9781950890996_TXT_eBook

by Barton, Kathi S.

  “I do as well. When I see you across the room, I can almost feel your heart beating for me. Feel your love above the din of having others around us.” Wrapping his arm around her waist, Dominic brought her body to his and Charlie moaned. “Do you have any idea how much I think of you daily? How many times a day I want to tell you that I love you? It’s like my entire life is wrapped up tightly around yours, until I can’t tell your thoughts from my own.”

  The kiss was almost too much. Dominic had a way about him that made her feel like she was being absorbed by every part of him. Claiming was just too little of a word for how he made her feel. Looking at him when he lifted his head, she stared into his eyes and felt lost there.

  “I love you so much, Dominic. Do you believe me?” He didn’t answer her with words, but showed her with his mouth and hands. Everywhere his hands touched her, Charlie could feel his love, the warmth of loving someone as much as she did him.

  “Spending the rest of my life with you, even being immortal, will never be enough time for me to show you how much I love you. I can’t remember a time in my life where I ever thought of having a mate like you in my life. You don’t just complete me, Charlie, you have made me.”

  He kissed her again, and then picked her up in his arms. When he laid her on the bed, it was all she could do not to beg him to take her. To make her his. But when he joined her on the bed, his naked hard body looming over hers, all Charlie could think about was as soon as he touched her, she was going to come apart at the seams.

  “I want to take my time with making love to you.” His hands ran up and down her legs until she was nearly ready to scream. “The first thing I want to do— No, the first thing I need to do is to taste you. Will you come in my mouth for me, Charlie? Let me taste the part of you that gives me the most delicious part of you?”

  “Yes. Oh yes, Dominic. Anything you want, I’m willing to give over to you.”

  When Dominic leaned over her, licking her from gate to clit, she came so hard that she was sure she’d woke the dead when she’d screamed out her release. After that first climax, there were no more words spoken between them, just moans and screams from her that made her know that she’d be horse in the morning.

  Dominic ate her as if she was his last meal. Her body no longer had time to rest between releases, but felt as if they had blended into one continuous release. When he finally lifted his head from her, just the sight of him with her cream on his face gave her renewed strength. Made her body hum with need again.

  As he moved up her body, nipping and kissing her as he went, Charlie wasn’t sure, but she thought that he looked slightly demented. As if he had taken what he’d wanted from her and needed so much more. Charlie stilled him with her hand on his chest.

  “You need me.” Dominic told her that both him and his wolf needed her. “Will you bite me? The two of you?”

  When he answered her, telling her that they would, his voice was as rough as she’d thought his wolf would be if he spoke to her. Then he licked her from her navel to her breasts, circling the pert tips with a tongue that was rough and long. Shivering, Charlie felt the heat of his cock as he touched himself to her clit at her entrance.

  “You’re ours.” She nodded at him; his voice was deeper than it had been before. “Say it, Charlie. Tell us that you belong to us and no one else.”

  “I belong to you both forever and a day. I shall love you and your wolf until the end of time. Not my time, because with you beside me, there will be no ending. Only a life with you and our family.”

  Dominic didn’t just fill her, but he moved into her in such a way that had her thinking that he’d become a part of her. And when he began to move in and out of her, it was all she could do to hold onto him. He took her like he owned her, and Charlie loved every second of it.

  “Come for me.” She said that she couldn’t, she was spent. “You can and you will when I bite you. Give me what I want, Charlie, and I’ll make it worth your while. Come now.”

  Her body seemed to not just explode, but to implode as well. Every part of her, from the inside out, seemed to come apart in a way that made her think she was about as close to dying as she’d ever been. As soon as he bit her, sinking his teeth into her flesh, she knew that she’d faded out for a second or two, and woke with him over her. Then when he threw back his head and howled, Charlie was so caught up in the beauty of him coming that her body surprised her when it reacted to his cum filling her body, heating her in a way that Charlie was sure she’d never recover from.

  When he pulled from her, flipping her to her belly, she got up on her knees and screamed yet again when he filled her. Him taking her hard this way was wonderfully fulfilling. Dominic pounded her so hard that every time she came, she was sure that it was the last time. That her heart would simply stop beating for all time.

  When he came again, Dominic fell atop of her. Taking her to the bed, they both simply laid there until Dominic rolled to his back and held her in his arms. Still breathing hard, Charlie told him how much she loved him before falling into a deep sleep.

  Waking when she heard a sound, Charlie sat up and looked around. There didn’t seem to be anyone in the room, and the monitors to the babies was silent as well. Getting up and pulling on her robe, she wandered down the hall, looking in each of the rooms as she went. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so she made her way down the stairs.

  Roger was in the living room when she made it to that room. He looked as if he’d been in a fight, and she asked him what had happened to him. Turning on the light, she realized it was much worse than she had first thought.

  “It’s nothing. Just a little fun we were having.” She glared at him. “Look, my lady, I don’t wish to tell you about it. All right? It was a quick fight that made me realize that I should pay more attention when I’m dealing with people.”

