Asanni

by J. F. Kaufmann

  “They are enchanting,” Jack said, studying each icon. “Did you know the Orthodox believe it was Luke the Evangelist who first painted the image of Christ and the Virgin Mary?”

  He continued talking about the spiritual beliefs of Eastern Christianity, the golden age of Byzantium, and the churches and monasteries he’d visited. Once again, I was fascinated by his knowledge and erudition, even more by the easy, unpresuming way he presented it. “We could hang them in the living room, if you like, and then choose the furniture and the carpets and everything around them. They are beautiful.”

  I smiled. I could easily imagine our house as a controlled chaos of different styles and impossible decorative combinations, with warmth and coziness as their only common denominator. Neither Jack nor I were snobs obsessed with the material world, designer brands and current fashion. I liked his idea of using the art pieces as interior decoration, and I immediately pictured lots of rich colors and natural materials in our cuddly and sheltered future nest.

  “You don’t want them in the bedroom?” I said with a grin.

  “I don’t want six saints watching over what we are doing. That might make them feel uncomfortable,” he said, laughing, and carefully continued to wrap each painting in torn pieces of bed sheets.

  We finished with the boxes and sorted them into two piles. We would take the small one with us today; the rest would wait for Alec to take it to Red Cliffs. The living room was pleasantly warm from the cheerful flames in the fireplace.

  I excused myself and went to the washroom. When I returned, Jack was sitting on the thick duvet cover in front of the fireplace, surrounded by every single pillow and cushion I had in the apartment.

  I smiled. Jack’s magic dust.

  “Come here.” He patted the nearest cushion.

  My heart stopped, then jumped, then somersaulted, and generally continued acting crazy.

  Jack took my hand and pulled me down beside himself. “You said there were none of your memories here. Let’s make some,” he whispered on my lips.

  The contrast between his soft mouth and hard, rough, demanding tongue sent me on a wild ride. My trembling, impatient fingers attacked the buttons of his polo shirt, but I was so clumsy I soon gave up and simply reached for his chest under the shirt. Jack was far more successful with my garments, proceeding steadily through the sweater and jeans, and then unbuttoning his own shirt.

  I knew I was going too fast again, but I couldn’t help it. I knew it was going to be another sweet torture for Jack, but I couldn’t help that either.

  He lowered me on the pillows and stretched out beside me.

  “Slow down a bit, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

  I dipped my nose into his neck. “I know I’m a bit too quick on the trigger, Jack, I just can’t help it.”

  He placed his fingers over my mouth. “I love you insanely, you know that?”

  He gently lifted my chin, savoring my face with his amber gaze. He kissed my eyes, every inch of my face, my neck and shoulders. His mouth moved to my breasts, still trapped in the white lace bra. He played with my nipples through the crisp fabric, until the incredible mixture of his lips, tongue, teeth and fabric became unbearable. The pressure inside me built fast, and when I thought I couldn’t bear it anymore, a slight touch of his hand on my sex brought me to a shattering release. I shuddered against Jack’s hand, sobbed and moaned. I dug my nails into his bare back, pressing myself so close to him that it almost hurt.

  “I’m sorry I teased you,” he said some time later, kissing my eyelids. “I’m not sure I would’ve lasted longer than thirty seconds myself.”

  I lay my head on his shoulder, running my fingers across his chest. “You’re right. I am sexually starved, and my desire is even stronger because I’m now more aware of my wolf than I was before. Our wolves find each other extremely attractive, I think.”

  Jack’s fingers gently moved along my upper arm. “The night before you transformed, your wolf told me she was in love with me. My chest almost burst with emotion because it sounded as if she had never been in love before. I thought about that later, and realized—it’s true. She indeed had never loved anyone before. She couldn’t take part in your previous relationships. I’m your first werewolf boyfriend, but for her, I’m her first boyfriend, period. Nobody else had courted her before. Nobody made love to her, nobody kissed her, touched her. Nobody loved her until I came. “

  “No wonder she’s crazy about you.” I smiled. “As much as I am.”

  He kissed my lips, softly, gently. “You’re my blessing, Astrid.”

