by T. S. Ryder
The heat of Grayson's body over hers made her head swim. Or was that the loss of blood? She couldn’t tell . . . He let loose a breath of fire. Screams rose in the air.
"Retreat," Leslie shouted. "Retreat!"
Grayson lunged. He caught Leslie in his teeth and threw her across the room. Two of the men ran at him and Grayson met them with another lungful of fire. A charred body lay on the floor near the wall, and the last man dropped his weapons and held his hands in the air.
"Don't kill me! Please!"
Arabella wanted to shoot the coward in the face, but Grayson didn't kill him. He gathered her gently into his front claws, then grabbed the man with a back foot, and picked up Leslie's body with his mouth. Was she even still alive?
The world faded to black, came back in vivid technicolor, then swirled in sepia tones as Grayson lifted into the air. Agony shot through her. Everything blacked out again, and when her vision came back, she was lying flat on her back, a mess of unfamiliar faces and gray walls surrounding her.
"Grayson!" she cried, struggling weakly. To her surprise, her hands flew out, free.
Her love caught one of them and pushed in beside her. "I'm here. I'm here, love. Don't worry. We're in the hospital. You need to get to surgery right away, darling, but you're going to be fine."
"Don't leave me," she blurted. One of the people, a nurse maybe, came at her with a needle and she swatted the hand away. "Grayson—"
"I'm here. I'm not leaving." His lips pressed to her forehead. "I'm here."
She clung to him. Tears rolled down her face as the pain rolled over her, leaving her gasping for breath. The darkness threatened to overcome her again, but she fought it back with a growl. There was something she needed to tell him . . . something important . . . but she couldn’t remember what it was.
"I'm sorry."
Grayson's warm eyes never left her. "For what?"
Good question . . . what was she sorry for?
"Running away," she blurted. "I left you and went after Kennedy."
He shook his head. "There is nothing to be sorry for. You were protecting us. And I love you for it."
Arabella's eyes drifted closed. She couldn't remember what she was supposed to say now . . . The voices around her echoed from a distance, confusing her. She heard something about blood loss and too much damage for surgery. Only Grayson's voice rang in clear.
"Then give her a transfusion of my blood, directly from the vein," he said. "Shifter blood helps to heal humans."
There was something about dilution, and then not enough time. Arabella didn't care. She clung to Grayson's hand. Her eyes remained closed, each breath becoming more and more difficult to pull in. Something stabbed into her arm, and she cried out. She opened her eyes just in time to see a tube running from her arm to Grayson's. A cold sensation filled her – the saline solution in the tube pushed into her body and then his dark blood flowed into her.
Fire raced through her body. It burned as it passed, filling her blood with flames. It pooled in her gut and shoulders, and she could feel it searing her flesh back together. Her back bowed, and she screamed. A jet of flame shot from her mouth, and then she collapsed. Everything went black.
***
The sound of the twins' voices was what brought her back. Arabella groaned, the feeling of fire still burning through her veins, though not as painful as it was before. She cracked one eye open experimentally, then the other. There was a dull pain in her stomach, but her mind was sharp and clear, not like she had been drugged. Blinking, she pushed herself upright, surprised by how strong she was.
"Arabella!"
She turned just in time for Grayson to envelop her. He crushed her to his chest, laughing and kissing her. Arabella melted into his embrace, her mind whirling as it tried to process everything. She was alive. So was he. The twins were safe. She flung her arms around him and kissed him deeply. Everything seemed to just melt away until they broke the kiss.
"What happened?" she gasped.
Grayson tucked her under his arm and slid onto the bed next to her. They were in a hospital, that was clear, but she didn't feel like she needed to be.
"I had to give you blood directly from my body," he said. "It's a dangerous procedure. Usually, the blood has to be diluted. But in this case, it saved your life. You've been asleep under observation for a day, but you're completely healed. Henry just brought the twins by to see you."
Arabella touched his face, then gasped. "No, they can't be here. You can't be here. The organization will still be after me and if they find you here—"
"The organization is no more." Grayson kissed her gently. "Those two people that I brought back from the warehouse spilled their guts. They've told everybody about the organization. It was still small, overextending its reach. The government already took them down. Dozens of people have been freed."
Her mind swirled. How was that possible? "Are-are you sure?"
Grayson nodded.
Arabella stared at him in shock. It didn't seem possible . . . the organization she had feared for so long was gone? The people who had turned her into a killer, kept her a prisoner and slave to her own life? Were they really gone? She wet her lips but wasn't sure what to say or think.
"Kennedy's dead," she blurted. "They killed her."
"I know. Her body was found this morning." Grayson brushed her hair from her face. "They won't hurt anybody ever again. They won't hurt you. I promise."
Tears of gratitude leaked from Arabella's eyes. She hugged Grayson tightly to her, hardly daring to believe it. The organization was gone. She was free. She was free.
Chapter Eighteen – Grayson
"I wanna give Bella-Bella my picker first," Olivia said, bouncing up and down.
