by Tena Stetler
Lathen flipped on the heater. Warm air circulated through the vehicle. “The coven was quite clear on the consequences Ben would face if he meddled in McKay affairs again. He’s not the brightest bulb in the pack, but I don’t think he has a death wish. If dark magic was the wedge that finally drove Brent away, why would he come back? It doesn’t make sense.”
“You’re probably right.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “I just want our wedding to be perfect.”
“As does every bride, and it will be.” He took her face in his hands, tipped her chin up and smiled. “Nothing is going to spoil our wedding. I promise.” Lathen kissed the tip of her nose, her cheek, and finally brought his mouth over hers.
Giving into the passion of his kiss, her stomach spun in a wild swirl. Would it always be this way? She hoped so. The morning’s concern melted away as he slipped his arm around her back pulling her closer to him, deepening the kiss. Lathen jerked up straight when there was a light tap on his window. With a sheepish grin, he rolled down the window. Matt, the maintenance supervisor for the hotel, stood, his hands shoved in his pockets.
“I guess we are going to have to get you two your own covered parking space,” Matt said with a laugh. “Wouldn’t know you have a lovely cabin of your own.”
Lathen shrugged. “Hey, this hasn’t happened since my brother was here last summer. Give a guy a break,” he shot back grinning. “What’s up?” He shifted in the seat still keeping his arm around a red-faced Pepper.
“Wanted to let you know the guys you met with have been asking a lot of questions around here. We’re not telling them anything. Frustrating the hell out of them.” Matt snickered. “But thought you should know.”
“I’m aware. We had a discussion about their methods, and they should be leaving shortly, or, at least knock off the questions.”
“You’re not in any trouble? Or leaving?” Concern furrowed Matt’s brow.
“No, not at all. Looking for a way to bring me around to their thinking. That’s all. Not going to happen. You and Patti coming to the wedding?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I gotta get back inside. New guy’s taking way too long on repairs.” Matt shook his head, gave Lathen a meaningful look, and hurried away.
“Well, that was embarrassing.” Pepper giggled. “We’re not horny teenagers.”
“Hey—speak for yourself. The risk of getting caught is half the fun.” A low chuckle bubbled up from Lathen’s throat as he put the truck in gear and wheeled it around toward home.
A muted version of a popular song, dealing with the devil and Georgia caught her attention. She dug through her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “Hi Gwen. Don’t you dare tell me something came up.” Pepper smiled at Lathen knowing with his preternatural hearing he could hear every word Gwen said. It helped not having to repeat conversations. But a real pain, when she didn’t want him privy to a conversation.
“Not at all. In fact, I’m able to get out of Salem a few days earlier than expected. Mind if I come on up?” Gwen asked in a cheerful voice. “Thanks to the charity of someone we both know,” she added.
“Excellent, looking forward to seeing you. When will you be here?”
“End of the week,” Gwen said excitedly.
“Great. Can’t wait.” Pepper disconnected the call with a squeal, a wide smile spread across her face.
“See I told you it would all work out,” Lathen said smugly, palming the steering wheel to turn the truck onto the cabin’s gravel road. At the sight of only Alec’s vehicle in the driveway, he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Tonk and Ember raced up the path, trying to beat the other in greeting the vehicle.
“You got that right.” Pepper glanced toward him feeling his relief. “So what about Ray and the mission?”
“Leave it to me. It won’t interfere with the wedding or our lives.” Lathen hopped out of the vehicle, gave the wolf and dog a good ear scratch. He took a moment to survey the land while Tonk and Ember circled him. “Have you talked to Ashling recently?”
Pepper stepped out of the truck into the jumble of fur excitedly yipping at her feet. She paused and scratched Tonk’s ear, patted Ember’s shoulder, then joined Lathen, arm in arm watching the ominous dark clouds move over the bright blue sky. Ocean waves crashed against the rocky shore as seabirds searched for dinner. Wind gusts brought with it the scent of fresh brine. She cut her gaze toward the pond. “No, I haven’t seen or heard from Ashling since I agreed to let her handle the arrangements at the pond. Come to think of it, she mentioned something about me having to release the wedding arbor from the trees.”
