“What the hell are you talking about? There are snakes down there?” Belinda cringed, sitting next to her as Shelly sat on the other side.
“Not just snakes, shifter snakes. The men were snakes when they shifted into their beasts. It was the grossest thing I've seen. God, I didn't know there were shifter snakes.” Jaycee hugged herself, shaking again.
“Okay, I so didn't need to know about this crap!” Shelly yelled, hopping up and pacing again. “God, Jaycee you had them chasing you and you didn't even know about it? Who the hell did you hurt?”
Jaycee growled at Shelly.
“If you must know I didn't even know I did anything, until he mentioned it. It happened when I was sixteen. I had just left home and I was in Nevada waiting for the light to change. It turned green, I took off when this man came running out in front of me. The cops said it wasn't my fault and they let me go. I ran.” Jaycee growled at her again. “So back off!”
Belinda didn't say a word, watching. Jaycee glared at Shelly, she glared back. “What is it about you that draws out all the freaks?” She stepped closer to her.
Jaycee slowly got off the bed, getting into Shelly's face, “You are my best friend, but you better back off, Shelly. You're pushing too hard!” she growled, touching her nose with hers. They stood there when the door burst open and Bo, Dane, and Remi glared in at them.
“Separate, now! We have enough problems downstairs without you two fighting,” Remi growled, storming into the room. Jaycee could see scratches on his bare chest.
“Are you okay?” she asked, scooting up to him with her head lowered, looking at her feet. He grabbed her chin, lifting it up.
“I'm fine, but I can't concentrate if I have to worry about you up here fighting with your best friend,” he stated, looking down at her face.
“I'm sorry I'm such a problem. I won't say another word,” she whispered, stepping back and going to the window where she sat in a chair, silent. Bo talked to Shelly. She noticed Belinda talking to Remi as he left with Dane. Bo followed next, shutting the door and locking it again. Belinda walked over, sitting across from her. She didn't say a word. Shelly sat on the bed, turning on the TV and flipping through the channels.
Jaycee must have sat there an hour before the men came back. Belinda moved into Jack's arms and they left the room. Shelly followed Bo out of the room, glancing back over her shoulder, but didn't say a word when Bo pushed her out the door. Jaycee looked up at Mark, he held out his hand. Getting up, she walked to him, taking his hand. He walked with her downstairs.
The men were all around downstairs waiting as they exited the building. The limo waited for them outside. Guards surrounded the limo as they got in. So much for not having to worry about being attacked, Jaycee laughed to herself, ignoring her mates as they made their way back to the hotel. Would her life ever be simple, or would she always be running in fear?
She watched the hotel come into view. As the car pulled up, she didn't wait for the door to open, she threw it open and stalked into the lobby. She heard her mates growl, but she didn't care. She wanted to take a hot bath, get this stupid butt plug out, and go to bed. She hit the elevator button and waited for it to open. Remi grabbed her around the waist, turning her to face him.
“You know to wait for the guards! What the hell is your problem?” He growled into her face as the door to the elevator opened. She slipped out of his arms and went into the elevator, staring at him.
“It seems I attract freaks. Maybe you better stay away from me!” she growled. The door shut leaving her alone in the elevator. Jaycee pushed the button for her floor, and when the door opened she walked to her room. She immediately noticed the room door was open.
Using her powers, she pushed open the door all the way, and walked in, not caring. She was tired. Her room was trashed. She looked around, but no one was there. Her bag with her things had been trashed. Growling, tears flowing down her face, she turned around and walked down the exit staircase, going to her father's floor.
Jaycee knocked on the door, waiting. Her father answered the door in a towel. He looked around her and frowned. “Where are your guards, and your mates?” he asked, pulling her into the room.
“Don't know and don't care right now. Can I use your bathroom? Kate, do you have some sweats or something I can throw on? It seems my things were trashed again.” Walking into their bathroom, she turned on the bath water. She shut the door and pulled out the butt plug, throwing it in the trash. She heard knocking on the bathroom door, and then Kate poked her head in.
