by Layla Silver
Beside us, a large Lion with graying fur hit the ground with a sickening thud. Blood smeared his body, and Portia screamed.
“Daddy!”
Seeing my chance, I lunged away. In the adrenaline and heat of the fight, I’d forgotten my injured ankle. Fire lanced up my leg as it gave, and I staggered. Portia was back on me in a pounce. She knocked me to the ground. The impact drove the air from my lungs, and then she was straddling me, her hands locked around my throat.
“I’ll kill you!” she screeched. “I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!”
I clawed at her hands as spots danced across my vision. Then a wall of golden fur blossomed into view behind Portia. The Lion closed its mighty jaws around her shoulder and tossed its head, ripping her off of me and flinging her to the side. She hit a tree, and there was a nauseating snap. Portia slid to the ground, her head hanging at an unnatural angle, her eyes still open wide and glaring sightlessly.
I’d never actually seen anyone die before. It was horrible, and my already more-delicate-than-usual stomach revolted. I rolled sideways and hunched, wretching. The Lion whuffed in my direction, a sound I interpreted through my vomiting as “stay here.” Then he was gone.
When I’d emptied my stomach, I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand and tried to sit up. My head went light, and I teetered. Around me, the forest was a carnage-strewn battleground. Three of the Elders were dead, two more badly wounded and fighting back fiercely. Caleb and his brothers ringed them, tails swishing and jaws snapping as they pressed the attack. I watched, unable to look away, as it ended in blood.
The forest fell deathly quiet. It was over.
Chapter 17 – Caleb
The instant the last Elder fell, I bolted across the clearing. I could smell Gemma, and the stench of sickness and fear heaped fresh fuel on the rage already burning in my veins. I found her kneeling on the ground, blood streaked everywhere. Fear gripped me. Had they hurt her? Hurt the baby?
She lifted her head as I approached, and I nuzzled her cautiously, flicking my rough feline tongue against her temple in an approximation of a kiss. She buried her hands and face in my mane and collapsed against me, shaking. I pressed closer, offering her my warmth and protection. I purred softly, trying to reassure her. It’s all right. I’m here.
“For hell’s sake, Caleb.” Corbin appeared at my side and threw my pants and sneakers at me. He’d already shifted back to his human form and redressed. “Give her you and your ass back in human form.”
I grumbled at him but felt Gemma pull back slightly. Through tears, she peered around my thick mane.
“Gemma?” Corbin held out a hand. “I’m Corbin, Caleb’s brother, though I’m sure you’ve figured that out.” Gemma accepted his hand and shakily let him pull her up. Her ankle rolled, and Corbin promptly scooped her up. “It’s okay,” he promised, carrying her toward a large boulder. “I’ve got you.”
With Gemma safe, I shifted back, impatient with the crack and grind of bone and the tingling numbness in my fingertips as everything settled back into place. The instant I could, I shoved myself into my pants and shoes and then went straight to Gemma again.
“Calm down, Doc,” Corbin said as I barged in between him and the first aid kit one of the others had brought over. “Aside from the ankle, it’s all cosmetic, and the ankle’s not broken.” Despite his gruff tone, he readily stepped aside, handing me the cleansing wipe he’d been using to clean Gemma’s face. “Here. I’m gonna go help Cody with the mess.”
I didn’t answer him, all my attention fixated on my mate. “Are you all right?” I demanded. I ran my eyes and my hands over her, torn between the part of my brain doing a clinical assessment and triage and the part of me that wanted to tear the corpses limb from limb for harming her. “Did they hurt you?”
“I don’t think anything’s broken,” she said weakly. “My ankle hurts.”
It was sprained for sure. I’d have to wrap it in a minute. Gemma’s fingertips went to her cheek, and I realized that under the dirt, a vicious bruise was blooming.
“They hit you.” The words came out in a growl.
“They were after you.” Her whiskey-golden eyes met mine, and her expression pinched. “They said you escaped, too, and they wanted you back.”
