She watched as Derek walked to the chairs by the window and sat down. Then she went in the bedroom to get dressed. She didn’t take long to put on the clothes Cara provided, a pair of khaki pants and a T-shirt. She pulled her hair back into a bun and pinned it up. She knew the casserole would take about thirty minutes to cook. There was a fruit basket, and she figured she would find juice and coffee as well.
She came out of the bathroom and saw the pleasure and love that came into Derek’s gaze as he watched her. She would never get tired of seeing that look on his face. Katherine knew in her heart that Derek would always treasure her.
She took his hand and led him into the kitchen and to one of the chairs at the little table for two. Then, she set to work preparing breakfast. She cut up an apple, banana, and peach she found in the fruit basket and served that to Derek as they waited for the coffee and casserole.
They talked and teased as Katherine finished getting everything served. Now, she could feel the passion that simmered under the surface. She also knew she could never leave him now that they were back together. His near brush with death left her feeling determined to stay as close as possible.
“Ready for a little adventure?” Derek said. “I’d like to show you something. Let’s pack a picnic, and then we’ll go.”
Katherine helped make sandwiches and picked out some fresh fruit to put in a small basket, which could travel through Shadow. As long as you wanted your food chilled, everything was good.
“Ready, beautiful? Put on the mink-lined coat in the closet. You know Shadow is cold.”
After fetching the coat and a leather jacket for Derek, Katherine walked over to Derek. He held out his hand, and they went into Shadow, and then, just that quick, out again.
A beautiful log house rose up out of the woods. It was huge and fit perfectly into the landscape. A lake glistened in the sunlight nearby.
“What’s this?” she asked confused. “Whose house is that?”
“Yours, Kate. I built it for you. We own the lake and several acres of woods. Would you like to see the inside?”
“I would love to. When did you do this?” He built her a house?
“I bought the property after I first met you. I knew you were going to need some time to recover from losing Kevin. It helped me to have something to do, for our future, for you. Nobody knows about it. We could hide out here, but it wouldn’t take Raven long to figure it out, I’m afraid.” Derek led Katherine up the path to the house. He pulled a key from a hidey-hole and unlocked the door.
“I’d carry you over the threshold, but I’m afraid I’m still not up to that. Come on, I want to know if you like it.”
Katherine walked into a central hallway with a stairway and doors leading off to the sides. The first room was a large living room with windows facing the lake and a huge stone fireplace. The room down the hall was the dining room with windows facing the lake on one side and woods on the other.
She insisted Derek sit down in a chair in front of the fireplace to rest, while she explored the rooms. When she was finished, he followed her upstairs to show her the bedrooms. The master suite was on the front of the house and faced the lake. There were beautiful French doors that led to a balcony. Katherine could picture waking up as the sun rose over the lake. The only furniture was a large king-size bed facing the balcony. There were three other bedrooms down the hall and two more bathrooms.
“I thought you would like to finish the decorating yourself. Or we can hire it done if you’d rather,” he said.
“Don’t you dare hire someone. I would love to finish the decorating. Derek, the house is beautiful. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how wonderful this makes me feel.”
“You are wonderful, Katherine. I have one more thing I need to show you,” he said, walking to her as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. “Will you marry me?” he asked as he held the ring out to her.
“Of course, silly. You’re my destined mate. Shadow marked me to prove it.” She let him place the ring on her finger. “Oh, it’s lovely, Derek. I love it and I love you.” Derek enfolded her in a hug.
“There’s something else I need to do today. I need to visit Quiet Thunder. Will you come with me to his ranch?”
“Of course. I want to see how he is doing now that Gwen has gone to London.”
§
After a quick trip through Shadow, Derek and Katherine stood on the porch of Isanti Quiet Thunder’s ranch house. Derek ran his hand through his hair. Katherine patted him on the arm. Gathering his strength, Derek knocked on the door. It was opened immediately by his foster sister, Tatiana, a woman with long blond hair and blue eyes.
