Gambler's Folly (Bookstrand Publishing Romance)

by Mellie E. Miller

Karianna assumed their extreme lovemaking the night before would ease the tensions she’d felt during the past two days. But if anything, it was worse. She tried stepping up her workout, only to be frustrated in her attempts to run it off. She snarled and snapped at poor Carl, who hadn’t done anything to her. The water trickling down her body felt like caresses. Even her clothes moving across her body aroused her.

  Lunch was unsatisfying to say the least. She toyed with her food, her thoughts running along completely erotic lines. At last she threw the spoon down in disgust and got a cup of tea. This was not to last either, as she became aware of her lips brushing across the cup, while thinking of Damiano’s kisses.

  The cup shattered against the far wall.

  She tried calisthenics until she could barely move. Now sticky and beginning to smell, she took another shower, which was worse than the first. Forcefully closing the taps, she shouted in rage as she wrapped the towel around her body and went into the bedroom to dress.

  When Damiano came home an hour or so later, he found a leopard on the hunt, which launched itself at him and nearly knocked him back into the corridor.

  “Karianna? Can I at least get undressed before you rape me?” he asked, confused and amused.

  “Hurry up! I want you now!”

  It was a very intense, though not particularly prolonged mating. It satisfied her for the moment, even if she still seemed to be stalking him.

  “What brings this about?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, but I’ve been miserable all day long. The shower, and even my clothes touching my body, arouses me. It’s driving me mad!” They hadn’t even had time to talk yet, and a somewhat strained silence ensued.

  “So how was your day?” she finally asked.

  “Tense. Miserable. Frustrating. I wanted to cuff people alongside the head for stupid things. I so wanted to take one of them to the floor and sink my teeth into his throat. Such an irritating individual.”

  “Damiano, what are we going to do?” she asked, in all seriousness. “This can’t continue. I never know whether I’m going to fly into a rage or throw you onto the floor. Or if I throw you to the floor, if it will be to tear out your throat or have my way with you. Or perhaps just sit down and cry.”

  “I know, and it seems to be getting worse. I guess I should make a call.”

  “A call? To whom?”

  He sighed, looked a little put-out, and answered with one word. “Mama.”

  He put the call through and waited for it to connect. Turning the communicator to speaker so Karianna could hear, too, he told her it would be better if he handled the conversation alone.

  “Mama is also a priestess, only she’s known her whole life. She can be a bit, what would you call it, maybe heavy-handed, when dealing with us lesser beings. She and Papa are both Alphas, so it gets a little touchy sometimes.”

  “So, Damiano,” they heard, “it’s about time you call. What’s wrong? You only call when you’re in trouble.”

  “Well, it’s been a little frantic here, Mama. I’ve got some news, and I need some advice. Which do you want first?”

  “Oh, so I get a choice? I realize I’m only your mother, but you really could keep in touch. At least your father has finally reached an age where he’s home more often. And he’s fine, thank you for asking.”

  Karianna could barely keep quiet as she listened to the exchange. There really was someone who could take Damiano to task? Amazing.

  “Mama, no seriously I need to talk to you. Per favore, Mama. Truly.”

  She heard a sigh on the other end. “I suppose some good news would be nice to hear. If it’s bad news, keep it to yourself.”

  “Well then, I’ll tell you. Mama, I’ve married.”

  “Do I know this person?”

  “No, Mama. I met her here on Gambler’s Folly and her name is Karianna. But you’ll like her. She’s wonderful, beautiful, smart, and she makes me happy.”

  “So you couldn’t bring her home first, so we could meet this madonna of yours?”

  “It has been difficult here of late, Mama. Please, you’ll like her. Really.”

  “Were you at least married in church, Damiano?”

  “How could I be married in church, Mama? I’m on Gambler’s Folly. Religion is scarce here. But we are legally married according to the laws.”

  “I suppose that is something. But when you come home, you will be married properly, in the church, by a priest. Capisce?”