I grimaced and stroked her uninjured cheekbone with my thumb. “I should have told you,” I apologized, chagrined. “But I wasn’t sure. I was young when we got out. I wanted to ask my brothers before I opened my mouth and said something wrong. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head but leaned into my touch. “How did you know to come?”
“Portia slipped up.” Her name was bitter on my tongue. “She’d been stalking my brothers, too, and they’d noticed. When I brought up the cult at the party, and we realized it was the same one, Corbin and Cody knew we had to find you right away—that it wasn’t safe for you to be alone. You’d told me which trail you would be on.” I shrugged. It hadn’t been hard after that. “I wish we’d gotten here sooner.”
“You saved me.” She threw her arms around me. “Saved us.”
I cradled her to me, stroking her hair. “I will always protect you and our cub, Gemma.” For a moment, I just held her, my heart all but bursting with gratitude that she was safe.
“What are we going to do?” she asked, finally, pushing away a little. “The bodies …”
“We’ll take care of them.” Clay appeared at my side. “Fortunately, this isn’t a popular spot, so we can bury the bodies here, and no one will notice. Cayden and Conner always have shovels in their trunks—the camping kind,” he clarified, noticing Gemma’s confusion. “So, this won’t take that long.” He nodded at her and said to me, “take her home and get cleaned up. Cody, Corbin, and Chas are going to the compound to spread the word and make sure there’s no ugly aftermath. I’ll stay here with the others and make sure this gets cleaned up.”
Gemma blinked. “Your wives,” she said suddenly. “At the party! They’re all unguarded!”
Clay laughed. “Maggie’s got a shotgun,” he assured her. “Nadia’s a blackbelt, and I’ve seen Phoebe take apart a several hundred-pound hog with kitchen knives. Trust me, nobody started with the group we’ve got waiting at home.”
“Oh.” She nodded, looking relieved and suddenly exhausted.
“Come on,” I said, getting to my feet. “We’re going home. You need food and rest.”
She nodded vaguely and made to stand up. Without waiting, I gathered her up, cradling her in my arms. “No walking until I wrap your ankle. Doctor’s orders.” I hitched her a little closer to my chest and headed for the trail. “I’m taking you to my place until I’m sure you’re all right.”
She muttered but wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in my shoulder, letting me carry her back down the trail to safety.
Gemma fell asleep on the way home but roused when I parked the SUV. Fortunately, my condo had a small attached garage, so I was able to pull in and then head straight from the garage to the house without anyone seeing what a mess I was and asking questions. After unlocking the door, I returned to the car and scooped her up.
“I need to call my family,” she said as I lifted her out of the SUV. “To tell them.”
“Sure.” Crossing the kitchen, I set Gemma on the counter. I fished my cell out of my pocket and handed it to her. “Here.”
While she dialed, I retrieved the hospital-grade first aid kit I kept in the house. I listened to her as she explained first to her sister and then her mother that the Elders were dead while I eased her shoes off and set about treating her ankle.
“Safe,” she kept repeating. “You’re safe now.”
When I was satisfied I’d done what I could for her ankle, I stripped off my filthy clothes and threw them directly in the trash. It would take forever to get the blood and dirt out of them, and it wasn’t worth it.
Gemma promised to call again soon and hung up as I paced back to her. She offered me the phone, and I set it aside, twining my finge
rs with hers. “We need to clean up.” I ducked my head to meet her eyes. “Do you want to shower with me, or would you rather have it to yourself?”
Her cheeks went pink, but she nodded quickly. “With you.”
Helping her down, I watched her face for any signs of pain when she put weight on her ankle. She winced a little but assured me it was fine.
“I heal fast, too, you know,” she reminded me as I helped her to the bathroom. “Just because I can’t shift doesn’t mean the accelerated healing won’t kick in.”
I conceded that point as I started the shower, giving the water time to warm up while I helped Gemma out of her clothes. The shower wasn’t designed for two, but at the moment, that suited me just fine. I didn’t want my mate any further from me than absolutely necessary.