  “And how is that supposed to make me think you’re all strong and all powerful?” Roger glared at her. Then something occurred to her. “It was Will and Dorcus, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes.” Nodding at him, she sat down on the couch to think about what he’d not told her. “That’s not why I came here, Charlie. I’m here for two reasons, really. One, to tell you that I shan’t visit you or your family again. I believe that our work is completed. The second thing is that I’ve gotten the information about the markings.”

  “I know what those are. We were told that when we got them.” Roger told her that it was the hearts on them. “Oh, you mean the babies. No, we don’t know what those are supposed to do. How did you know about them?”

  “I have my ways. But you and Dominic are marked as well. I was told that it was within the marks that you were given when you received the magic. It was all together for you and Dominic.” She didn’t bother looking. If it was there, she’d look for it later. “The marks are to give you free passage.”

  “To where?” Roger told her that they could go anywhere and never be stopped. “I don’t understand. What sort of place would I need to go that I’d need permission for? For that matter, why not just tell us what this meant?”

  “Access to any realm. Any pack or other grouping of shifters. You can ask them for help, say with your new projects, and they’d fall over themselves to help you. The mark you have, the mark of the heart, tells all that see it, or even feel it, that you have been marked by a supreme being that says that you’re not just trustworthy, but that you’re a being that could and will help anyone that needs you.” She still didn’t understand. “All right. Look at it this way. You could come to my realm anytime you wish, demand or ask for anything that you might need from me, and not only would I want to give it to you because of the markings, but I’d be also thought of as a good will giving person too. Not as passionately as you and your family, but it would be like brownie points for me to help you. Not that I’d turn you down. Your kind has done a great many things for me. Not even counting over t
he last few months.”

  “Okay. I’m not saying that I don’t believe you. But what sort of things would I need something like this for? I mean, I can see asking, say, a pack for help in watching over the retreats that Dominic is working on. But why a realm that we have not worked with before?”

  Roger was pacing when Dominic entered the room. He told her how he’d missed her warmth and had gone looking for her. Charlie caught him up on what she’d been talking to Roger about.

  “I think he’s now trying to figure out a nice way to tell me just to shut up and take the fucking information instead of asking so many flipping questions.”

  “You’d not do that. I’ve noticed that you’re very curious about things like that. I think knowing right up front what it is you’re dealing with is the best way.” Roger growled at them both. “Oh no, honey. I think we’ve upset our guest.”

  “You two are playing with me, aren’t you? I’ve had a rough day, and I do not wish to take it out on you.” All Dominic did was stand up. Roger not only fell to the floor, but curled into a tight ball while begging for forgiveness. When Dominic turned and winked at her, she had a feeling that he knew more than she did about something. “I forgot myself for a moment. I beg for your forgiveness, my lord.”

  “Just be careful not to threaten us again, Roger. I know who you are, and I’ve no wish to contact your boss and tell him how you’ve been treating us.” Dominic sat down. “If you have nothing else to add to what you’ve told us, then be gone.”

  When Roger disappeared with nothing more than a popping sound, Charlie looked at Dominic. He had a very self-satisfied look on his face that made her think he’d enjoyed that much more than she thought he should have.

  “What the hell sort of shenanigans was that? Did you just order the big guy gone?” Dominic told her that he wasn’t who he’d claimed to be. “So he was just an underling.”

  “Sort of. But he’ll not be bothering us or anyone again. He had a plan, and without this newfound magic we have, I might not have realized it until too late.” She asked him what he’d been doing. “Playing us. Bringing us to the point where we would trust him. Then he was going to take us to his lair, and that would have been a big payoff for him. We would have trusted him enough so that we would have done almost anything he wanted.”

  “Why didn’t I have that same feeling?” Dominic explained why not. “So he showed up here, hoping to lure one of us downstairs into a room that he’d prepared. The magic, new to us—well, me, in this instance—didn’t register yet. It’s what woke me up. Right? Before coming in here, I knew something was off. I thought it was the babies, but it was him. What a fucking bastard.”

  She was still pissy about it when they made their way up the stairs. Of course, Dominic was laughing. Charlie was more than willing to forgive him for laughing at her when they got into bed and he wrapped his arms around her.

  ~*~

  Sara loved all these new babies in the family. Thinking of the two that Dominic and Charlie would be naming this evening had her all tingly. Looking in the back seat at all the gifts her and Kelley had gotten for all the children made her feel so special. Grandchildren were the very best invention since...well, just the best invention of all things.

  “I’ve been thinking on things. What do you suppose they named those kids? They’re going to need something strong and powerful so that they can be getting over the things that brought them into this world.” Sara said she didn’t know if they were going to ever know about it. “You don’t think? I think they should tell them. Afore anyone else has it in their mind to do it. That would be hurtful, don’t you think?”

  “I suppose it would be. I just think it will be hard on them either way.” Kelley said they were just babies. “I don’t mean the children, you old poop. I meant Dominic and Charlie in having to tell them either way. What am I going to do with you?”