  “Si, Mama. That is fine, and I’m sure Karianna will have no problem with it.”

  “So if you find yourself happy, in marital bliss, why do you call me?”

  “There is some more news, Mama. Maybe a little more difficult.”

  “Damiano, you try the patience of the saints. Will you get to the point?”

  “We are mated, Mama. Bond mates. I didn’t seek it, it just happened.”

  “And I’ve never even met this person? Madre di Dio, Damiano. The problem?”

  “She didn’t know she was one of us when I met her. You know how some families are. I wasn’t prepared for her to initiate the bonding, and she had no idea what she had started, until it was too late.”

  For several seconds, Damiano’s mother cursed fluently in several languages. “Why do families do this to their children? It’s criminal. You’ve explained to her then?”

  “Yes, Mama. As best I could under the circumstances, and she accepts what has happened. But there are problems.”

  He explained to her what had been happening to them during the past few days.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid, Damiano! What do you think you are doing? You go through a bonding, become bond mates and then go on as if nothing has happened? It’s a wonder you’ve killed no one yet.”

  “Mama? Dispiace, I don’t understand.”

  Sighing deeply again, she explained. Once a couple has bonded, it is only the beginning of the process. Until their biochemistry has fully adjusted, they will be slightly unstable. The best way to deal with it is for the two of them to be alone, let nature take its course, which is normally heightened sexual awareness and activity, and let the bonding complete.

  “Your father and I stayed away for nearly a month after we bonded. Such a wonderfully erotic adventure for both of us. I don’t think I could manage it now, at my age, but I’m not complaining. We still have our fun.”

  “Mama, please. Some things should be kept to yourself.”

  “So now you’re the shy one? After all you’ve put me through? I’m supposed to believe you’ve never had sex, as much time as you’ve spent in confession? How is your mate?”

  “She’s fine, Mama. Rather predatory just now, but she’s fine.”

  “Take her away, Damiano, for both your sakes. It is imperative that you not be separated during this time, even for a day. You must let the pairing, the bonding, settle in, or you’ll be a danger to everyone. Tempers flaring for no reason, irrational behavior. Capisce, Damiano? You must have time alone.”

  “Why did nobody ever explain this to me?”

  “Who ever thought you would find someone who would have you?” his mother retorted. “You can only bond with a woman of our kind, and away from Earth we are nearly unheard of. Why would I think you would meet someone who could bond with you, all the way out there? I always thought you would marry here, and if she was one of us, we could talk then. As usual, only my firstborn could get into this kind of situation. With you, it is a talent, Damiano. Once you’re home again, there on that godforsaken place, call me, so I know you’re alright. This is worrying.”

  “Bene, Mama. And thank you. Grazie.”

  “Can I at least welcome your mate into the family, before you so rudely hang up on me?”

  “Dispiace, Mama, of course.”

  Karianna stared at him in a panic. “Say hello, cara. She won’t bite, usually.”

  “Hello, signora. It is nice to meet you, even if by long distance.”

  “I look forward to meeting my firstbor
n’s mate. I hope you have no objections to the wedding.”

  “No, Signora, none.”

  “Per favore, call me Mama. You are, after all, now a daughter to me.”

  They spoke briefly and then broke the connection. Damiano seemed relieved to be off the hook, so to speak.

  “She can be quite daunting,” he explained, “but her heart is good.”

  Chapter 22

  First thing in the morning, Damiano called Marco and Paolo up to the suite. After explaining to them what they’d learned, he contacted his secretary to cancel all his appointments for the next two weeks, with an option on three, depending on circumstances.

  “Where are we going?” Karianna asked.

  “I’m still trying to decide. What would you like to do?” he asked her.

  She thought about it for a few minutes before answering. “Well, I like the water, but I’m not sure about the beach. Too public for us now, I think.”

  Damiano nodded his head and agreed. “I have a house on a lake, up in a fairly temperate zone. It’s normally around 24C during the day, and drops to maybe 16C or 17C at night. The water is cool, but not cold. Very nice for swimming.”