“Derek, I heard you were shot. What are you doing out of bed?” Tatiana grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug.
“I missed you, too, little sister. You remember my fiancée, Katherine?”
“So you finally popped the question? Good, and not so little, you have me by only a few months. Hi, Kathy. Gwen and Lindy have told me so much about you. I hated missing Raven and Cara’s wedding. I was on assignment.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Gwen and Lindy told me a lot about you, too. You work as an embassy attaché?” Katherine asked.
“Yes, as a security officer. Come in. Derek, you’re looking a little pale. Sit down, before you fall down.” Tatiana led them into the front room and over to the couch.
Derek sat down, glad to take a moment to rest. He hated feeling so weak. Katherine sat down next to him, and he pulled her close.
“Dad is out in his workshop. I’ll call him in. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No need to wait on us, Ana. How is Quiet Thunder?”
“Well, he’s not as young as he used to be. I’m actually here only for a little while. I’m being assigned to the Chinese embassy. I leave in two days. Gwen suggested I come home for a visit. She’s taken a job in London. I think she worries about Isanti, even though any one of us can shadow-walk home in an instant. Let me call him in. He’ll be glad to see you.” Tatiana got up and left the room.
“She doesn’t look like a Shadow Walker,” Katherine commented.
“She has her mother’s coloring. All of Isanti’s children are adopted or foster children, like Raven and me. Tatiana’s father was a member of the tribe. When she was orphaned suddenly, Isanti took her in. She can shadow-walk like the other members of the tribe.”
“That was a generous thing Quiet Thunder did, taking the orphaned children into his home.”
“He is the tribal shaman and felt it was his duty. Don’t get me wrong. Isanti loves his children.”
“You’re afraid he is going to be angry at you?”
“I know he’s angry. I don’t know if he will forgive me.”
“He’s your father. He will forgive you.”
Just then the door opened, and Isanti Quiet Thunder entered. He looked like a nineteenth-century warrior with his long silver hair in two braids that hung almost to his waist. His bronzed skin was wrinkled, his eyes sparkled with vitality. He wasn’t young, but Derek was glad to see Quiet Thunder so vigorous.
Tatiana entered behind him. She smiled and went toward the kitchen in the back of the house. Derek’s foster father stood in the living room, looking at him. Derek began to stand, but the old man gestured to him to stop.
“So, the prodigal son returns. You look like hell.”
§
Five Days Later
Katherine opened her eyes to the early morning light spilling into the bedroom of their log home. Derek lay on his side facing her on their king-sized bed. His long black eyelashes rested on his cheeks. His color looked good, and she smiled. His injury had taken a lot out of him, though his healing was quicker than expected, probably because of the healing draughts he had been taking every day while on assignment. His metabolism seemed to have speeded up, and he tired easily if he didn’t eat well. Dr. Rick wanted him to rest a couple more days, and then they would run some tests.
Derek had some other strang
e side effects from taking the healing potions that worried her. Yesterday, a glass balanced on the edge of the counter started to fall. Derek was across the room unpacking another box of kitchen supplies. Before Katherine could move to stop the accident, Derek held the glass in his hand. How was that possible? Nobody could move that quickly.
Katherine glanced at her watch. She would return to work today. There was a little time before she needed to get out of bed. She scooted closer to Derek and kissed each eyelid, his nose, and lightly his mouth. He sighed and reached for her, pulling her close. She nibbled on his chin, then kissed his neck.
“Wake up, and make love to me,” she murmured against his skin.
Derek rolled over on top of her, a smile on his face, his eyes dancing merrily. “Good morning, beautiful.” Derek’s fingers began to explore her breasts under her pajama top, tugging on one nipple and rolling it before moving to the other side.
Katherine felt herself dampen. God, how she loved this man. One smile, one kiss ignited a fire inside her. “Good morning. Don’t play around. I have to get ready for work.”
