by J. D. Tyler
The blond nurse took Jacee, Rowan, and Aric to Micah’s room. Jacee took a seat on one side of his bed and held his hand. It was warmer, but she’d feel better when he woke up. At least he was breathing on his own now.
“You can’t do this to me anymore,” she ordered him. “My heart can’t take it. This is it—do you understand?”
“I second that, little brother.” Rowan’s expression was as exhausted and relieved as Jacee felt.
They watched him for a while, talking in quiet tones, until finally Aric insisted Rowan go home with him and get some sleep.
“We need to give Jacee some time alone with her mate, too,” he pointed out. That made the other woman relent, and after she gave her brother and then Jacee a kiss on the cheek, they were both gone.
As much as Jacee was coming to love them all, she was glad to finally have some privacy. The horrid hours of grief, believing she’d lost her love, caught up to her, and she wept, burying her face in her hands. She meant what she’d told him—she couldn’t take this again.
How was she going to handle him going on missions and fighting all sorts of monsters? Never knowing if he’d come home alive or in a body bag? But what else was he supposed to do for a living? As far as the world was concerned, Micah Chase, U.S. Navy SEAL, was MIA and presumed dead.
She worried it in her head until she was so tired she couldn’t think anymore. One thing was for sure: she could never ask him to give up his Pack brothers. This place and these people were more than just a job. They were family.
Asking him to leave here would be like ripping off one of his limbs. She couldn’t do it.
After checking on him one more time, she settled herself on the sofa close to his bed. Noah had thoughtfully provided a pillow and a blanket, and she soon dropped headfirst into the sleep of the stone-dead exhausted.
But tired or not, she had the most wonderful dream. . . .
* * *
She and Micah were taking a walk through their new home: their dream cabin in the forest not far from the compound, but just far enough for privacy.
Surrounded by trees, situated on the pretty plot of land he’d shown her that day, months ago, it was perfect. With four bedrooms, three baths, a media room, a den, and a pool and hot tub out back, it would be perfect for the two of them and for when friends or family stayed.
And for when they began having kids. Seeing other mated couples at the compound starting their families had her excited about a future she never dreamed possible. Kalen and Mac had their precious son, Kai, and Nick and Calla were expecting. Jax and Kira were trying and hadn’t given up.
Maybe she and Micah would be next?
Hand in hand, they discussed what kind of furniture to get, where to place it, but in truth she couldn’t have cared less as long as she was with him. The man who was the other half of her heart.
“Want to see out back?” he asked, smiling.
“Yes.”
Through the den, they went out the double doors and onto the large cedar deck. On the deck was the hot tub, bubbling away and looking very inviting. A few steps below was the pool, sparkling and blue in the sunlight.
“I’ll bet it looks beautiful at night, too,” Jacee sighed.
“I’m sure it does. Want to see?”
She cocked her head at him. “Sure, but we’ll have to wait for it to get dark.”
Micah grinned. “No, we don’t. This is our dream, so we can make it however we want.”
“Dream?” She looked around in confusion. “How do you know it’s a dream? Being here with you, it feels so real.”
“Maybe it is real. What’s reality, anyway?”
With that, he snapped his fingers, and instantly the scene around them changed. Suddenly the cloak of night had fallen, but the pool area was gorgeous, all lit up with the water a more brilliant blue than before.
“How did you do that?” She glanced around them in awe.
“Dreamwalker, remember?” He winked.
“What?”
“That’s my Psy gift. I’m pretty sure I told you.”
“I—I think you did. But this . . . this is incredible!”
“And real.”
She frowned. “But you said it was a dream.”
“When you’re mate’s a Dreamwalker, it can be both. You’ll see.”
“I think you’re one fry short of a Happy Meal.”
He laughed, the sound deep and rich. “We’ll see about that. Come on.”
“What are we doing?”
“Christening our pool and hot tub properly. What do you think?”
