Once she felt she was a tiny bit more in control she gripped Alek’s wrist to tug his hand free and turned in his arms to face him. She slid her palm against front of his pants, his continued need evident, but he pulled her hand away and laced his fingers through hers. He kissed her eyes closed and then whispered against her forehead, “I would like nothing more than to strip both of us naked and make love to you right now, solnyshko,” Alek said, breathing heavily; a slight Russian accent becoming noticeable for the first time and Daisy realized just how close he was to losing control. “But I fear we’d both end up with frostbite.”
Daisy couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. “Can you imagine explaining that one to a doctor?” Another trill of laughter. “Oh my GOD! What if they had to amputate?” She laughed again and snorted. Covering her mouth and nose in embarrassment, she tried to stop but couldn’t; a few more moments of gasping amusement and she cleared her throat. Trying be serious, she set her face in the stern lines she’d seen many of her teachers utilize. “Yes, well, I think you’re right. We’ll save that for summer.” She finished with a sharp nod.
She was happy to see that Alek’s eyes now held amusement. But lowering her gaze revealed the evidence that Alek’s arousal hadn’t diminished in the slightest. She pursed her lips in thought and tapped her finger against her chin. “You know, I think there were a few of Harold’s carvings I didn’t get to see. Maybe we should walk back that way and pay a visit to the loft?”
She let out a squeal of both surprise and delight as Alek swung her up into his arms and began to jog through the woods at a rapid clip. Wrapping her arms tight around him she smiled against his neck. It was a bumpy ride, but she enjoyed every minute of it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Daisy let out a contented sigh and stretched sinuously against Alek’s naked body. The sun shining through the window in the loft right onto the spot where they lay, and she was replete in the afterglow of the loving they’d just shared. She purred as Alek stroked his hand over her skin in long glides. She was a cat after all and not immune to the allure of pets or a sunbeam.
“I like your toes.” Alek said, a smile evident in his voice and Daisy raised her foot and gave them a wiggle. She had painted her toenails a deep crimson but she had added a little Daisy on the nail of each big toe. She grinned, happy he’d noticed. “Thank you.”
“So what are your plans for the rest of the day?” She asked. Her voice sounded low, slightly rough and infinitely sexy. She liked it.
Alek rubbed his face against her hair, a sign of affection. A deep rumbling purr vibrating the full length of her body where it was pressed against him. He kissed her forehead. “Do you mean aside from loving you?”
Daisy smiled, pleased with her lover, and smoothed her hands over as much skin as she could reach. “Well, I’d rather you never stop loving me, so yes, aside from that.”
He rolled suddenly so that Daisy was beneath him, his elbows on either side of her, bracing his weight. He leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the lips before he murmured, “I will never stop loving you, Daisy. I’ll go to the grave with you still holding my heart.”
Daisy felt the emotion in his words, the truth of the sentiment and she smiled softly and then gripped the back of his head to pull him down for a deeper taste. “I love you, Alek.” She whispered against his lips.
Setting his forehead gently against hers, Alek released a breath. “I’d like nothing more than to spend the day like this, but I need to make some calls. The sooner I wrap this business up with Kramer the better I’ll feel.”
Daisy frowned thinking of her pride leader and nodded. “I feel the same.”
Alek rolled off of her and grabbed his coat. Pulling a phone out of the pocket he dialed. Daisy was a bit surprised he hadn’t bothered to dress, but grateful too. While he was distracted by whomever was on the other end of the call, she was free to admire his gorgeous body.
Wishing she had her sketchpad, her gaze lovingly skimmed over the expanse of muscle and sinew. The hard lines of his shoulders and arms, the taut skin of his abdomen, the strong legs, even his bare feet. If it hadn’t been for the scars, his body would be pure perfection that artists would wish to sculpt or paint, but he was still perfect to her. Her eyes went to the brand on his chest and she frowned. Anger prickling just under her skin that someone had dared to put a stamp of ownership on such a magnificent man. At first her desire to join Alek in his hunt for the fur traders was the need to help those women, but there was a selfish part of her now as well; a part that wanted to seek revenge for the atrocities visited on her lover. They had stolen his childhood and made him a slave.
