A Family Portrait

by J. J. Massa

  Tracey was flabbergasted. She couldn’t move as she watched her timid little girl interact with the muscular young man. Ashley has just hugged that man on purpose and told him she trusted him. I’ve stumbled into an alternate universe.

  Pulling back, Myles cupped Ashley’s chin and tilted her face up. “It’s okay to be scared, Princess. But all my brothers will be coming to help. And I bet Grandma Elke will come, too.”

  Myles stood and led Ashley into the house. “Take a minute, son, and round up Riker, Lakon, and Yancey!” Mik called out. Turning to Tav and a bemused Tracey, he said, “I’m going to round up the Montgomery and Livingston packs around here. We’ll get someone to stay with Tracey’s friend Sue if need be. I’ll be back in a while.” He began to turn away and then turned back to Tav. “Myles is right, son. Prepare for impact. Your mother’s dying to get her hands on those pups.” Then he was gone.

  Now that Tracey was alone in the yard with Tav, she didn’t know what to do. “The kids…” she began.

  “Are fine,” he countered.

  “I sent you away,” she whispered.

  “I came back,” he said, looking down at her. “You can send me away again later, when you’re safe. Until then, you’re stuck with me.”

  “I’m really scared, Tav,” Tracey murmured.

  Tav put his arms around her and held her close. She could hear his heart beating. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore. This is what she wanted. Jack be damned.

  She wanted Tav’s arms around her for all time. It didn’t matter that he was a werewolf. Apparently it wasn’t all that uncommon a phenomenon. That Sheriff wasn’t a bit surprised when that big wolf started talking.

  Admitting her feelings to Tav wasn’t going to be easy. She’d been pretty mean when she’d sent him away.

  “Tavist,” she whispered.

  “Yes, ma’am?” his voice sounded like a sexy murmur in her ear.

  She still didn’t look up at him. “I really didn’t mean those horrible things I said to you.”

  He was silent for long moments. Finally, she did look up. Everything she’d ever wanted to see in a man’s eyes was there—along with wariness she didn’t want there. She needed to be completely honest with him.

  “I don’t care if you can turn into a-a bat. That doesn’t matter to me. I was stunned and shocked. Maybe, if I didn’t already love you, I would have objections to your being a werewolf.” When he would have spoken, she placed two fingers on his lips. “I was afraid for you.”

  She removed her fingers. With a low, rumbling growl, he pulled her to him. His mouth covered hers in an aching, demanding, passion-filled kiss. When he finally raised his head, she clung to him knowing she’d land in a heap if he made her let go.

  “I love you Tracey West. I will never force you into anything but I won’t ever let you go either. You’re stuck with me.”

  *

  Holding his trembling mate in his arms, Tav was weak with relief. Gently, he urged her to the porch where they both sat down. Needing the closeness, he lifted her onto his lap.

  “You’re getting closer and closer to that spanking I promised you a few days ago,” he murmured.

  “You say it but you don’t mean it,” she sighed, resting against his chest. “Oh!” she yelped, jumping up.

  Before he could say anything, she pulled him to his feet and began tugging at his tee shirt. When she had it un-tucked from his jeans, she pushed it up, examining his abdomen closely.

  She found what she was looking for in the thick pink scar that started just below his ribcage and ended parallel to his navel. Pushing him backward to sit on the porch, she stroked and kissed the torn flesh.

  “It looks like its healing. I’m so sorry, Tavist, so sorry. Can you ever, ever forgive me? I don’t know if I can forgive me.”

  Tav pulled her back onto his lap. “Hush Love,” he admonished her. “We need to talk. This little scratch is healing. I’ll be fine.”

  Tracey sighed. “I know, Tavist. I know we need to talk.” She closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder.

  He let her rest for a minute and then he tipped her chin back so he could look into her blue, blue eyes. “Tracey, do you want to live your life with me? Be honest. It’s important.”

  “Of course it’s important!” she groused. “What kind of a thing is that to say? Like I don’t know what’s important and what’s not… I do have three kids you know!”

