Protecting Medusa

by Elizabeth Andrews

  She loved him.

  He lifted his head before he wanted to, his body humming with excitement, and thumbed away the tears on her cheek. “This is why I’m not taking you back to the Harvesters, baby,” he whispered. “I won’t let them have you. You are mine.”

  A shaky smile touched her lips. “Ryder,...”

  He kissed her softly. “It’s all right, honey.” He knew the emotion was overwhelming. His own was almost choking him at the moment.

  He might not be able to express himself verbally right now, but he could show her.

  And he did. With tender touches that had her lifting from the rumpled bed to seat him deep inside her. With kisses that turned his brain into mush and had her fingers digging into his nape to keep him near. With slow, teasing strokes of his body into hers that made her quiver in anticipation until neither could resist the pull any longer.

  Ryder lay sprawled over her later, knowing the grin curving his lips was the same one she’d called dangerous earlier. He didn’t care. He just wanted her to keep telling him.

  Mena stretched up to kiss his chin, shifting slightly beneath him.

  He rolled to his side, keeping her in his arms. “Did I crush you?”

  She shook her head, a faint smile curving her lips.

  He licked the tiny mole beside her mouth.

  Her eyes fluttered open.

  “Had to.”

  Her smile widened.

  “Say it again.”

  The smile softened. “I love you.” Her green eyes searched his face.

  “I love you, too.” He brushed her hair away from her face, back over her shoulder. “That is why we’re not going anywhere near that house. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Mena, which can’t happen if you sacrifice yourself to the Harvesters.”

  Her smile vanished. “I know.”

  “Just so we’re in agreement.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Desi’s fine, you know.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “She didn’t tell us she had another baby.”

  He winced. “Of course she didn’t.”

  Mena sat up, and he had to release her. “How could she have another baby?”

  “Did you happen to get her number from your mom?”

  She shook her head.

  “It’s in the email from Danny. You can call her. Later,” he added when she swung her legs over the side of the bed, catching her wrist. “I’m not done with you yet.”

  She laughed, reluctantly. “Are you trying to distract me?”

  “No. I’m trying to make love to the woman I love.” He tugged her down beside him. “Is that okay with you?”

  Mena cupped his face between her hands. “I guess so.”

  “Wow, such enthusiasm,” he teased, rolling onto his back and pulling her on top of him. “Maybe you should do all the work this time.”

  She arched one eyebrow at him. “Maybe I will.” She reached between their bellies to wrap her fingers around his erection.

  Ryder groaned, lifting into her caress.

  He wanted at least fifty more years of her.

  And he’d do anything to get it.

  Philomena sat on the new beach towel, her legs crossed, and watched the bright waves washing onto the shore. Ryder lay beside her, shirtless, hands behind his head. “You should lie down. The sun feels great on my face.”

  “I don’t need a sunburn that badly.” She glanced at him, and her heart beat a little faster. How had she fallen in love with him? She’d tried very hard not to. Maybe she hadn’t tried as hard as she should have to avoid falling into bed with him. Hell, she hadn’t tried at all to avoid that after the first time. The man was irresistible. She smiled to herself. No one could have told her a month ago she’d be in love with Jason’s father. No one could have told her she’d be in love with anyone.

  Her gaze slid from his closed eyes to his mouth, then his wide shoulders, strong chest.

  He really wasn’t her usual type.

  She dated guys who weren’t so macho. So buff. So alpha.

  She hated to admit it, but his assessment of her dates had been pretty spot-on. She never had dated anyone who would be a challenge, any man who would present a problem when she told him she no longer wanted to see him. Because she knew she’d never trust any of them to stick around. But Ryder was another story.

  She shifted her gaze to the water. There were a few die-hards in the water, college kids on spring break, shivering on their wave boards.

  Ryder’s hand landed on her back, rubbing a small circle. “Lie down, Mena.”

  She sighed and did as he asked, and his hand caught hers. “Better?”

  “I thought you’d enjoy the beach.”

  “I do. I just can’t stop thinking.”

  His low chuckle made her pulse quicken. “That brain of yours just won’t quit, will it, smart girl?”

  She blushed, closing her eyes behind her new sunglasses.

  He shifted beside her, and when she opened her eyes, he was on his side, head propped on one hand. Watching her.

  “What?”

  “How about we make a deal?”

  She raised one eyebrow.

  “I won’t pitch a fit when you call Desi later, and you stop thinking about the Harvesters for a little while.”

  She didn’t correct him. “Why would you pitch a fit when I call Desi?” She frowned, rolling to face him.

  “Because she’s going to upset you.”

  Philomena’s frown deepened. “That’s not fair.”

  “But true. Remember, I know your sister, too, baby.”

  She shoved upright, swallowing. “Thanks for reminding me.” That. That was why she hadn’t wanted to get involved with him. She glared at him, reaching for the bag she’d carried down from their room to carry their weapons, sunscreen and room key.