She seemed to agree, sighing and leaning against me as the water washed over us. The feel of her skin on mine soothed me, and I slid one arm around her, bracing her against me as I reached for the soap. Lathering my hands, I gently worked the soap over her skin, starting at her shoulders and working my way down, massaging away the tension, dirt, and blood.
I paused to knead a knot out of her back, and she moaned. The sound sent desire rocketing through me, but I pushed it back, forced myself to keep focusing on getting us both clean. Making sure she was steady, I crouched so I could use both hands to wash her legs. I stroked my soapy hands up and down her legs, rubbing my thumbs in circles around her knees where they were badly scratched.
When my thumbs worked up her thighs, Gemma whimpered. My already alert cock went straight to full attention. Again, I bit back the desire, keeping my slow, easy pace.
“Caleb,” she whined, dropping her hands to my shoulders and squeezing.
“Later,” I promised, stroking my hands over her delicate hip bones. “When we’re both clean.”
Gemma made a face but then laughed and tugged at me. “Well then, hurry up. I can wash myself.” As if to prove her point, she grabbed for the shampoo and stuck her head under the water to wet her long, beautiful hair.
Chuckling, I made short work of scrubbing myself while she washed her hair, hissing when I aggravated my injuries.
“Are you all right?” Gemma asked, alarmed.
“Fine. It’s nothing critical, and I heal fast.” That was mostly true. I’d taken some serious bites and deep scratches in the fight, but they would heal.
She frowned at me doubtfully but finished rinsing her hair and carefully stepped out of the shower, letting me finish rinsing off. When I got out a few minutes later, she’d twisted her hair up into a knot atop her head and was wrapped in a big, fluffy towel. It was an alluring picture, and I made short work of getting myself dried off, as well. Then I took her hand and led her to the bedroom.
“Sit.” I nudged her down onto the edge of the bed, then disappeared back to the kitchen to retrieve the Dit da jow from the first aid kit. That didn’t come standard, but it was an extra I always made a point of keeping on hand.
Dabbing my thumb into the jar, I tenderly stroked the ointment onto Gemma’s cheek where she’d been struck.
“What’s that?” she asked, sniffing its distinctive scent and wrinkling her nose.
“Ointment. It’ll help prevent bruising and soreness.” Wiping my hands, I screwed the cap back onto the container, set it aside, and turned back to her. “I don’t ever want to see you hurt again, Gemma.”
She sighed and reached for me. “I was so scared, Caleb.”
“I know.” Sliding onto the bed, I scooped her up and flopped back against the headboard, Gemma cuddled in my lap. I’d been able to smell her fear even during the height of the battle, and the memory of it would haunt me. “I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again,” I promised.
“I know.”
For a while, we stayed that way, neither of us speaking as we held each other and processed the unexpected and traumatic turn the day had taken. Eventually, my hands began to move, stroking over Gemma’s skin lightly in long, easy strokes. On one pass up her back, I found another knot and started kneading it absently. It drew a whimper from her, and my cock stirred again, my body vividly aware that I had a lapful of beautiful woman.
Gemma wiggled a little in my lap, her hand sneaking down to wrap tentatively around my erection. It was my turn to groan. I had to fight the urge to buck my hips, to push myself further into her hand. She explored me delicately, her touch light and curious. It was a tease and the sweetest torment ever devised.
“Gemma …”
“Show me,” she demanded, her voice a throaty whisper. “Show me how to touch you, Caleb. Like you touched me last night.”
“We don’t have to,” I made myself say. I wanted her badly, but if she needed to rest, to heal …
“I want to,” she cut me off, then darted forward to kiss me thoroughly. “Show me.”
I grunted, unable to come up with real words, all the blood in my body having rushed far south of my brain. Wrapping my hand around hers, I did as she asked. Pleasure assaulted me as I guided her hand up and down my length, teaching her how to apply just the right pressure to set my body alight. She caught on quickly, taking over and leaving me to simply float on the sea of sensation her touch caused.
“I love touching you,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to my shoulder as she stroked me. “I love being in your bed, Caleb.”
