by Tena Stetler
“The steaks are done medium. Anyone want well done?” Birch waved the spatula toward the smoking grill. He turned back to the barbecue, picked up a long fork, and poked it into the foil wrapped potatoes. “Yep, they’re done too.”
Freesia brought out a platter and handed it to Tristian. “Better check those steaks, his idea of medium is pretty rare,” she whispered as a conspiratorial smile curved the corners of her lips.
“I heard that,” Birch retorted, placing a steak on the platter for Tristian’s inspection.
He cut through the steak. “Perfect.”
Birch smirked at Freesia before she disappeared into the kitchen. He piled the remaining steaks on the platter.
Hannah took the plate from Tristian. “Want me to bring another for the potatoes?”
“Sure. The platters are in the cupboard to the right of the microwave, top shelf.
Freesia bustled by waving her hand. “It’s already taken care of. Everyone go on inside. Dinner is ready.” Her lips twitched as she hip-checked her husband when he picked up the potatoes from the white-hot coals with tongs and set them on the plate.
“Hey, you nearly made me drop one.” He grinned affectionately, took the plate, and gave her a little nudge toward the kitchen. “I got this.”
“Let’s eat.” Tristian led the group into the house where Caleb stood watching Willow fill the glasses with water and ice. “You’re hired. Rena needs a little help around here.”
“She’d have your head if she heard you say that,” Freesia said glaring at him.
Tristian’s hands when up in a gesture of surrender. “You’re probably right.” He held the chair out for Hannah while the others gathered around the table.
The conversation was light. Tristian’s mind wandered replaying his discussion with Bruce, then on to the task of getting Hannah to spend the night. By the time he’d forked up the last bite of baked potato and popped it into his mouth, the others had finished dinner.
“Coffee and tea outside on the veranda?” he suggested.
“Sure. I made a cheesecake topped with strawberries, drizzled with chocolate. You’re not going keep it all to yourself, Mr. Shandie,” Freesia said.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Thought we’d give dinner a chance to settle.” He unfolded his tall frame from the chair and padded toward the kitchen. “Coffee or…” His cell phone buzzed in his pocket. “Hold that thought.” Yanking his phone from his pocket, he frowned at the screen and walked into the living room put the phone to his ear. “What’s up boss?”
“We have a situation that may need your attention.”
“Now?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I’d like you to fly back with Willow and Caleb tomorrow morning, rather than next week as originally planned.”
“Okaay,” Tristian said pensively.
“Fill you in when you arrive.” Bruce disconnected the call.
Tristian glared at the phone, then shoved it in his pocket with a heavy sigh and returned to the kitchen. When he entered the room, Hannah shot him an inquiring look.
“Something’s come up. I have to leave tomorrow with Willow and Caleb.” His gaze held Hannah’s. “Any chance you can accompany us?”
“Absolutely none. I promised my boss I’d be here this entire week.”
Lips drawn into a thin line, his gaze turned stormy, then his features softened as he became aware of Birch’s almost unperceivable shake of his head. Tristian shot Birch an irritated look.
“So, Hannah will come with us next week?” Freesia asked.
“Yeah, Bruce w—will send the jet back for you. Unless…” Having learned years ago not to take anything for granted where Bruce was concerned. He reached into his pocket, pulled the cell phone out. “Call Bruce.” Phone to his ear, he walked out the front door.
Bruce picked up on the first ring. “Tristian?”
“Yeah. Checking to make sure you’ll send the jet back for Hannah, Freesia and Birch—next week.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.” The call disconnected. Tristian flexed his fingers from a fist and returned to the house. This is why a personal life and my professional life won’t mix. Dividing my attention could be deadly. He stalked into the house. “Yes, Bruce will send the jet next week for the rest of you.” He frowned at the recent turn of events.
Willow danced from one foot to the other. “We can’t have a bachelorette party or activities without my matron of honor and Angie’s bridesmaid.” She looked brightly at Hannah, who blushed slightly.
“Who me?” Hannah’s eyes rounded in surprise.
