Accepting Fate

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “Gwen, I need you to stop being sad. I need to know that right now, I’m all you’re thinking about. Forget I dredged up the past, because right now is about you and me and nothing else.”

  “Fuck, I love you, Mike. I’m never walking away again.”

  He wrapped his hands around her waist and backed her toward the bed. “I need to make love to you. I need to be a part of you.”

  “Already are. I’m sorry I doubted.”

  “No more apologies. Just be mine.”

  “Always.”

  They made it to the bed and he pulled off her shirt, then immediately unhooked her bra. Her hands landed on her waistband to shove the pants down her legs while he rid himself of his shirt. She opened his belt as she stared up at him through her lashes.

  Her hands wrapped around his shaft, and he dropped his pants, kicking them away. Then he curled one hand around the curve of her ass. Her legs locked around his hips and he gently brought her to the bed, sliding deep into her in one push.

  “Heaven,” he groaned.

  Lifting her head, she locked her mouth on his and wrapped her hand around his neck. He pushed the pace, and broke the kiss to stare into her eyes.

  Their connection deepened.

  “Can’t get enough of you, Sweetheart. Never going to have enough of you.”

  “Same. Don’t stop, I need you so damned bad, Mike.”

  “You’ve got me.”

  Gwen’s body shuddered as release washed over her, pulling him with her. He collapsed beside her, and she wound around him, laying her head over his heart.

  His fingers combed through her hair as he held her close. He smiled sleepily. “You’re forgiven this one time, but no more leaving me. I don’t want the past. I want a future with you in it.”

  She looked into his eyes. “You are my future, Mike. You’re all I want.”

  Chapter 33

  As much as he loved his place, Mike felt lonely without Gwen there. Pacing the living room, he waited on Roxy to bring Sasha back to him. He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to figure out what to tell his sister.

  Roxy would either forgive Gwen, or hate her forever. He hoped to talk his sister into giving Gwen another chance.

  Finally, there was a buzz at the door. He crossed the room and threw it open. Pulling Roxy into a hug, he kissed the top of her head as Sasha brushed past and butted his thigh.

  “You’re smiling,” Roxy pointed out.

  He nodded. “Missed you. I hope you can understand that Gwen and I are solid now, that she’s not going to run away again. She had good reasons, but still feels pretty stupid. So please, pretty please, with a cherry on top, don’t give her shit for needing me to prove she’s the one.”

  She drew in a breath. “You got it.” Roxy pushed him back and looked into his eyes. “If you’re happy, and you don’t think she’ll do it again, I’ll forget it. She gets one shot and no more.”

  “There won’t be another. And if you hated her, it might kill me, because I’m not letting her go.”

  “Aww, good. I’m glad you’re happy.”

  “Me too.” He stepped back, letting her in and dropped to his knees to greet Sasha. “Hey you. Missed my girl too.”

  She gave him a big wet kiss, and he stroked her back.

  Roxy laughed, shaking her head. “You and your dog. Is that why you got her? Because I was a werewolf, and you figured my stupid fear of dogs was probably gone?”

  “I hoped?” he answered, his face scrunching slightly. “I knew when you showed up at the hospital what you were, and guessed what had happened. It was the full moon that night.” He sighed.

  “It’s okay, and Sasha has helped me overcome any lingering fear of dogs. She’s a good girl.”

  He laughed, standing up. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

  “So, what are you two going to do? Stay here? Move to her place. Find another home?”

  He shrugged. “Gwen’s talking about getting a house with a yard for Sasha. Don’t know where, but she wants to stay in Seattle. Her job is here, and really, you’re here. Where the hell would I go anyway?”

  “I’d miss you too much and drag you back.”

  “Like I’d miss out on being an uncle to this little one.” He touched her belly. “How was your full moon? Everything good?”

  She nodded. “Perfect. I’m excited. Fiona can’t wait to meet her. By the way,” her brow arched, “your other sister wants you to take the time to get to know her now.”

  “I want to. Now that I’m not hiding a huge secret, it won’t be so weird. Think you could convince her to come out one night, hang with all of us?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure I can. I should get back to Trevor.”

  “Love ya, Sis.”

  “You too, Mikey.”

  * * * *

  Gwen told Mike she was going to work to check in. That hadn’t taken long. Now she had a surprise for him. One that made her nervous as hell. She hadn’t mentioned he was meeting her Mom.

  She waited outside his building for her mother to show up. Mom flew in the night before, but wanted to settle in to her extended stay hotel. She’d be in town for a few weeks before taking the next assignment.

  Finally, a yellow cab pulled up and out climbed her mother. She hadn’t seen her in the flesh in over a year due to one assignment after another.

  Pushing off the wall, she gave her mother a big hug. “You ready to meet the man who stole my heart?”

  “I can’t wait. I’ve never seen you smile like this.”

  “Sorry about my meltdown.”

  “Hey, I get it. I’m glad he came for you.”

  “Actually, he beat me there. Painted a masterpiece, says it was the moment he fell for me. He’s everything and more.”

  “Oh, sweetie, introduce me.”

