by Terry Spear
He stalked into the guest bedroom, not sure what he had in mind, but when he saw the empty bed, he gave Jake a questioning glance. His brother motioned to the bathroom. The toilet flushed and the sink water ran for a few seconds, then shut off. When she appeared, she looked like the redheaded goddess of his dreams. The startled look on her face when she saw him standing in the bedroom, gaping at her, endeared him all the more.
Jake wore an amused expression and shrugged.
“Leave us, Jake,” Darien said, without taking his eyes off her.
His brother cleared his throat and walked over to the door. “Night all.” He closed the door on his hasty retreat.
His shoulders straight, his bare chest muscles taut, Darien crossed the carpeted floor and Joined Lelandi standing like a statue. She couldn’t move from the spot, knowing he wanted her. She couldn’t draw on the courage to shove him away, to stop the yearning she had for him.
He cupped her face and raised her ups to his. The flecks of gold in his dark brown eyes disappeared as they darkened to black. He leaned in, his eyes closed, and he pressed his ups against hers. Lightly, like the flutter of an eyelash against a cheek. She’d never expected such a gentle touch to shatter her composure, but it did. His whisper-soft touch sent a message straight from her brain coursing to every part of her body. Take me, it shouted.
The only men she’d ever allowed to kiss her were her family members, in a strictly family way. Yet she lusted for Darien like she never had for any man except for her fantasy lover. She wanted to strip off her clothes and ravish him. Every Inch of her warmed, and if she’d been wearing panties, they’d be soaking wet now, guaranteed.
No, no, this is wrong. His tongue probed her mouth with a murmur of a touch. No. she couldn’t let him in. If she did, she’d give herself to him completely. She couldn’t, not after what her sister had meant to him.
She opened her mouth to tell him no, her hands gripping his arms to push him away, but she gave him the wrong signal. His tongue parted her lips further, penetrating her deeper. He pressed his body firmly against her, his erection hard against her waist, her back against the wall. His heart pounded with a thunderous beat as fast as hers, lulling her under his spell with a soothing rhythm, encouraging her to take part in the mating dance. She should have shoved him away, stopped this nonsense, made him realize she didn’t want this. Not from him. Not from a gray. Her dead sister’s mate.
So why the hell was she touching his tongue tentatively with her own? Bringing a smile to his smug lips? To his heavily lidded, lust-filled eyes? He hesitated for an instant, then delved deeper, intensifying the kiss, and she let him! Kissed him back even, pressed her body harder against his erection, wanting to feel what she had done to him.
No, no, damn it! He was feeling Larissa in his grasp, and Lelandi served as her sister reincarnated. Nothing more.
Despite the streaks of pleasure rifling her body, his hands shifting from her arms to her breasts, feeling the change in her nippies as they begged for more, the way her core ached for his penetration, she knew he didn’t feel the same for her. She was not Larissa. She was Lelandi and not his to be had.
With the utmost reluctance, she pushed him away.
He looked chagrined, his ups parting, his dark brows furrowing. Then he swore under his breath, shook his head, and guided her back to bed. Covering her with the comforter, he used a tender touch. He hesitated to leave, his eyes still clouded with desire, and then he turned and retired from the room. Left her unguarded. Well, sure there was a guard at the door, but...
Footsteps drew close. The door opened, and Jake gave her a smug smile while he buttoned his shirt. “I’m back. Thought I had the rest of the night off, but...” He shrugged. “Darien will be hell to live with in the morning.”
She would be hell to live with in the morning if she couldn’t quit thinking about what she wanted with her sister’s mate and couldn’t have it.
Darien couldn’t believe how Lelandi stirred him up. How could he have given in to her so quickly, so completely? She-devil.
For an hour he tossed and turned, furious with himself for losing control. He should never have kissed her. But he couldn’t get the kiss he’d shared with her out of his mind either. Everything inside him felt alive again with her touch, and he craved having her, no matter how many times he told himself he couldn’t until she was ready.