Freesia drew in a sharp breath. “Me?”
“Yep. Angie got dibs on Hannah. So Mom will be my matron of honor.” Willow twirled on one foot, her arms flying out from her sides. “This is going to be the best wedding ever.” She stopped abruptly and flung her arms around Caleb’s neck. “I love you.”
He blinked at her a couple times then smiled glancing around self-consciously. “Me too.”
Tristian stepped back to observe the happy chaotic scene playing out before him. Joy was the last thing on his mind.
He’d only taken a couple strides toward the door when a gentle hand caught his arm. “Tristian why are you leaving tomorrow?” Hannah asked concern clouding her eyes.
“I told you, something…” he said more terse than intended.
“I know what you said. Are you being sent on assignment a week before the wedding?”
“It would appear so. Trouble doesn’t take into consideration life plans,” he growled.
“Seriously?”
“Well, the demon overlord doesn’t call me in to play cribbage.” His voice belayed his thunderous mood.
Hannah fisted her hand on her hip. “Don’t be condescending with me.” Her voice sharp at first softened. “Should I be worried?”
“What kind of question is that?” He hissed. “You know what I do. Bruce didn’t give me the specifics. I’ll find out when I get there.”
She laid a hand on his shoulder, slid it down his arm. “You’ll call me?”
“Expect the worst and I’ll be back when I can.” He ran his fingers through his hair leaving the front standing up in tufts. “This is why relationships don’t work for me.” He tried to jerk free.
Hannah tightened her grip on his wrist, glanced back at the others who all had stopped talking and were staring at them. “Let’s take a walk in the gardens.” She glanced over her shoulder and said, “We’ll be back shortly to enjoy a piece of that delicious cheesecake. So, don’t think you get to eat it all either.”
“I’ll cut and serve the cheesecake on the veranda, so don’t be long,” Freesia called out cheerfully.
Once in among the flowers, Tristian stopped and turned to face Hannah. “You go on back to your job. If everything works out, I’ll call you and see…” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Tristian—take a breath and listen to me.” She shook his arm making sure she had his total attention. “Other than being whisked away in the dead of night, I’m new to this side of your world. I don’t know what to expect when you’re called away. Don’t distance yourself from me.”
“You don’t understand.”
“That’s a cop out. I am aware you have to be completely focused when on assignment. I’m not asking you to change anything. Only that you let me know what’s happening when you’re able.”
“That’s just it. The element of surprise is an absolute. Your phone is not secure enough for such communications. The fact that I have a significant other is a liability and puts us both at risk.”
“I get it. But we agreed, one step at a time and see where it leads. Nothing has changed.”
“Everything has changed,” he insisted. “My sister has aligned herself with the Demon Overlord, my boss. They’re getting married. I’m tangled up with a woman—a gryphon—and I don’t know how to keep her safe. My boss wants to change how we do things…”
“You don’t like change,” she comp
leted for him.
“Okay, I’ll give you that.”
“I can take care of myself. A gryphon is a formidable foe, with magical powers you have yet to see.” At his raised eyebrow, she shook her head. “I’ll be careful, but you concentrate on what you have to do.”
Tristian searched her face looking for…hell he didn’t know what. He’d never known a woman like her. He couldn’t let her go. Tilting her chin up, he took her mouth hungrily. Her lips parted in surprise, his tongue thrust inside exploring, soothing, teasing. Her arms slid around his neck as her body curved against him, returning the kiss with wanton exuberance. Eyes closed, he enjoyed the moment then whispered against her lips. “Stay with me tonight.” Reluctantly, he opened his eyes to find her gazing up at him.
She held his gaze for a beat and nodded.
Brushing his lips over hers once more, he shifted to wrap an arm around her waist and started toward the house. “Better get a piece of cheesecake before they eat it all.”
Chapter Eighteen
A Reprieve from All Things Evil—Never Lasts Long
After saying their goodbyes to the Coppervales and Caleb, Tristian took her in his arms. Her knees felt weak as his hard chest pressed against her sending jolts of desire to her core. He moved them toward the double chaise on the veranda.
