Naura

by Ditter Kellen

  “More like baked fish. But I did make mashed potatoes and gravy,” Abbie offered, pointing at the huge pots of food on the stone stove. “I must admit, they’re instant potatoes, but it’s all I can get when Vaulcron makes his surface runs.”

  Naura beamed. “I have never tasted mashed potatoes.”

  “Vaulcron will be here shortly,” Hauke announced, trailing into the room with Arcanum in his arms.

  The baby wriggled and squealed, holding his arms out for Naura.

  “Come to your favorite aunt,” Naura crooned, plucking the child from his father’s embrace.

  Hauke released his bundle of joy and bent to kiss the top of his mate’s head. “Technically, she is his only aunt.”

  Naura narrowed her eyes. “I heard that.”

  Abbie glanced at Tony to gauge his reaction to being in the same room with Arcanum, and her heart squeezed. The look on his face reflected his pain.

  “Uncle Tony. How long are you going to be with us?” Abbie inquired, attempting to take his mind off his painful past. “I mean, are you staying a while or planning to return to the surface?”

  Abbie noticed Naura’s pause in baby talk as if she waited for Tony’s response. She didn’t have long to wait.

  “I’ll be heading back up soon,” Tony confirmed without looking in Naura’s direction. “I have something to take care of before I grab my things and return to Aukrabah.”

  Naura beamed. “You are going to make Aukrabah your home?”

  “Unless you don’t want me,” he teased, chucking her on the chin.

  Hauke’s sister flew out of her chair and wrapped her free arm around Tony’s neck, pulling his face against hers.

  “Is there something that you two are not telling me?” Hauke demanded, plucking his son from his sister’s arms.

  Tony stepped in front of Naura, forcing her to release her hold on his neck. “I didn’t realize I needed permission to mate with your sister.”

  “Mate?” Abbie gasped, dropping the ladle she held.

  Tony raised an eyebrow. “Is that going to be a problem?”

  Abbie threw her arms around her uncle and kissed his scarred cheek. “No problem at all. Right, Hauke?”

  When Hauke only stood there, staring at her uncle, Abbie backed up and nudged him with her elbow. Hard.

  A smile suddenly lit Hauke’s face. “You cannot be intimidated, Vaughn. That is good. I am happy for my sister that she found a strong mate who can keep her safe.”

  Tony grinned. “As if she would let me. But it was a nice sentiment.”

  Laughter erupted inside the small kitchen, warming Abbie’s heart. She picked up her fallen ladle and rinsed it in the stone sink. “Everyone have a seat. Dinner is served.”

  * * * *

  Bruce Ortega swallowed his frustration and pointed to a chair across from his desk. “Have a seat, Mr. Jefferies.”

  “Please, call me Doug.”

  “Okay, Doug. What can I do for you?”

  Jefferies sat and crossed his legs, resting his ankle on his knee. “I’ve been notified of Doctor Sutherland’s progress. I flew in as soon as I heard.”

  Bruce ground his teeth in irritation. “I don’t know who you spoke with, sir, but there has been no progress. We took him off the drugs that kept him in a coma, but as of yet, he has not regained consciousness.”

  “Then, he is not trying to communicate?”

  “Sir. He has only begun to breathe on his own, and that is not without a struggle.”

  “I’d like to see him,” Doug persisted, pinning Ortega with a daunting stare.

  Not to be intimidated, Bruce crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

  Jefferies didn’t blink. “You do realize that I’m here by order of the president. I don’t need permission to see the patient. I’m in here now strictly as a courtesy.”

  Ortega blew out a breath and stood. He would let the asshole see Henry for a minute but nothing more. He wouldn’t risk Sutherland’s life for anyone. Not even the president.

  “Right this way.” Bruce left the room without waiting to see if Jefferies followed.

  The secretary of Homeland Security caught up with him in a few quick strides. “I understand your reluctance, Doctor Ortega. But your patient holds the key to finding a cure for the damnable virus that’s spreading through the country like wildfire.”