He ran his hands through his hair, more frustrated than ever. Until two pairs of footsteps headed in the direction of his bedroom, and he lifted his head off the pillow. Slow footsteps, deliberate, not hurried. If anyone wished to disturb him at this hour, it would have to be an emergency, and yet the footfall indicated otherwise. Like an assassin’s sneaky attempt at supping in undetected. He reached for his bedside drawer, opened it, and pulled out the gun.
The footsteps stopped at his door. Forever it seemed, as whoever they were contemplated what to do. He considered telling them to get on with whatever they were there for so he could take care of them. Then a slight tap sounded at the door. Before he could respond, the doorknob twisted, and Jake slowly pushed the door open. Lelandi stood in the doorway in Darien’s flannel shirt, her red hair dangling past her hips, her eyes fixed, staring straight through him.
“Sleepwalking, like Tom when he’s overly tired. Tom said she was talking in her sleep earlier. I wondered where she was going,” Jake’s voice was hushed. “So I allowed her to leave the guest room.”
Darien slipped the gun back in the drawer. Lelandi walked slowly to the bed. The side he always slept on. All the moisture in his mouth evaporated. She lifted the covers.
He looked back at Jake, who shrugged. “Doc said never to startle Tom when he’s sleepwalking. Guess the same goes for Lelandi.”
Darien slid over so Lelandi could climb into bed. He pulled the covers to her chin, and she closed her eyes.
“Guess you have guard duty the rest of the morning.”
A coy smile fixed to Jake’s lips, and he shut the door on his way out.
Lelandi didn‘t remember much except jumping on Crassus‘s back when he readied his fist for Larissa‘s face again. And the pain when Crassus hit Lelandi in the head, and more pain when he jerked her arm behind her back. But she hadn‘t saved her sister and now she was dead. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
But then he came as a wolf distinguished, beautiful, his amber eyes studying her, his ears perked up. Her dream lover. Her silver knight. Her fantasy. Why could she see the whole of him as a wolf but not as a human?
Changing from the wolf into his human form, he wrapped his arms around her, held her close, chased away the night terrors. Crassus‘s and Bruin‘s cruel, hard faces faded in the mist. The pain and suffering vanishing.
Her lover kissed her head, caressed her arm, her face, made her feel safe, protected, loved, but he didn’t initiate anything deeper. He moved his lips lower, kissing her cheek and sweeping across to her mouth. She opened her lips to him, felt his body harden, pressing against hers, his tongue slipping inside her mouth, the feel of his heart pounding furiously against her chest, his hands stroking her hair, and she wanted him deep inside her, thrusting, claiming her. But he wouldn‘t make a move to take her.
“Sleep,” he whispered against her mouth, his voice husky.
She moaned, separated her legs for him, and he slipped between them, his erection pressing at her mound. But still, he would not take her. His lips smiled against hers, but he slid out of her grasp and pulled her back against his chest.
“Sleep, vixen,” he said, his voice hushed, his arms tightening around her in a bear hug of an embrace. And in the warmth of the cocoon he provided, the woodland world faded away.
Later that morning, Darien woke with his arms around Lelandi. her head on his chest, her breathing shallow, her silky red hair caressing his bare skin. God of thunder. how he wanted her, but not like this. Not when she didn’t know what she’d gotten herself into. Hell, he’d have to let everyone know now she walked in her sleep, if
Jake hadn’t warned them already.
Not wanting her to wake and find herself in his room, in his bed, and most of all, in his tight embrace, he carried her back to the guest bedroom, and nodded to Peter who would watch over her until she woke. Peter’s brows rose so slightly, if Darien hadn’t been observing him closely, he would have missed the subtle change in his expression.
At least the deputy wouldn’t tell the world which bed Lelandi had slept in last night, although before long, she’d be in his bed every night once he had his way. He kissed her cheek, then covered her with the eyelet comforter. Still not believing she was a sleepwalker like Tom, he headed down to the kitchen and greeted his brothers. “Morning. Jake, Tom.”
His beard even scruffier this morning. Jake flipped sausages and bacon in the frying pan and casually said. “Morning. Darien. Trevor mentioned something about dream mating.”