After two days, Arabella was finally being released from the hospital and coming home. Grayson held his twins' hands while they waited for Henry to bring her up on the elevator. They'd been busy all morning, decorating the house and drawing pictures for her.
"Remember, Arabella might not be feeling good yet, so we have to be quiet and gentle, okay?" Grayson said to the twins. They looked up at him with innocent eyes and nodded.
Moments later, the elevator doors slid open. Arabella and Henry stepped out. Even though Grayson had been angry at his friend for letting her leave that night, he understood why Henry had done what he had done. In the end, the two friends had talked it out, and the conflict between them was resolved happily.
"Bella-Bella!" Olivia bounced over to her and threw her arms around Arabella's knees. "I's missed you!"
"I missed you, too." Arabella knelt and pulled the twins into her arms. She kissed them both and didn't release them until they squirmed out of her grasp to give her the pictures they'd drawn. "Oh, these are very beautiful."
"We's drawed them for yous, Bella-Bella," Olivia said.
"They're beautiful."
"Bella-Bella," Hudson said, tugging on her sleeve.
"Arabella," she corrected. "Say it with me. Ara-bella."
"Airy-belly," Hudson said. "I'm glad you're not sick no more."
Arabella's jaw dropped. Grayson jumped a little, startled. Hudson rarely spoke in anything but grunts. This was the first time they had heard him say a full sentence. With a laugh, Arabella hugged him again. The little boy cuddled against her chest, resting his head on her shoulder.
"I am, too, sweetheart."
"Who's hungry?" Grayson asked. "We have soup or hot dogs."
"Hot dog!" Olivia shouted. "Hud and me get hot dog!"
"No," Hudson said. "I want soup."
Grayson smiled, and while Arabella got the children sitting at the table and Henry got out plates and silverware, he made sure the food was, in fact, ready. He hummed while he worked, feeling lighter than he had since before the twins were born.
Senator White was on trial for corporate fraud and every company he was connected to was under investigation. Moreover, the legislation that Grayson had been pushing was now moving forward in leaps and
bounds, and it looked pretty certain that what happened to Christine would never happen to anybody else again.
But most importantly, Henry's symptoms were almost all gone and Arabella was home. His children were with him, his mate was safe, and his best friend was well on his way to recover from his poisoning. Everything he had been worried about for the past few months – years, even – was being resolved, and it looked like he might have a happy ending after all.
After lunch, they read stories and played games with the children until it was their nap time. Henry, though recovering, was still wiped out from the day and returned to his camper to rest as well. Arabella tucked the twins into their beds before coming to help Grayson take care of the dirty lunch dishes.
Arabella cleared her throat as she scraped the leftover food into a container to put into the fridge. "I never thanked you for coming after me."
"You don't need to."
"I do. It was a stupid thing to do, for sure, but things would be much different if you hadn't."
Grayson laughed, wrinkling his nose at her. "Are you calling me stupid?"
Arabella pinched her thumb and forefinger together. "Just a little. Maybe crazy is a better word."
"Crazy in love." He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Because I love you."
She grinned at him, such a happy smile that he hated to take his eyes off of her. "I love you, too."
"Dada, Bella-Bella, I'm not sleepy," Olivia called from the bedroom. "Story! Story!"
"She's a demanding one," Arabella laughed. She stuck the container in the fridge. "What do you say? One more story?"
Grayson smiled and nodded. There would be time to put them back on a strict schedule. Right now he just wanted them all to be together. Arabella held his hand as they walked to the twins' room. Before they got there, though, Olivia started wailing.
Grayson's heart jumped to his throat. He dashed inside, visions of mercenaries and blood flashing through his mind. "Olivia!"
She jumped, falling silent instantly. Her eyes widened. She was on her bed, books spread all around her. Grayson swooped down and picked her up, checking her over.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Where's Hudson?"
"He's here," Arabella said from behind him.
He turned to find her holding a tiny dragon. Hudson's scales were blue-black like Christine's had been, with her slender snout and wide eyes. Grayson patted Olivia's back as she started crying again.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice gentler.
"My wings don't grow like Hud's."
Grayson sighed in relief. There was nothing wrong, it was just Olivia's nature shining through again. His children might not be in any more danger, but that didn't mean that he was going to be less vigilant. He foresaw more of these moments in the future. But that was par for the course.
"You'll grow them in time," he assured his daughter. "Now, Hudson, you need to be a little boy again, okay?"
Hudson put his head on Arabella's shoulder. He looked so much like Christine that Grayson didn't have the heart to insist that he shift back. Instead, he tucked Olivia back into her bed and took Hudson and put him to bed, wings and scales and all. Arabella kissed both of the twins' heads.
"What story should we have?"
"Dis one!" Olivia picked up one of her favorites.
Grayson reached for it, but Olivia pulled it away.
"No," his daughter said. "Bella-Bella read it."
"Why don’t you call me Airy instead?" Arabella suggested as she took the book. "That might be easier for you to say. I don't like being called Bella. It makes me sound like a toad."
Olivia giggled. She shook her head. "Nope! I's gonna call you Mama now."
