by Zoey Marcel
His thumb lightly brushed her jawline, probably to beckon her downcast eyes back to his.
“Then at that time I will help you choose a suitable husband.”
She nodded slowly with lidded eyes when he let go of her chin.
“I know what’s best for you, little one.”
She’d never once doubted that until now.
“I’ll drive you home and drop the pills by your house when the magic shop has them ready.”
“Thank you,” she said numbly.
The only part that wasn’t numb was her chest. For the first time in her life her heart ached like it was being cut in two.
Chapter Twelve:
Detached
Amber stood behind the counter, dazed and tranquil. Three days she’d been on the hormone-suppressant pill for shifters. She’d known it would inhibit mating heat, and on this high a dose her sex drive, but she hadn’t realized it would make her utterly emotionless.
Bathsheba walked in looking smug. “I’m glad to see you’ve quit kidding yourself about the McCann brothers.”
“Hi, Bathsheba,” Amber said in a mellow tone. “Do you want a scone?”
“No. I just came in here to gloat and tell you that I’m going after your men.”
“Okay.” Faint emotion tried to trickle in, but the feeling was so subtle she almost didn’t recognize that it was heartache.
Bathsheba appeared surprised and disappointed. “You’re taking it rather well. Do you understand what that means? I’m going to make out with your men and have sex with them. Once they see me without clothes on and fuck me they’ll forget all about you. I want you to think about me rolling around in bed naked with them, knowing that you’ll never be the woman with them.”
The melancholy stirring tried to break through, but apathy snuffed it out. Amber blinked at her, not sure what to say. She really wanted to lie down or have Stan tell her what to say. He always knew the right words to say.
Brenda came over looking irritated. “You touch her men—”
“You’ll do what?” Bathsheba sneered. “They’re going to love what I do to them.”
She turned with a haughty air and strutted out of the coffeehouse.
“If I hit her, what do you think the odds are of the cops finding out?” Brenda teased. “Then again, that might be a good tactic to get me a hunk in a police uniform. Yum. You took it pretty well, toots. I think she pissed me off more than you.”
Dane walked into the coffee shop, looking worried. “Amber, why haven’t you answered your phone? We’ve been stuck at the restaurant, but it’s been three days. You never answered our phone calls or our texts. When we stopped by your house you never answered the door.”
Amber looked at him objectively. He was an attractive-looking man, but she couldn’t have something if she dated him. What was it again? Money or Stan’s approval?
“Stan took away my phone and bought me a new one.”
“What?” Dane looked pissed.
She just blinked at him. Maybe she should drink some coffee for energy.
“Controlling bastard. Why the hell didn’t you answer the door when Carson and I stopped by?”
“I was probably sleeping.”
“My girl, what’s wrong with you?” He took her hand in his and petted the top of hers like they belonged together.
It was sweet the way he touched her, and his pet name for her was endearing, but she felt no passion as she had before. She saw him as a beautiful memory, but one she didn’t need to relive. She must think about the future. Stan would take care of it. He’d said he would. She trusted him completely.
“I’m okay, Dane. Do you want some coffee?”
“No. I just want you.” He squeezed her hand, looking so sad.
Maybe he should take one of her pills so he didn’t feel so down. He wouldn’t feel anything. She couldn’t say how being emotionless and detached made her feel because she had no feelings on the matter to analyze. Her state was true neutral and had been for the last three days.
“I can’t see you anymore or your brother.”
“Why not?”
“Stan doesn’t want me to.”
“Fuck him,” Dane snapped. “What do you want?”
Amber thought for a moment. She didn’t want anything. “I don’t know.”
“Shit, if you’re really going to do this to Carson and me, can you at least pretend to give a damn about ripping our hearts out? After all we’ve been through together I’d like to think you feel something for us beyond lust.”
What did she feel? Empty.
“I don’t feel anything,” she whispered.
Dane’s eyes shut and he looked like he was in pain. When his eyes reopened his voice broke. “I don’t believe that. I think you’re just trying to appease your fucking guardian and are sacrificing your own happiness in the process.”
She didn’t say anything. Stan would let her feel again when he was ready to. He’d grant her the freedom to be happy when she earned it.
Dane shook his head, yanked her toward him when he leaned over the counter, and then pressed a kiss to her lips. There was moisture and warmth, but it didn’t touch her. A little tug of sadness told her that she wanted to feel something for him like she used to but couldn’t.
She gazed into his eyes objectively. He seemed crushed, yet undaunted.
“We’re not giving up on you, Amber. You’re our girl and our mate.” His voice caught and his dark eyes glistened with sincerity. “We love you more than anything.”
Something moved through her at his words. She watched him leave and felt a subdued frenzy as the feeling clawed from within while apathy fought to smother it.
“Dane,” she called him back, feeling blue and nearly susceptible to the inevitable heartache that was currently blocked from her system. As neutral as her hushed tone came out, her eyes struggled to plead with him. “Please don’t sleep with Bathsheba.”