  “You mean, my patient holds the key to the government getting their hands on his daughter.”

  “Abbigail Sutherland is the key, Doctor Ortega.”

  Bruce stopped outside Henry’s door and faced Jefferies. “You have two minutes. And as for Abbie being the key to all this? I think we both know that’s horse shit.”

  The sound of machines in use could be heard as Bruce and Jefferies entered Henry’s room.

  Bruce sidled up to the foot of Sutherland’s bed and picked up his chart as Jefferies moved to stand next to Henry’s head.

  “Doctor Sutherland?” Doug rumbled, touching Henry on the shoulder. “Doctor Sutherland, can you hear me?”

  Henry moaned and muttered something in his sleep.

  “What was that?” Jefferies coaxed, leaning in closer.

  Another sound came from Sutherland’s throat. His monitor began to beep and his heart rate accelerated.

  “That’s enough,” Bruce barked, moving to adjust the monitor.

  Jefferies shook Henry’s shoulder. “Where are the aliens, Doctor Sutherland?”

  Henry’s eyes flew open, wild and unfocused. “She gave birth down there,” he wheezed, pulling at his IV. “She birthed one of those things.”

  Bruce pushed his way in between Henry and Jefferies. “Get out. Can’t you see he’s in distress?”

  Doug stumbled back, grabbing onto the railing for support. “Answer me, Doctor Sutherland. Where are they?”

  “He has fangs,” Henry managed to choke out before great racking coughs consumed him, spraying blood onto the sheets. His body began to convulse, and his eyes rolled back in his head.

  “Get the crash cart,” Bruce yelled at the nurse rushing into the room. “He’s coding.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Tony watched in silence as Naura fed Arcanum. She would want children of her own someday, and Tony would never be able to give them to her.

  His mind drifted back to the day his own son had entered the world, and he found it difficult to recall what he’d looked like.

  Panic set in as Tony laid down his fork and tried to conjure up an image of his son’s laughing face.

  Why could he not remember him? he wondered, frantically trying to grab hold of the smallest detail.

  Even his Joanne’s voice had faded to the point where he couldn’t recall her laughter.

  “Tony?”

  “Yes?” Tony glanced up to find the table’s occupants watching him with as if he’d grown an extra head.

  Naura studied his face. “Are you all right? You look as if you are about to be ill.”

  “I’m not feeling so well. I think I’ll go to my room and lie down for a bit.”

  “I’ll come with you.” Naura pushed her plate back and picked up a small hand towel to wipe her mouth.

  Tony shook his head and stood. “No. You stay and finish your dinner. I’ll be fine after I rest.” He bent and kissed the top of her head. “See you soon.”

  Abbie jumped to her feet and followed him to the door. “Don’t do this to yourself, Uncle Tony. Life is too short.”

  “No one knows that better than me, Abbie. No one.” He turned and strode off down the hall.

  Tony entered his room a couple minutes later, stripped out of his clothes, and fell across his bed.

  He lay there for long moments, frantically searching through his cache of memories but found only one. The dream visit he’d had from Joanne.

  She’d insisted that he go on with his life, forgive himself, and start over. But how was he supposed to do that? He knew how his story e
nded. Someone close to him would die. They always did.

  Tony thought of all the lives he’d taken over the years and all those that had been taken from him.

  Loving people meant opening yourself up for heartache, for devastation and endless nightmares. It tormented… It killed the soul.

  He hadn’t let himself get close to anyone since the loss of his family all those years ago. It was safer that way, he told himself, staring up at the rock-formed ceiling.

  And then he’d met Naura.

  Tony been attracted to the beautiful Bracadyte since the first day he’d laid eyes on her. He’d known better than to allow himself to get too close, but what had he done? He’d taken her virginity, her honor, and her heart.

  Cursing himself for every kind of asshole he could think of, Tony closed his eyes in defeat. He couldn’t continue to pretend that everything was all right or that life would be a bed of roses from here on out. Someone somewhere would take Naura from him…whether intentionally or not.