  Ryder sat up, too. “I didn’t mean that,” he growled, catching her wrist. “Desi is manipulative, and she’ll make sure she gets you good and upset about her run-in at your mom’s. She’ll conveniently forget she was warned more than once not to go there. Instead, she’ll carp on about how she had her baby with her, and how dangerous it was.” He glowered at her. “She was probably coming to dump her new baby on you.”

  “That isn’t fair,” she protested, though a small voice in the back of her head pointed out he was very likely correct.

  “Stop it, Mena.”

  She shut her mouth tight, annoyance coursing through her.

  “Your sister will deliberately upset you when you call her, and that isn’t fair to you. She doesn’t know you’ve had your own run-ins with the Harvesters, and yours were far more dangerous than hers. And she won’t care, because that’s how she is. Selfish and immature. Gods, why did she have another baby?” He dragged his hands back over his hair, shaking his head.

  “I’m actually surprised she hasn’t had more,” Philomena said before she stopped to think about what she was saying. She covered her mouth for a second.

  Ryder shot her a wry grin. “You have a good point there.” He leaned over and kissed her briefly. “Are we done arguing?”

  She swallowed, considering his words. “I suppose.”

  “Good. Lie down again. Don’t think about anything except the nice warm sun on your face. And what I’m going to do to you when we get into our room.”

  She lifted one eyebrow. “What are you going to do?”

  His grin widened. “You want all the details now, or would you like to be surprised?”

  Her heart pounded harder in her ears. “Maybe you should surprise me,” she managed.

  He leaned in and kissed her, lingering this time. “Okay. Come on.”

  She set the bag back down and eased back, releasing a long, slow breath.

  But she was too aware of Ryder beside her.

  And a little voice in her head kept reminding her she couldn’t run from the Harvesters forever.

  Ryder knew she hadn’t relaxed. Part of that was his fault, he admitted to himself. The ot
her part was she just couldn’t shut off her busy brain. When they strolled back across the beach to the hotel later, hands linked between them, he studied her face. Her nose and cheeks were pink, despite the sunscreen he’d put on her face earlier. And a tiny frown line marked the space between her eyebrows.

  He pretended not to notice when they got into their room and she dropped the bag and towel inside the door. Or when she took her cell phone from its charger and dialed the number he’d given her from Danny’s email.

  He did not, however, pretend to ignore her conversation with her sister.

  “Desi, it’s Philomena.”

  He sat in one of the chairs at the table and propped his feet on the other one, folding his hands over his abdomen and watching her pace the room. Already.

  “No, I’m not home. I can’t go home. I know you were told about the Harvesters. Why did you go there after you were warned not to?” She unclipped her dark curls, and they tumbled down her back as she tossed the barrette onto the dresser.

  Ryder cocked his head, watching her skirt flare out behind her as she turned to pace back toward the balcony. When the light hit it just right, he could see her long legs through the flimsy material.

  “Of course it wasn’t a joke, Desi. None of this is a joke. The Harvesters tracked me down there. We can’t go home...No, I’m not with Mom right now.” Her mouth pinched tight. “She is somewhere safe, with a friend of Ryder’s.”

  He rolled his eyes, knowing Desi would get herself all wound up now.

  “Yes, Ryder’s...Yes, I’ve seen Ryder. I’m with him right now, actually.”

  He winced when she shot him a glare.

  She was silent while her sister talked. For quite a long time. “Desi, I’m not even going to discuss that with you,” she said finally. “When did you have another baby?...A year? You had a baby a year ago and didn’t tell us?” Her voice raised in anger, and she strode into the room from the balcony again, her curls streaming behind her.

  Ryder shut his eyes for a second. Well, that wasn’t good.

  “You’re what?” Mena stopped walking, her shoulders stiff. “To whom?”

  He could almost see the tension coiling tighter in her spine.

  “Were you planning to tell us about it, or just leave Mom in the dark about that, too?” she asked coolly.

  Uh-oh. He set his feet on the floor and leaned forward, poised to move.

  “Really?” Her low tone was dangerous now.

  Ryder got to his feet slowly, trying to decide how to defuse this.

  “When is this wedding?”

  His eyes widened. Wedding?

  Mena’s head moved slowly from side to side, and he took a few steps toward her, trying to get a look at her face. She sighed, and some of the tension left her shoulders. “Desi, as long as I’m the Medusa and the Harvesters are hunting me, I can’t come to a wedding with all of you. It isn’t safe.”

  He went to her then, setting his hands on her shoulders, lightly. He was somewhat relieved when she didn’t shrug him off and walk away. He used his thumbs to massage away a bit more of the tension knotting her muscles.

  “I’d love to see her, Desi,” she said softly. “But I can’t now.” Her head bowed.

  Damn Desi. Ryder took one last step so his chest rested against Mena’s back, and he slid his hands around her waist to hold her still.

  “He’s fine. Big.”

  He narrowed his eyes at the back of Mena’s head. Desi was not going to take Jason away from her.

  “Look, Des, I’ll call you in a few days...Okay, bye.” She pressed the off button with her thumb and took a deep breath. “Desi’s getting married and wants the family there.”

  “Is she having trouble understanding English these days?” He rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “You know she only hears what she wants to hear, Ryder.”

