by Nalini Singh
A beaming smile that kicked him right in the heart, just as Naya’s hand opened on his chest, a quiet second punch. And he knew he wanted to be nowhere else on this earth.
Copyright © 2014 by Nalini Singh
Romancing Drew
Author’s Note: This standalone short story features two characters from the Psy-Changeling series. Both are wolf changelings. (For those of you who like to know the chronological order of things, the timeline of this story intersects with Shards of Hope.)
Romancing Drew
By Nalini Singh
“Do you know how difficult it is to romance Drew?” Indigo muttered, glaring at Platty. The ragged stuffed bear with his dashing eye patch gave her a smirk.
Okay, maybe that was her imagination, but she bet the bear was on Drew’s side. “Hmph,” she said, and stood up to pace around their bedroom before heading out to pace in the living area.
It was their one-year-anniversary tomorrow and she was determined to do something for Drew. Her mate had romance down—last week, she’d found a note in the pocket of her jeans that had made her wear a goofy smile all day. She wasn’t as good at that stuff, not that Drew seemed to mind; he loved her exactly the way she was, but she was determined to surprise him this time.
There had to be something she could do.
Flowers were too obvious. So were chocolates after Drew’s playful way of leaving her chocolate kisses where she least expected it. The memories made her smile go goofy again.
“Damn it, stop thinking about what he’s done and think about what you can do,” she ordered herself. “You are not being helpful,” she said to Platty, then picked him up and kissed his eye patch before putting him back down.
Pacing back and forth across the room, she knew she could ask some of her more romantic-minded friends for help, but she wanted to do this herself. For Drew. He deserved it.
Never had she thought she’d be courted so outrageously and so sweetly at the same time. She just wasn’t the type to inspire that kind of response in a man—was too tough, too strong, too much a SnowDancer lieutenant. Only Drew had proved her wrong. She inspired him all the time.
Picking up Platty again, she sat down with the bear on the bed from which she’d had to push Drew out this morning so he’d make his shift. She didn’t know what he’d done before her—the man hated getting up in the morning.
His all-time favorite thing to do was to curl up in bed on a day when they didn’t have early shifts and tease her to distraction. Indigo had zero complaints about that—she enjoyed teasing him in return.
Her watch beeped. “Right, I have a meeting,” she said to Platty. “Keep thinking of ideas.”
It was as she was walking into that meeting that it hit her, what she had to do. And it involved talking to Riley.
~
Drew cracked open a single eye the next morning to find himself looking into the smiling face of the most beautiful woman in the world. “Happy anniversary, lieutenant.” He had plans for them, but they had to wait. “Damn morning shift.”
Reaching out, Indigo ran her fingers through his hair. “Happy anniversary.” She leaned in close to nuzzle her nose to his. “Guess what?”
Bones liquid because she was playing with him, his wolf utterly hers, he said, “What?”
“I got you the day off.”
He began to smile. “No shit?” It was kind of a rule with him that he didn’t use his connection to his brother to get special treatment. Since Riley made the schedules, it would’ve been easy to hit him up for a shift change, and lots of packmates did, but it seemed wrong to do that when he was Drew’s brother.
“I promised we’d do swing shifts for a week,” Indigo said. “So no guilt.”
How did she know him so well? Because she was his mate. His gorgeous, smart, perfect mate. “I love you.”
“I haven’t even gotten started,” she said, and snuggled close. “Now go to sleep.”
Yawning, Drew threw his arm around her. “I like this anniversary,” he mumbled even as his eyes closed.
The next time he woke, his mate was missing from his arms and he could smell bacon in the air. Blinking, he looked around to find Indigo sitting cross-legged in bed. She’d put on a short robe and was holding a mug of coffee, her hair tumbled around her face. “Morning, sleepy.”
“Morning.” Rising to a sitting position, he stole her coffee.