“But I like to play. Are you wet for me, baby?” Derek slipped one finger beneath her pajama bottoms and into her core. “Oh, yeah, so wet and hot.”
He took his finger out and showed her the moisture glistening on its surface before he put it into his mouth and sucked it dry. Katherine shuddered and felt another gush of moisture.
“What you do to me,” she said, her voice breathy.
Derek smiled and tugged her pajama pants down and off before he came back to play. He dipped his finger inside her core, then rubbed the moisture against her clit. Katherine squirmed, unable to hold still under his ministrations.
“Feel what you do to me, beautiful.” Derek took her hand and placed it on the bulge in his pajamas. Katherine ran her fingers up and down before slipping her hand under the waistband of the pants. He was velvet over steel. His breath whooshed out when she gripped him hard, her fingers wrapped around his length. She tightened her fist, then released. Derek shuddered.
“It feels like you want me,” she teased.
“I always want you,” Derek growled. He removed his pajamas and came back down between her thighs.
“I always want you, too.” Katherine reached for him and guided his shaft into her. She wanted him inside her, wanted to be filled.
§
She was hot and wet and gripped him tightly. Derek pushed in as deep as he could go before pulling out. He teased her clit before plunging in again. He wanted her pleasure above anything else.
Katherine gasped, and Derek felt the prick of her nails on his back. He plunged again, needing to feel connected with her. He wasn’t going to last much longer.
He opened his thoughts and pulled Katherine’s mind into a link. Her pleasure swamped him as her need built. His desire fueled the fire until they were both panting.
He pulled his body out and sank in again, building the tension for both of them. In and out, connecting their minds and bodies.
Katherine moaned and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Please, Derek.”
Her desire was his. Her need filled him. Derek reached down and squeezed the little bundle of nerves between her legs. He plunged in again and felt Katherine’s spasm. She called out his name.
He followed her into the ether, their spirits combining. Mind, body and spirit. They were connected. They were one. He continued to hold her close, kissing her and whispering graphic suggestions about what they could do the next time they made love.
Katherine laughed and kissed him back. He was in heaven. If only they could stay here forever.
Later that morning, Derek wandered into the kitchen of their log home and reached for the coffeemaker. He smiled at the red appliances, then turned in satisfaction to survey the rest of the room. He and Kate had used his convalescence leave to go shopping and purchase everything they needed to make the house a home.
As he reached for a pan to cook some eggs for breakfast, he heard the shower turn off upstairs. Katie would be down soon. Today was her first day back to work since returning from the Amazon.
He hated to let her go. He would miss the easy way they came together. One look and they were in each other’s arms, making love wherever they found themselves.
He walked over to get the eggs and cheese out of the refrigerator. As he whipped up two omelets, Katherine walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. She wandered up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist as he stood at the stove.
“I’m going to miss you today. Will you come to the office and have lunch with me?”
“Of course, tehila. Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. I have another lesson with Quiet Thunder this morning. I can meet you at your office.”
The back door opened with a slam. “Honey, I’m home …”
Derek whirled around and pulled Katie behind him. That door had been locked. Then, he looked closely at the person invading his home and sighed. Katherine peeked over his shoulder at the blond-haired woman standing in the doorway.
“You always know how to make an entrance, Stacey.” She works for General Holland, Derek sent to Katherine telepathically. He heard the click of the stove being turned off.
“Send your playmate home, Derek. I need to talk to you.”
Katherine stiffened behind him. Derek ran his fingers down her arm and linked their hands. “This woman is my fiancée, Katherine Sloane. Katherine, this is Stacey Johnson.”
“Ah, I see you haven’t told her about me. Tell me, Katherine. Did Derek tell you that we screwed like rabbits on that table under the window?”
Katherine moved up beside Derek and glared at Stacey. “Trying to shock me, Miss Johnson? That would be hard to do since we bought that table two days ago. You can stop trying to break us up with your lies. I’m not going anywhere.”