  “How many other people will be around?” she asked.

  “It’s a private lake. There are only ten properties which share it, and none of the houses can be seen from the others, except one or two all the way across the lake. Mine is hidden from all the rest by the trees.”

  “Let’s go there then. Do I need to pack anything for evening or will we be at the house the entire time?”

  He thought about it, weighing the possibilities. “Bring one or two things. After we have a little time alone, before we come home, maybe we’ll feel comfortable being around others for dinner, once or twice.”

  She packed accordingly while he conferred with his band of cats. Marco, Paolo, and Dante would meet them there and provide security, but would go by a different route. Once they were close to the lake, they’d pick up provisions.

  “Well, where are they going to stay? They can’t just hide out in the woods.”

  “Why not? No, they will be in one of the other houses there, but if they choose to hunt at night, they have no need of housing. Do you think leopards and panthers build condominiums?”

  She shook her head. “I’d never really thought about it at all. I guess you guys can get along just fine in the woods, huh?”

  “Our brothers in the wild seem happy enough.”

  The three others took the limo, complete with doubles, and headed out shortly after lunch. Damiano and Karianna drove separately in a smaller car with darkened windows. Karianna enjoyed the drive. After leaving the city, the road became very scenic, winding along the foothills and through the forest. The scent of the conifers gave the air a crisp, cool feel, with a hint of snow in the air.

  Two or three hours later, they drove out of the forest to cut across the plains, with two-meter tall native grasses blowing in the wind on either side of the road. The air smelled of wildflowers and newly mown hay over rich, loamy earth.

  “Are these grasses good for anything? I mean, do they have grains you can eat, or can you use it for thatching or something?”

  “Yes, the seeds can be eaten, only they are not prolific enough for commercial use without hybridizing, and we, as a world, have forbidden it. We should have learned the lesson on Earth, after the thousands of species we destroyed,” he explained.

  “And it is good for thatching, but only if you own the land and use it on your own property. It cannot be sold or traded, for the same reason. Once you start down this road, you deplete the species to the point it cannot be sustained.”

  “Have you ever eaten any of the seeds?” she asked.

  “A few times. It is very good fresh from the field.”

  They drove through the fragrant fields for nearly an hour before the road turned back toward the mountains. Negotiating the road over the pass, they descended into the valley beyond. Karianna smelled the water before she could see it, and then, for a little while, she would just catch glimpses of it through the trees.

  “How much farther is it, Damiano?” she asked yet again.

  “Mio Dio, cara! It is like travelling with a child! It won’t be much longer, bene?”

  “I’m sorry, but it smells so wonderful here. I can hardly wait to see the lake, with the trees all around. I’ve always loved being in the woods.”

  “That’s because you’re part cat, cara. We like the idea of natural camouflage, so walking through the forest, or a stand of trees near the water, is perfect. Our natural prey has to come to the water to drink.”

  “That sounds absolutely cold-blooded, Damiano!” she protested. “How can you think that way?”

  “But isn’t it true, cara? I’m a predator. I prey on the lesser beings in my other form, when necessary. When I have to eat, I have to eat, capisce? Sometimes it isn’t possible or advisable to change back first, so, what should I do? Starve?”

  “I’m a little new to all of this, Damiano. Forgive me. Of course you should eat. And if I saw you, in your other form, making a meal of something else, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. Unless I knew it was you, and then I’m not sure how I would feel. You know?”

  They finally arrived at the lake house about an hour after dark. Marco and Paolo had arrived ahead of them and had the lights on, food in the kitchen, including a large sack of apples for Damiano. The house sat back from the lake, behind a small stand of trees. Karianna could just catch glimpses of the water, the stars reflected on its surface. As late as it was, and as tired as they both were, they had a bite to eat and went to bed. The lake could wait until morning.