It was only after he’d drunk half of it, returned the mug, stumbled to use the facilities and back, that he woke up enough to realize there was a cart next to the bed with covered dishes on it. “Hey, is that...”
“Breakfast in bed?” Indigo kissed the side of his face. “Yes.”
His mouth fell open as she jumped out of bed and put a wooden tray on his lap. “I can—” he began.
“Hush.” Her fingers under his jaw, her mouth coming down on his for a toe-curling kiss. “Let me.”
Completely captivated, lost in her, he let her put a plate of bacon, eggs, toast, hash browns, and grilled tomatoes on the tray. She added a fresh cup of coffee and a side of strawberries. That done, she knelt on the bed beside him and filched a piece of bacon. Putting it to his lips, she let him take a bite, then took one herself.
He grinned, got with the program, fed her some of the toast, ate the rest of the bacon—and nibbled on her fingers while he was at it. She nipped at his jaw in return. And that was how it went.
It was the best damn breakfast of his life.
Later, he put aside the tray—after picking up the last strawberry and feeding it to her. She took a bite. A drop of red juice dripped down her chin. Leaning forward, he licked it off, then rubbed the berry on her lips so he had more to lick up. After which, he felt like running that strawberry down her throat and lower...and lower.
~
An hour later, he lay beside Indigo, both their chests heaving. Reaching over to link his fingers with hers, he said, “Best anniversary present ever. Blows my plans out of the water.” He didn’t even care.
“Good,” Indigo said after gulping in a breath.
He could hear the grin in her tone.
“Love you.”
His heart ached in the best way, his wolf rubbing against his skin. “Love you, too, Indy.” Always, he’d love her. Always, he’d belong to her.
Shifting over, Indigo, his tough, strong mate curled into him. “Wanna nap again?”
“Best. Mate. Ever.”
Her laughter followed him into his dreams.
Copyright © 2016 by Nalini Singh
Housewarming at the Orchard
Author’s Note: This story takes place soon after the end of Shield of Winter and before Shards of Hope.
Housewarming at the Orchard
By Nalini Singh
Ivy placed the centerpiece in the middle of the large wooden table that occupied her and Vasic’s new dining area. Her small cabin had been enlarged to a sprawling five bedroom house in record time, thanks to the combined efforts of her community and a squad of Arrows. The Arrows had done the majority of the physical work, the more experienced builders who lived nearby drawing up the plans and sharing their knowledge and experience.
Ivy had made sure the extension included large communal spaces. This dining area flowed off from a spacious kitchen filled with light courtesy of all the windows that looked out over Ivy’s kitchen garden, the vegetable plots bordered by flowers. Between the dining area and the kitchen was a comfortable arrangement of sofas and chairs set around a low table.
Nothing but a counter separated the kitchen from that informal seating area.
She’d had to convince Vasic on the usefulness of such an area. He hadn’t been certain his fellow Arrows would be comfortable in such a casual environment, not when they were used to rules and straight lines. Relaxation was a foreign concept.
Ivy had prevailed when she pointed out that even if adult Arrows didn’t like that space, the children might. So far, the squad hadn’t permitted any children here, concerned w
ith being able to ensure their security, which Ivy understood. But with her own security now ramped up, she knew the situation was changing at a rapid pace.
One day soon, children would run across these smooth wooden floors, tumble to play on the soft but hardwearing rug she’d placed in the center of the informal area, only part of which was covered by the coffee table. They’d laugh and ask what she was cooking, and she’d sneak them a treat now and then. And one day, those children would have eyes of a wintry gray that to her held the universe.
The idea made her heart grow big inside her chest, almost too big to contain.
Swallowing the lump of emotion, she smoothed her hands over the wooden table built by her Arrow and his best friend. They’d buffed and polished it to a smooth finish but they’d made no attempt to hide or erase the flaws in the raw material: the dips and valleys, the crack that exposed the dark heart of the honey-colored wood, the slight warping on one edge.
It was Ivy’s favorite piece of furniture.
