GraceinMoonlight

by Stephane Julian

  He had a feeling the girl had no idea how to accept affection. That she hadn’t been hugged or kissed like a normal kid. Like her mother. But her mother had learned and so would Amy.

  “Now it’s time to get up. We’ll have breakfast. Then I’m going to leave and make sure you and Alex and your mom don’t have anything to fear from Ettore Marrucini ever again.”

  Chapter Seven

  Grace flipped pancakes onto a plate, surprised she hadn’t burned the damn things.

  Her mind definitely hadn’t been on the task at hand.

  Instead, she’d been thinking. Which wasn’t a stretch for her. Her mind never really stopped working. But this wasn’t about science or curing her son.

  This was about freeing her children. About freeing herself from the clutches of the Mal.

  The logistics would take some finessing. And she thought Kaisie might have a fit.

  But if she could get Cole in her corner on this one, Kaisie wouldn’t have much of a defense.

  Especially if her plan got Cole one step closer to the head of the Mal. She didn’t know who that was. But she knew someone who should.

  But it meant she’d have to head into the lion’s den.

  She needed to talk to her grandmother.

  Just the thought was enough to make her stomach twist and pitch.

  But if Cole agreed to her plan, she might be able to buy her children out from the noose of the Mal.

  Of course, her grandmother might kill her in the process but there was a certain amount of risk in every plan.

  She was willing to take this one.

  Behind her she heard footsteps and the wonderful dull thump of Alex’s crutches. Her eyes teared up every time she heard them. Blinking them back, she turned with a smile and the plate of pancakes and almost lost it completely.

  She’d never let herself hope for this moment, when her daughter and her son would be sitting down to breakfast at the same table. And she’d never let herself imagine a man like Kaisie looking at her the way he was now.

  She wanted to keep this moment, right now. Hold on to it with both hands and fight for it.

  Kaisie had to understand that. She’d have to make him understand.

  But first she had to beat her grandmother at her own game.

  She managed to get through breakfast without making too much of a mess of things.

  Amy actually spoke to her. Two whole sentences consisting of “How’s your arm?” and “I slept fine. Thanks.”

  But she said them without a hint of sneer and that made it all worthwhile. She talked to Kaisie more and had a few smiles for her brother.

  But that wariness never left her eyes.

  And hardened Grace’s resolve.

  “Hey, guys,” Kaisie said, after all the pancakes had been consumed. “Do me a favor and put the dishes in the dishwasher. I need take your mom somewhere. We’ll be back in about a half-hour.”

  “You’re leaving us here alone?”

  Alex’s brief flash of fear made him blush as he stole a look at Amy but Kaisie gave him an easy smile. “Only for a few minutes. You know, I think Kaine’s outside with John on patrol. Bet she’d love to come in and watch a few cartoons with you.”

  Of course that placated Alex and even Amy seemed okay with it.

  A few minutes later, Kaisie and Grace walked through the woods on a path Grace had never seen before.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’ve got to leave soon but I wanted to show you something before I go.”

  They walked in silence for a few more seconds.

  Then she couldn’t help herself. “How long will you be gone?”

  “I should be back by tomorrow morning. Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

  Hopefully not too soon. At least not before she’d gotten Cole to agree to her plan and put it into play. Kaisie would pitch a royal fit if he knew what she was going to do.

  Pushing all that aside for the moment, she let herself enjoy the walk with him, her hand in his. Even though the temperature hovered in the mid-forties, she didn’t feel cold in jeans, a t-shirt and a fleece sweatshirt. Kaisie wore even less, only black pants and a gray long-sleeved t-shirt. She swore the man had a little bear in his background. She didn’t think he felt the cold at all.

  After a few minutes, she heard the sound of running water and when Kaisie stopped, she continued on into the clearing ahead of him.

  Her breath caught at the simple beauty of the spot, the waterfall bubbling from the outcropping of rocks, the carpet of moss in front of the waterfall, still green despite it being winter. Which it didn’t feel like here.

  As she stepped farther into the clearing, she swore the temperature rose at least ten degrees, making her almost too warm.

  “This is Tivr’s sanctuary,” Kaisie said.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yeah, Ty knows how to decorate.”

  She walked over to the falls, let her hand play in the water. Metallic glints beneath the surface caught her eye, like tiny, trapped stars.

  She felt Kaisie move behind her then felt his arms wrap around her waist from behind. His hips pressed against her ass, his erection hard and hot.

  He didn’t grind against her, didn’t do anything except hold her. But each second in his arms, held against the length of his strong body, she felt her blood heat.

  She knew why he’d brought her here. Knew he wanted to make love to her here, in this place that felt sacred.

  She wanted the same but needed him to hold her, just for a few minutes. And he seemed content to do it.

  Resting her head back against his chest, she closed her eyes, her hands stroking along his forearms.

  Until it wasn’t enough. She needed more.

  She turned in his arms, circling hers around his shoulders and lifting her mouth to his.

  The second his lips touched hers, she felt that spark ignite low in her body and gave herself over to it.

  She wanted their clothes to disappear so she could crawl up his body and wrap herself around him. Wanted him to sink inside her and make her forget everything for just a few minutes.