  When she woke to the sunlight coming in the window, Damiano was already gone. He must have gone out to the lake, she thought, so she walked out onto the little balcony to wait for him. The air was wonderfully fresh and she breathed in deeply, enjoying the cool breezes.

  She caught just a trace of his scent before she saw Damiano walking back up from the lake, hair wet, water droplets clinging to his body. Looking up, he waved to her and broke into a light run up the hill to the house. “I thought I’d let you sleep in, cara,” he said, grabbing a towel to dry off. “A nice swim is better than a treadmill any day.”

  “I thought that might be where you’d gone,” she said, smiling up at him. “I just got up a few minutes ago. Have you eaten anything yet?”

  They had some fruit and cheese with their coffee, and then he took her for a walk around the property. He had ten acres of land with lake access, most of it covered in trees. A mix of hardwoods and conifers, they perfumed the air lightly with the moisture off the water. This, Karianna thought, is perfect heaven.

  After a good walk, they sat and dangled their feet in the water, enjoying time to relax in each other’s company, one of the few times since they’d gone skiing. The first few days at the beach had been nice, but what with the explosion and all, the net result of the excursion had been more stress.

  Damiano leaned back against the bank, hands crossed beneath his head. “Yes, I believe you are right. If I had to design heaven, this would be it.”

  She lay down next to him, running her hand up underneath his shirt to rub his chest. “Of course, I don’t suppose they allow hot little demons like you into heaven, do they, cara?” he teased. Rolling over suddenly, their restful morning became much more active for a while, but quite a lot of tension was released.

  “Look at my hair, Damiano,” she exclaimed, picking the leaves and twigs out of it. “This is your fault. I should make you wash it.”

  “How is it my fault? You were the one with her hands under my shirt, massaging my chest, fingernails teasing my skin. What did you expect me to do, cara? Go to sleep?”

  “I still say you should wash my hair. It’s going to take forever to get it clean and combed out.”

  Once back at the house, they got into the shower and he helped with her hair, massaging the foamy shampoo into her scalp. Finally
all rinsed out, his mouth found the back of her neck again and they found a better way to have some fun in the shower.

  “You really are going to kill me, cara,” he said. “I didn’t realize a person could die of overexertion from sex.”

  “It’s old age setting in, Damiano. I should have found a younger man,” she teased.

  “I’m not so old I can’t keep you in line,” he added. “So you might want to watch what you say, before you get into trouble.”

  It was too late for lunch, so they fixed a tasty dinner with the supplies the guys had brought up. After eating, they walked out around the lake, hand in hand, enjoying the evening. They met Paolo on their walk, who assured them everything was fine.

  “Nobody else is here, Damiano. It is not the season when most people come to the lake, so it is perfect for you and your mate.” To Karianna he added, “Don’t worry about a thing, Signora. We’ve got it under control.”

  Damiano paused for a moment, his eyes unfocused, nostrils flared. “Ah, there they are,” he said. “Are you sure you want Dante that far out?”

  “Si, Damiano. The roads come up the other way, by Marco. Only wildlife or someone on foot will be up there. Wildlife is no problem, and anything on foot is prey. So it’s fine.” His smile was definitely predatory.

  After they left Paolo to his evening, Karianna asked Damiano what he had done just a few moments ago.

  “Oh, that. Well, I generally know where someone or something is if I want to find it. I just picture it clearly and then I see it where it is. It is a talent I have, a gift. It helps me in my business sometimes.”

  “Does it always work?”

  “Usually. Sometimes people are difficult, if they are asleep or unconscious, but otherwise it’s fine.”

  Still not sure about it, she accepted it as one more of those things she’d have to get used to. It might be handy, she thought. You’d never have to worry about someone being lost. Just ask Dam.

  The next few days were lazy, interspersed with sudden desires and passionate interludes up to seven or eight times a day. Karianna asked Damiano about it one afternoon. “Why is it, with the bonding, that sex seems so very urgent, so suddenly? I know your mother said it would be this way for a while, but why?”