“Then he picked up his phone called one of his boys and said, ‘I fucked her before the deadline, pay up.’ They had taken bets that he couldn’t get me to open my legs. I felt like an idiot. A whore, except I wasn’t the one getting paid. He laid back down and called it our nest egg. I guess I smiled, I don’t know how, until I could leave the room. He thought we would continue with our plans. It never dawned on him that he betrayed me. I thought he broke me.”
When had the ache gone away? The pain of his betrayal was a lesson now, nothing more. Her bloody heart healed. Yeah, it was a little worse for the wear, and if she looked closely, she could see the sutures from where she sewed it back together. But it beat in her chest, and it was still capable of feeling.
“What did you say Trey’s last name was?”
She opened her mouth and then closed it. “Nope, you leave him alone. I told you this story for a reason. Trey taught me I didn’t know a thing about love, but now I know what it isn’t. With my newfound wisdom, I could deal with the men who came in and out of my life. I also learned that I decide who I am, not some loudmouth who doesn’t know me.”
She raised her head to look into his eyes. “I love you Jabari. I’m not desperate for love. I don’t need to prove I’m not like my mom. I don’t have to say the words before I die. I’m good on my own, but I’m better with you. I love you.”
She placed her finger over his mouth when he tried to speak. “I don’t need you to say the words back. What I feel for you is real. No matter how you feel about me.”
She gave him a tender kiss. One that came from the girl she used to be and the woman she was now. He opened to her drawing her tongue into his mouth. His spicy taste filled her senses as her tongue dueled with his. She pulled back with a grin. He was playing with her. She licked his lips before she traced his jaw.
“I keep saying nothing can get better than the last time. Then you set out to prove me wrong.”
She sat up and stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m memorizing this moment. I want to remember how you look on your back with your eyes half closed in passion. The look of my necklace tucked against your body. Your hard nipples begging for me to touch them. No matter where I end up, I’ll be taking this memory and a thousand more with me.”
He placed his hands on her waist and flipped her. This was her time. He knew he needed to be patient, but he needed memories too. Like her brown eyes wide and dazed with passion. He attacked her mouth. His tongue seeking out the warm places that she didn’t know about. The places that connected her body together. Like the corner of her lip, when he sucked on it, her nipples got so hard. Or that sweet spot on her tongue that made her roar, and her hips buck. He kissed her like a male dying of thirst who knew that soon the water would dry up. He kissed her like a male losing the only woman he would ever love.
She placed her hand over his heart as he kissed down her neck then stopped at her shoulder. He bit her, claiming her as his mate once again. How she wished it could happen that she could become one with him. It was so sad that she could spend a lifetime crying, but she couldn’t lose the precious time she had with him.
“My mate,” she whispered. In the end, she had married just not the way she dreamed of when she was young.
He took her nipple into his mouth. Breathless sounds of passion came from her. Her hands roamed his body petting him, encouraging him. She needed to touch him. To allow his heat to penetrate the coldness she felt.
Everything was changing, but she didn’t care. At this moment, the only thing that mattered was the two of them.
“Open for me.”
The honey of his voice overwhelmed her. She spread her legs. His hand came between them as he pulled on her clit. She came off the bed. Sensations hot and delicious coursed through her body.
“More.” It was a demand.
He pulled again and squeezed. He was going to kill her. Here lies Brandi, she died from too much pleasure.
“I need to be in you.”
Hell yeah, what was he waiting for? She lifted her hips in invitation. He looked at her, held her captive with his gaze. With one move, he drove into her body making her wild. She bucked against him. A scream tore from her. He placed his arms on the bed and drove deeper into her until she could feel every hard, thick inch of him.
She wrapped her hands around his arms and opened herself up. Maybe they couldn’t be mates the way he wanted, but she needed to touch his soul. To see it shining brightly for her. She reached out and bit him as her body started to convulse with the pleasure he was giving her.
For a moment, she thought they were back on the ride. Her head spun fast with lights going off all around her. She was swamped with a bliss that just belonged to her. She could feel him under her skin, feel the pleasure she was bringing to him.
His emotions rolled over her. She felt his desire, his fear of hurting and losing her. She felt his love. Her back arched, and she gave a scream so primal it couldn’t help but rock the foundation of the earth.
Chapter Twenty-two
The dress was done. She had every sketch of it hanging on the wall. It was beautiful. Kelly would be beautiful and magnificent when she walked the red carpet. She wanted to be here to see that. She wanted to make the dress herself. To cut every bolt of fabric and stitch every seam. It would be put together with love and arrogance because she knew it would be a show stopper.
She felt Jabari when he walked into the room. He was holding Fie in his arms, and they were both staring at the designs hung on the wall.
“That’s incredible.”
She gave him a self-satisfied grin. “Thanks, I worked on it long and hard. It will show off every one of her assets and downplay the few flaws the world may think she has.”