  Tav shook his head. “Okay, poor choice of phrasing. You didn’t answer me. Don’t worry, I…”

  She reached up and put her hand on his lips again. “Yes, Tavist, I want to live my life with you. I want to have your babies—except we’ll need a much bigger house. I want to go to bed with you and wake up with you every single day.”

  Tav couldn’t fight his happy smile and he didn’t try. Even though he had a definite agenda for this conversation, he deviated from it long enough to kiss Tracey until she clung to him again.

  “We’ve already mated in the ways of my kind.” He knew he looked a little guilty, but only a little. “I put my mark on you the first time we made love.” She looked at him with wide round eyes. He moved the neck of her shirt aside and licked her shoulder. “I want to marry you according to your beliefs.”

  He saw Tracey’s eyes fill with tears. He leaned down and kissed each cheekbone.

  His lips feathered down her jaw and over to her mouth. He nipped at her lower lip and then soothed it with his tongue.

  Once again, he sunk his tongue into her velvet mouth and mated his with hers until he could barely breathe. He could feel her shaking with need in his arms. He was heavy and aching but he wouldn’t do anything about it yet.

  “Tracey,” he forced himself to speak. “I can’t marry you without a certain promise.”

  “What promise?” she sounded breathless still.

  “You have to promise to come to me right away if anything frightens you or makes you nervous.” He took a deep breath. “I don’t care if it’s high prices at the grocery store or if you think I’m acting badly. Promise what happened three days ago will never happen again.”

  “Oh, Tavist” she groaned. “I’m so…”

  “Tracey!” he growled, cutting her off. “This isn’t about fault and blame. It’s about both of us feeling safe together. Okay?”

  She nodded, tears dripping down her cheeks now. “I promise to always tell you, I promise,” she whispered.

  Standing, he placed her on her feet. “You’ve never been to my house, have you?”

  She shook her head. He raised his voice just a little. “Myles, we’re walking over to my house. I hear Mik coming now.”

  Taking her hand, Tav led her around the house and down the path. Sure enough, Mik was just coming into the backyard.

  “We’ll be back in a little while,” Tav grinned. He saw Tracey’s face flush before she ducked her head in embarrassment.

  “Tracey,” Mik rumbled, “Welcome to the family.”

  “Mr. Montgomery, I’m sorry about what I said. I don’t…”

  “Don’t worry sweetheart, I spoke to Tav about digging, chewing, cat chasing, and good personal hygiene. He’s ready to be house trained now.”

  Mik reached up and licked a red-faced Tracey on the cheek and padded off.

  ———

  Mik was just coming in the back door as Myles hung up the phone. “That was Yancey. He’s coming in with Lakon. They’ll all be here in a few hours.”

  “Myles?” Jacob stopped a few feet away from him.

  “Yes, Jacob?” he responded. He knew the boy didn’t trust him. He wondered if he ever would.

  “What’s your favorite color?” he looked over his shoulder and back at Myles.

  “Green,” Myles answered. Seeing the frown on the little boy’s face he said, “Dark green, really.”

  Jacob stomped a foot and flounced back through the doorway. “You were right Ash,” Myles heard him say grudgingly. “You were double right. I owe you something el
se. I already ate my chocolate pumpkin that Uncle Lakon got us.”

  “I don’t need a reward for being right. It’s a reward all by itself,” Ashley grinned.

  From anyone else, Myles was sure that statement would have sounded smug.

  Coming from Ashley, it sounded like good-natured teasing.

  “In Spanish that’s verde. Dark green is verde oscuro. Come on Christopher, find the verde oscuro crayon.”

  Christopher promptly produced a forest green crayon and Jacob and Ashley cheered, hugging and praising him.

  Buoyed by their enthusiasm, Christopher picked up the green crayon and toddled over to Mik and Myles announcing, “Verde means green!”

  “Smashing little man, absolutely smashing! Very bright indeed!” Myles praised him.

  He couldn’t deny how smart Ashley and her brothers were. He also couldn’t deny how good he felt inside when she beamed at him. Giving him a hug, he set the little boy down again.

  Christopher grabbed a blue crayon and handed it to Jacob saying, “Blue means azul!”

  “Blue’s my favorite,” Jacob allowed.

  “Me, too!” clapped Christopher.