  “Tony?” Naura’s soft voice drifted from the doorway. “May I come in?”

  “Now is not a good time,” he growled, squeezing his eyes shut in panic. “Come back later.”

  Naura, of course, ignored the order and marched in without another word.

  She stopped next to the bed and began removing her clothes. “I will not allow you to shut me out this way.”

  “Damn it, Naura. Stop undressing and get out of here before I change my mind and do something I’ll regret.”

  “Do what you want with me,” she whispered, continuing to disrobe. “I am your mate. My body belongs to you the same as it belongs to me.”

  Tony could feel his shaft lengthening, throbbing with heat as it rapidly filled with blood.

  She stepped out of her sharkskin pants and slowly straightened.

  Tony’s throat went dry. “Naura. Please…”

  “Put your mouth on me, Tony. Like you did before.”

  Tony didn’t think his erection could get any harder. He was wrong.

  He rolled to his knees, wrapped his hands around her hips, jerked her forward, and opened his mouth over the juncture of her thighs.

  The sexy sound of her gasp only made him want her more.

  Tony pulled her closer, slipping his tongue through every crease she had, tasting her, bathing in her, and losing himself in her.

  Her hands flew to his hair, gripping him tightly as she ground herself against his face.

  Tony lost control. He suddenly jerked her off her feet, spun her around, and tossed her facedown on his bed before gripping her hips and pulling her to her knees in front of him.

  The sight of her ass in the air, the curve of her waist, and her long dark hair flowing down her back drove Tony over the edge.

  Guiding himself to her opening, he thrust, slamming himself into her in one powerful movement.

  Naura cried out, but didn’t pull away.

  “Are you okay?”

  At her nod, he thrust again, wrapping his fist in her hair and pulling her head back with his next downward stroke.

  Tony could feel himself tightening, building up to that crescendo of release that would shatter his self-control.

  He let go of her hair and came down over the top of her. “Spread your knees, Naura. Open for me.”

  Naura quickly obeyed, glancing over her shoulder to pierce him with a hooded gaze. “Like that?”

  “Just like that,” he growled, wrapping an arm around her waist and gently pinching her sensitive bundle of nerves.

  Naura moaned, nearly bucking him off before he could tenderly squeeze her again.

  “You like that, beautiful?”

  She impatiently moved against him. “Yes, Tony. I like it very much.”

  Tony pumped into her, moving his fingers in time with his hips.

  Naura’s breathing grew choppy. She dropped her shoulders to the bed, turned her face to the side, and cried out as she began contracting around him.

  Tony could hold back no longer. With one last powerful thrust, he exploded inside her.

  Spots danced before his eyes, and his lungs felt as if they would burst at any second. His arms and legs shook with the energy that passed from Naura’s body into his, prolonging his orgasm and chipping away at his useless defenses. He didn’t seem to have a defense when it came to her.

  Unsure of how much time had passed, Tony gently pulled from Naura’s warm heat and lay on his side, taking her trembling form with him.

  “Naura?”

  “Hmmm?” She pressed her back more firmly against his chest.

  Tony pulled the cover up over them both. “I know what it is that you want. Trust me when I say that I would want the same thing if I were in a different position.”

  She rolled over in his arms and kissed his lips. “Do you love me?”

  Tony’s heart began to pound. From fear or dread, he wasn’t sure. “I care for you, Naura. A lot.” And he did, he silently admitted, watching as tears gathered in her amazing eyes. He would kill for her and had on more than one occasion.

  “That is what I needed to know.” She threw back the covers and slid from the bed.

  “Where are you going?” Tony sat up and reached for her, only to have her sidestep his advances.

  She ran around the bed and snatched up her clothes. “I am finished with being a fool. It is not your fault, Anthony Vaughn. I alone am to blame. You have made your position clear from the beginning.”

  “Naura, don’t go.”