“I’m amazed at how talented you are.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Jabari?” She stood. Her body was no longer working right. It took her longer to do things like stand or sit and walking felt like a chore at times.
He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her placing Fie on her shoulder.
“You’re an artist and a defender. I’m created made in the mad scientist’s laboratory.”
“I hate them for what they did to you, but I’m grateful they created the male I love. I can’t imagine this life without meeting you. Please believe me.”
“I do. You should sit.”
“You take such good care of me, but I’m tired of sitting. We need to go shopping for fabric. I want to make sure what I have in mind will work. Then we need to go buy food. I promised everyone a meal.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to. As long as I’m alive, I want to participate. That's what life is about, and I’m going to enjoy every minute I have left.”
“When do you want to go?”
“After I take a shower.” She went to her tiptoes and pulled his head down to meet her. “When we come back, I can think of a lot of interesting things to get into.”
“Go take a shower before I take you back to bed.” Her husky laugh followed her out the door.
He stayed still until she was gone fighting the urge to carry her. She was trying so hard to make it on her own, and he didn’t want to shatter her illusions. She was getting weaker every day, and the knowledge that he would lose her soon was tearing him apart. What good was being almost immortal if you couldn’t keep the woman you loved with you?
She frowned when she put on her favorite pair of jeans, and they didn’t fit. On the bed, were the I’m going to lose weight someday jeans, so she put them on. Maybe she should be happy they fit like a glove, but she wasn’t. It was just more proof that this was happening.
“I’m ready.” Jabari was waiting in the living room for her.
“Do you want to drive?”
She raised an eyebrow. He didn’t want to let her eat on her own, but now he wanted her to drive. They saw the doctor three weeks ago, and she was beginni
ng to feel like she was living on borrowed time.
“I want to drive.” She took the keys dangling from his finger.
“We’re parked on the side of the house.” She took the hand he offered and walked to the elevator with him.
A sad smile touched her lips, she was going to miss this place and his brothers. Was it stupid to think she could hold onto the memories of this life? Yeah, but she was trying to find a way. Not remembering him would tear her apart.
They walked out, and she hit the unlock button. The lights of a purple Rolls flashed.
“Jabari?”
“You said your favorite color was purple, and you needed a new car.”
“I can’t accept this. Heck, going some of the places I go will get the car stolen. Besides these things cost too much. Send it back.”
“No. This is your car, and it always will be.”
She realized he was holding on to memories too. Making them as fast as he could. Her fingers drifted over the car. It was sleek and powerful, and she wanted what she denied herself last time. To drive the dream. The real dream was him in the car beside her, comfortable, happy.
“Put your seatbelt on.” She opened the door and got in. They left the windows down so the hot air would whip through. Her braids danced over her head as she went a little too fast. The car purred, and the rumble between her legs made her want to pull over and ride Jabari.
“Thanks,” she whispered to the creator of life.
“Fabric store first,” she said much louder and turned on the radio to a station that played love songs. She sang as loudly as she wanted. All she was doing was telling her mate in a different way how much she loved him.
“I’ve never been here before.”
“This is a warehouse. They distribute fabric to all the area stores as well as sending it out to various other cities. The people in the know come here for bolts of fabric that are hard to find and prices without the insane markups.”
They parked, and she led him to a side door. The warehouse smelled like fabrics.
“I love this place, the smell, and the feel. Over here we have natural fibers. Along the back wall is the fabric that was imported. I’m thinking of a silk chiffon for this dress. I could also see it in satin. The body of the dress will be white. There will be fine lines of royal blue running through it. At the base of her spine, I want a large blue stone. I can see it, but I don’t know where to get it.”
She stepped back so he could see her. “Do you remember the drawings?” He nodded. “On her shoulders, there will be this fabric, nice and delicate with a look that if she made the wrong move it would slip off. The fabric comes down and flares out to cover her breasts. Each side meets at the end of a deep V over her navel.”
She held the fabric up in front of her. “This gives the impression that if she moves the wrong way or the lights hit her at just the right angle; you'll see everything. Then the fabric transitions into this one. What do you think? Too much?”
“Perfect.”
“Do you even know what I’m saying?”
“Enough, I did study after all.” Her lips quirked up in a happy smile.
“The only perfect thing here is you. Let’s get out of here.” He picked up what she wanted and took them to the counter.
“Next stop the grocery store.”
She drove in silence until they reached the store. She parked in front of the big glass window hoping that it would give them security.
“We could have gone to a different store.”
“No thanks, I know they have what I want here.”
“And that is?”
“Greens.” Her eyes lit up as she led him into the store. She grabbed a cart and led him over to the fresh vegetables.
“You eat that?”
“After I cook it.”
He eyed the leafy vegetable weary. “Is this something you learned to eat because food was scarce?”