  “And this baby is a year old?”

  She nodded. “A little girl. Her name is Amaryllis.”

  He heard the longing in her voice and wondered if she realized it was there. “And who’s the guy?”

  “Levi Something. He’s Amaryllis’s father.” Mena sighed.

  So Desi was settling down? He found that hard to believe after the past six years. He rocked Mena slightly from side to side. He’d reserve judgment on Desi for now.

  “So is this where you pitch your fit?” she asked.

  “Why?”

  “Because we agreed you wouldn’t pitch a fit after my phone call if I stopped thinking about the Harvesters.”

  He smiled. “And I know you didn’t stop thinking about them. Hm.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not going to pitch a fit even though I know Desi’s upset you.”

  “Really?”

  “No. I’ll let this one go.”

  She turned her head around to look at him, green eyes narrowed. “Why?”

  “Because we are going shopping, you and me.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Why?”

  “Because you need more than one skirt to wear on the beach. Maybe a bathing suit.”

  Her expression shifted to skeptical. “You’ve seen me naked, Ryder, why a bathing suit?”

  “Because I want to.”

  She shook her head. “If we have to.”

  “Oh, we have to. But not right this minute.” He turned her in his arms and fitted her close against him, his body already on alert.

  The green of her eyes darkened as she met his gaze.

  “No, right this minute, I’m going to see you naked again,” he teased, sliding her skirt up her legs and slipping one hand beneath it to her soft hip.

  “You might have a problem.”

  “Yeah, it’s called addiction to Mena. And the only cure is more of Mena,” he breathed against her mouth.

  Her soft laugh made him smile, but only for a second, before he kissed her, intending to melt down her brain so she couldn’t think for a while.

  Elek studied the map. There really wasn’t a pattern to the encounters. Between the second and third, there was an enormous distance, as well as the time gap. He was more interested, though, in the direction of the confirmed meetings.

  From Tennessee to Georgia.

  Essentially, they had made most of a very large circle from their starting point in Pennsylvania. Obviously, they had gone west after the chase in Philadelphia, then south, and now back to the east. If Ware was doing it intentionally, he might rethink since Alabama. If he did, would he go south or west?

  And if his circle was purely by chance, then his next move would be equally random.

  Elek couldn’t believe this man did anything without a plan and several contingency plans in case his first was compromised. His background was too regimented--his military father, his own career...

  No, there had to be some plan, even if Elek couldn’t see it.

  Which meant if he’d been circling intentionally, his back-up plan would be--

  Continue and throw them off?

  Go a different direction to throw them off? And which direction? They were running out of south, unless they left the country, and he highly doubted they would do that without the rest of the Medusa’s immediate family.

  Which meant west. But what if it wasn’t?

  Elek covered his face with both hands and exhaled heavily.

  Goddess help him, he had no idea what to do.

  He sat straighter, then pushed out of his seat, striding along the hall. “Great-uncle,” he said as he entered Ari’s office, “I need advice.”

  The older man looked pleased. “Sit down.”

  Elek dropped into one of the pair of chairs in front of the desk and explained his thoughts. “But I can’t decide which direction to cover.”

  “Cover both. We have the resources.”

  Relief oozed along Elek’s veins. “Why didn’t that occur to me?”

  The older man smiled. “You’re too close to it. Sometimes you need to step away, sometimes you need a new perspective. Which is why I
am here, to help guide you.”

  Elek exhaled heavily. “I have so much to learn.”

  Ari’s smile gentled. “You are doing beautifully, Elek. I am very proud of everything you have accomplished in so short a time. We are very close to finding this monster, thanks in large part to you. The Goddess will no doubt be pleased as well.” He sat back in his chair. “Go notify your cousins in the areas you want to cover, then take the rest of the evening off. Relax, see a movie. Don’t think about this for a few hours. That is an order.”

  Elek swallowed his protests, nodding as he rose. “Thank you, Uncle.”

  There was no way he could forget about it for the evening, even with a good solution to his immediate dilemma. But it would let him try to think ahead to the next step--once they’d located the monster, they still needed to find and destroy the goblet protecting her family.

  Then his family could rid the world of all of the monsters.

  Philomena tapped her fingers on the keyboard of her laptop the next morning, scanning her email. Nothing new. And nothing especially interesting so far in any of the entries she’d skimmed from Annis’s journals. Just Annis’s daily notes.

  She wasn’t quite sure what she was hoping for. Something.

  “Time to shop,” Ryder announced, setting down his juice and the morning paper the hotel provided for their guests.

  She closed her laptop. “Now?”

  He nodded. “Before all the partying kids roll out of bed to start over for the day.” He winked at her.

  She sighed and pushed to her feet. “Fine.”

  He caught her wrist. “I thought women loved shopping.”

  “Not this one so much.”

  He studied her for a moment, his dark eyes thoughtful. “Why not?”

  “Clothing is just a necessity, and I need concealment and easy access to my dagger, so my choices are limited.” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “There are other things I’d rather do. Play with Jason. Read a good book.”