The huskiness and passion in her voice made the tension coiling at the base of my spine spiral tighter, driving me up a steep slope toward release.
“Gemma,” I managed, my voice sounding half-strangled. “I want … I want to be inside of you.”
“Yes,” she agreed quickly. “Do we need to —”
“Just like this.” Closing my hands around her small waist, I lifted her up until I could position the swollen tip of my cock at her entrance. She was beautifully wet as I nudged inside her, all tight wet heat.
“Oh.” She gasped a little, then gave a low, keening moan as she sank down onto me, taking me deep until her thighs were flush against mine. “Caleb,” she grasped my shoulders, her fingers flexing against me as she struggled for control.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Just rock, like this.” Keeping my hands on her hips, I helped her find a rhythm, showing her how to circle her hips so that her clit ground against me. Heat built inside of me, and I worked to keep my control. I wanted to watch her like this forever, her mouth open in a little “o” as she rocked against me, her skin pink and flushed, her beautiful breasts bouncing a little as she moved.
She felt too good, though. My control frayed. Unwilling to come before she had, I lifted my hands to her breasts, cupping them gently. Gemma made a small, needy sound, pushing her breasts into my hands as I teased her nipples, winding her up that little extra that she needed.
“Oh, yes,” she babbled as I rolled her nipples gently between my thumbs and forefingers. “Yes, oh. Caleb—Caleb, I think—”
“That’s it, sweetheart,” I crooned, rocking my hips up in shallow thrusts as she lost her rhythm entirely, too close to climax to hold it. “Come for me.”
Gemma gave a little cry, and then her body clamped down on mine, shaking as she came apart. The feel and sound of her shattered my own control, and I thrust once more, a hoarse shout escaping my throat as I emptied myself inside of her.
Chapter 18 – Gemma
For the second time in as many days, I snuggled into Caleb’s side. This time around, I very much enjoyed the warmth and softness of his giant bed and the lazy, intimate way his fingers played across my shoulders.
“Gemma.” His lips brushed over my damp hair, and I felt his fingers curl in one of the strands that had come loose and spilled down my back. He sighed. “I told myself I wasn’t going to rush this.”
I stretched, my body languid and comfortable, and propped my chin on his chest so I could see his face. “What is it?”
Caleb looked at me, his beautiful eyes terribly serious. “Will you move in with me? It doesn’t have to be here,” he ad
ded hurriedly. “I’ll buy a house. With a yard, room for a nursery, an office for you—everything you want. I just …” His other hand lifted to stroke my cheek. “You’re my mate, sweetheart. I’m sure of it. When I saw the Elders trying to take you, I thought my heart would stop.”
I smiled, my heart full to bursting. “Of course we’re mates,” I agreed, leveraging myself up to kiss him.
“Gemma,” he sighed against my lips, happy this time. “Stay with me.” He kissed me again, every word coming out between presses of his lips to my mouth, my cheeks, my jaw, my forehead. “We can raise our baby together. Be a family. I want to. So much.”
“Caleb,” I laughed. Looking into his eyes, I said softly, “Of course, I’ll stay. And yes, we’ll be a family. You’re my mate.”
His face lit up with joy, and he hauled me against him, holding me as tightly as he could. I clung to him in return, drunk on relief and happiness.
We were going to be a family.
Since my clothes were half-ruined, Caleb gave me one of his shirts and a pair of shorts to wear. The shorts were so loose they fit more like a skirt, but they had a drawstring, and they stayed on if I snugged it all the way.
“I don’t know about house shopping,” I told him over a mug of decaf coffee, sitting at the bar in his kitchen and watching him cook. “We only have six months before the baby gets here. That isn't a lot of time, as far as real estate goes.”
“Clarence will find us something,” he said, confidently. “He’s a real estate agent with some of the best contacts in town.” He grinned at me over his shoulder. “And you’d be amazed how fast moving goes when you’ve got seven strong guys to help you and five sisters-in-law to help with the unpacking.”
I smiled back, amused and delighted by his happiness. “I bet,” I agreed.