  “Love me as much as I do you.” She felt her heart melt when he took her hand into his as he drove to the home Dominic shared with Charlie. “Whatever they do or say, you know as well as I do that it’ll be done well. And if they come to us, we’ll be there for them. The adults or the children. That’s our job as the oldest. Well, the oldest wolves, anyway. There are a few people that are a tad bit older than us. The way things are going, not that I’m complaining, but we might need to get the grandkiddies some name tags with who they belong to before too much longer. Sara, my love, I’m enjoying every minute of it too.”

  They were met at the door with a screaming baby. Sara took the little girl from Charlie as soon as she noticed that the girl was stressed out. Almost as soon as she took the baby in her arms, not only did she quiet down, but she stared at Sara like she knew just what she was to her.

  “What’s the matter with Grandmas little girl? Did someone startle you?” Charlie explained what had happened. “Oh well, that formula is enough to make my belly ill too. What else did Mommy give you?”

  “I haven’t yet. Dominic went to get other kinds, but the three we have here neither baby will take. I think they hate me already.” Sara had to bite her lip so she’d not tell her that the child would love her forever. “I’m just stressed out about this. Daniel is just sobbing too, but not as loudly as this one is. It’s like she wants the entire world to know that she’s pissed off about something.”

  “Did you try milk? I know you’re not supposed to feed human babies milk, but none of you are human. Perhaps that’s why she doesn’t like the formula.” Charlie turned and headed toward the kitchen. Laughing, Sara looked down at the little girl. “Well, I know your brother’s name is Daniel now. Let’s see if I can figure out what your name is. Unless you want to tell me.”

  Startled, Sara watched the child. The name Abigail Sara Winchester floated through her mind when she’d asked the child her name. Taking a deep breath, Sara asked her what her brother’s full name was. And just like that, she knew his name was Daniel Kelley Winchester. Sara didn’t know if she should be afraid, thrilled, or locked up because she thought her few days old granddaughter was speaking to her. Going to the kitchen, Sara didn’t ask any more questions of the child. She wanted proof first.

  “What is her name? I mean, let me tell you what I heard it is, then you can tell me I was wrong. Being wrong about this won’t bother me at all. Is her name Abigail Sara? And the little boy. Is he Daniel Kelley?” Charlie nodded slowly. Sara had to sit down. “I asked her, you see. I was just joking around, asking Abbie what her name was, when she answered me. At least I’m thinking she did. Are you going to call her Abbie?”

  Sara took a chance and looked at the little girl again, and asked her if she minded being called Abbie. She said that she loved it. Putting her on the table, no longer thinking that she was in her right mind, Abbie spoke to her again.

  You’re Grandma. Daddy said that you would be so good to Danny and me. I have cousins too. And Mr. Cartwright was the nicest man in that he made it so good things happened to all of you. Me and Danny too, I guess. Sara told Charlie what Abbie was telling her. Mommy loves you. She told me that when my belly hurt.

  “I’m insane, aren’t I?” Charlie said that if she was, then she was as well. “Abbie spoke to you too then? What, if I might ask, did she say to you?”

  “When you mentioned that we weren’t human and that milk might work, I thought I heard her say, or someone say, that it would work because cow milk was better for her belly too.” Sara asked Charlie if she had some tea. “Yes. I don’t know about you, but I could use something a bit stronger. But I won’t. I want to, but I won’t.”

  While Sara got the tea pot going, Charlie worked on the bottle. Neither of them mentioned Abbie again, but she knew that they were very freaked out. Sitting down at the table, Charlie put the nipple to the bottle in Abbie’s mouth. They both watched as she sucked it right down like it was what she needed and wanted all along. Charlie started talking as she burped the baby.
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  “Roger came to see us last night.” Charlie told her everything that had happened, including what Dominic had discovered. “While he was helpful in what he did for us, there was a whole other reason for him doing it. Dominic told me that he was going to do some more investigation. I’m almost afraid to ask you if you think that Abbie and Danny know more than we will.”

  “I don’t want to know either. Just make up a bottle for little Danny, and I’ll make us another pot of tea. Did you tell Dominic to pick up milk?” Charlie said that she’d tell him now. “It’ll be all right, Charlie. I don’t know all that is going on, but we’ll muddle through. We’ll all be just fine and dandy.”

  At least she hoped they would. When the bottle was warmed up, Charlie took it to Kelley. Abbie was sleeping now, so Sara didn’t speak to her. Right now all she wanted to do was think about what had just happened. That a child no more than a few days old had told them what she wanted to eat and that she approved of her name.

  Sara laughed when she thought of what Kelley might say to her when he found out. She was sure that he’d have her committed as soon as they left this home. Picking up Abbie so as not to wake her again, she made her way to the living room to see what was taking Charlie so long to come back.

  Danny was on the couch looking at Charlie and Kelley. The two of them were in a heated discussion that Sara would bet had something to do with the little man on the couch. When Abbie opened her eyes and looked at her, Sara laid her on the floor, then put Danny down beside her. Sara didn’t know how long this was going to go on, but she didn’t want one of the babies to be hurt. Who knew what the little guys could do that other infants this age couldn’t.

  The children didn’t cry. Danny fussed a little, so Sara asked him if he wanted a bottle. Telling her that he wanted what his sister had, she picked him up off the floor and gave him the one that Charlie had made for him.