Scanning the forest area, he squinted drawing his black parka around him, zipping it up. “We might want to do that sooner than later.”
Pepper shivered, pulling her gloves on. “Hopefully, this squall will be short lived, and we can coax the arch out in the morning.”
Hand in hand they trekked the path for final evening rounds to check on the creatures in their care. Everyone were fed and had fresh water, so she and Lathen trudged through the sloppy melting snow to the warmth of their cabin, followed by Ember and Tonk.
Inside, Pepper flicked her wrist at the fireplace, long fingers of orange and yellow flame shot up around the wood. Lathen grinned tossing a few more logs on the fire.
“What a useful talent.” He shrugged out of his coat, then helped Pepper out of hers, hung them on the pegs by the door. “How about we spend a nice cozy evening in front of the fire, munching on warmed up meat pies and sipping fine wine? Later…”
She giggled. “Sounds good to me. I’ll put the pies in the oven.” She padded to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator. “As for wine, I don’t know how fine it is, but all we have is the Chardonnay we bought before leaving for Colorado.”
“It’s a pretty fine wine,” Lathen said in his finest English accent. Which really sucked. He joined her into the kitchen.
Pepper collapsed into gales of laughter. Bent over at the waist, she gasped for air. It felt good to laugh, she’d been so keyed up since their return.
Lathen raised a brow and chuckled. “Someone’s still tired.”
“Stressed. Maybe we should have let my parents have the wedding at their house.” She clamped her hand over her mouth and shuddered. “I didn’t really say that. Did I?”
Lathen couldn’t help but laugh. “How much longer on those meat pies? Calling it an early night sounds really good to me.”
“I just popped them in the oven, so it’ll be at least fifteen minutes.” She poured the wine in glasses and handed one to him, carried the wine bottle into the living room, and set it on the table farthest from the fire. “We can sip wine and enjoy the fire until the pies are done.” Pepper plopped on the couch, the amber liquid sloshed in her glass. She held it up and steadied it, watching the firelight glint through the crystal.
“That was close. You nearly spilled it.” Lathen eased down next to her, his arm resting on the back of the couch. He swirled the liquid, sniffed and took a drink. “Mmm… Good stuff.”
A cool chill settled in the room as mist floated across the floor and settled in the corner away from the fireplace. Lathen exchanged glances with Pepper.
Chapter Sixteen
Turns Out Things Are Not Always as They Appear
The old rocking chair in the corner of the living room filled with mist and took on the shape of a tall man dressed in knee-length black breeches with a long dark vest over his peasant shirt and black shoes. He brought his right foot up to cross onto his left knee and shook his head.
“Aidan McKay, I thought you and Dusty left this world after telling your tale last Halloween?” Pepper said, barely able to believe her eyes.
The ghost made a sighing sound, then the rich bass of his voice wafted through the room. “That was me intention. But Ashling convinced Dusty all the McKay ghosts should stay for the wedding, then Christmas and welcome in the new year as a unified McKay Clan.”
The chair rocked back and forth. Tonk and Ember
sniffed around the chair, finally settling on either side of it never taking their eyes off the moving rocker. Kaylee’s low whistle could be heard from her aviary, where Pepper had fed her a while ago.
Slowly Lathen leaned forward. “So to what do we owe the honor of your visit?”
“’Tis no honor. I be merely the messenger.” He shrugged his shoulders and put his filmy hands palm up. “I am to remind you the wedding arbor is needed. Ashling wants to know if the wedding guests are aware ghosts will be at the ceremony.”
“And why didn’t she come herself? Rather than impose on the head of the clan?” Pepper held her finger up. “Hold that thought. I need more wine. Lathen?”
“I’ll take some.”
Pepper walked to the table in the opposite corner of the room and grabbed the bottle of wine. After pouring the liquid into their glasses that sat on the table in front of the fireplace, she plopped back on the couch. Reaching for her glass, she took several sips. “Okay, spill.”