  As if he’d read her mind, his fingers slipped the button on her jeans then worked the zipper down. He had her pants halfway down her legs by the time she unbuckled his belt.

  And she gasped when he spun her around, stretched her arms out to steady herself against the nearest tree trunk and ran one warm hand across her bare ass. Shuddering at the flare of heat that stole her breath and made her sex clench in anticipation, she braced herself and spread her legs as far apart as she could with her pants around her ankles.

  She had a momentary image of how they looked, half-dressed and panting, Kaisie’s hand brushing against her ass as he shoved his jeans down far enough to release his erection.

  Then he moved in, letting that hot flesh slide between her legs and rub against her slick sex.

  “Kaisie.”

  He brushed the hair from her nape and pressed his lips against the sensitive skin there, making her shiver.

  “Kaisie, I—”

  “Unless you’re about to say, ‘Kaisie, I want you to do me,’ I don’t want to hear it.”

  She arched back against him, rubbing herself against his cock and making him draw in a sharp breath. “Kaisie, I do want you to do me. And…”

  He began to thrust between her legs, the tip of his cock hitting her clit and sending her closer to orgasm with every pass. “And what?”

  Rational thought escaped her as he angled his cock a little differently and the head slipped into her body. She gasped at the rush of heat that flooded her sex and spread outward then nearly cried when he retreated.

  “And what, Grace?”

  She let her head hang as she tried to collect her thoughts and found she couldn’t. “And I think I’m falling in love you.”

  His groan was music to her ears. “Ah, Grace, you just think you’re falling in love with me? Damn, I already know I love you.”


  With a shift of his hips, he sank deep.

  Her heart stuttered at the words she’d honestly never thought to hear from a man. Emotion drenched her in heat and she grabbed his forearms to anchor him to her.

  She thought he would start a hard and fast rhythm but he surprised her by taking it slow and steady. Making her feel every drag and push against sensitive internal tissue.

  His arms held her tight, his lips pressing kisses against her neck.

  Blessed Goddess, she felt loved. She’d never felt anything like it. It made her blood burn. It wasn’t sex. She’d had sex before. She’d never made love.

  She liked this a whole hell of a lot better.

  Turning her head, she sought his mouth. As if he knew what she wanted—and maybe he did—he turned his head to meet her lips.

  His kiss took her breath, made her burn and pushed her closer to that edge.

  Kaisie must have felt the same as he started to thrust faster.

  Because she wanted this feeling to last, she tried to hold on to it without tipping over that edge.

  But Kaisie wouldn’t allow it. He slid one hand between her legs to stroke her clit. She only needed one caress to push her past that point and she cried out as she came.

  Kaisie went with her, somehow managing to hold both of them upright.

  “Say it again.” His voice, husky, practically a growl, made her sex clench around him harder. “Without the unnecessary words.”

  She knew what he wanted her to say and she gave up any pretense of indecision.

  “I love you.”

  “Damn right you do.”

  She wanted to laugh at the arrogance in his tone but couldn’t muster the strength. The man simply slayed her.

  And she loved it. She loved him.

  They were going to need all the luck in the world to make this work.

  *

  “So, either Seth or Race will be here at all times, as well as another set of guards, who’ll rotate every couple of hours. You might not see them but don’t worry. They’re out there.”

  Grace nodded at John, sitting with her on Kaisie’s couch, while Kaine shared a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with Alex at the table. Alex had developed a serious crush on Kaisie’s daughter, and Kaine appeared to return the affection.

  She joked with Alex, talked to him as if he was a person and not a kid. Not an invalid. Kaine even tried to draw Amy into the conversation, though Amy didn’t have more than monosyllabic answers to anything Kaine said.

  Grace couldn’t say as she blamed her daughter. Since Kaisie had left this morning, none of them had been in the mood for much of anything. All she could do was worry, though she tried not to show it in front of the kids.

  They had enough of their own anxiety. They didn’t need to see hers.

  So, accompanied by Seth and Race, Grace had suggested they all go visit Mara in the medical center, where Grace made her first halting attempts to speak to the frightened teenager.

  At least Mara had seemed more friendly to Grace than Amy so Grace took that as a good sign. She’d told the girl not to worry about anything. That she and the baby would be well taken care of and would have everything she needed.

  Grace didn’t blame the girl for looking skeptical. It’d take some time. But Grace felt a kinship with Mara that she hoped would see them through the rough time ahead. Hell, it was going to be a rough time for all of them.

  When they’d returned to Kaisie’s house, Grace had discovered someone had moved all of their clothing from the other house.

  Hers was in Kaisie’s bedroom, stacked neatly on his bed. The kids’ were in the other room, most of it already hung in the closet or put in the dressers.

  And Kaine and John had been sitting at the dining room table.

  Amy had stilled like a doe in the headlights before she’d slunk off to the bedroom without a word.

  Kaine had flashed Grace an apologetic smile before she’d engaged Alex in a conversation about some book they’d both apparently read. How Kaine knew that, Grace had no idea. But Alex had a smile on his face and that was all that mattered.

  “Grace?”