“That sounds like fun!”
Taking her hand, he pulled her along, jogging toward the pool. She shrieked when she realized he intended to yank them both into the water, and she tried to get away. But he was having none of it and jumped, keeping a firm grip, and hauled them both over the edge.
As she plunged in, squealing, she suddenly felt very naked. And as she surfaced, she noted that, indeed, her clothing had vanished. “More liberties of your Dreamwalking skills?”
“Hey, why have it if you can’t take advantage?”
“You look very smug.”
“I’m very horny.”
“And smug.”
“That, too, because I know my mate’s going to put out.”
“Hey! Arrogant much?”
“Confident.”
Micah lunged for Jacee, and she took off through the water with a shriek. She laughed as he gave chase, and she thought in that moment that she’d never been happier. If this was a dream, did they have to wake up?
Eventually, baby. But for now, let’s enjoy this.
She went with it, letting him catch her. He spun her around, pulling her against his slick body and kissing her until she had no air left in her lungs. His stiff cock rubbed between her thighs, a new experience in the silky coolness of the pool.
They kissed for a while, tongues dueling, tasting. Then he walked her backward to the edge of the pool and lifted her up to sit with her legs spread.
“Mmm. A feast just for me. Lean back, baby.”
She did, bracing her arms behind her. The position was decadent, him still in the water, hair slicked back, with her sitting on the rim of the pool, legs spread. He buried his face in her mound, licked, and sucked, driving her crazy with every pass of his tongue.
“Oh! Oh, God.”
“Like that, sweetheart?” he murmured.
“Yes. Don’t stop.”
He continued as long as she could stand it. Edging her toward oblivion only to bring her back and then do it again.
His voice was a low growl. “Come all over my face. Do it.”
She had no choice. He ate her, laving both her slit and clit, and she bucked, out of control, as her orgasm shattered. Crying out, she gave him what he wanted, creaming all over his tongue, much to his satisfaction. Then he was pulling her into the water again, turning her to face the edge.
“Hang on.”
Grabbing the lip, she floated some as he spread her from behind and slid his cock deep. All the way into her heat. He began to shaft her, deep and hard, and another orgasm began to build even in the wake of the first one.
Faster and faster, he pumped, and when his fangs sank into the curve of her neck where it met her shoulder, she detonated for a second time. Her walls spasmed around him, and he came with a hoarse shout, filling her with his release.
At last, he had to pull out, and she felt a sense of loss.
“I wish we didn’t have to leave here,” she said sadly.
“But we’ll be back one day. I promise.”
Jacee wound her arms around his neck and kissed him, holding on to him for a very long time.
* * *
She woke, her lips tingling and her body singing with the phantom pleasures of her mate’s kiss and his lovemaking. The press of him against her. She smiled, remembering the dream, the sheer joy of playing with him.
Too bad it had just been a dream.
From the bed, Micah stirred and whispered, “I promise.”
She rose on one elbow and stared at him, stunned. He’d spoken those words, but he wasn’t awake. Could it be?
Her mate was a Dreamwalker. It was entirely possible they’d had a meeting of the minds, as it were.
Smiling, she let that comforting thought carry her back into sleep.
This time, she didn’t dream at all.
* * *
Micah first became aware of the incessant beeping that he hated. Then the smells.
The one scent he was glad to pick out was that of his mate. She was the sole reason he’d struggled so hard to return to the living. To open his eyes. Otherwise he wouldn’t have given two shits if he ever moved again.
Micah tried to recall what in the holy hell had happened. An argument with Jacee. About what?
Oh. Shit. She’d found the bottle of myst. They’d had words. He’d left, intending to just go blow off some steam for a while. Damn, he wasn’t used to having to answer for his every fucking move, and he was trying. So hard. He hadn’t even taken any of the goddamn pills, but she hadn’t believed him, had she?
Maybe she had. But he remembered she kept saying Micah had lied. By omission.