  “How do you feel it, Jack? Surely I’m not your first werewolf lover.”

  Jack’s warm fingers gently plowed through my hair. “I’ve never loved anybody as I love you, so absolutely, so completely, so deeply that it hurts sometimes. You are not only my bond mate, Astrid, you are my benediction, the best thing that ever happened to me. Sex has always been an important part of my life, but you brought a whole new dimension to it. It’s love, I suppose. Love is the most potent aphrodisiac. I just know I’ve never wanted anybody more than I want you. That’s why it’s so difficult to be so close to you yet be unable to make love to you, completely, with everything that I can give you. On the other hand...” He lifted his head and pulled me up to kiss my lips. “There is a definite satisfaction in knowing that I can do that for you. I can wait, as long as it takes, because you are so worth waiting for.”

  I thought my heart would burst, and I choked over my words. “This is the most beautiful confession of love a man ever said to a woman, Jack.” My fingers reached up, stroking that handsome, sharp face, softened with emotion and the power of love. He closed his eyes, and I pulled myself to my knees, and kissed his lids, his cheekbones, his nose... And in no time we were both laying back on the pillows, and the outside world ceased to exist.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Astrid

  MMM, TASTY…” Jack muttered, much later, nibbling on my ear lobe. “Sweet and soft, like caramel toffees, only better.”

  I blinked several times and yawned. “Did I actually fall asleep?” I stretched, feeling Jack’s solid body over mine, and his hard arousal pressing against my lower abdomen through his jeans. “I wish we could stay here forever,” I whispered longingly.

  Bracing himself on his elbow, he cupped my chin with his other hand and lowered his head. “Promise me something,” he said onto my mouth.

  “You have me at a disadvantage, sir. I will now promise you anything.”

  “It’s simple. Once you move in with me, you get rid of all your nightwear. No more nightgowns, pajamas and sleeping shirts. No underwear. Red nail polish on your toes only. Okay?”

  “Hmm. And what am I getting in return? It’s not an easy concession to make. I really like my nightwear.”

  “You’ll think of something.”

  I shot him a hot look under my lashes. “Actually, I think I know.”

  “Uh-oh. I see a devilish spark in those pretty eyes of yours.”

  “Those hot boxers with pictures on them.”

  “What sort of pictures?”

  “Well, a tiger with open jaws, for example, or shark, wolf, python, Santa Claus. That sort.”

  “Santa Claus!?”

  “Just around the season. Deal?”

  “Deal.” Jack laughed and kissed me, sealing our bargain. “Now go take a shower. We still have one place to visit.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see. Go now.”

  I locked my arms around his neck, reluctant to break the physical contact. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

  “Put a big bathtub on your wish list, together with the cat and those printed boxers.” He grabbed my wrists and unlocked my arms, pressing them above my head. “Stop rubbing against me, Astrid,” he said, in a thick voice. “I’m a hairsbreadth from opening fire.”

  He pulled away from me and jumped to his feet. “Wait! I need the washroom first!”

  TRISTAN
AND Liv picked us up half an hour later, together with the six long-faced saints and several boxes of my winter clothes.

  “What are you going to do with the condo, Astrid?” Liv asked.

  “I’ll rent it.”

  “Why don’t you sell it?’ Tristan said. “You’ve never liked that place.”

  “I like it now.”

  Liv turned to us with an arched eyebrow and a comment on her lips, but before she could say a word, Jack said, “Turn left after that intersection, Tristan, and then take the second street on the right side.”

  WE STOPPED in front of a small store with a sign above the door that read Blue Moon. Under that, in a smaller print, stood Custom Jewelry and Fine Crafts, with the names of the owners at the bottom: Magdalene and Herman Offenbach.

  The old fashioned bell above the glass door announced our arrival, and a moment later, a tall, pretty brunette, who appeared to be in her mid-thirties, entered the store from the back room.

  “Jack Canagan! What a surprise!” Grinning, she hugged Jack and completed her friendly greeting with a hearty smack. She turned to the Blakes, “Tristan, Liv! It’s good to see you again!”