“Spill what?” Aidan looked perplexed, or at least as much as a ghost can express. “’Tis you two that have wine.”
Pepper rolled her eyes. “Why is Ashling ordering you about?”
“I’m told, everyone else is too busy working on the arrangements. She also wants to know how many mortals you expect? Where you want the seating arranged.”
“Oh for goodness sakes, where is she? I’ll go talk to her.”
“She is spending the evening with Ms. Denton. Said she couldn’t think with all the ruckus the ghosts were making. Too many people trying to run things, if ye asked me.”
Holding her head in her hands, Pepper moaned. “I don’t need this. How will I explain this to Gwen?”
“Oh babe, Gwen knows everything there is to know about the McKay Land. Ashling was looking for you when she scared the shit out of Gwen as she was cleaning up the office following the grand opening. After Gwen had calmed down, your aunt felt it necessary to explain. Everything. I guess. I thought you knew.”
Eyes narrowed, Pepper stared at Lathen for a couple of beats, her lips twitched and she threw her head back and gales of laughter filled the room.
Lathen watched her, then peered at Aidan, who calmly rocked in the chair and said, “Women be such puzzles.”
“Especially the McKay women.” Lathen continued to watch Pepper with a bemused expression. Which added to her mirth.
After Pepper composed herself, wiped the tears of laughter streaming down her face, she said, “Now it all makes sense when Gwen left, she mentioned…never mind… I’ll take this up with Gwen and Ashling.” Pepper took a couple more sips of wine. “Let’s see…”
After she set her glass down, Lathen brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes and searched her face. “Are you all right?”
“I’m tired, my wedding is in a couple weeks, I have ghosts fighting over who is going to do what. Guests that have no idea the place is haunted and… Your family and pack, my parents, Gwen… To top it all off, the head of my clan, who is a ghost, is sitting in front of me wanting to know who is coming to the wedding and whether the ghosts will be outed. How could I possibly be all right?”
“When you put it that way.” Lathen chuckled. “It sounds just a bit… I don’t know…crazy?” His right eyebrow winged up. She saw mischief sparkle in his eyes. “We could still elope,” he offered.
“No sir. Not after all the trouble—Not on me watch.” Aidan shook his head so vehemently his upper torso blurred.
Pepper smiled, glanced at Lathen. “What do you think—about twenty-five to fifty close friends and family at the ceremony?”
“I doubt the pack will be there, they’ll be more interested in the food and tall-tale telling at the reception. Not to mention questioning why the dinner wasn’t before the ceremony. So you are close on that count.” He snatched the wine glass from the table and took a gulp.
“The seating area should be at the end of the pond by the benches. Ashling mentioned purple rose bushes around the pond. Lathen and I are going to get the arbor first thing in the morning, weather permitting.”
Lathen’s stomach gurgled. “You know the timer for the meat pies went off a while ago.” He glanced toward the kitchen. “Want me to go get them?”
“Oh crap, I forgot. They’ll be ruined, all dried out.” She thought for a moment then waved her hand toward the kitchen. “They’ll be fine.”
“I’ve got what’s needed.” Aidan rose from the chair, lifted his hand in a wave and faded away, the mist crawling along the floor disappeared entirely.
“Never a dull moment around here.” Lathen took the tray of pies from Pepper and set it on the coffee table. The silverware clattered as he slipped the napkins out from under them, inhaling deeply. “I’m starved.”
“Marrying a McKay witch may be more than you bargained for,” she teased. “Too late to change your mind.”
“Don’t intend to.” He forked up a bite of meat pie, blew on it for a minute as the steam rose, and popped it in his mouth. “Mmmmm. Delicious! Life with a witch can be quite satisfying. If you know what I mean.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Always with the sexual innuendos. You’re such a male.” She took another sip of wine before setting the glass down and reaching for the meat pie. Scooped up a spoonful, and she let it sit in the dish for a couple beats then slipped it into her mouth, closed her eyes savoring the flavor.
