"I think I'll have a cheeseburger with mashed potatoes," I said.
"Instead of fries?" Mal looked up from his menu.
"No, I mean mashed potatoes on the cheeseburger and fries on the side." I smiled at him over my water glass before taking a sip.
"Inventive." His laugh seemed to lighten the room.
"It's just like dipping your steak in mashed potatoes." I couldn't help but laugh as well. In a way, it was as if we were the only two people in the entire establishment.
"Now that you mention it, I think I'll get steak and potatoes." He set his menu down on top of mine.
"Was there ever any doubt?" I fought the smirk that tugged at the corner of my mouth and lifted an eyebrow at him.
"None." He smiled at me from over his water glass, and then lifted it in a mild salute.
Foster returned a moment later with our sodas and took our orders. Mal sat back in his chair, slouching a bit as he looked out the window beside our table. There were only a few cars in the parking lot so I couldn't imagine what he found so interesting. Then again, wolves can see much more than regular people. In his distraction, I admired his features. His defined, square chin and the smirk that lingered on his lips left me wanting to sneak across the table and kiss him. Even though we were both quiet, it didn't feel that way. It was strange how, even in our silence, it still seemed like we were communicating. That's what having a mate is like. Every part of me is one with him. Our bond would get stronger whenever we were alone, and even stronger after I finally got over my fear and gave myself fully to him. I imagined what it would be like, to have him move on top of me like Vanessa had done. Maybe he would feel just as soft, just as malleable as her body. My thoughts surprised me. I took a sip of my soda in an attempt to distract myself but ended up choking on it instead.
"All right?" Concern spread across his face as he turned his attention from the window back to me.
"Yeah. It's nice to be away from the others for a while. I didn't think I could deal with it." I cleared my throat and set my soda down.
"I figured you could use some time away from Xany's prying empathy the most," he said once I'd sufficiently restarted my respiration.
"It's okay most of the time, but sometimes I want my emotions to myself. At least the rest of our pack is all in the same place." My assurance in their safety bloomed just knowing they were together.
"They're fine. You're going to worry yourself to death." He shook his head.
"I know but at least I have people to worry about now." I smiled at him. A few months ago, I barely took the time to notice that Vanessa was around me let alone anyone else.
"A pack will do that to ya." He winked, which sent a flush of warmth to my cheeks.
Foster returned with our dinner only a few minutes later. For a small tavern, the service was pretty swift. I wondered if there were any other Sept members working here. A kitchen run by werewolves would probably have the fastest service in the world. I watched Mal tear into his extremely rare hunk of beef with as much restraint as he could manage while in public. I imagined he had much less reserve while hunting in the wild. Mal is closer to the rage of the beast and more vulnerable to the drives of the wolf. I've only seen him really angry once and that time he was tearing my old boss into a million bloody pieces. Rightfully so. A shiver ran down my spine at the memory.
When I took a bite of my burger, I was surprised that the chef actually put the scoop of mashed potatoes on it just the way I ordered it. Most of the time it got placed on the side because the chef thought the waiter made a mistake. Mal watched me open the bun and drizzle ketchup on top of the potatoes. He laughed when my second bite was extra messy.
"Hey, don't laugh at me. I'm delicate," I said, after swallowing the mouthful.
"I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you." He grinned and folded his hands like an innocent school boy.
"That line wasn't true in second grade and it still isn't." Though it made me laugh anyway.
"But it made you laugh so now it's true." His eyes twinkled with a mischief that rivaled Vanessa's. I grinned and took another bite of my burger before offering him some. He shook his head.
"C'mon, you know you want to try it."
"Blegh. There's not even a speck of red in the meat." He held up a piece of his steak to compare.
"The potatoes make up for it." I laughed and my cheeks grew warmer by the minute.
"All right, but if I taste yours then you get to taste mine, too."
"Challenge accepted," I said and held my burger out for him to bite. He lifted his lip and snarled before taking a snapping bite that landed a millimeter from my finger. I muffled a squeal and tugged my hand away. I loved how he played.