“I brought a t-shirt of your father's and a pair of his sweats. I always wear them. They're more comfortable. He's on the phone now to your mates and they're furious.”
Jaycee shrugged her shoulders, stripping her clothes off, and then stepping into the tub. “I did nothing wrong. I went right to my room. I can't help it if I attract every freak around, as Shelly stated.” Jaycee had just sunk into the tub when she heard pounding on the hotel door and knew it was her mates.
Kate looked at the door, sighing. “I'll try and keep them busy so you can soak. And for the record, Shelly was scared, Jaycee. She didn't know what she was saying. Give her time.” Kate walked out of the bathroom.
Jaycee listened to the talking and heard every word. Her mates were once again furious with her. What else was new? Jaycee washed up, getting out of the tub and getting dressed. She looked into the mirror where she saw dark circles under her eyes and she knew she wouldn't sleep well tonight.
She opened the bathroom door and stepped out. Her mates grabbed her, pushing her out the door, towards the elevator. They didn't say a word, one of them pushed the button for the penthouse. The elevator opened right into the room. It was huge with a view of the town from the living room window. Jaycee looked around the room, seeing the big stone fireplace on the far wall, a kitchen off to the left, along with a hallway that she assumed lead to the bedroom. Jaycee saw the bar. She headed towards it, poured herself a shot of whiskey, and gulped it down.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as her mates brought in things that had not been destroyed from their room. She noticed they weren't carrying all her things. Going to the balcony door, she opened it and walked out, looking at the mountains surrounding the hotel. The moon shone brightly overhead, and the stars were out in full force. Remi came out onto the balcony with her, surrounding her in his arms. She stood there stiffly, waiting for the explosion, but it never came. He just held her, resting his chin on her head.
“I'm tired, but I'm afraid to close my eyes,” she whispered, relaxing into his arms. “Did you know there were snake shifters out there, because I sure didn't?” she asked, holding onto his hands.
“I've heard of them, but never met any. Do you know what those men were talking about?” he asked. She stiffened. So this is why he was being so nice. She turned to look up at his face. He frowned down at her.
“I think so,” she sighed, and pulled out of his arms, going back inside. She told her mates what she believed as she curled up on the sofa. They didn't say a word while she explained her story. After she was finished, she watched Dane get up and make a call. Mark and Remi started to talk.
Getting up, she walked into the bedroom. It was huge. In the center of the room was a super-sized king size bed. Jaycee ignored it and grabbed Remi's cell phone that lay on the nightstand. Going through his numbers, she found the number for the plane and dialed it.
“Gray, this is Jaycee. I want you to get the plane ready for tomorrow. We will be going home, all of us.”
“I'm sorry, Jaycee. I have to get the orders from Remi or Dane before I can do anything.”
“I'm alpha bitch and you also take orders from me!” Jaycee growled, her alpha voice ringing out into the phone.
“I'm sorry, Jaycee. I was given strict orders that only Dane and Remi are to have access to this plane,” he stated, almost whining. Jaycee took a deep breath, calming down.
“When were these orders given to you?”
“Hold on.” Jaycee walked back into the room, standing in front of Remi, tapping her foot. He stopped talking and looked up.
“Tell this man he is to follow my orders, please!” Jaycee stated, handing him the phone, and turned to walk into the bedroom. She pulled off the sweat pants and crawled into bed, turning on the TV. She was flipping through the channels, watching TV, when Remi walked back into the room.
“Why do you want to go home?” he asked, sitting on the bed.
Jaycee looked at him for a minute, then back to the TV. “Why should I stay here? It's over. I give up! We'll go home. You guys can have your bonding ceremony and it will be over.” She found one of her favorite TV shows, Eureka, and settled back to watch.
“We're staying,” he stated, grabbing the TV controller from her hand and turning off the TV.
She grabbed for the remote, but he threw it across the room, and pulled her into his lap.