Her centerpiece was nothing overdone, just a cluster of wildflowers she’d picked and placed in a small glass jar that had once held preserves. It served no purpose but to be a joyful splash of color. Ivy could do such things openly now. She no longer had to hide her instincts and inclinations, no longer had to live in fear, her mind painfully chained. She was an E, an empath, and she found joy in taking care of those around her, in ensuring they were happy and content, in creating a home that held unconditional welcome.
“Ivy.”
Turning, she smiled at the man she’d sensed the instant he walked in the door. “How was your walk with Rabbit?” Their small white dog still had a tendency to follow Vasic around every time Vasic stepped outside, as if their pet well knew how close they’d come to losing this man who was Ivy’s heart. The first few times Vasic had teleported out without warning, Rabbit had barked for several minutes in aggrieved irritation, then ignored Vasic for at least an hour after he returned—though even then, Rabbit never went far.
Later, he’d started walking even closer to Vasic, as if trying to sneak into the teleport. These days, Vasic just took him along except when the situation might be a dangerous one. Their pet was probably the most well-traveled pup in the entire world.
“He’s resting under the apple tree with the scarred trunk,” Vasic said. “I threw sticks for him to chase and he tired himself out.” He curled his arm around her when she walked to wrap her own around him.
His scent surrounded her, familiar and beloved.
“Nothing feels as good as being in your embrace,” she said, rubbing her cheek against his chest before tilting her head back to look into the eyes in which she’d once seen winter and now saw a love that defined her.
Phantom fingers brushing back her unbound hair, her telekinetic lover caressing her in a way only he could. “Don’t be sad if they don’t come.”
He was no empath but Vasic could read her like an open book. Part of it was the psychic bond that linked them heart to heart, but the rest of it was just Vasic. He watched, he listened, and he surprised her by doing things like building the dining table with Aden when, having decided the men had worked hard enough on the house, she hadn’t so much as hinted at her desire for one.
“I will be sad,” she admitted with a scowl. “I sent out specific invitations to ten of the squad.” Not a general invitation, but rather a directed one, on the theory that Arrows were used to making specific plans and would be more likely to turn up to her first attempt at a group event.
So many had come to her and Vasic’s wedding but that had been for a deeply symbolic and very important reason. This was for no reason but to have a social gathering. She hoped the success of this small dinner would lead to a deeper sense of comfort among the attendees, which would then spill over onto the rest of the squad.
“This house,” she said to her personal Arrow, “it’s so new that I still find the occasional curl of wood we missed somewhere. It smells new, smells like possibility and hope.”
“I wasn’t aware emotions had a scent.”
Scrunching up her nose at the man she adored beyond life, Ivy rose on tiptoe to kiss him. Just because he was hers and he was teasing her and she loved touching him. He returned the kiss in full measure…and halfway through, she realized he’d used his telekinetic abilities to lift her several inches off the floor.
Laughing into the kiss, she telepathed, Tired of bending down to kiss me?
For your kiss, Ivy, I’d go anywhere…but this is more efficient.
Her shoulders shook and she couldn’t hold the kiss. Some of her friends thought Vasic was too serious, too quiet; they’d learn better when they got to know him more. He knew how to smile, her lover, though his lips rarely curved. “I can’t argue with that.” Hooking her legs around his hips, she leaned into the kiss, her fingers deep in the cool silk of his hair.
She made no attempt to hold herself up, trusting Vasic to keep her safe.
He always did.
His taste sank into her bones, his warmth and strength as familiar a caress as the kiss that melted her. Nuzzling at him when they finally broke the kiss, she said, “I’ll be sad, but I’ll keep trying. I want them to understand that we’re family now, that they’re welcome always.”
Vasic slid his hand over her curves as she hopped down to the ground. “No one I know is as stubborn as a certain empath.”