  Ashley sat down with Christopher again and Jacob moved over near Mik and Myles.

  “Do we still have to leave tomorrow?” Jacob asked.

  “I say, old chap, why would you want to leave?” Myles patted the couch next to him.

  Jacob eased onto the cushion beside Myles and looked at him for a long time. “You don’t want us to leave, do you?”

  “Right in one, Jacob. I want you to stay right here with Tav. Is that what you want?”

  Jacob nodded solemnly.

  The little boy looked over at Ashley and Christopher. In a low voice, he said, “I heard what that policeman said. Daddy’s looking for us, isn’t he?”

  “He is,” Mik nodded, answering him.

  Jacob tore his eyes off of his sister and looked into Myles’s eyes. “Daddy says girls are only good for one thing and he can cook and clean for himself.” He looked back at Ashley. “You have to make sure Daddy doesn’t get near her. He hates Ashley.”

  Myles closed his eyes and counted, holding his breath. When he felt he could speak without sprouting hair on his face he answered Jacob.

  “I promise you that I’ll keep her safe, Jacob. Do you believe me?”

  Jacob smiled a small smile and reached up, touching an elongated canine tooth with his index finger. “I believe you, Myles.”

  Chapter 12

  “I’m glad we could spend a few minutes by ourselves, Tracey,” Tav took her hand and led her into his bedroom.

  “There are no blankets on the bed,” Tracey looked around.

  “I get pretty warm,” Tav smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you nice and toasty.” He took her into his arms and pulled her close.

  “You will?” she smiled coyly.

  “Maybe I’ll even make you as hot as you make me,” he growled.

  “Promises, promises,” Tracey giggled. She wasn’t used to flirting and she wouldn’t try to be someone she wasn’t.

  Tav put his arms around Tracey and leaned back to look into her eyes. “Tracey? You know for sure that I’m a werewolf. We’re considered half man and half wolf. Most people think we’re monsters if they think of us at all.”

  “Tavist, you may be half wolf but you’re all man. I love you. I know what you are. Now you know the truth about me.” She waited. She knew he’d ask.

  “The truth about you?” He didn’t let her down.

  “I’m half woman, half chicken. Does that make me a werechicken?”

  Tav scooped her up growling into her throat and dropped her onto the bed, following her down. “Good thing for you, woman, that I’m a carnivore!”

  Tracey had about half a second to speculate on how incredible it was to have such a big, strong, handsome man want her this way, before Tav began undressing her with his teeth.

  She lay back and enjoyed that for a few minutes until he got her bra off. She decided she really needed to feel skin against skin. It was nearly impossible to get his shirt off when he wouldn’t remove his mouth from her breast—not that she didn’t want his mouth there.

  Tav stopped nibbling and sucking at her sensitive nipples long enough to pull his shirt over his head. He took that opportunity to pull her jeans and panties and his own jeans off. She wanted to touch him so much.

  Tav apparently had other ideas. He took both wrists in one strong hand and held them above her head. He began licking, kissing, and nibbling his way down her body. He was almost at her navel when he had to release her.

  By that time, Tracey was senseless. He’d licked the underside of both breasts and nibbled and kissed his way over each and every rib. He’d stopped and paid special attention to the scars she had there.

  He kissed over her slightly rounded abdomen and down over one hip, one thigh, her right kneecap—all the way down to her ankle and around it. She was squirming and moaning by the time he made his way up her left leg.

  Finally, he began stroking her labia gently with his tongue. The sensation caused her to moan loudly and squirm still more. Tav grabbed her thighs in his strong hands and held them open.

  He placed his mouth over her weeping slit and alternated between sucking and plunging his tongue in and out. “MMMMM,” he groaned. “More!”

  He began nipping and sucking her little nub and then moved his mouth back to her opening. Rubbing and pinching lightly with one hand, he continued to suck and plunge with his tongue. She came violently and couldn’t seem to stop, sobbing out her climax.

  Tracey was sure she couldn’t possibly feel any further sexual stimulation and then she felt Tav slide up her body.

  “Kiss me, Tracey,” he rumbled. “Taste how beautiful.” He covered her mouth with his and swept his tongue between her lips.