“Just let us go home, Remi, Shelly's right. I attract too many freaks, and I don't want any of you hurt anymore. I'm tired, Remi. Just take me home. Everything here is gone. There's no reason to stay.” Jaycee waved her hand and the TV turned on. “I just want to curl up and watch my show. You guys win.” She kissed his cheek, slipping out of his arms and under the covers.
“I thought you were a fighter? Where's the spit fire that turned Dane into a frog?” He stared at her.
Jaycee looked up into his face. “I guess she realized that she would never have a normal life, that she doesn't want to endanger anyone else, and she's tired of running.” She sighed, looking out the window. “I put my mates in danger, Shelly's furious with me, and I put Bo and his clan in danger. I can't do this anymore. I guess it's time I grew up.” She turned looking at him. “I love all three of you, Remi. I've lost too much already. I can't risk losing you as well. When I saw you and Dane fighting, it killed me to know that I caused this. I can't do it anymore.”
Pulling a pillow to her, Jaycee curled up around it, watching her TV show. With her back turned away from Remi, her other mates came into the room, but she just watched her show, smiling at the scene that played on the TV. Dane was on the phone again talking to room service, ordering food and her stomach growled. She smiled. They always knew what she needed. The covers were pulled back.
Jaycee looked over her shoulder and saw Remi crawling into the bed, naked. He curled up next to her. Dane came around the bed, pulling the pillow away from her, and crawled on the other side of the bed with her.
Remi pulled her t-shirt off and threw it to the floor. He stroked her breasts, pulling her close to his body. Dane lay down next to her, staring at her. “We're staying, baby. Tomorrow we'll go to the local mall and make a day of it. We can have lunch there and shop. We have a lot of Christmas presents to buy, and you need new clothes. We have people already starting on the new cabin. In the morning, I want you to help us go over the new plans. I want you to tell us anything you would like added. This cabin will be our retreat. We want it to be perfect for you.”
Dane cupped her face, leaning down to kiss her lips softly. “Now, let's relax and watch your TV show. I know you're hungry, so are we. We can munch down on the food I ordered and just watch TV.”
Jaycee looked over her shoulder and saw Mark behind Remi. He smiled at her, reaching over Remi and tracing her face with his finger.
“You know, you guys don't have to do this. We can go back home?” she whispered, looking first at Mark, then Remi.
“We know that, baby, but we have the time now and we want to give it to you. Let us do this for you.” Remi squeezed her breasts, pushing his body up and leaning against the headboard of the bed. He pulled her up next to him, and Dane was sitting up on the other side of her, when she heard someone knocking on the door. She watched Mark get up and go to the other room.
Chapter Seven
Jaycee watched her mates sleep, sitting in the chair near the bed. Looking at the clock, Jaycee moaned. It was two in the morning, and she couldn't sleep. They had held her while she watched TV, making sure she had eaten. They'd pampered her all night long, finally falling asleep exhausted.
They wouldn't admit it to her, but she knew they were all exhausted from everything happening around them. Jaycee got up, turning off all their phones. Going into the living room, she called down to the front desk, informing them that she didn't want any calls sent up to her until she called down in the morning. She would let them sleep for a change. Turning to the balcony, Jaycee made her way outside, clothing herself in a robe.
The full moon lit the mountains all around her. The air was crisp, and snow fell to the ground. Small flakes fell onto her face. Jaycee lifted her face up to the sky, catching flakes in her mouth like she did as a child, when she felt strong arms surround her from behind. Looking behind her, Jaycee smiled up at Dane.
“Why aren't you sleeping?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.
“I guess everything the past week is finally catching up to me. I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to disturb you guys. I'm afraid I've kept you so busy you haven't had time to sleep, so I came out here to relax and soak in the air.”
“Why don't you come back to bed, baby? I know you're tired too.” Dane pulled her back into the room, locking the balcony door. He picked her up, carrying her to the bed.
Remi raised his head, watching as Dane removed the robe and pushed her towards the bed. Jaycee sighed, climbing into the bed. Remi's arms pulled her to his body.
“Tell us what's wrong, baby, so we can help,” Remi whispered into her ear.
