America to find Anya.”
Astra nodded. “Mae said you were in Monaco. She’s kept up with your whereabouts, it would seem. I just never knew it. One day, when I mentioned wanting to see you again…” She took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “After we saw Isabel, the plan was to find you.”
Anya stepped forward hesitantly. “I’m sorry about your mother. I wish I could have done something.”
Astra pulled her in for a hug. “There was nothing you could have done. All those shifters against one young tigress?”
“But, still—”
“You need to forgive yourself. Mae said you struggled with it after we left. I didn’t think you’d still be struggling.”
I am.
Anya contained a sigh. “I’m doing much better.” She chanced a glance at Bryson, whose eyes narrowed slightly.
Yeah, he isn’t buying it.
Anya couldn’t believe Astra had come so far and gone to such lengths to see her. The emotions flowing through her and between her and Astra made her uncomfortable. She needed to get away and process all of this.
Isabel introduced them to Rafe’s mate, Jax, and Sophie’s mate, Niko. There was some small talk, but Anya’s head felt like she was holding seashells against both ears because all she could hear was a roaring sound that threatened to carry her away.
She was in a fog of confusion and overloaded with emotions. She, who had no idea how to deal with emotions, was going into an emotional overload. She kept a smile plastered on her face and nodded at what she hoped were the right points during the polite conversation.
She avoided looking at Astra but could feel Astra watching her. Her gaze was almost palpable, like a current traveling between them, and every glance Anya made toward Astra verified Astra’s gaze never left Anya’s face. The scrutiny made her feel antsy.
“You’ll need some family time,” she said to Isabel then turned to Bryson. “We should go.”
“Do you have to?” Astra took Anya’s hand,
her eyes flashing a luminescent green that faded into a bright yellow then back to green.
A few days ago, Anya would have thought her mind was playing tricks on her, but not after she’d seen Pepper’s elemental.
Had Astra always had an elemental in her?
Anya glanced at Bryson to see if he’d noticed.
“We should give you all time with Isabel,” Bryson added.
“I have an idea,” Pepper said, except it wasn’t Pepper’s voice. It was Marleis’s voice.
Anya and Bryson both looked at Pepper, then their gazes met.
“What’s your idea?” Astra’s eyes had lost their green and were a brilliant yellow as she waited for Pepper to respond.
Bryson put his hand on Pepper’s head and his other hand reached for Anya’s. He squeezed. He’d seen, clearly.
“We’re having a picnic. You should all come.” Again, Marleis’s voice.
“Can they, Daddy?” Now Pepper was back.
“Of course. Come out to our place tomorrow afternoon. Say about one? Lunch on the lawn by the lake. Isabel, you remember how to get there?”
Isabel nodded.
Astra hugged Anya. “We have to catch up. I’ve missed you all these years.”
Anya fought back the pinpricks of tears burning her eyes. She needed some alone time to work through all these emotions. She’d missed her friend all these years. Astra had been the other half of her, and when they were separated, it was like losing part of her identity. Couple that with the rift between her and her tigress, and it meant Anya was a mess by the time she’d arrived at Cas’s doorstep.
All the physical training she’d been put through to assure she’d never feel unsafe was nothing compared to the emotional obstacles she’d had to hurdle. She’d swept too many of those under the rug. Now, she had some emotional housecleaning to do.
She returned Astra’s hug. The energy she’d felt between them earlier was even stronger.
“We can catch up tomorrow.” She pulled away from Astra’s embrace, feeling an immediate sense of loss.
Chapter Nine