Claiming Valeria

by Rebecca Rivard

  He crowded her so that her back was against the wall. “We need to talk.”

  “I have nothing to say to you,” she said through tight lips. She made to pass him, but he slapped his palms on either side of the wall next to her, caging her in.

  “No?” He traced a finger down her cheek.

  She swatted his hand away. “We’re through, remember? There’s plenty of other women who’d be happy to—”

  “So I got mad.” His dark eyes were watchful. “I’d like to make it up to you. Some friends and I are having a party, and I want you to come.”

  “No. Now let me go.” She tried to push past him, but he gripped her chin.

  “‘No?’” he asked.

  She felt a prickle of unease. “No,” she repeated more forcefully.

  His eyes narrowed. She forced herself to hold his gaze; she was damned if she’d let him see she was afraid. But he knew. She couldn’t stop her body from scenting the air with her fear.

  He smiled, a slow, cruel stretching of his lips. “I’m going to enjoy taming you, glika.”

  A hand clamped on her nape and his mouth descended on hers in a hard kiss. She tried to turn her head but he pinned her against the wall, his lips grinding painfully against hers. His free hand caught her camisole, shoving it up above her breasts.

  She hissed and pushed at his hand, but he gripped her wrist and squeezed. Pain shot up her arm. She jerked her arm but he just squeezed harder. He glared into her eyes, his dominance beating against her, dark and oppressive, willing her to submit. She instinctively averted her eyes, but she didn’t stop fighting, her animal scared but determined. He might be stronger than her, but using dominance to force someone to submit sexually was forbidden, against fada tradição—besides being just plain wrong.

  Somehow she managed to get her other hand between them. Her claws sliced out, digging through his shirt into his skin.

  Petros reared back. “You bitch.” He glanced in disbelief at the blood spotting his shirt.

  She took advantage of his distraction to escape.

  Her hand was on the door to the dining hall when he said, “This isn’t over, Valeria. I just might make a mate claim for you. Who do you think would win—me or do Mar?”

  She froze. The last thing Rui needed was to fight a mate-duel right now. He was much better, but he had a way to go before he was back to full strength. And frankly, she didn’t trust Petros to fight fair. He could easily corner Rui somewhere and slip a knife into him with no one the wiser.

  “You could,” she allowed. “But even if you won, I’d still have to accept you—and that will never happen.” She pushed open the door. As she stepped inside, she looked back at him and deliberately drew her hand across her mouth. “And, Petros? No one tames me. No one.”

  His mocking chuckle followed her into the dining hall.

  Valeria shut the door with a snap and leaned against it. Her anger was mixed with shock. Who was this man? She’d thought she’d gotten to know him in the weeks he’d been at Rock Run, but apparently not. If this was his true self, she’d had a lucky escape.

  Dinner was just being served. Merry was already seated at a table with Sabela and her parents, and Sabela’s sister, Carla. Rui, thank Deus, was just coming in the main entrance and had missed the whole thing.

  Valeria took a deep breath and headed across the cavern. Rui reached the table just before her. He hugged Merry, then set her back on the bench before dropping a kiss on Valeria’s lips.

  “Como vai, querida?”

  “Not bad,” she said a little too brightly. Which was ambiguous enough to not count as a lie. “And you?”

  She sat down next to Merry, with Rui on her other side. Just having his big, solid body next to her helped calm her. The tautness eased from her shoulders.

  But she should’ve known she couldn’t fool him. He caught her chin, turning her to face him. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” With difficulty, she met his gaze.

  His thumb came to her lower lip, rubbing gently. It was sore from the kiss Petros had forced on her, but she kept still, not wanting Rui to ask why. Because he’d go after Petros, and he wasn’t ready.

  His nostrils flared. “Why do I smell Okeanos on you?”

  Valeria shrugged, knowing he’d scent a lie. “He was just saying hello.” That was stretching the truth, but it would do.

  Rui’s face hardened. “Yeah?” He looked around for Petros, but he hadn’t returned to the dining hall. “That man has overstayed his welcome,” he growled.