  “Wie ist es Dir ergangen, Magda?” Jack greeted her warmly.

  “I’m good, thank you for asking. And who are you hiding there?”

  I took a shy step forward. Placing his hand on my shoulders, Jack introduced me to Magda. “This is Astrid Mohegan, Hal and Rowena’s daughter and our Ellida. Astrid, this is Magda Offenbach. Magda and her husband Herman are our old friends. We fought together against Warren. They used to live in Red Cliffs, but about—how long, Magda? Twenty years ago? They moved to Seattle and opened this store. They are both goldsmiths and gemologists.”

  Magda bowed her head. “I’m honored to meet you, Ellida.”

  Astrid smiled. “Thank you, Magda. Please, call me Astrid.”

  “Where are Herman and Lucas?” Tristan said.

  “Herman is in Koln, visiting his relatives. Lucas is in India. They are building a new airport in Nagpur and he’s a chief engineer there,” Magda said proudly. “Er wird im Dezember heiraten. Oh, I’m sorry, Astrid. I easily slip into my language. My son—”

  “Is getting married in December,” I translated and then offered my congratulations. “Herzlichen Glückwunsch!”

  I glanced at Jack and smiled, remembering our linguistic discussion from the night before. His fingers gently closed around my shoulders. He remembered it, too.

  “It was about time.” Liv smiled. “Who is he marrying?”

  “Gina Castellani.”

  Jack laughed. “Umberto’s little girl? She’s old enough to get married? God, I remember when she was born. It seems like yesterday.”

  “Time flies, even for us,” Magda said and sighed. “Jack, we heard Seth’s crazier than ever. You can count on us. Wir werden nach Red Cliffs kommen.”

  “I know you will come. Vielen, lieben Dank, Magda.”

  “Gern geschehen, Jack. Now tell me, how can I help you?”

  “I want something special for Astrid.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “One of your wolf pendants.”

  “Ah! Excellent! Give me a minute.”

  Magda disappeared briefly into the room behind the counter, and came back with a rectangular wooden box. She opened the lid, revealing several neat rows of silver pendants shaped like wolf heads and pressed onto a black velvet lining.

  “They are made of silver-platinum alloy,” Magda said. “Every pendant is unique. Take a look.”

  I saw it immediately: it was oval-shaped and roughly one inch long. The back was flat and smooth, but the wolf head on the front was three-dimensional and en face. It was a she-wolf, and a happy one. Her eyes, somehow slanted, the erect ears, and the small loop for the chain were inlaid with green jadeite. A smile that lurked in her eyes was clearly caught on her muzzle, slightly open and curved at its corners into a very human smile. Her front paws were tucked under her chin.

  Next to this pendant, there was another one in the box, almost the same, save for the lapis lazuli inlay, in the same deep blue shade as my eyes.

  Without a second thought, I chose the green one. I looked at Jack. He nodded and smiled.

  Liv helped me to select the chain, a thick sterling platinum rope. Its simple yet elegant design made the pendant look even more enchanting.

  I turned around and handed the necklace to Jack. “Please, clasp it.”

  He turned me around and placed the pendant on his palm. “She resembles you,” he said, smiling. “I like your choice, Astrid.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered. “This is the most beautiful present I’ve ever been given.”

  IT WAS dinner time when we returned.

  Facing the inevitable departure the next morning, I was tense and edgy. My mood obviously rubbed off on both my grandparents and the Blakes.

  “Liv and I are going to stick around, don’t worry. We might even take you over a weekend now and then. We still have you in shared custody, right Liv?” Tristan said and hugged me. “God, I’m gonna miss you, Princess.”

  “I’ll call you every night,” Liv said. “Tristan will check the staff list at the clinic. Somebody’s going to get a promotion, and you’ll be back to work in no time.”

  “It’s not like she’s going to Australia, Liv. Astrid will be among her family,” my uncle said.

  “James,” my aunt issued a warning.

  “I’ll be okay. I don’t want you to be worried,” I said patiently.

  “Your grandmother and I are coming in about two or three months,” Arnaldur said. “And we’ll stay as long as you need us.”