  “I must.” She threw her vest on and dragged her pants up her legs, backing from the room before she finished lacing them up. “Goodbye, Tony.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Naura ran through the halls of Aukrabah with no destination in mind. It didn’t matter where she went as long as it was far away from Tony.

  He didn’t love her. He’d all but admitted his feelings didn’t go beyond friendship.

  Tears tracked down her cheeks as she raced toward the Pool of Life. The calming waters of the gulf awaited her, and she couldn’t get there fast enough.

  Minutes later, Naura arrived at the entrance, diving into the pool without slowing. She burst through the powerful waterfall and into the deep beyond.

  Colorful fish of all shapes and sizes scattered in a desperate attempt to escape the presumed threat in their midst.

  “Naura? Please come back.”

  Tony’s voice inside her head chipped away at her aching heart. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes, only to be washed away by the warm gulf current.

  Naura closed herself off from him, shutting down their connection before the temptation to return to him became too great.

  She had felt his guilt, could feel it still. And that hurt her even more than his rejection had. She’d known he wasn’t capable of love as surely as she knew that he would never be whole again no matter what she did.

  The loss of his family had taken its toll, leaving him a shell of the man he’d once been.

  Perhaps that was what Naura had fallen in love with—the bits and pieces of him she’d glimpsed through his mind. Or maybe she’d been drawn to his damaged soul. She wasn’t sure, but the healer in her had wanted to remove his pain, fix him somehow. She wanted to fix him still.

  Hours passed as Naura continued to swim south. Memories of her time with Tony plagued her with every mile she traveled. His mouth on hers, the smell of his skin, the feel of him inside her body. Everything about him called to her, tempted her, possessed her.

  “Why have you come?”

  Miguel’s voice inside her mind startled her. She’d swum to Cuba.

  Naura was aware that Miguel could communicate with Vaulcron, but she’d always assumed that the two of them had shared blood at some point. How was he able to connect with her?

  “I-I need a place to stay,” she returned, scanning the area for signs of movement.

  Naura could feel his hesitation.

  “Okay, but come to the west dock. It’s darker there. You won’t
be seen.”

  Swimming around to the opposite side of the peer, Naura surfaced next to a wooden ladder at the end of the dock.

  “Welcome to Cuba,” Miguel announced, extending a helping hand.

  Naura accepted his palm and allowed him to pull her up. “Thank you. I am not certain how I came to be here. It was not intentional.”

  Miguel studied her for several seconds. “We can discuss your being here after you get out of those wet clothes. Follow me.”

  Naura trailed after him, ashamed that she’d shown up unannounced. “I have not been here for many moons, Miguel. I apologize for my abrupt arrival.”

  He lifted a hand in dismissal. “No need for apologies. I’m sure you have your reasons.”

  They walked along in silence, emerging near the trees in beautiful Playa Pilar.

  No matter how many times Naura had relived the secluded beach in her mind, nothing compared to standing in the midst of its beauty.

  “This place takes my breath away,” she whispered in awe. “I had forgotten how lovely it is here.”

  “Do you believe in God, Naura?”

  “I believe that something or someone created this magnificent planet that we live on. And if his name is God, then yes. I believe in God.”

  Miguel glanced over his shoulder with a smile. “The Native Americans referred to him as Wakan Tanka or Great Spirit. Others call him God, Jehovah, Lord, and many more names throughout the centuries.”

  He turned onto a trail with dimly lit lights bordering the sides. “No matter what he is known as, he will always be real to me. No other could have created such magnificence. Don’t you agree?”

  She did agree, she mused, inhaling the scent of flowers permeating the air. “I do.”

  Miguel came to a stop outside a small wooden structure that faced the beach. A thatched roof hung low over the sides, shading the two windows perched along the front. A small, round table sat on the porch with two red chairs tucked in next to it.

  Naura had never seen a cozier or more stunning place. “It is majestic.”

  “It’s called the coco hut. And it’s yours for as long as you need it.”

  “Truly?” Naura was taken aback by Miguel’s generosity. “What is a coco hut?”