  Gwen looped her arm through her mom’s and brought her inside, then up to his place. The door opened before she could knock.

  Mike’s face lit up. His gaze moved from Gwen, to Mom, and back again. Understanding dawned. “Mrs. Fate, welcome to my home.” Then he blushed slightly and stepped back to let them in.

  “This is Zaira Fate, my mother. And this is Michael Nights. Mike’s my whole world.”

  Mike caught Gwen’s face in his hands, and brushed a light kiss over her lips. “You’re my world, Gwen.”

  Mom giggled. “Oh, you’re sweet. I like you.”

  He blushed deeper. “That’s a relief. I’m head over heels in love with your daughter.”

  “And this,” Gwen continued, noting the patient puppy sitting at Mike’s feet, “is his good girl, Sasha. Sasha, this is my mom.” Sasha gave a gentle woof.

  “Yup, he’s a keeper,” Mom told her, affectionately scratching Sasha’s chin.

  “Come on, let’s go get lunch,” Gwen said, nodding toward the door.

  * * * *

  Later, after Zaira went back to her hotel, Mike lay on the couch with Gwen, Sasha curled into a chair opposite where she could watch them. His fingers were threaded through hers. “Wish you could meet my mom. She would have loved you.”

  Gwen looked up at him. “Do you ever wonder why she gave up her magic completely?”

  “When I was little I did. Then not really, until recently. I think it had everything to do with my father. She was in love with him. He broke her heart. Thinking back, she never fully recovered.”

  Sasha hopped off the chair and ran to the door with a woof. On cue, there was a knock.

  Gwen sat up. “Shit, I meant to warn you they were coming.”

  “Who, and why?”

  She drew a deep breath and stood as he got up. “Preston and Robert. Hear them out before you make a decision. I like the idea, but that might be selfish. Still, give them a shot to see if they can sway you.”

  “All right,” he answered, scrubbing a hand through his short hair. Standing he watched her open the door.

  “Hey guys. I forgot to tell him you were coming.”

  “Distracted?” Prest
on asked with a snort.

  “Hey, my mom came to meet him. Give me a break.”

  He grinned. “How’d that go?”

  “Better than I imagined. Come on in.”

  “Hi, Mike.” Robert lifted a hand in a wave. “Have time to talk?”

  “Sure.” He sat back down and everyone took a seat. Sasha made the rounds to properly greet the two mages. While waiting for everyone to settle, he wondered what they were doing at his place. Cole was no longer an issue. Robert told him that Josephine had disappeared and would likely stay off the radar for good. As far as he was concerned, they had no reason to be there. Worry twisted his stomach.

  Robert looked over. “You’re new to your magic, but after the other day, it seems you’ve embraced it. You work well under pressure, think quickly, and have a good sense of right and wrong.”

  “Uh, thanks.” Mike looked to Gwen, but still didn’t have a clue what was going on.

  Preston spoke up. “The Silver Council reinstated the Diverse Enforcer program. Robert and I both agree you would do exceptionally well there. Besides, Gwen’s going to be one of the instructors, and we didn’t think you’d mind an extra excuse to be around her.”

  That offer wasn’t even close to what he expected. “Seriously?”

  Gwen swallowed hard and shrugged her shoulder. “They’re right. If you’re not interested, I’d understand. You would make a good enforcer though. Hell, you were chained to an altar and instead of freaking, you pulled your shit together and figured out that shifting into something small was the ticket. You got yourself free, then used all the tricks you knew to get yourself out of the mess. You didn’t pause, you didn’t second guess. You acted.”

  “Like you would have done.”

  “Exactly.”

  Mike took a deep breath and looked first at Robert, then at Preston. “Okay, what exactly does all this entail? Remember, I haven’t had normal training. I never went to an academy like Gwen did. I’m still new to all this.”

  “And that, my friend, might be a blessing. You’re fresh enough that you don’t need to unlearn anything. You can learn more tricks, and creative ways to apply them, that traditionally trained casters wouldn’t imagine. You’ll figure out new applications.” Preston grinned. “The program takes about a year. Then you’ll be paired with someone. Likely Gwen. Eventually, you could be on your own, like Gwen’s mom, but if you prefer to stick with a partner, then that’s entirely possible.”

  “I prefer working with a partner,” Robert added.

  Preston nodded. “Me too.”

  Gwen smiled, taking Mike’s hand. “I’d like a partner I can trust. That would be you. If you’re interested, Mike.”

  “Wait, wouldn’t pairing me with Gwen be against the rules or something?”

  “We aren’t the police or a government agency,” Robert answered. “Sure there may be extra risks, but there are also benefits. For instance, Liz and I worked together her whole career. Our magic complimented each other’s and we were able to cast more powerful spells together. We knew each other so well, we could practically read what the other was thinking. It doesn’t work for all couples, but I would encourage you to at least try it.”

  “Okay. But what if I’m not enforcer material?” he asked. “If I suck, I can change my mind?”

  “If you decide it’s not for you, you can walk away. No harm, no foul.”

  “What about my band? I still need regular time to practice, and my art.”