  “I’ll be fine, Grandpa. It won’t be the first time I don’t see you for a couple of months.”

  Jack stood up abruptly. “Astrid, I need to talk to you. Now.” He grabbed my hand and towed me to my room.

  “What’s going on, Jack?” I said as he closed the door behind.

  “Sit down in that armchair. I have to tell you something.”

  I did as he’d asked. Jack knelt beside me and cupped my face. “When I came to Rosenthal, I told you that you wouldn’t be left without a choice. Now listen to me carefully. Astrid, say the word, just one word, and I’m going to take you out of here. We could go to France, or to Italy, or to Argentina, wherever you want. I have friends everywhere. I alone can keep you safe from ten Seths, not just one. Or I’ll kill the bastard first. Astrid, you don’t need to turn your entire life upside down. We can’t ask you for that.

  “Jack—” I started.

  “Let me finish, honey. Just say yes, and we’ll be on the first plane to Vegas, we’ll get married tomorrow, make love, connect your spirits, have children, have a house with a wraparound porch, everything you want. You still have time, and you do have a choice.”

  By the time Jack finished, tears ran down my cheeks in two thick lines. Jack brushed them away with his thumb pads. “You know that I meant every word I said, don’t you, Miss Spock?” he said softly.

  “That’s why I’m crying.” I sniffed and smiled. “You’ve gotten into the habit of confessing your love in heartbreaking ways, Jack. I knew you’d come up with something like this before we went. I made my decision, my love. I’ll go to Red Cliffs.”

  “Are you sure, Astrid?”

  “I am, Jack. Red Cliffs is my home, too. You belong there. My family is there. I’ve been chosen to be the Red Cliffs’ Ellida. It’s a gift and a privilege, and I must not waste it. I still don’t know what I need to do, but if my presence there can help, I can’t ignore who I am. If I had to choose between you and Red Cliffs, I would choose you, in the blink of an eye. But I can have both, and that’s even better. And you can have me and you’ll do what you are destined to do.”

  Jack pulled me to my feet and held me tight. “So you’ve made your decision?”

  “Damn it, Jack, that Vegas idea was tempting. But I want my white wedding dress, and want to see you beside me in a black tuxedo. I want m
y family and friends in the church, and your brother’s band playing a hard-rock version of Here Comes the Bride.”

  “You’ll get it, all of it, Astrid. I promise.” Jack whispered and closed his mouth over mine in a long soul-deep kiss.

  WHEN WE returned to the sitting room, my eyes were still red and puffy. Ella opened her mouth to say something, but I gently cut her off. “We all need to stop behaving as if I’m going to prison. Ella, you’re a wizard, you’re supposed to be emotionally challenged, remember? Don’t fret anymore, please. You’ll see me soon.”

  I turned to James and Betty. “Uncle, Aunt, I’m a bit scared because so many things will be new for me. I’ve never lived among werewolves. I don’t know anything about being an Ellida. Jack is not going to be there all the time and that’s the biggest reason for my anxiety, I have to tell you. I’ll do my best not to disappoint you. I want to tell you I am happy I’m getting the chance to know you two and my cousins better. After two months I’ll announce my decision regarding my position as the clan’s Ellida, and about my mate, although both of them have already been made.”

  I stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. “Since Jack and I can’t mate before we’re done with these formalities, I want to date him in the next two months. I know he’s going to be absent a lot, but whenever he is there, I want to be with him as much as possible. People there should see us together before I announce my choice, otherwise it will come out of the blue, and it will look like we have secrets. I’m not going to move in with Jack tomorrow, but I think it’d be better to let Red Cliffs know—gradually—we are a couple. Is that all right with you, Uncle?”

  My Uncle stood up and kissed my forehead. “We’ll try to make it easier for you. Thank you, child,” he said simply.

  Everybody relaxed. Tristan volunteered to grill the steaks, Betty and I got ourselves busy with the salad, Jack and Arnaldur paid a visit to the wine cellar, Livia and Ella set the table.

  During dinner, I sat myself beside Jack.