Dark thoughts filled her head as the cat inside her began to growl in agitation. She’d never been much of a fighter, never had the desire to fight because what the pride trainers taught was how to kill. A memory flooded her head. Sitting under a tree with Lily as they watched the training. “I can see learning self-defense, but the way the trainers teach… I can’t ever imagine needing to kill someone when you can just knock them unconscious or something.”
Lily shrugged. “Sometimes killing is necessary.”
Daisy shook her head sadly. “I’m just not built that way. I can’t fight like that.”
Lily had given her a long look. “Anyone can fight if they have something worth fighting for, and anyone can kill if someone they love is being threatened.” Then she’d wrapped her arms around Daisy’s shoulder. “But I do hope you never find that out.”
Daisy had found that out when she’d bashed Hank Kramer over the head in defense of her sister. Granted, her intent hadn’t been to kill but the result had been the same. And now, as she imagined the horrors Alek had survived, she finally understood what Lily had meant. Sometimes killing is necessary.
A finger under her chin shook Daisy from her thoughts. Alek wore a look of concern on his face. “What were you thinking about, solnyshko?
When she told him, he pulled her into his arms and rained kisses over her face. “Not for you, my Daisy, my sunshine. You will never have to kill again. This I promise you. It would kill me to watch the sun inside you cloud over with darkness because of me.”
“But I need to help.” Daisy said against his neck. “I need this, Alek.”
He smoothed his hands over her back and she released a shuddery breath. “You will help. You may very well be the most important part of the team. You’ll be the light for those women, and for Samuel, and Devon, and myself. You’ll be our beacon so that we don’t get lost in the dark, Daisy; our sunshine.”
Daisy felt a shiver of pride stiffen her spine. She was strong, she was worthy, she was important… and most importantly – she believed it.
Daisy was smiling when they stepped through the door of Mrs. Potter’s house. Alek had held her for a few more minutes in the loft until she’d broken the embrace with a laugh when his stomach had growled. While they had dressed, he told her about his phone call and that his plan for her and Lily’s “deaths” were underway.
Despite plans for her demise, she was grinning with pleasure at how Alek saw her within his group. She was a beacon. Stripping off her coat in Mrs. Potter’s living room, she checked the word-of-the-day: Quintessential, meaning most essential. Yes, she was a quintessential part of the team.
Mrs. Potter poked her head out of the kitchen door. “Perfect timing. I made enough chili and cornbread to feed an army so I hope you’re hungry.” A thump of her cane, “We’ll still probably be eating it for a week.”
Once their bellies were full, Daisy was feeling warm and sleepy as she sat on the couch next to Alek, his arm behind her across the back of the couch. Mrs. Potter was humming along with Kenny Rogers while she knit when Alek suggested they play a game. When they all agreed, Alek got up and went to his room without a word. Daisy looked at Mrs. Potter who just shrugged and picked up her knitting again but within a moment Alek returned with a board game in hand. “I found this in my room.” He said as he displayed the box.
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br /> “Clue!” Mrs. Potter said excitedly clapping her hands together. “I wondered what happened to that game.
Daisy had never played before, but once explained, the game was fairly simple. They ended up playing several times since they were all having so much fun. At one point Alek looked at Mrs. Potter and said, “Eloise, this music is depressing. Don’t you have something upbeat? Maybe some big band dance music?”
Daisy held her breath waiting for Mrs. Potter to become offended. Instead, the woman’s eyes twinkled as her face broke into a grin. “I do, indeed, young man. You go on over to that cabinet and pick out something.”
Alek walked over to the cabinet and crouched down to open it. He let out a low whistle at the number of albums hidden within. “Do you have a favorite?” He asked over his shoulder.
“I think some Andrews Sisters should do the trick.” She said and within moments, Alek was lifting the needle off of the current record and dropping the new album in place.