"Vanessa would have been very upset if you bit off my finger." I dropped my voice an octave or two in a feeble attempt to imitate a seductress.
"Knowing you, you'd develop a super gift to heal yourself and reattach it. Not a bad burger, by the way." He grinned and held out his fork to me with a very bloody piece of meat at the end of it. I ate it without flinching.
"Your momma taught you well." He lifted a playful brow.
"So did yours."
Dinner with Mal was perfect. Afterward we took a walk through town. Spending time with him like this seemed to wash away my fatigue. It was almost like I was able to share his energy. As we walked down the block, he slipped his hand in mine and our fingers laced. I squeezed his hand and he led me over to a bench beside the coffee shop.
"I don't think I've ever gone to dinner with a guy before," I said.
"Really? Why not?" His brow furrowed.
"I don't know. I usually met guys while drunk, which led to some sort of sex I'm sure. Drunkenness never really leads to dinner." I shrugged.
"Good point." He smirked though I could tell that he didn't like the idea of me with other men. His hand tightened around mine. "What does dinner lead to then?"
"Kissing," I said and peeked over at him. "I think it leads to kissing."
He smiled at my invitation, then leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. I caressed his cheek and enjoyed the ruggedness of his kiss. He ignited my bravery so I glided my tongue between his lips. Our tongues swirled playfully together, getting to know each other. It was my smile that interrupted the kiss. Mal slipped his finger into one of the belt loops on my jeans and tugged me closer. I laughed and wrapped my arms around his torso. We were all that existed.
"Think dinner leads to me taking you home to kiss you?" A fleeting desire swirled deep in his eyes.
"I think that can be arranged. Can we stay by the lake? I'm kind of enjoying just us." I toyed with the hair that hung loosely over his shoulders.
"Your wish is my command, beautiful." My cheeks flared with the fleeting fire of embarrassment. I think I was starting to believe him.
Chapter Six
Early morning sun pierced the crevice in the window shade and roused me from a somewhat restful sleep. I half expected to wake up beside Mal, his arms still around me as they were the night before, but it was the fiery streaks of hair draped over my pillow that alerted me to my usual feminine bedmate. Her arm covered her eyes as she fought the rays of dawn.
"C'mon, baby, we need to get ready to go see your mom," I whispered.
All I received in return was a grumble. Without a word, she rolled out of bed, feet hitting the floor and, with her eyes still closed, she headed to the bathroom. The fizzing hiss of the shower broke the quiet of the house.
I lay back on the bed and pulled the shades open to watch the sun rise just above the tree line. The pinkish-orange haze that wavered along the branches hinted at another hot, humid day. Mal's groggy form wandered into the bedroom; his feet dragged lifelessly across the carpet.
"Too early for your wolf, Mal." I laughed softly as he collapsed onto the bed, his head on my stomach while he yawned full force. He muttered a few inaudible words before I was finally able to understand him.
"Don't forget to call," he said. I
ran my fingers through his messy hair and smiled.
"I won't."
He nudged my shirt up and kissed my stomach. I smiled at him and watched as his eyes drifted shut. His body stilled as he started to doze off again. Vanessa returned to the room wrapped in a soggy towel. She froze when she saw Mal on top of me and immediately started growling. Mal tensed and he rolled over, a growl of his own challenging Vanessa's. Their gazes locked in a staredown that I knew could only end badly.
"It's just Mal. Relax," I said in a desperate effort to defuse the escalating situation. It was just too good to be true that my mates would stay docile for much longer. With both of them on the feral spectrum, there was no doubt that battles would ensue. And most likely over me.
Vanessa growled a moment longer before quieting, a gesture of surrender not necessarily meant for Mal. He too stopped his rumbling but grunted at Vanessa. She dropped her towel and began dressing without an ounce of modesty. It surprised me at first until I reminded myself that Vanessa was not one to worry about nudity, just like Mal. While glaring at him, she slithered into her dress and zipped the back.