Arabella froze. Her eyes flickered to Grayson. He tensed slightly. Emotions washed through him, going from happy to sad to back again. Tears burned his eyes. Olivia and Hudson were only toddlers; he knew their memories of their mother would fade. Soon she'd only be the person he told them about.
But if there was anybody Christine would want to take her place, it was Arabella. Someone who liked the children, and would protect them with every fiber of her being. He settled down next to her and stroked Hudson's scaly head while Oliva pushed her book into Arabella's lap.
"I think it's a great idea for you to call her Mama," he said quietly.
"Mama, read the story," Olivia demanded.
Arabella smiled as she opened the book. He smiled back, a feeling of peace sweeping over him. This was something he never thought he'd have: to be with his mate, their children nested between them, full of excitement for the future.
But he did have it, and he wouldn't trade it for anything.
*****
THE END
Paranormal Shifter Romance: Claimed by the Gorilla Shifter
Description
A curvy girl in search of a fresh start PLUS her hot high school crush who is now a billionaire PLUS a dangerous stalker preparing to attack!
Hayden is a single billionaire. He’s a shark in the office, but outside of his company’s walls, he’s a gorilla. But only when he chooses to shift into one...
Keeping his secret is difficult, and he’s found it just as difficult to find someone to love him for who he is and not what he has. When he gets a call from his younger sister, asking to let her best friend and his high school crush stay with him, he’s almost too eager to help out.
Kaelyn is ready to start her new life. She’s just graduated college, has a great new job lined up and now she’ll be staying with the hot older brother of her best friend. Who also happens to be a billionaire.
But when things at her new job start to go wrong, she worries Hayden will ask her to leave rather than deal with the trouble her stalker might cause.
Will Kaelyn be able to handle the stalker on her own, and what will happen if she can’t? Will Hayden finally find real love and be able to protect not only his secrets but his heart as well?
Chapter One
Hayden Lynch sat at his large desk, staring out of the window at the city below him. The view from his office was incredible. That was why he choose this building for his company’s headquarters. Who wouldn’t want an office like this, with one wall full of windows to see the world from? It made him feel like he was on top of everything, even on days when he wasn’t.
He’d just come from a particularly stressful meeting. Meetings discussing new takeovers were always stressful, full of strategy and techniques. He needed these few minutes to let his mind unwind before he went on with his next task, reviewing sales numbers from the previous month.
The intercom on his desk buzzed. His assistant’s voice came through. “Hayden? Can you take a call from your sister?”
“Absolutely, Sandy. Thank you.”
The phone rang a second later and he picked it up.
“Little sister. What can I do for you?”
“Well,” Gabrielle said, “Buy out my company so I can travel the world and not have to work another day in my life?”
He sighed. “Your company is already a division of my company. And you barely work as it is. And you travel plenty.”
“Oh.” She laughed. “Right. Well, in that case, then maybe you can just do me a teensy weensy little favor.”
Hayden braced himself. Gabby’s teensy weensy favors were usually anything but. Though she may not be asking him for a new acquisition, she was definitely up to something big.
“I’m not buying you a new house,” he said.
“Oh, please. Three is enough. No, it’s really not that big of a deal at all.”
“Right. Let’s hear it then.”
“Do you remember my best friend from high school, Kaelyn?”
“Of course.” How could he forget her? She was around the house constantly. During their freshman year of high school, the only year they were all in the same school together before Hayden went off to college, Kaelyn and Gabby were inseparable. She had practically been a second sister to him. He’d even h
ad a little crush on her.
“Oh, good. Well, she’s just graduated from some huge tech school with a computer science degree. Stanford, have you heard of it?”
He rolled his eyes. “Hmm. Don’t think so. Is it a popular school?” His company sought a lot of talent from Stanford. It was only the top school in the state. She was being ridiculous on purpose. This must be big.
“Didn’t think so. You really should get out once in a while. How is your dating life anyway?”
“Is this your big favor?”
“No. And it’s a little favor, I swear,” she said. “I just need you to let my dear friend Kaelyn use one of the many, many rooms in your huge mansion to sleep and keep her things in when she moves out of her dorm. Only until she can get her own place and get on her feet. She just got a new a job and everything.”
“So you’re asking me to let Kaelyn move in.”
“Only for a few months, I swear. You’re just so close to her new job, and I’m nowhere near her. And I know that you’re the kindest, most generous big brother a girl could ever hope for.”
“You’ve got me confused with someone else. But that’s fine. When is she coming?”
“Oh, thank you, thank you! She’ll be thrilled. She was going to stay in some cheap hotel until she could find a place. She’s moving out of the dorm next week.”
“Email the details to my assistant so I can have everything ready for her arrival.”
“I will,” she said. “Thank you so much. Really.”
“Does this mean you’ll come to visit sometime soon? Maybe bring that nephew of mine?”
“That’s a good idea. Yes, let’s plan for something soon. We all miss you.”
“Miss you, too. You really need to move back to California.”
She laughed. “You couldn’t drag me from Hawaii if my life depended on it.”