Daisy had never heard of the Andrews Sisters but it didn’t take long before she was bobbing her head in time with the song and tapping her foot. Mrs. Potter was sitting back with a large smile on her face. Daisy wondered if she was remembering past triumphs on the dance floor.
When Alek joined her back on the couch she leaned close and whispered, “You are sneaky.” He just shrugged and grinned.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
After their afternoon of games and dance music, Alek had walked Daisy home with a large storage container of leftover chili and a container of cornbread. Definitely enough for the sisters to have more than one meal. Unfortunately, the scent drew the patrol like a magnet. He recognized Riley Cooper immediately. The wolf shifter inhaled loudly and grinned as he approached. “Now I’m craving chili.” He said in greeting.
Alek’s surprise must have shown on his face because the male smiled knowingly. “The lockdown was lifted. This is just a scheduled patrol and you’ve been given the okay for walking to or from Daisy’s. I wouldn’t push your luck much farther than that though.”
Nodding his understanding, he and Daisy had continued the walk to the cabin. He’d given her a kiss goodnight and soaked in the beauty of her smile, loathe to leave her. Soon, he’d never have to leave her again. Soon. He just needed to tie up his loose ends. With that in mind, he returned home and went to bed, hoping for sweet dreams of Daisy to replace the nightmare of his time with the traders.
The next morning, he was mulling over his plans for dancing as he did his daily pullups on the bar he’d installed. Alek had decided on Saturday, two days from now, for the surprise for Mrs. Potter. He would drive her into town since Mrs. Potter really shouldn’t be driving. She could barely see over the wheel and the one time he had let her drive when they’d gone to the grocery store she’d scared the bejeezus out of him. She had two modes of driving: stomp on the gas to go really fast and then stomp on the break to come to a squealing stop. There was no in between. He could have sworn he’d seen his life flash before his eyes a number of times. From then on, he’d done the driving. So he would drive her to Flora’s Hair Design to get her hair done and then head back to the house where he and Daisy would decorate the living room with candles and the strings of white Christmas lights he’d found in the attic. If they pushed the furniture in the living room back against the walls, and rolled the rug up, the hardwood floor beneath would make an excellent dancefloor.
Daisy had also been googling frantically for different recipes so that she could make Mrs. Potter dinner. She had decided on parmesan crusted chicken, wild rice, steamed vegetables, and warm French bread.
The night would be a nice way to break the news that he would be leaving. He also planned to tell her that he would personally vet any new boarders that applied should she wish to continue to let the room. Mrs. Potter had become important to him and he would do what he needed to assure her safety and her happiness.
A knock at the door broke into his thoughts and Alek dropped down from the bar and moved to the window. There wasn’t a vehicle in the drive, so whoever it was had walked. He frowned. Daisy would have knocked but then walked right in since her visits were so common, but another knock made it clear it wasn’t she.
Not bothering to take the time to wipe the sweat from his body, Alek yanked a T-shirt over his head as he ran down the stairs. Mrs. Potter was already opening the door. She let out a gasp of surprise. “Lily! Is Daisy all right?”
“Daisy is well, Mrs. Potter. She’ll probably be here before long. I, um, well…”
Alek couldn’t see her, but Lily sounded unusual, not scared or in pain, but definitely uncomfortable.
“Come inside, child. Sit. I’ll make tea.” Mrs. Potter said, ushering Daisy’s sister into the house.
Lily spotted him as soon as she walked through the door. She frowned and wiped her free hand on her pants as if it was damp. In the other hand she was holding a takeout container. She looked nervous. “Hi, Alek.”
“Hey, Lily.” He said nodding to her.
“Kettle’s on,” Mrs. Potter said bustling back into the room and Lily hurried over to her to hand her the container. “I, um, brought you some cinnamon rolls. From the diner.”
Alek raised a brow. If he didn’t know better he’d think this fierce female was scared of sweet Eloise.