"You're not usually lying on Shawnee," she said. Mal's eyes wandered over her figure, naturally. His expression relaxed and he again met her gaze.
"Give me time," he provoked. Vanessa immediately broke into a hissing fit.
"Play nice." I sat up and narrowed my eyes at both of them.
"Want to come with us?" Vanessa asked, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Vanessa!" I shouted and swatted her arm. She snickered and turned to face the mirror.
"Why? So you could have Shawnee all to yourself after I get taken out by a pride full of weretigers? Who knows, I might have a chance." He flexed his biceps.
Despite the potential for nastiness, I enjoyed the banter between my mates. It was playful but possessive and completely untamed. Vanessa laughed and elbowed Mal in the chest on purpose as she brushed out her hair. He pretended to be hurt and flopped backward on the bed.
"The cat injured me, Nee. Heal me quick." He struggled for breath. Vanessa watched him through the mirror. I gasped and played along by placing my hands on his chest in a mock healing. After a few seconds of grimacing, I ended my effort with a quick kiss.
"Cured!" I said. He grinned and yanked me down into a hug, then sat up with me in his lap. Vanessa watched us in silence, though her expression was bright and she seemed genuinely entertained.
"You're pretty handy to have around, with that healing skill and all," Mal said and wrapped his arms around my waist. "I think we'll keep you."
"Good thing or I might have to find two other mates of opposite sex and different species." I waggled my eyebrows at him. Vanessa laughed softly as she pulled her hair into a low ponytail and turned to face us again. Mal chuckled and nipped my cheek. "I better go get ready. You two play nice while I'm gone."
"We won't," they said in unison as I slipped from Mal's lap and headed off to the bathroom.
***
Bending through the inbetween is somewhat like standing in the center of a carousel swirling around at warp speed. Shadows of all shapes and contrasts dove in and around us. I closed my eyes and held more tightly to Vanessa. Barely a second later, our feet were on solid ground in the home of Vanessa's parents. I stumbled a bit but Vanessa held on to me until I was stable.
"You had your eyes opened," she said.
"Sometimes I can't help it." I shook my head, the dizziness fading.
"Only seers can communicate with the beings in the inbetween. You'll just make yourself dizzy." She stroked my hair for a moment then dropped her hands.
"You don't get dizzy. Neither does Caden," I said, putting my hands on my hips.
"We're too busy following the map. C'mon." She took me by the hand and led me away from the full-length mirror in the foyer and into the kitchen. The house was bright and airy with windows tall enough to cover entire walls. Rolling green landscapes were visible from nearly every room. Vanessa helped herself to a bottle of milk from the refrigerator and offered me water. I shook my head. The kitchen was oversized, modern, and the black and white tile was spotlessly clean. A dining room attached to the kitchen had French doors that led to a lanai. I brushed the curtains aside to look outside. Beyond the in-ground pool was an endless garden with carefully manicured topiary, flowers of all colors, and trees in full bloom.
"Your parents have a pool? Don't they hate water as much as you do?" I asked.
"Ma does but dad loves it. They have a lot of parties here in the summer." She sipped her milk. "Do you remember being here?"
"Only the dining room looks familiar. We had dinner there." I glanced over my shoulder to Vanessa who nodded.
"Want to have a look around?" she asked before holding her hand out to me. I nodded and took it.
There must have been twenty rooms at least, including a vast library with collections of old books in languages I couldn't read, and an office made almost completely out of windows. A panorama of the property was visible from the center of the room.
"This place is like a mansion, Vanessa," I said as we made our way back to the kitchen. I imagined Vanessa here as a child, growing up with plenty of space to run without the constant prying eye of her parents. She'd avoid the pool at all costs, but the yard and garden were safe for playing. Would she have spent any time in the library? She didn't seem the type to sit and read. That might've been my favorite room if I'd grown up here. I rolled my shoulders when visions of my childhood home overcame me. Before my mother's death, our home on the reservation was cozy. It seemed like the best place in the world to live. After her death, it became a box of horror. I squeezed Vanessa's hand and she jerked me to a halt.