  With a start, Grace refocused her attention on John. Kaine’s handsome, ex-Navy SEAL mate had a piercing stare that made her feel as if he could read her mind. She still had a hard time looking him in the eyes after what she’d done to him and his sister.

  She’d kidnapped him and kept him in a cell while she tested his blood. He’d been rescued by the lucani before the men she’d hired to help her had been able to hurt him. She’d never wanted to hurt anyone. She’d only wanted to save Alex.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to apologize enough for what I did to you, John.”

  His gaze narrowed for a brief second before he settled a little deeper into his chair. “And I’ve told you before, I’m fine. Evie’s fine. And Alex is still alive. We move on from there, Grace.”

  “And wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was just that easy.”

  “Nothing’s ever easy. But you’ve got to learn to let your past go before it fucks up your future.”

  She let her gaze slide toward Alex for a brief second, to make sure he was engaged by Kaine. “I’d like to think I have a future. But…I’m no naïve teenager. Actually, I never was. And I know there are going to be people here who will never accept me.”

  “But there’s one very important man who does.” John held on to her gaze when she would have dropped his. “Do you really want to let him down?”

  “No, of course not. I actually had a dream last night about being happy. Here. With Kaisie.”

  “Then that’s what you need to focus on.”

  She was trying. Still… “My children and I will never be free as long as Ettore’s breathing. I understand why your king might want him alive but you can appreciate my dilemma.”

  He nodded, his eyes narrowing. “I can.”

  She took a deep breath, knowing he was her only hope to implement the plan that’d been formulating. “And can you tell me how I should deal with the terror of knowing my children will never be safe? That Mara and her baby will always be looking over their shoulders, trying to stay one step ahead?”

  “You know I can’t.”

  “I may know someone who can bring Ettore to heel. Someone who has the power to take care of Ettore forever.” She took a deep breath and prepared to ask probably the hardest question she’d ever asked. “Will you help me, John?”

  His gaze narrowed. “Help you how?”

  “Will you take me to see someone who may be able to help me fix this mess with Ettore and get the Mal off our backs?”

  *

  “What do you mean she’s gone?”

  “She and John and two praetorians left an hour ago,” Kaine said. “I promised I’d give them a head start before I called you. I think it’s been long enough.”

  Kaisie swore until he figured the phone lines had blistered. He and Duke and Nic were waiting at a private airfield outside Tampa for the chartered plane to be refueled so they could follow Marrucini to New York City.

  Kaisie had picked up the bastard’s scent not far from the house, just the faintest trace but enough for Kaisie to follow. At first, he’d thought the bastard had been playing with him, laying down a false trail. But the longer they followed, the more he became convinced that the man was injured pretty badly and not in any shape to be screwing with them.

  “Where were they headed?”

  “New York City. She’s going to talk to her grandmother.”

  “What? Why the hell would she do that?”

  “Grace said she can get her grandmother to rein in Marrucini somehow.”

  Son-of-a-fucking-bitch.

  “Get in touch with John.” He motioned for Nic to come closer. “Tell him Marrucini’s on his way to New York and he can’t take Grace anywhere near the Mal.”

  “Shi—”

  The phone clicked in his ear as Kaine hung up.

  Shit was right. “Duke. We go
tta go now.”

  Duke’s dark eyes narrowed and he stood. The guy did nothing fast but at least he was moving. “What’s up? Marrucini—”

  “Is in New York and so is Grace. I don’t want him anywhere near her.”

  Duke’s eyebrows lifted. “She went alone?”

  “John’s with her and two praetorian guards.”

  Duke visibly relaxed. “He knows what he’s doing. She’s in good hands.”

  “I know that but I need to be there with her.”

  Duke shrugged. “So you’ll be there.”

  Kaisie felt his anxiety levels rise as Duke didn’t seem to see the seriousness of the situation. “I’m gonna call John and tell him to stall. Tell the pilot to get us in the air as soon as possible and fly us straight to NY.”

  Duke’s raised eyebrow made those levels skyrocket. “Damn, Kaisie. Maybe you need to have a drink and chill out.”

  Okay. Duke was a dead man.

  Kaisie shot out with a right hook before he even realized he’d done it. And when he connected with Duke’s chin, he immediately realized Duke had let him land that punch.

  “Feel better?” Nic asked from somewhere behind him. “I know I always feel better after I hit Duke.”

  As Kaisie shook out his throbbing fist—damn Duke’s fucking rock-hard chin—he shot Duke the finger with the other then turned to Nic.

  “We better be fucking ready to take off.”

  Nic’s smile spread. “Yeah, we’re ready. Course correction already logged.”

  “How the hell did you— She called you first, didn’t she?” Damn, he loved his daughter but they’d be having a very frank conversation when he and Grace got back to the den.

  “Yeah, she did, but only because she knew you’d want to be in the air as soon as possible and she knew I’d get it done fast.”

  Kaisie looked at first Duke then Nic. They knew how he felt about Grace. They didn’t have to ask and he didn’t have to say anything. They had a mate they loved. Who they’d die for, if it came to that.

  He sighed as he started toward the plane. “I reserve the right to kick your asses at a later date.”