  “Leave it,” she said. “He means nothing to me. He knows not to do it again. If he does, you’ll be the first to know. All right?”

  He regarded her a few more moments, brow furrowed, before reluctantly nodding. “All right. But you’ll tell me if he tries anything.” It wasn’t a request.

  Valeria nodded. After that, the talk turned to other things and when Petros re-entered the hall—wearing a different shirt, Valeria noticed with a hint of satisfaction—he had the sense to sit on the other side of the cavern.

  “Eat,” Rui said. He put a round of crusty bread smeared with olive tapenade on her plate. “You’re too thin, boneca.” The words were practical, but his green gaze caressed her, warm and protective, and she put Petros Okeanos out of her mind.

  When dinner ended, Rui walked her and Merry back to the apartment. When they reached the door, Merry pulled him inside to see the house she was building for her clown from rocks and scraps of wood. Rui listened patiently as Merry gave him a tour of the rooms she’d built thus far, then drew Valeria back into the hall.

  Valeria eyed Rui. He’d been working out. His body was nearly back to its hard, toned self, his shoulders broad beneath the moss-colored shirt he was wearing. She gazed at the strong column of his throat, wanting to set her lips there, at the sensitive spot just under his jaw.

  He inhaled and she knew he’d scented her arousal. He fingered one of her curls. “Ask me to come back later,” he said in husky tones, “after Merry’s asleep.”

  She briefly closed her eyes. Each night for the past week, he’d asked a variation of the same thing: Invite me in, Valeria.

  She wondered if he knew how hard it was to keep telling him no. She shook her head without speaking. “I’d better go. Merry—” But her feet remained planted where they were.

  “Valeria.” He touched her arm. “I—can’t you at least give me a chance?”

  Something in her broke at that. She was already on edge from the confrontation with Petros, and now the hurt and shame and anger she’d carried around ever since Rui had left her for Cleia erupted.

  “A chance? You had twelve months of chances. Even last year, after you came back, I would’ve—” She flushed and shook her head. “But you didn’t even try to get me back, Rui. You didn’t even try. So tell me why I should give you another chance now.”

  He took a deep breath. “You’re right,” he admitted. “But did you ever ask yourself why?”

  “I—of course I did.”

  “And—?” His gaze was intent.

  “I thought what everyone else did. That you didn’t really want me.”

  “No.” Sorrow crossed his face. “Deus no. Never that.”

  “Then why?” She couldn’t keep the anguish from her voice.

  “Because.” His throat worked. “Because I didn’t deserve you. Not just because of Cleia, although that was bad enough. Because I’m dark inside…cold. A killer. And you, you’re warm and loving and full of life. I felt it, Valeria. I felt you recoil me that night I killed Merry’s father—and then you told me to leave. And you were right. I—”

  Tears stung her eyes. She swiped them angrily away. “You ass.”

  He blinked. “What?”

  “I said, you ass.”

  “I heard you. I just don’t—”

  “Then listen.” She slapped a hand onto his chest. “Killing Merry’s father was wrong and we both know it. But I also know you too
k that job for the clan, and that Dion approved it.”

  “What are you saying?” He caught her wrist, his eyes searching hers.

  “I’m saying that I didn’t know the whole story. You were my mate, Rui. All right, so I recoiled, told you to leave. But I hadn’t been at Rock Run that long—I didn’t know how bad things were, that you only took that job because there was no other choice. You should’ve talked to me, explained. We would’ve worked it out.”

  “It wasn’t just that.” He seemed determined to lay everything before her. “It was like I said. You’re not just beautiful outside, Valeria. You’re beautiful inside. You weren’t here a month before you had everyone loving you—from Dion on down. But me…I’m a shark, Valeria. My animal is a cold-blooded killer. People respect me, but they don’t go out of their way to spend time with me.”

  She shook her head. “You ass,” she repeated, more softly this time.

  “You said I didn’t even try. Well, I’m trying now. But I need you to meet me halfway. Hell, I’ll go more than halfway if it means I win you back. But I have to have something from you. Something.”