"What's wrong?" Her hands immediately cupped my face.
"N-nothing why?" I blinked to clear my vision.
"You started breathing funny." Her thumbs caressed my cheeks.
"I didn't realize it. I guess I was just thinking about where I grew up. I'm okay now." I kissed her wrist and placed my hands on top of hers. Her eyes searched mine before she pressed her lips to my forehead. "Did you like growing up here?"
"For the most part." Her nose twitched and I could tell there was more to what she was saying.
"It's lovely here." I gave her hair a gentle tug and she smiled.
"Why thank you," a vaguely familiar voice said.
Katherine was standing in the kitchen by the island, sipping out of the milk bottle Vanessa had abandoned. She grinned when we joined her in the kitchen. Katherine was in her mid-forties with blonde hair and blue eyes. She had a figure much like Vanessa's and appeared much younger than her years. In a way, it was hard to imagine she was anyone's mother. Her purring was loud and wheezy. Vanessa smiled at her mother and lifted her chin in greeting. Katherine returned the gesture and reached over to caress her face.
"I hardly recognize you, Shawnee," Katherine said as she turned her attention to me. Her voice was thick with Ireland. Words rolled off her tongue in distinct dialect.
"Thanks, I think." I smiled and she placed her hands on my shoulders.
She kissed my cheek then ushered us to sit at the stools around the island. Katherine turned to Vanessa and rattled off some Gaelic words I couldn't understand. She gestured to me, then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"She's just healthy, Ma," Vanessa said and sat beside me. The dual purring emanating from the weretigers caused a lull similar to a rocking cradle. My shoulders relaxed and I took in a deep soothing breath.
"The last time I saw ya I could've sworn you were a ghost." Katherine's voice was cheery. I laughed softly as thoughts of dancing leprechauns invaded my mind.
"Where's Dad?" Vanessa asked.
"He's working, love. He'll be here in the evenin' for dinner." Katherine leaned over to nuzzle Vanessa's cheek with her own. "You mustn't stay away so long, kit."
"I know. I'm sorry. I was helping Shawnee get settled in Utah," she said. Her eyes drew to me momentarily and I nodded.
>
"How do you like it there, darlin'?" Katherine asked me.
"A lot better than Wyoming. I think Vanessa likes it better as well even though she has to endure being surrounded by dogs." I couldn't help but grin knowing full well calling my pack dogs would have earned me at least a swat. In cat territory, things were different.
"Leave it to mine." She grinned at Vanessa and stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. Vanessa purred louder and leaned into her touch. A twinge of jealousy tangled my insides at the sight of them. They were so affectionate, so bonded. I'd never have the chance to have that kind of relationship with my mom. My father made sure of that.
"You have a lovely home, Katherine," I said, pushing through my feelings to stay present for Vanessa's sake at least.
"Kat. Call me Kat, my sweet, and thank you." I flinched when she reached toward my face. "Timid." Her eyes darted to Vanessa momentarily and she stroked my cheek in the same manner she'd done to her kit. It took me a moment to relax and accept the gesture of affection. I was overwhelmed by a sudden sense of belonging.
Vanessa smiled and twitched her nose at me then crinkled up her brow. I tilted my head, trying to make out what she'd just said. I understood a lot of the facial tics and twitches of the weretiger language, but this one was new. I shook my head. She was about to say something when without warning, both she and Kat looked to the front entryway. Their shoulders pulled back in unison. I followed their gaze and knew something pretty bad was about to come through the door. Nothing could cause such twin responses except something completely unwanted.
"What's going on?" I asked. Vanessa gnawed at her lip, her eyes now on Kat. Without warning, she grabbed me around the middle and pulled me to stand beside her.
"They're not alone," Kat said as she stood up and moved toward the door. "You may go, kitten, if you wish."
"Why? Who's not alone?" I pressed. Vanessa's already pale complexion paled even further. Her lips were pursed in the way they usually were when she was withholding information.
Birthrite (Legacy Series Book 2) Page 5