Dane snuggled up to her cold body, warming her.
“Nothing, Remi. I just couldn't sleep. I didn't mean to disturb your sleep.” She nuzzled his neck, her cold nose finding warmth.
“You're freezing. Your body is like ice, baby,” Dane snarled, rubbing his hands up and down her body.
Mark peeked up over Remi's body, frowning down at her. “Is she sick?” Mark's hand rested on her forehead, pulling back quickly. “You're burning up, baby. Why didn't you tell us you were sick?” He got out of bed, grabbing his cell phone.
“I'm fine Mark. Please don't call anyone. I'm sure it's just a bug or something, that's all.” Jaycee snuggling up to Remi, wanting to get closer to him.
“Baby, Mark's right. You're burning up. We need to call Marsha. She would know what's wrong,” Remi said as the buzzer rang. Jaycee groaned, knowing it was Marsha. She always knew when her kids were sick.
“You better let Marsha in. She won't rest until she sees me,” Jaycee moaned, rolling onto her back and pulling the covers up over her head.
“Jaycee, this could be serious. Quit fooling around,” Remi replied, getting out of the bed, slipping on a pair of jeans. Dane did the same, as Marsha walked into the room with Mark right behind her.
“Let me see my baby.” Marsha crooned, as she pulled the covers down from her face. Jaycee groaned, looking up at her.
“I'm fine, Momma. You should be at home with your mate not traipsing all around in the middle of the night,” Jaycee whined.
“I always look after my children when they're sick. Now quit fussing and let me take a look at you.”
Jaycee let Marsha poke and prod her for the next ten minutes. The older woman stood staring down at her.
“I told you, I was fine.” Jaycee pulled the covers back up over her head.
“You're fine, but there is something wrong. Well, not wrong, just …”
Jaycee peeked up at Marsha. “Are you going to tell us?” Jaycee asked, waiting.
Marsha smiled down at her, a twinkle in her eye. “I'm afraid you're pregnant again, and it's hitting your body hard. If I'm right, you're pregnant with twins, maybe even triplets. That's why you're out of sorts.” Marsha smiled up at Dane and Remi, who just stood there with their jaws hanging open.
“But I thought I could only get pregnant when I was in heat? And how can that happen so soon? I mean, are you sure. It's only been four days, for Pete's sake?�
�� Jaycee asked, in awe, rubbing her stomach.
“Usually that is the case, but on occasion it does happen when you're not. And since you're body was ripe with hormones, well those stud muffins over there nailed you good. Remember, we're shifters, Jaycee. Anything is possible, I've found over the years, but yes, you're pregnant. The reason I know you're pregnant with twins or more is because one child would not have this much affect on your body, but two or three will.” Marsha laughed.
Mark walked her out the door and came running back into the room. All three of her mates stared down at her.
“What? I didn't know. Oh, crap, we don't who the father is?” She looked up into their faces, and tears fell down her cheeks. “I'm sorry I can't even be pregnant right!” she cried, slipping further down in the bed.
The bed dipped all around her. Remi pulled the covers down and smiled down at her. All three of them were grinning like fools.
“Do you think we care? All of our children will always be part of us. Do you know how rare it is for us to have twins, let alone triplets?” Remi asked her, scooping her up into his arms. They all surrounded her, kissing her and tickling her.
Jaycee laughed, her tears drying up, as she looked at their smiling faces. “You really mean it? You're not upset? And I know someone who had twins.”
“Never, baby. We're proud of you!” Dane shouted. “Yes, some can have twins, but it's rare. Now, it's time you go to sleep. Our babies need rest.”
Remi lowered her body to the bed. Her mates surrounded her body, touching her while they curled around her.
When Jaycee awoke, her mates were still sleeping. Slowly, she crept out of bed, not wanting to wake them. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled, all of them sleeping like babies. Jaycee walked to the bathroom and jumped into the shower. Staring down at her belly, Jaycee rubbed her stomach, smiling. Thank you Pierre. I know you did this.
Running In Fear: Coming Home Page 7