Tom glanced up from the toaster. “Morning, Darien. Good sleep last night?” He gave Jake a conspirator’s look.
Darien grabbed the pot of coffee and poured himself a mug. “Slept well enough.” He would not rise to his brother’s inquisitive nature. “What does Trevor know about dream mating?”
“He overheard Silva talking to Lelandi. She told her you were convinced Lelandi was your dream mate.”
Serving up a plate of toast, Tom’s mouth curved up. “Hot damn. The trait is inherited. Why didn’t you tell us?”
Jake snorted. “What next?”
Darien plucked toast from the plate. “Maybe.”
“No maybe about it. Dad had the ability and so did Granddad and two of our uncles.” Tom beamed. “Means Jake and I have a good chance at having the ability.”
Jake set the platter of sausages and bacon on the kitchen table. “Don’t believe in soul mates.”
“Our distant cousin, Devlyn, found his soul mate,” Tom reminded him, lifting his refilled mug. “And Bella’s a red, too.”
Darien would definitely have a word with Trevor. He’d never said a thing to Darien last night about “that” part of the conversation Silva and Lelandi had.
“What else did Trevor say?”
Jake gave Darien a small smile. Yeah, he knew Darien would give Trevor hell soon.
“Nothing else. In other news, that Chester McKinley wants a word with you when you can spare a moment.”
Darien looked up from his eggs. “Who?”
“The assistant mayor of Green Valley, checking out our town so he can go back to his own and recommend changes.”
“What does he need to speak to me about? You know I don’t have time to micromanage every little thing that goes on in Silver Town.”
Jake poured himself another cup of coffee. “He says he runs a first-rate private eye operation and thought you might like to hear his advice.”
“About what. Jake? Quit beating around the bush.”
“About Larissa and Lelandi.”
Darien frowned. “What does he think he knows?”
“He wouldn’t say.” Jake took his seat and speared a slice of bacon. “Said he’d talk to you about it though.”
Tom grabbed three pieces of toast. “Uncle Sheridan said the guy is legit. He checked with the mayor of Green Valley already.”
Darien swore their youngest brother could eat triple what they ate and still not gain an ounce. “I’ve got Uncle Sheridan and both of you checking things out. I’d rather keep it in the family.”
“Never know when another mind or two can help give us a lead,” Jake said.
Darien ignored his brother’s comment. All he needed was for the details of this mess to get out to other gray packs. “Anything else I need to know about?” Darien stabbed a sausage with his fork.
“Fall festival starts today. Are you going to open the ceremony like you did last year?”
Darien gave Jake a dark look.
Jake’s lips curved upward slightly. “Everyone expects you to be there. But it’s your call.”
With everything else that had gone on, he’d forgotten about it, and he wasn’t interested. But running the town brought responsibilities he couldn’t ignore. “What time?”
“Ten o’clock.”
“I’ve barely had time to supervise the factory since the shootings began. And I haven’t had a chance to check in at the mine at all.”
“Everything’s running smoothly,” Tom said. “Both Jake and I have been keeping an eye on things. Everyone’s doing what needs to be done.”
Thank god he had brothers who could be counted on.
His eyes sparkling with humor, Jake cleared his throat. “Do we need to inform everyone who serves guard duty about Lelandi’s nighttime excursions?”
Tom’s brows shot up. “What exactly did I miss last night?”
Darien swore Tom already knew, but wanted him to reveal more of the details. Which he wasn’t about to do. He opened his mouth to speak, but Tom and Jake’s attention switched to the entryway from the living room. Darien turned around and saw Lelandi, his long flannel shirt reaching thigh-high, her legs and feet bare, her hands locked as if in prayer.
His gaze shifted to her hair, the sensuous curls garnering his full attention. He was unable to tear his gaze away from the beauty of her silky tresses. Even more red than her sister’s, less golden, more like the woman’s in his dream. How could he have not realized she was the one? Because of the switched names and that Larissa had lied about the dreams, damn It.
“Ahem.” Jake said, breaking the spell.
She looked sweet, innocent, edible, her ups parting to speak. “I smelled the food and thought if I ate something, I’d feel more energetic.”