Truth. No way around that. He hadn’t wanted to worry her, but maybe that hadn’t counted for anything. She’d felt she couldn’t trust him, and the hurt had driven him away. Temporarily.
Wasn’t like he’d planned to stay gone. But the creature had attacked first, blood and vengeance on its mind. It had intended to tear him to pieces, carry him away, and then finish the job. Perhaps even eat him for dinner.
God. He’d narrowly escaped that fate. The last real memory he had was of his Pack arriving, Aric shooting flames at the beast. Of falling. And then nothing.
Had he even hit the ground? Something told him he wouldn’t have been alive to talk about it if he had. Kalen was probably to thank for intervening there.
After quite a bit of effort, Micah managed to open his eyes. Focusing took a few more minutes, but when he did, he saw his mate sleeping on the sofa under the window. She looked so small and vulnerable lying there, his heart broke for what she’d endured because of his stupidity.
And the monster’s cruelty. He couldn’t forget that. Yes, he’d tortured innocents. But he was coming to understand that his friends were right—only a soul that was truly twisted to start with would end up at this extreme, killing and maiming. Perhaps Bowman had merely made sure the outside of the creature matched the inside.
The “good doctor” had tried to accomplish the same thing with Micah. He’d tried to mold Micah into a ruthless killer, but thankfully the lessons had never taken. Micah hadn’t been able to kill an innocent, no matter what punishments Bowman threatened him with. That was the truth, and he’d swear it in front of anyone.
As though sensing his stare, Jacee stirred and stretched. After a couple of minutes she opened her eyes to find him watching, and sat up fast.
“You’re awake! My God, I thought I’d lost you.” Tears flooded her pretty eyes, and she came to sit by his bed, taking his face in her hands.
“You didn’t,” he croaked. “I’m made of tougher stuff than that.”
“You almost died. It took my blood and Calla’s to bring you back. Don’t ever do that to me again. Please.” She kissed his lips tenderly.
“I’ll try. How long have I been out?”
“Since last night. You were really messed up. The doctors had to remove your spleen and appendix. But everything else healed on its own. Well, with some help.”
“I’m so grateful. Thank you, baby. I’ll thank Nick and Calla later, too.”
“They won’t want your thanks, just for you to get well. How do you feel?”
He thought about that. “Like hell. But it beats the alternative.”
“Yes, it does.”
She got quiet, and he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I was wondering if you remember having a dream about me last night?”
He smiled. “About us, at our cabin? Making love in the pool?”
She nodded, wide-eyed. “How did you know?”
“Because it wasn’t just a dream. We reached out to each other, and so I directed us in our dream. That’s what a Dreamwalker does.”
“So it happened, and yet it didn’t.”
“We met on almost a spiritual level. Our minds connected. I helped with the rest.”
“That’s just . . .”
“Weird, I know.”
“But sort of cool.” She stroked his hair. “You need to rest, honey. I can see how tired you are.”
“I don’t really want to,” he grumbled.
But his healing body didn’t give him a choice. As if she’d commanded it, the weight of sleep dragged him under to the stroke of her hands on his hair, his face. He knew nothing more for quite a while.
* * *
Jacee was dozing again when Mac came into the room.
“Hey,” the doc said softly, “you awake?”
“Barely.” Sitting up, Jacee wiped her face.
“How’s our patient?” Mac glanced toward Micah, who was sleeping.
“As well as can be, considering.”
Mac busied herself checking his vitals, then addressed Jacee. “He’s doing pretty well. By the way, I’ve got the lab results back on those leftovers you brought to us last night.”
“With everything that’s happened, I’d almost forgotten about them! What were the results?”
“Well, your coyote’s nose was correct—the food was laced with rat poison, something anyone can buy at any supply store. With your shifter biology, the stuff would’ve made you sick, but it wouldn’t have killed either of you.”