  His eyes burned into hers, asking—no, pleading. But when she didn’t say anything, his shoulders slumped. “I’d better let you go inside. Merry—”

  She stopped him with her hand on his arm. His gaze snapped to hers, and for a long moment, she looked into his eyes. Recalling the promises he’d broken. Recalling him with his arm around Beatriz just a couple of weeks ago, the two of them rank with sex.

  But she also knew he was trying, with his sweet, dogged courtship, when she knew he wasn’t a candy-and-flowers man. And then there was that rush of love and longing she’d felt in the clearing.

  Her mouth opened before she’d truly made up her mind. But it was only because her animal knew what she wanted before she did.

  “Merry and I are going on a picnic tomorrow. Why don’t you come with us?”

  Rui’s eyes widened. Then he smiled. “What time?”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The next morning, Rui had just reached Valeria’s apartment when he saw Okeanos coming from the opposite direction.

  He scowled. He knew damn well the other fada didn’t have any business in this hall. As an outsider, Okeanos was assigned to a special guest section. Rock Run welcomed travelers from around the world, but they weren’t stupid. No stranger would be assigned to a section with families and unmated females.

  He deliberately put himself in the other man’s path. “What do you want?”

  Okeanos returned his scowl. “I’m here to see Valeria.”

  “She’s busy today. But I’m glad you’re here. We need to talk, you and me.”

  The other man hesitated before giving a short nod. It was clear he disliked having to submit to Rui, but he was a guest and whatever his rank in his own clan, in Rock Run he was under Rui.

  “I don’t want any trouble,” Okeanos added grudgingly.

  “No trouble. Walk with me, please.” Rui strolled away from Valeria’s apartment back toward the base’s main area, and Okeanos was forced to follow. “I’ve been looking for you. I tried to find you last night.”

  After leaving Valeria, he’d gone looking for Okeanos. It was time the man understood that she was permanently off-limits. But the sea fada had left the base.

  Uneasiness flickered across Okeanos’s face. “I was out.”

  Rui couldn’t help wondering about the uneasiness, but guests were free to come and go as they pleased. “This way, please.”

  He led the way into an empty conference room and faced the other man. “Look,” he said without preamble, “Valeria’s mine. My woman, my mate. The next time I see you within ten feet of her, I’m going to kick your ass. Don’t talk to her. Don’t bring her gifts. Don’t even sit at the same table. Is that clear?”

  Okeanos stiffened. “She’s not yours until she accepts the mate claim.”

  Rui growled. “She will,” he bit out. “Meanwhile, stay the fuck away from her. Better yet, go home. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve overstayed your welcome.”

  Okeanos’s gaze was a flat, hard obsidian. Rui had heard his primary animal was a Mediterranean moray, and at that moment, he knew he was facing the cold-eyed eel, not the man.

  But Rui’s animal was an equally cold-eyed shark. It moved restively, urging Rui to kick Okeanos out of Rock Run. Unfortunately, Rui couldn’t do that without a good reason and the other man had been careful not to give him one.

  “No,” Okeanos said after a pause that was just short of being an insult. “I don’t think so.”

  Rui’s jaw tightened. “What do you mean?”

  “It means no. I’m not going to leave. I like it here.”

  “Fine.” Rui felt the animal in his own gaze. “I can’t force you to leave. But stay away from Valeria—she doesn’t want you. If you make any further attempts to court her, I’ll view it as a challenge.”

  Okeanos lifted a shoulder. “Whatever you say.” He wished Rui a curt goodbye and headed out of the room.

  Rui stared after him. Damn, he wished he could simply toss the S.O.B. out. But the rules of tradição were not to be flouted. Once Dion had extended the clan’s hospitality, Okeanos had as much right to remain at Rock Run as Rui himself.

  And the man was right. Valeria wasn’t Rui’s until she accepted his claim—and everyone knew it.

  He’d been looking forward to the picnic ever since last night, but now he wondered if it was as big a step as he thought. Maybe she’d asked him out of pity—or for Merry’s sake.