Mrs. Potter beamed at her and patted her on the shoulder. “Well, aren’t you a dear. Do you knit?”
Lily shook her head and sat when Mrs. Potter motioned her onto the couch. “But I’d like to learn.”
“Well, let’s get you set up with some yarn and needles.”
Alek shook his head and moved to the stairs feeling certain that the ladies wouldn’t require his assistance. He understood the scenario he’d just witnessed and so had Mrs. Potter. Lily was looking for a friend, and Eloise hadn’t made her spell it out. She simply invited the younger woman in. He smiled. He was going to miss this woman terribly and knew he would jump on any excuse to come back and visit often. Plus, with Lily staying in the area, Daisy would certainly appreciate frequent visits. He’d tell her his plans as soon as she arrived.
He sniffed and grimaced. He needed to shower. Overwhelming Daisy with his manliness was one thing but she’d probably prefer not to swoon from the stench of sweat.
Daisy was ecstatic when she arrived to discover that Lily had approached Mrs. Potter on her own. She had thought for sure she’d have to browbeat Lily into it. But there she sat, on Mrs. Potter’s couch, a look of concentration on her face as she attempted to make the knitting needles in her hands obey her commands. So far, she had managed to knit a small row, so she was doing better than Daisy’s first attempt.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Potter was inundating Lily with all of the stories she most loved to tell, appreciating the fresh ears that Lily provided. The Andrews Sisters were once again brightening the room with their upbeat music and the word-of-the-day was… Woebegone. Daisy frowned. It meant sorrowful and downcast and certainly didn’t match Daisy's current mood. She would have liked a more cheerful word to go along with the light feelings in her heart. She was half tempted to rip the offending page off the block and find a more worthwhile word.
“Are you trying to incinerate it with your mind?” The whisper in her ear was deep and sexy and Daisy immediately smiled as she was surrounded by the familiar scent of Alek’s cologne. She turned and hugged him, burying her face in the V of his neck and breathing in his clean scent.
“The word annoyed me.” She mumbled, the sound muffled since she didn’t lift her face.
He chuckled. “You look beautiful, solnyshko.”
Daisy’s smile was wide and she was sure he could feel it against her skin. She’d taken care to dress in a sunny yellow sweater this morning just for him.
A thump of the cane drew them apart. “We need more tea!” Mrs. Potter said and Daisy motioned her to sit when the older woman began tucking her knitting to one side in order to stand. “I’m on it, Mrs. Potter.”
She had barely left th
e room when she heard Mrs. Potter ask Lily. “Do you like the game Clue?”
Daisy smiled. This was certainly shaping up to be a great day.
Friday was clear and bright as Daisy trekked through the woods. Anytime now, Alek would be leaving the house to bring Mrs. Potter to the grocery store. Once they had returned, Daisy had every intention of heading over for more games. Alek had promised to teach all of “his ladies” how to play poker. Lily had to work the breakfast rush, but she promised to come over when her shift ended and join in the fun. Daisy was still smiling when she thought of Lily taking that step to make friends with Mrs. Potter and how Lily had enthused all evening about what a good time she’d had. It made her feel better knowing that two of her favorite females would look after each other once she was gone. For right now though, Daisy had every intention of exploring further up the access road where she hadn’t yet gone. It seemed every time she ventured out into the area surrounding Malsum Pass she found a new natural wonder worth sketching.
Daisy felt a prickle on the back of her neck and she paused. She was being watched. She grinned slyly. Alek had told her just yesterday, about the spot where he had once watched her. A vantage point high up on the ridge that overlooked the entire area. He had also told her how much he’d enjoyed watching her. She’d called him a creeper and then laughed as he’d let out an evil laugh that would have done a cartoon villain proud. She looked up and spotted the rock ledge high up in the distance but she couldn’t make out a silhouette, flash of light, or even a hint of movement… But that didn’t mean he wasn’t in the trees. In fact, that made a lot more sense since her instincts were telling her that he was close.
For Her: A Malsum Pass Novel Page 14