“Not here,” she murmured against the pulsing hollow of his throat. Unable to help herself, she breathed a lingering kiss there, her tongue tasting along the ridge of his collarbone.
Tristian sucked in a breath. “No one can see.” He pushed her peasant blouse off her shoulders, his lips trailed across her jaw, along her neck to the swells of her breasts. Reaching around her back, he flipped opened the catch of her bra. Her firm breasts tumbled out into his waiting hands. The rough pad of his thumb circled and teased her nipples. She shivered as moisture gathered between her legs.
She reached for his shirt worn open halfway down his sculpted chest and unbuttoned the remaining buttons. Her fingertips caressed the contours of his pectoral muscles, reached up and slipped the shirt off his shoulders. His earthy, spicy scent filled her nostrils and she inhaled deeply, holding onto his biceps as he lowered her to the chaise. She reveled as his muscles tightened and released beneath her fingers. His raw masculine strength was an unbelievable turn on. Commitment or not, she intended to make him hers, one way or the other and nothing else mattered.
His warmth radiated over her as he hovered above her. She released the button on his jeans and lowered the zipper, his remaining clothing disappeared along with hers.
“No fair,” she squealed her eyes drinking in his hard-naked body. Tingles raced up and down her spine as his smoldering gaze raked over her. Yet, mischief glittered in his eyes as she held his gaze reminding her of the Tristian in Hawaii. The man she’d fallen in love with, but his darker side…now that was a challenge—and if she admitted it—a turn on as well. What was it about bad boys…scratch that…men? There was nothing boyish about this Adonis.
All thoughts flew from her mind as his warm hands began a slow caress over the curves of her body, exploring, teasing, touching. Ohhh God. His mouth devoured hers, and his fingers slipped into her heat. She arched against him, wanted so much more. He spread her legs with his knees and knelt between them. Desire spun out of control as she reached down, felt him smooth and hard in her hand, fingers wrapped around him.
Tristian groaned and thrust against her. “You’re going to kill me, woman.”
His fingers reached the sweet spot at her core, and she moaned crashing over the edge of ecstasy, her fingers digging into his back. She should have been embarrassed at her lack of control, but she wasn’t. It seemed so long since Hawaii and his intimate touch…had ignited her.
Gasping for breath, she slowly traced her lips with the tip of her tongue and grinned. “But what a way to go.”
A seductive rumble rose from his throat then he shifted and slid into her. His eyes widened when she arched up to meet him with deep, quick thrusts of her hips. She snickered. “You’re in so much trouble.” She wound her leg around his and raised up on one elbow just enough to off balance him. When the time was right, quick as a wink, she wound her leg around his and tugged it out from underneath him, rolling him onto his back. “I like it on top,” she purred.
While surprised, he seemed thrilled as she ground her hips down on his, he arched up repeatedly finding the rhythm that brought her to the brink again. She threw back her head and howled with pleasure. When her eyes came back in focus, a smug smile curved his lips. “Now that’s something new. My gryphon is part wolf?”
She had only a second to ponder the “my” thing, before he cupped her neck and brought her lips to his, tongue parted her lips, thrust inside matching the motions of his hips. All at once his arms tightened around her, his breath coming in gasps, he tensed and let out a long, throaty growl.
She lay cradled in his arms wrapped tightly around her waist pressing her back to his chest, exhausted, but sated. “Can we go back inside yet?” she asked. Heat crept up her neck spread across her face as she felt his answer rather that heard. “Fast recovery rate.”
“It’s a perk, besides I’ve been thinking about you all day”—he cleared his throat—“all week and about the things I wanted to do to you when we were alone.” Tristian licked his lips.
Peering over her shoulder at him, a sensuous smile curved his lips. She twisted in his arms, slid her leg over his rubbing her center against him. “Have your way with me…sir.” She giggled, teasing his nipples with the tip of her tongue. Scared shitless about his assignment tomorrow, about explaining this relationship to her parents, her sister, and wondering which Tristian would return to her. Hannah shook her head to dislodge such thoughts. All that mattered was tonight.