  He slammed the edge of his fist against the wall, then stood there, head down and one arm against the cold stone. He’d spent two weeks courting the woman and she was still as closed to him as ever. What was holding her back?

  The first time it had been so easy. The two of them had connected almost instantly. He hadn’t given her pretty words, just told her in raw, blunt language how much he wanted her. Fortunately, she’d felt the same way and by the end of the first week, he had her in his bed.

  She hadn’t seemed to want or need to be courted. “I can read your heart in your eyes,” she’d told him.

  He’d been poised above her body, ready to enter her. “Sim?” he’d replied, a little uncomfortably. He was still getting used to this mating business. “What does it tell you?”

  Her lips had curved. “That you’re mine. And I’m yours.”

  His heart had constricted. To hide his confusion, he buried his face in her neck and began to move in her. “Read this,” he growled against her soft, sweet-smelling skin. “It’s saying I want to fuck you.” He punctuated his words with a firm thrust.

  She chuckled lowly and twined herself around him as if she’d never let him go.

  Deus, he’d been an ass to throw that away. Rui shook his head and left the conference room. He needed a drink. Now. Instead of continuing to Valeria’s apartment, he turned toward the base’s wine cellar.

  He was halfway there when he pulled himself up short.

  No, damn it. She asked you to a picnic. This is your chance, asshole. Don’t blow it now.

  He wrenched himself around and strode to his room, where he gulped down two glasses of water in quick succession. He’d thought he’d mastered the craving, but it clawed his gut, as bad as it had ever been.

  He bent his knees and clenched his fists, sweat beading his forehead, battling for control with every ounce of willpower he could summon. The wave crested, leaving him sucking in breaths. He got another glass of water and washed his face with trembling hands.

  Then he sank to his knees and asked whatever gods there were to help him win Valeria, once and for all.

  Because without her, all the denial, all the training he’d put himself through until his muscles shrieked for mercy, all those damn glasses of grape juice when he thirsted for just one sip of wine, all those long, dark hours in the middle of the night when he ached for his woman but forced himself to stay away from her until he’d mastered his demons…wit
hout her, all of it was for nothing.

  * * *

  Valeria was packing her knapsack for the picnic when Rui knocked. Merry was at the door in a flash.

  “Bom dia, Tio Rui!”

  “Hello, princesa.” He swung her into his arms with the smile he reserved just for her, and Valeria found her lips curving as well.

  He turned to Valeria, taking in her short green-and-white flowered sundress with very male approval. “Ready?” he asked, but before she could reply, he used his free arm to pull her close for a kiss.

  As their lips touched, something dark flashed along the mate bond, so quickly she couldn’t identify it—danger? Anger? Fear?

  She searched his face. “Are you all right?”

  His expression was almost too bland. “I am now.”

  She nodded, not wanting to press him in front of Merry. After slipping on a pair of sandals, she picked up the knapsack and together, the three of them headed for the marina to check out a dinghy. Although it had a small outboard motor, Rui took the oars.

  Valeria directed him upriver to one of the small, uninhabited islands on the Susquehanna that were part of Rock Run’s territory. “We can picnic on the beach, and Merry can practice her swimming.”

  “Sounds good,” he said and turned the dinghy toward the island.

  Merry was thrilled to be on an outing with her favorite man and chattered the whole way to the island. Rui listened indulgently, but gazed alertly around him as he pulled on the oars. Valeria knew a part of him would always be the hard-eyed assassin, and right now she found that reassuring. She hadn’t forgotten Lord Adric and his flat bronze gaze, even though he seemed to be lying low for now.

  Two seagulls screeched nearby, fighting over a fish. Merry whipped her head around and went silent, staring fixedly at the gulls, her nose twitching.

  “Cats,” Valeria mouthed at Rui, and they both grinned.

  They reached the island and climbed out of the dinghy. Merry changed to her jaguar and got down to the serious business of climbing trees. Valeria felt a twinge of guilt, watching her. Her cat needed to be outside, running, climbing trees, learning all the things a cat needed to know. A river fada would happily spend most of his or her time in caves or the water, but earth shifters needed land and space to play.