“So the crime wasn’t very well thought-out,” Jacee mused. “Sounds almost like an afterthought, like he had the opportunity and did it on a whim.”
“Well, I’m a doctor, not a cop, so I couldn’t say. But that sounds about right.” The doc tucked her stethoscope back into the pocket of her coat. “Anyway, I’ll let Nick and the sheriff know the results.”
“Thanks. Any idea when he might be released?” Jacee glanced at Micah, who was still totally oblivious.
“If it hadn’t been for Calla’s blood, his healing would’ve taken a lot longer. As it is, perhaps a day or two. Even so, I want him to rest for a few days when he’s released.”
“I’ll make sure he does.”
One thing was starting to become clear—she was going to have to cut back on her hours at the bar. She might have to quit altogether, which would be kinder to Jack than keeping such a sporadic schedule. And bartending, though she loved talking to people, wasn’t what she wanted to do forever.
What she did want to do, she didn’t know. Go back to school? To study what?
A tiny bubble of excitement started to form, and she decided to speak with Micah about her options as soon as he was awake and coherent. One thing she did know for sure was that her mate would be supportive of whatever she chose to pursue. That was a very liberating feeling.
A short while after Mac left, Micah began to wake up. He moved around, cracked his eyes open, and groaned. “Hey,” he said, his lips turning up. “You’ve been there the whole time?”
“Haven’t left, but I’m going to shower and change, then get something to eat soon. Want me to bring you back anything?”
He thought about that. “No. Just you.”
“That, I can do.” Leaning over, Jacee kissed him. “Mac was here. They’re going to spring you in the next day or so.”
“That’s fast, considering how bad that bastard tore me up,” he said in amazement.
“I’ll say. We have Calla and her vampire genetics to thank for that. She and Nick are going to stop by and see you soon, by the way.”
“Okay.”
“You sure you’ll be all right while I run out for a bit?” She bit her lip.
“Stop fretting. I’ll be fine. Just do what you need to, and I’l
l be here plotting the untimely death of a certain monster who put me here.”
“All right, but I’ll be back soon.”
After giving him another kiss, she left. But not before looking at her mate lying in the bed and reassuring herself that he really was going to be fine. John was guarding his door as well, which added some relief to her worry. There wasn’t anyone in the world who meant more to her than that battle-scarred wolf.
He was hers, and nobody was taking him away.
Back in their quarters, she puttered around, finding a bra and a pair of clean underwear. Then she laid out a fresh pair of jeans and a blue cotton top. Just as she turned to go into the bathroom, the small brown pill bottle caught her eye. It was lying rather innocently on the floor, and a sudden spurt of anger seized her chest.
Bending, she grabbed it. Carrying it to the bathroom, she opened it, poured the contents in the toilet, then flushed them. “Good fucking riddance!” Then she buried the bottle at the bottom of the trash can, where it would end up in the dump, never to be seen again.
That wouldn’t end his cravings, she knew. But she’d be there to help him every step of the way.
After her shower, which felt really good, she dried her hair and put on the barest of makeup. Just enough to cover the circles under her eyes and put some color in her cheeks. Then she went to the dining room in search of food.
Lunch was in full swing, and she was instantly surrounded by Micah’s Pack brothers, all demanding an update. They hadn’t wanted to bombard his room all at one time, but now that he was on the mend, they promised to stop by.
Jacee sat with Aric, Rowan, Kalen, and Sariel. One thing her friends steadfastly refused to discuss was the actual attack.
“You don’t want to hear a blow-by-blow account,” Aric said firmly. “Trust me on that.”
And that was the end of it. He did describe the creature, but that was as far as he was willing to go. Jacee shivered at the knowledge of how close to death her mate had come.
Her friends changed the subject, and she enjoyed listening to Sariel talk about the wonders of this world. She’d never thought about their plane of existence from the perspective of someone from another realm before, and it was intriguing. Well, the prince himself was fascinating.