“Gee thanks for noticing. I can demonstrate more fully tonight. If you don’t fall asleep on me. Heck…maybe if you do.” He forked up a couple more bites of meat pie, shoved them into his mouth.
“Lathen—you’re incorrigible.” She finished half her pie and raised her hand above her head and stretched.
“But you love me anyway.” He scraped the remaining crumbs from the dish, licked them off his fork, and slid a sideways glance in Pepper’s direction. She’d finished the last bite when he stood, turned, and swept her into his arms amid her giggling protests. “Time for bed.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing kisses from his jawline to the pulsing hollow of his throat. Bounding up the stairs, he angled his body through the doorway and tossed her onto the bed.
Pepper’s eyes grew wide as he shrugged out of the plaid flannel shirt and pulled the t-shirt over his head. When he unbuckled his belt, he shot her a smoldering look. Kicked off his boots, unbuttoned his jeans, slid the zipper down slowly all the while keeping his gaze locked on hers. He slipped the jeans off his undulating hips, peeled the denim off one leg at a time while perfectly balanced on the other foot.
She gave a low seductive whistle. “Take it all off.”
“Your wish is my command.” Stepping out of his jeans, he reached over and pulled off her shoes, letting them clatter to the floor. “Your turn.”
Leaning over, he unbuttoned her jeans, lowered the zipper, and tugged them off. Slowly and seductively his gaze wandered over her, lingered on her lips as her tongue traced their outline, then his gaze slid down. He took one leap and landed lightly beside her.
“My favorite part,” he whispered, lips against the soft shell of her ear, sliding his hand under her sweater, calloused fingertips rough against the silkiness of her bra and he released the front clasp.
“Oooh, you play favorites?” She arched toward him as he cupped her firm breasts, his mouth covered hers hungrily, parting her lips, his tongue thrust inside exploring, caressing.
Pepper moaned quietly. He kissed the corner of her mouth, trailed kisses across her jaw down her neck; his tongue teased the swell of her breast. He paused to tug the sweater over her head without missing a beat; his tongue circled her nipple drawing it into his warm mouth. His teeth scraped lightly as the berry hardened, and he sucked gently while his hand kneaded the other breast. Her thoughts shattered as his hands and lips continued their hungry, intimate exploration of her body.
The hardness of his desire rested against her hip. She slipped her fingers under the waistband of his briefs, thumb catching the band and p
ulling his underwear over his hips, freeing him. “My favorite part,” she cooed, wrapping her fingers around his thick shaft.
“Good to know.” His breath coming in gasps as she worked her magic on his naked body. Unable to stand anymore, he grasped her hands and held them over her head, pinned against the bed. “No more. My turn.” He knelt to the side of her legs and pulled her panties off, teased a long finger inside her for a moment, she arched against his hand, then he slipped between her legs, spreading them wide baring her center to his gaze. “Absolutely beautiful.” Lathen kissed his way across her belly to the joining point of hip and inside her thigh, his breath warm against her skin.
She writhed beneath his mouth and cried out as the first orgasm ripped through her. Before she’d come down from that crest, he brought her to the edge again with his finger curled tightly inside her working that magical spot, she spread wider.
Her hands curved around his shoulders and pushed him back. “I want you inside now.”
“I love it when you take command.” He snickered and flicked his tongue once more. She arched her body and knocked him to his back, then scrambled up to straddle him.
“I’ll show you command.” Slowly easing him into her inch by painstaking inch until she took all of him. He withdrew and thrust into her, a raw act of possession. She smiled down at him.
Things had changed since his wolf returned, he felt the change as she did, but it seemed to him she wasn’t about to relinquish control tonight… Teetering on one knee, her balance wavered, and he flipped her onto her back, buried himself deep inside her. Got ya.
“Turnabout’s fair play.” He grinned. Together they found the rhythm of passion, surrender, and in the end ecstasy. Still moist from lovemaking, he rolled off of her and leaned up on his elbow snaking the other arm around her waist. “See sharing control isn’t so bad.” He shot her a cheeky grin, brushed several strands of damp red wavy hair from her eyes, and caressed his lips over hers.