  Robert smiled. “There will be times you’ll have to put that off, but it won’t be constant. In fact, we have many enforcers who blend into human life. They lead normal jobs until needed to step in and deal with our world. I believe you know Kevin Marsden, a Seattle police officer.”

  Mike’s brow arched. “I knew he was a mage, not an enforcer.”

  Nodding, he continued, “You already have a built-in cover. Between your graphic design and band.”

  “Okay, I’m in. If you really think I can do this, I’m willing to give it a shot.”

  “Good. Training starts next week. Gwen has the details.” Robert stood up and shook Mike’s hand. “I look forward to working with you.”

  “Same here,” Preston said, forgoing a handshake and giving him a hug. “Take care of her.”

  Then, they were gone, and Mike turned to Gwen with a smile. “Whose idea was that?”

  “Theirs. They told me about it so I could warn you beforehand. Which I forgot to do.”

  “That’s okay, I was distracted by you anyway.” He pulled her into his arms and backed her toward the wall. “In fact, I’m thinking I need you before we go look at houses, like you were talking about.”

  “You really okay moving in with me?”

  He nodded. “Sasha could use a yard. You’ll be there. That’s all I want.”

  Chapter 34

  Six months later…

  “I’m amazed Roxy hasn’t blown up every pink item she can find,” Mike called, grumbling as he hung the last of the decorations for his sister’s baby shower.

  Gwen looked up after setting yet another tray of food on the table and grinned. “She’s having a girl. Of course it’s pink everything. Were you expecting me to go with a different color?”

  “No. You don’t know Roxy that well though. She’s never, ever, ever liked the color pink. Not even when she was a baby.”

  Gwen laughed. “That’s not a surprise, but it is a baby shower. They generally make everything in pink, blue, or yellow. I’ve noticed her nursery is lavender, and there’s lots of purple, but very little actual pink.”

  Sasha came bounding into Mike and Gwen’s new living room. They had moved to a house on Lake Washington. Sasha enjoyed having a yard, and Mike was relieved Gwen knew how to decorate because he was at a loss for half the house. Together, they renovated an art and music studio down in the basement.

  Gwen moved to the door before Sasha could go from excitedly wagging her tail to barking. “Roxy, good to see you.” Grinning, she touched his sister’s round belly. “I bet you can’t wait until the squirt is here.”

  “Hardly,” Roxy replied, pulling Trevor inside with her. She gave Mike a big hug then muttered against his ear, “Did you get enough pink?”

  Mike laughed. He knew his sister well. “You ready for everyone? They should start arriving anytime.”

  Trevor smiled. “They’re pulling up already.”

  Roxy leaned against Mike’s shoulder and put her arm around him. “Have I mentioned lately that you’re the best brother a girl could have?”

  “About a million times, Sis. Why now?”

  “Don’t know what I’d do without you.” She kissed his cheek before moving back to Trevor.

  “Same to you.”

  “How’s the enforcer program going?”

  Mike looked over at Gwen. “Honestly, it’s a natural fit. Plus, it will mean less time away from my girl. While it’s great for fitting in extra band practice, it sucks when they send her out of town.”

  Gwen gave him a sheepish look. “I hate it too, but I always come back.”

  “You know I’d only come for you.” He walked toward her and took a kiss.

  The bell rang, but Tremaine walked in with Liz, Robert, and bags full of presents before anyone could answer the door.

  Tremaine gave Mike a grin, then went to Roxy to wrap his arms around his niece. “Told you it was a girl. You name her yet?”

  “Evelyn. After Mom.”

  “It’s perfect. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  Then he moved to Mike and squeezed his shoulder. “And you. I’m so proud of you. Not only have you accepted your fate,” he nodded over at Gwen, “but you’ve exceeded everyone’s expectations in the program. You’re doing amazing.”

  “I have a few awesome instructors. One who gives me all the one-on-one time I need.”

  Robert shook his head, looking up at the ceiling. “You two are something else.”

  “Whatever we are, we’re perfect for each other
.” Mike wrapped his arms around Gwen. “I’m looking forward to a bright future for all of us.”

  About Brandy L Rivers

  Brandy L Rivers is the author of the Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle series. There are more Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle books in the works.

  As an avid reader, Brandy has always loved writing. She became serious about it as a stay-at-home-mother. She has a file full of manuscripts she plans to edit and put out there eventually. That is if the new story ideas would slow down for a bit.

  She lives in Western Washington with her husband and three kids, where she is already working on future stories in each of the series and several other projects.

  If you are interested in receiving emails about future book releases, please sign up for her email distribution list by visiting her site at:

  http://www.brandylrivers.com

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  And at Twitter: https://twitter.com/brandylrivers

  Also by Brandy L Rivers

  Others of Edenton

  New Beginnings

  In Too Deep

  Shadows Fall

  Shadows of the Past

  Falling Into Place

  Fated Love

  Breaking Free

  Mending Scars

  Others of Seattle

  Nights Embrace

  Storm Mistress

  Accepting Fate

  Stand Alone Contemporary Romance

  Heart on Fire

  Coming Soon

  Others of Edenton

  Light in Darkness

  May 4th 2015

  Others of Seattle

  Changing Destiny

  Late 2015