“Don’t you forget it.” She stroked his jaw before turning to walk over to the kitchen counter on which she’d placed a tray full of whole fruits she planned to cut once their guests started arriving. With Vasic as her expert consultant, she’d chosen fruit that had a milder flavor, less sweetness or tartness.
Arrows were used to tasteless nutrition bars like most of the Psy race; she’d have to ease them into other foodstuffs. She’d also made a light stew and a soft flatbread her friend Jaya had shown her how to prepare. Neither had an intense taste.
Checking to ensure the stew was bubbling on the cooker, she turned to Vasic. “I’ll share this with my parents and the others who live here if the squad members fail to show.”
“Aden will come.” Vasic leaned down to pet Rabbit when their dog ran into the room, Rabbit’s nails making familiar scratching sounds on the floor.
Ivy had clipped those nails recently, after sitting Rabbit on her lap. From the first, he’d always sat quietly while she did that, as if he knew she was only trying to make him more comfortable. “Hello, you,” she said as he came over to her, his tail wagging wildly. “All rested up?” Kneeling down, she scratched him behind the ears as she knew he liked.
Steps sounded on the wooden floor while she was laughing at Rabbit’s tongue-lolling ecstasy. She knew that tread. “Hello, Aden.”
“Ivy.”
Rubbing Rabbit’s belly when he flopped onto his back with his legs up in the air, she listened to Vasic and Aden talk about a current operation with the ease of men who’d known each other since childhood.
They were connected by inseparable bonds, her Arrow and his best friend. It was Aden who’d kept Vasic alive and sane long enough that Ivy had been able to find him. And it was Aden who’d turned up day after day to help Vasic figure out his physical balance after Samuel Rain had to take Vasic’s arm in order to save his life.
She’d sat with Rabbit on the stoop of her old cabin, which was now incorporated into this house as her and Vasic’s bedroom, and watched the two men as they moved with lethal grace. Even with his balance off directly after the operation, Vasic had lost none of that grace.
Highly trained as he was, however, it hadn’t taken him long to find a new balance. Of course, Samuel was determined to build him an integrated prosthetic. The scientist was brilliant enough that he might just find a way to bypass the systems in Vasic’s body that had been permanently damaged by the experimental gauntlet that had almost stolen him from Ivy.
But that was Samuel's goal, not Ivy's.
What mattered to her was that the gauntlet damage was local
ized, had no impact on Vasic’s overall health. She’d be forever grateful to Samuel and his surgical team for ensuring Vasic came out of the surgery suite alive.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she breathed slow and deep.
Ivy.
I’m okay, she said to her Arrow. Just happy.
Vasic gave her a measuring look when she stood up, his eyes intent. Then he held out his arm. Walking over to tuck herself against him, she reached out a hand to Aden. He’d sat with her during the agonizing hours of the surgery, told her about his and Vasic’s childhood, kept her from breaking apart. She would never forget that.
Today he allowed her to curl her fingers around his palm in welcome before they separated. “Thank you for coming, Aden.”
Sensing another presence right then, Ivy made an inarticulate sound and broke away from Vasic. Her friend Jaya laughed at the impact of Ivy’s hug, the other E having teleported in with blue-eyed Abbot.
“I didn’t know you were coming!” Ivy hadn’t invited Abbot and Jaya, not because she didn’t want them to attend, but because she knew they were busy setting up an empathic training school in Jaya’s region.
Jaya hugged her back just as enthusiastically before they separated. The taller woman’s elegantly lovely face was lit with sparkling warmth. “I heard you were having a party and I didn’t want to feel left out.” She added a telepathic postscript. I also thought you could do with a little backup.
Thank you. Ivy glanced over her shoulder to see that Abbot had joined Vasic and Aden. Turning back to her friend, she continued to speak on the telepathic level. How are you and your Arrow doing?
Jaya's eyes shone wet. I have no words, Ivy. He loves me with a depth that steals my breath. She pressed a fisted hand against her heart, rubbed. When I’m with him, I feel more. Bigger. Better. Stronger.