  She felt the hot liquid gush between her legs at his words. Almost immediately, the rounded head of his hard shaft pushed against her center. She spread her legs and lifted her hips and he slid inside of her to the hilt.

  “Good,” he groaned. “So good. So beautiful.”

  He began moving slowly at first and then faster. Soon he was pumping into her with a powerful driving force. She wrapped her legs around his hips and hung on, feeling the heat of tension building inside of her.

  Suddenly it felt like a volcano exploding inside of her as her orgasm ripped through her in wave after powerful wave. Tav was still pounding inside of her fiercely, lunging toward his own climax. After a series of mighty thrusts, he came with a roar. He contracted around her and clamped his jaw onto her shoulder, pouring his seed into her.

  It took him a few minutes, but with great effort, it seemed, he managed to lever himself off of her pulling her next to him. She could hear the sticky, sweaty sound their bodies made when they moved apart. His breath was still coming in gasps as was hers.

  Finally, Tracey forced herself out of bed and Tav followed after her. She insisted that they take separate showers, knowing that they’d never leave if they ended up naked in close proximity again.

  ———

  At Tav’s nod, Mik and Myles eased away from the little family. The kids had wanted to play on the swing and the two werewolves had seen no reason why they shouldn’t.

  They were all outside at the tree when Tracey and Tav joined them.

  Tracey snuck up behind Ashley and picked her up, swinging her in a circle while Tav reached out and stopped the swing. Jacob held tight to his little brother who squawked in protest.

  “Hang on now, buddy!” Tav laughed, reaching over to pluck the two-year-old off of his brother’s lap.

  Tav lowered himself to sit on the ground holding Christopher. Tracey sunk down with her arms wrapped around her little girl and pulled her onto her lap. Jacob slid out of the swing and sat against the tree-trunk, looking first at his mother and then Tav.

  Glancing quickly at his sister, he blurted, “You want to talk about the Sheriff and our dad, right?”


  Tracey opened her mouth to speak but Ashley interrupted. “Jacob and me, I mean, Jacob and I—we think you and Tav should get married and we should all just stay here and fight Daddy till he dies or goes away.”

  Tracey’s mouth snapped shut and her eyes caught Tav’s. He fought the urge to grin and looked solemnly at the little girl. Transferring his gaze to Jacob, he struggled with laughter as the little boy glared defiantly at him, daring him to argue their logic.

  Tav shrugged. Tracey shrugged. “Okay,” they said at the same time.

  Ashley and Jacob looked at each other for long seconds and then Jacob launched himself at Tav. He fell backwards in a heap with a giggling Christopher squirming against him, laughing uproariously.

  Tav fended off the enthusiastic affections of the two boys as he watched Ashley turn in her mother’s embrace, and snake her arms around Tracey’s neck.

  “So this is real? Really real?” Ashley demanded, staring into Tracey’s eyes.

  “Completely real. No more hiding, no more being afraid. Well, maybe a little but we’re not going to be alone anymore.” Tracey’s gaze didn’t move from Ashley’s until the little girl collapsed in a relieved sigh.

  ———

  When Elke, Bethany, and Riker arrived, chaos ensued. Yancey and Lakon arrived shortly after them.

  Elke swooped in like a hungry eagle, grabbing Christopher and Jacob in a bear hug.

  She peppered them with kisses as she introduced herself.

  “I’m Grandma Elke and I can’t wait to spoil you to death!” Elke announced.

  “Where’s that precious little girl?”

  Tav saw Ashley peek out from behind Myles’s legs. That’s all the encouragement Elke needed.

  “Look at you, you beautiful little thing!” Elke squealed. “Lakon, Riker, just look at her! Why can’t either of you give me a sweet little girl grandbaby, too?”

  Ashley was clinging to Myles’s legs. Tav could tell that both Ashley and Myles were having a hard time with the influx of people. When Yancey came in the door, Tav knew trouble was brewing.

  Myles growled low in his throat when Riker squatted in front of Ashley and said hello. When Yancey stepped up, Myles snarled menacingly. Tav could see his beast emerging and grabbed him from one side and Riker grabbed him from the other. They swept him out the door with Lakon, Mik, and Yancey following.