“No. Believe me, they taste great. Collard greens grow on various continents, and every culture makes them a little differently. Who ate them first? I’m betting it was the Native Americans at least on this continent. Other than that, it’s part of the tradition now. Every culture has traditions they do at different times of the year, and every individual has a tradition or two that probably differs from their culture. Let’s get the rest.”
He was silent until they got in the checkout line. “Will you teach me to cook the greens?”
“Yes, why?”
“I don’t have a tradition. This way, I’ll keep yours alive.” It was another way to hold on to her. Along with all the pictures, they took together. A way to remember several hundred years in the future that he was loved.
The cashier wiped a tear and told them to have a good day. Brandi nodded her throat too tight to speak. It was like that. He pushed the cart to the car, and she leaned against him.
The sudden quiet made her look around. No one was moving.
“Get in the car.”
“Now why would she want to do that?”
Another alien? Earth was crawling with them. How was this possible?
“I’m dying ass hole, leave us alone.”
“You two come with me, and we’ll sort this out on my ship.” He lifted a weapon, and Jabari charged.
He took the blast in his chest and kept moving.
“What are you?” He took out a different weapon and started firing, but Jabari grabbed him, and his aim went wide.
There was a movement in the corner of her eyes. She took several slow painful steps back until she hit the side of the car. One touch of the fob unlocked the car, and she pulled the gun out that Jabari tucked in there. She had argued that if the police ever pulled them over, it would cause trouble. He wouldn’t budge; she needed a way to protect herself.
The movement stopped, and she thought about aiming at whoever Jabari was fighting, but she wasn’t that confident in her ability to use a gun.
Jabari took a punch to the gut. His assailant moved back and disappeared.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, how are you?”
“A little shaken. I don’t know why they keep coming after me.”
“We’re going to find out.”
He took the gun and put her in the passenger seat. The noise started, everyone was going about their business like nothing happened. She closed her eyes and started to think. Something was wrong.
“Someone came for you again?” Slade was annoyed. “It’s time for this to end.”
No, he was angry. He and the other brothers were planning to catch and kill the person responsible. They hadn’t taken the hint the first time, so they would make it permanent this time. Family, the people who would do anything to protect you.
“What if he wasn’t coming after me?”
“What do you mean?” Quinn asked. She had that look of sadness when you know there is nothing you can do.
“What if I wasn’t the target? It seems highly unlikely that three different groups of aliens would want to kill me. We know about the first group. There has to be another that’s why I’m dying, but this alien wanted us to go back to his ship to ‘sort it out.’”
“Is that why you think it’s not about you?”
She looked at Quinn and shook her head. “When Jabari switched forms, the male was surprised. He asked him what he was. Then there were the other two aliens.”
“What other aliens?”
“You were fighting, but I caught them out of the corner of my eye. That’s why I went for the gun. I need paper, I can sketch them.”
“Stay right there.” He came back with a sheet of her drawing paper and some colored pencils.
“They were short no more than five feet tall. They had horns, but they looked more like the points on a jester’s hat. Their skin was green, and their horns were black and dark purple.” She showed them the sketch.
“Wow, the detail. You should have been an artist and a designer.”
“Thanks, one's
enough for me.”
“Does this look familiar?” Akron asked his brothers.
“No.”
“Can I take your drawing to the ship?” Akron asked. “I want to show it to the computer. It may be able to come up with a match.”
Chapter Twenty-three
“You’re quiet.” Quinn was making lunch with help from Mekhi while they waited for Akron to come back.
“I was thinking about Piper. This isn’t like her. She wouldn’t just disappear and send me nothing but a strange text. I’m worried.”
“I can go fetch her.”
“She’s not a dog, Thrice.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he looked at her. “Brandi, I can get her. She should be here with you.”
“Thank you.” She got up and hugged him. “You can hug me back I don’t bite.” His hands came around her carefully.
Family. She closed her eyes to keep the hunger deep inside. This was what she dreamed about as a child. People who cared about whether she lived or died. No, it wasn’t the family she envisioned it was much better.
“I love all of you.” She told them after she sat back down.
“They call themselves the collectors.” Akron came up the stairs from the basement. “There is no record of their planet. No one has ever been to their home world.”
“What do they collect?” Brandi asked them.
“Oddities. Let’s say a patron with more money than brains wants a pet, even if it’s humanoid. The collectors will get him one. They deal in rare, hard to find beings.”
“Then they don’t want me.”
“No.”
She looked into Jabari’s eyes. His ice blue gaze was so chilling that for a minute she was afraid to touch him.
“My kind are rare. Finding their home planet is almost unheard of.”
“They want you because you’re an Ancentrass?”
“They don’t die or if they do you will never know about it,” Slade told her.
“I’d say I was surprised, but I am well aware of beings thinking they have the right to own another. How do we stop him?”
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