Stacey glanced back and forth between the two of them. “I guess you finally found a keeper, Derek. I do need to talk to you, in private.”
“Whatever you want, I’m not available. I’ve decided to retire from General Holland’s service.” Katherine squeezed his hand.
“Well, it’s not really what you can do for the general. It’s what we can do for you.”
Hugh slipped out of Shadow behind Stacey. He held a crossbow aimed at Stacey’s head. “Go on, Miss Johnson, what do you think you can do for us?” Hugh asked.
Stacey stiffened and looked back over her shoulder. “I should have known you would have back up, Derek. Silent alarm? Hugh, long time no see.”
Hugh and Stacey had done several jobs together for the general. They were an excellent team. That had been at least five years ago. Hugh had come home injured pretty badly from their last assignment and retired from working special ops. He had taken over the technological department of Isanti, Inc. Derek had asked him once what happened. Hugh refused to discuss it.
“Five years, Stacey. What kind of trouble are you in now?” Hugh asked.
“I’m not the one in trouble. Isanti, Inc., is being targeted again, specifically Derek. We are pretty sure you have a mole in the organization.”
“Why didn’t you go to Raven about this?” Derek asked. “Why did you come here?”
“Because if I went to Raven at your offices, the mole might have heard me. Are you sure about your girlfriend there, because she is high on my list of suspects?”
Katherine gasped. “How dare you. Why would you think I would hurt Isanti?”
“Your position at the firm.” Stacey glanced back at Hugh. “Are you going to stand there with that crossbow trained on me, or are we going to discuss this rationally? I made sure you got home on our last assignment, Hugh. Why won’t you trust me?”
Hugh lowered the crossbow. He walked up to Stacey and wrapped his arm around her waist from behind. Then, he jerked her back against him and buried his face in her blond hair. “Five years, and not one word, Stace. Not one damn word. You owe me an explanation.”
Stacey trembled. Dere
k glanced at Katherine. Their eyes met and they both smiled. It looked as if Hugh might have found his destined mate. Cara needed to see this.
Raven and Cara hurried into the kitchen from the front room as if thinking about them made them appear.
What are you doing here? Derek asked his brother telepathically.
Joe reported the alarm going off here at your house. Cara insisted on coming. We aren’t going to lose you.
The word “again” hovered in the air unsaid. Joe Running Bear appeared in the back door, crossbow in hand. Once he saw that everyone was okay he leaned lightly against the door.
Cara gave a satisfied smile to Raven, and Derek was sure he and Katherine had been correct. Stacey Johnson was destined to be Hugh’s.
“Shit, where did you all come from? I could have sworn Derek and his girlfriend were the only ones here when I arrived.” Stacey pulled away from Hugh. From the look on Hugh’s face, he released her reluctantly. “I must be losing my touch.”
“Why don’t we all sit down? There’s coffee ready. Miss Johnson can explain to all of us why she came barging in,” Katherine suggested while moving to the cupboard where the mugs were stored.
Derek smiled. The boardroom tiger was apparent in Katherine’s voice. She wasn’t going to forgive Stacey for her earlier lies.
§
Raven and Joe escorted Miss Johnson into the dining room. Just when Katherine had thought life would get back to normal, this woman had showed up. Katherine gritted her teeth and pulled mugs down from the cabinet.
Derek stood next to her with a tray in his hand. He brushed her cheek with his fingers before placing the mugs on the tray. Derek stared at her a moment, searching her face. “Let’s go find out what Stacey is talking about.” Katherine nodded and followed him with the coffee pot in her hand. She made sure to paste on her business face.
Everyone took a seat around the table. Joe sat closest to the door, while Hugh sat next to Stacey. Derek set the tray on the table and held a chair for Katherine. He sat down next to her and reached under the table to place his hand on her knee.
Love in the Shadows Page 7