Dane acted surprised by the request like it was the first time the thought had ever occurred to him. “You’re our woman, Amber, not her. Carson and I won’t be fucking anyone but you, and that goes for you, too. We’re the only men you get to take to your bed, and when you lose your virginity it’ll be to us.”
He turned and walked out.
A calm void commandeered whatever spark of emotion had struck a match inside her when he’d said those three little words she’d always wanted to hear from a man.
Brenda came over, looking concerned. “Amber, hon, you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re acting like a fucking zombie. Did you get enough sleep last night?”
“Yeah.”
Brenda frowned and clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Are you on any new medication?”
“Stan has me on hormone suppressants.”
The older woman seemed startled. “What for?”
“To keep me from wanting to have sex with my mates.”
Brenda steamed with anger. “He can’t keep you from being with the men you were meant to be with. Have they claimed you yet?”
“Yeah.”
“Amber, listen to me. If your guardian has you on that shifter hormone-suppressant stuff, get off it. I heard it can have some dangerous long-term effects. Supposedly it can either lose its effect over time, you can get stuck in your shifted form, or just snap and fuck your mates.” She grinned. “Which sounds like a plan actually, but seriously, it can mess you up or get you addicted.”
“Stan wants me to take the pill every day. I have to obey him.”
“You don’t have to, but if you’re hell-bent on taking it I can’t stop you. Just promise me you’ll only take it short term and won’t get carried away with the dosage.”
“Okay.”
Brenda eyed her with concern. “You might want to consider dialing back a bit on the dosage. You’re acting like a robot.”
“Okay.”
“No seriously, hon.” She put a hand on Amber’s arm, seeming sad all of a s
udden. “If they already bit you and claimed you as their mate just stay with them. If you don’t, you’ll regret it every day of your life. Take it from someone who knows.”
* * * *
Carson watched Amber come into Tiger’s Eye with her guardian. The old bastard had a lot of nerve coming in here. Carson just knew that Stan Edwards was the one controlling Amber and making her talk crap about not being able to see him and Dane again.
She and her guardian sat at a table across the restaurant, but there were too many people yapping in the place for Carson to hear what they were saying, even with his heightened sense of hearing. He was fine with a crowd and he was more than happy to take their money and stuff the shit out of them with food, but right now he wished they’d roll on out of here so he could make out what Amber and Stan were talking about while they ate.
Kyle Levitt walked through the kitchen on his way out. It was the waiter’s last night at the restaurant…or so he thought. The young man would be joining the police department soon. He was off the clock, but the guy was still on McCann soil as far as Carson was concerned. It was time to make him useful.
Carson grabbed his arm to stop him, still facing the main dining area.
Kyle frowned, but his tone said he was teasing. “Well, I almost made it out of here.”
“I have one more task for you, young Kyle.”
He smirked. “What’s that?”
Carson gave a half-assed nod in Amber’s direction. “You see that full-figured hottie over there talking to that old son of a bitch?”
Kyle glanced that way. “You mean Stan Edwards? He’s not that bad.”
“Find out what he’s saying to her.”
“You want me to go stand by their table?”
Carson ignored the man’s sass. “No. I want you to go wipe down a table nearby and listen in. Be inconspicuous.”
Kyle whined. “Ah, I’m off the clock. I just want to go home and crash.”
“You can crash after your mission. Now get going, little man.” Carson gave Kyle a light shove.
“You don’t think they’ll find it strange how I’m in street clothes clearing away a table?”
“My god, you’re right.” Carson grabbed his arm and herded him back through the kitchen. “You’d better change back into your work clothes to be more convincing.”
Kyle whined and headed toward the back where the staff bathrooms were.
Nathan Preston came over. “What exactly are you up to, Car?”
“I’m sending little man on a mission. Operation ‘fuck this shit.’”
Nathan chuckled. “If you mean Amber and her guardian over there, just let them be. They’re having a nice dinner together.”
“I don’t like it. He’s controlling her or manipulating her in some way. I can feel it.”
“You worry too much. I see you took my advice and hired that Roy pervert who went crazy for Amber’s tits at the club.”
Carson felt a strong biting urge coming on when he looked over at Roy, one of the new cooks they hired. “As much as I want to maul him for touching her, it was a good idea hiring Roy so we can keep an eye on him. As far as I’m concerned he’s a suspect.”
“Now you’re just being paranoid. Roy is harmless.”
“That’s what he wants you to think. For all you know he’s still got his sights on Amber.”
Kyle came back, looking annoyed as he headed out into the main dining area in his work clothes.
“Amber doesn’t look like she’s feeling very good,” Carson noted. “What is that motherfucker telling her?”
Nathan shook his head with a crooked smile. “Car, you’re overreacting. She’s probably just tired.”
“Look at that. He touched her.” Carson bristled, wanting to shift into his tiger and go barreling through the restaurant and hurl himself at the asshole.
Nathan rolled his eyes. “He took her hand in his. So what?”
“What is he telling her? Fuck, she’s trying to stand and he pulled her back down.” Carson started to march, but Nathan grabbed his arm.