He moved with the grace of a panther stalking his prey as he got to his knees and slipped his hands down the inside of her thighs, spreading her legs, leaning into her. Mine. Surprised by his thought floating through her mind, she tried to keep the connection open, but as in previous times, it snapped shut without warning.
The few glances into his mind had come at times when they were alone, intimate, but she wasn’t sure he was aware of the connection. It was a subject she intended to discuss with him, but now was not the time. His warm breath heated her core. She relaxed under him and gave into the delicious sensation of his moist lips on her, his warmth penetrating her body and soul. Yep, she was in trouble. There was no turning away from this man. His ministrations brought her to the brink over and over. Finally, he filled her, waves of ecstasy throbbed through her, then long surrendering moans escaped his lips. She smiled, kissed his cheek softly as he rolled to his side spooning with her, slipping into the sated sleep of lovers.
Sometime during the night, he must have carried her into the bedroom, she didn’t remember, but she awoke in his bed to the sounds of him moving around in the dark room. Her skin cooled without his warm body in the bed beside her. All her insecurities bubbled to the surface, she shoved them away determined to stay in control of her emotions. I’m a strong, confident woman in love with an impossible warlock. What a mess.
His warm breath caressed her face as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Then trailed his lips to her mouth covering it, his tongue tracing her lips then slipped inside. Raising his mouth from hers, voice husky he said, “I’ll see you in a week.” And he was gone.
Muffled voices rose from outside, car doors opening and closing then a hum of an engine as the vehicle eased down the driveway to the main road. She rolled over and sat on the side of the bed as a single tear slipped down her cheek. His robe lay at the foot of the bed, she wrapped it around her, pausing to inhale his scent, earthy with a hint of spice. She rolled up the sleeves and tied the belt around her waist. How she loved his scent lingering in the plush robe.
Slipping her feet into soft slippers, she padded down the stairs. Searching the couch, beside the chairs, she finally found her purse and took out her phone. She ploppe
d onto the couch and tucked her feet up under her. Staring at the device for several long minutes, she straightened, then tapped the screen and said, “Call Brandy.”
Her sister answered on the first ring. “Hannah, everything all right?”
Hannah brushed the tear from her cheek and sucked in a breath. “Yes, of course. Wanted to let you know, I passed the citizenship test. So, moving to Colorado should be in my future.”
“That’s great. We need to celebrate! I’ve got quite a work load for the next couple weeks, got couple of rangers out, but I can fly out afterward,” Brandy said excitedly.
“That would be great fun. But I’ll be leaving for the wedding in a few days. Can we do it later?”
“Later, not now, that’s all I hear. You’re hiding something, Hannah. What have you gotten mixed up in? Are you in trouble?”
“No. Nothing like that. I’m fine, I promise. It’s just that I have a pile of work to get through before I leave. There isn’t time for anything else. When I get back, we’ll make arrangements to get together, and I’ll introduce you to him.”
“Does him have a name?”
“Of course.” Her phone pinged with another incoming call. “Brandy, my boss is on the other line. I’ve got to take his call. Love you. Talk to you soon and I’ll tell you all about him, the trip, our plans, then we’ll make arrangements for you to fly here to meet him. Fair enough?”
“Yeah, sure. But I’m going to hold you to it,” Brandy warned.
“I’m sure you will. Gotta go.” Hannah disconnected the call.
****
The couple hour flight from Maine to Washington D.C. seemed much longer to Tristian than usual. Anxious to have his meeting with Bruce over so he could get on with this assignment. His thoughts kept drifting to Hannah all warm and fragrant in his bed this morning. He shook his head vehemently. That was an indulgence, he couldn’t afford. Leaning back in his seat, he closed his eyes. A long way off, he heard someone call his name.
“Tristiaaan.” A woman’s voice drew out his name. “Oh, there you are. Want a bagel?” Willow asked seeing that she now had his attention. “What were you so deep in thought about? Or do I want to know?”