Tom hurried to escort her to his side of the table. Jake got her a plate and piled it high with eggs and sausages. Darien stared at her rumpled, shiny hair. No matter how much he didn’t want to show his feelings for the woman, he couldn’t block the emotions. Already he was hard as a rock, and he shifted uncomfortably under the table.
Lelandi sat in the seat Tom pulled out for her, and then he returned with a mug In hand, the coffeepot in the other. “Black?”
“Cream and sugar,” she said, her voice so demure. Darien suspected something was brewing in that pretty head of hers, and he bet he wouldn’t like it.
“I want to go to the fair.”
Not expecting that, Darien sat back hard against his chair. “Absolutely not.”
She furrowed her brow at him. “I feel one-hundred percent better, and I want to get out. I told you I’d be ready to run laps today.”
Tom grinned and saluted her with his coffee cup.
“Not after all that’s happened to you.” Darien said.
“That guy in the copper coat is still running loose,” Jake reminded them. “Mason thought he saw him running near here as a wolf last night.”
Darien frowned. “The answer is no. You’ll stay here and continue to recuperate.”
Sam called out from the foyer. “Everyone decent?”
Even Darien managed a small smile at the comment, although he was trying to maintain his hard line with Lelandi.
Sam stalked into the kitchen and cast Lelandi a broad smile. “You’re looking good.” He handed Darien a stack of mail. “Is Silva around?”
“Upstairs sleeping in my bed,” Jake said. Sam looked a little bothered. Jake added. “We’re playing musical beds. I had last guard duty. She slept in my bed while I was pulling duty.”
“Oh. I need her for the big opening ceremony. Free sodas for the first fifty customers.”
“First bedroom on the right.” Jake said. “We woke her and made her move six times last night. I don’t want to disturb her again, so be my guest.”
Sam hesitated.
Lelandi stood. “I’ll get her.”
“Sam can. Eat and get your strength back.” Darien lifted one of the envelopes off the table and frowned.
Lelandi plopped back down on the chair. “For what? So I can stay here and watch soaps all day? You won’t even let me go to the fair.”
“She could help Silva and me hand out the free sodas.” Sam offered. “We’d watch over her.”
“Sure, that would be fun.” Lelandi cut up her sausage. “I can serve drinks in between Silva and Sam. You wouldn’t have to post a guard for me for a few hours.”
“Where will you be set up?” Darien asked Sam, then lifted the envelope to his nose and breathed in deeply. His heart nearly exploded when he smelled Larissa’s scent on it.
“The tavern. I can make sure only the front door is accessible. Lelandi can stay behind the bar with me.”
Looking for a return address, Darien flipped the envelope over. None. He glanced up at Jake, who was watching Darien with concern. “All right. I want a guard on the place just in case.”
“Mitchell will do it,” Jake said.
Lelandi’s face brightened and Darien hoped to hell he wasn’t putting her in any more danger. But seeing her expression, he figured she’d feel better and heal faster if she got out of confinement for a while. He considered the envelope again, typewritten, so no clue there. But the postmark indicated it had been mailed from Wildhaven.
“Anything wrong. Darien?” Jake asked.
“Tom, get me a map of Colorado.”
“Sure thing.” Torn cast a questioning glance at Jake. missing out on what was going on.
“If you hear screaming and things being tossed about, you’ll know Silva wasn’t happy I woke her.” Sam grinned and then headed out of the kitchen.
“Where’s Peter? He should have come down with you when you joined us.” Darien said to Lelandi, his voice dark.
Lelandi shrugged and waved for Jake to get her some more coffee.
As much as Jake had acted annoyed with her. Darien was surprised to see his lips lift slightly, while he refilled her coffee mug. For being such a petite little thing, she sure had everyone wrapped around her will.
“Poor deputy was bone tired,” Lelandi said.
Jake gave her the coffee and headed for the doorway. “I’ll take care of it.”
Lelandi frowned at him. Don’t be too rough on Peter. You’re overworking him.”
But Jake just stormed out of the kitchen.