“Whoa, whoa. Easy there, partner. No need to create a scene. She was probably going to ask someone a question and he said he’d take care of it.” Nathan became serious when Carson got hyper. “Relax. Just wait for Kyle to get back and see what he says. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
“They’re leaving. Why the fuck does he have his hand on her back?”
“Seriously, he’s her guardian. They’re probably close. A hand on the back is hardly provocative.”
Stan left the restaurant with Amber. She looked drowsy and complacent, not quite herself. What was wrong with her?
Kyle returned. “They were talking about her weight.”
“He insulted her?” Carson clenched his fists.
Nathan shook his head. “Let the man speak, why don’t you?”
Dane came up just then. “Nathan, they need you in the kitchen.”
“Okay.” Nathan shot a knowing look at Carson. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Kyle continued. “No. I guess Amber lost twelve pounds total and Stan was upset with her because she lost more weight than he allowed her to.”
“What?” Carson growled.
Dane’s expression was one of caution and subdued fury. “What do you mean by allow? Whether or not Amber wants to lose weight or maintain is her own business, not his.”
Kyle shrugged. “I guess he has this certain weight range he wants her in and she dipped two pounds below it, so he made her overeat tonight so she’d gain the weight back.”
“What?” Carson and Dane yelled in unison.
Kyle jumped. “Geez, guys, don’t shoot the messenger.”
“Did they say where they were going?” Dane asked.
“He said he would take her home.” Kyle thought back. “He also said she was a good girl for taking her pills every day.”
Dane left the kitchen. Carson figured he was going to Amber’s apartment to make sure she was okay.
“Find out what pills she’s on,” Carson called after him.
Dane held an open hand up on his way out.
Kyle folded his arms. “Now can I go home, boss?”
“You did well, little man. Go home and enjoy yourself.”
A few minutes later Carson got a call on his cell from his brother. “Yeah?”
“They’re not here. I thought Kyle said Stan was taking our Amber home.”
Carson’s brow furrowed. “Did they stop somewhere first?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve been sitting here for a while now,” Dane said. “It’s late. Where would they have gone?”
It suddenly dawned on Carson and he felt a prickling sense of doom come over him. “He’s taking her to his place.”
* * * *
Dane parked his vehicle, shifted into his tiger, and then sprinted ahead when he saw Stan’s truck. He got in the way, cursing when the son of a bitch kept going, apparently trying to run him over. Undaunted, Dane became a man again and then quickly dressed and caught up to the moving truck. This time he stood in the middle of the road. The truck kept moving.
Was the old man actually trying to kill him?
Squinting through the blinding glare of headlights, Dane saw Amber in the front seat. The truck slowed before stopping, and his mate got out. Something was wrong. He could feel it.
“Dane?” She staggered toward him, hands shaking. “What are you doing here?”
She pawed at him like she wanted to play or claw through his shirt.
Dane put his hands on her to still her. He approached the truck, reminding himself that Stan was old. It wouldn’t be very respectful to hit him.
“Why the hell did you try to run me over?” Dane demanded angrily.
“I thought you were the Preacher,” Stan replied calmly, seeming irritated. “Clearly I was mistaken. Did you do what I asked you to, Amber?”
She popped a pill into her mouth and then swallowed it. “Yes, sir.”
; Dane did a double take when he saw Amber flip open the button on her jeans and unzip her fly. “Amber, stop!”
He hurried by her side and closed her jeans, both aroused and angry at the almost drunken way she acted. Had Stan given her something? What was that pill he just had her take?
“Is there something you wanted, Dane?” Stan asked.
“Yeah, why the fuck are you taking Amber to your place when she has an apartment?”
“She offered to spend some time with me this weekend, catching up and keeping me company. I fail to see why that should be a problem.”
“It hurts,” Amber whimpered and grabbed Dane’s crotch, sending a jarring level of sensation through him.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” Dane asked in a low, dangerous tone.
“You’re mated to her. It’s obviously the mating heat you forced on her,” Stan accused, voice clipped and threatening. “And you dare to ask me what I did to her?”
Dane moved Amber’s hand and glared at him. “I’m taking her home.”
“Suit yourself.” Stan drove away.
Dane led Amber down the hill and back to his vehicle. “Are you all right, little mate?”
“Please, fuck me,” she pleaded, prying at his fly. “I need it. I feel so hot.”
He knocked her hand out of the way and cradled her jaw in his hand. “Are you feeling okay, my girl? You’re behaving so differently than you did earlier. I think you should see a doctor.”
“Just let me have you, please.”
The hormones raging in her weren’t from mating heat. This was something different, something dark and ugly.
“Amber, did Stan give you anything? What was that pill you just took?”
“Just the hormone-suppressant pills he has me take every day. Why do I feel like this? Please, fuck me.”
He stopped her. “He has you on those?”
“Yeah, he had me take two today. Now fuck me!”
Suddenly her mad sexual frenzy ceased and she got a blank look in her eyes. She glanced around like she was trying to figure out where she was. All of sudden she fell forward and hurled onto the ground.
Dane held her hair and rubbed her back. “My poor girl.”
He drove her home to brush her teeth and clean up. She was completely mellow and didn’t seem to give a damn about anything.