by S. E. Smith
Tansy je talli, talk to me, Mak said urgently.
He felt his fear increase when she did not reply. He stopped at the door. His eyes scanned the small room narrowing on the dark streak on the wall before he followed it down to the figure lying still on the cold, hard floor.
A curse escaped him as he rushed forward and knelt beside the inert figure. He gently rolled her over swearing even louder when he felt the slick blood on his hand. His fingers trembled as he pushed her heavy mane of red hair away from her face so he could see if she was still breathing.
“Tansy, je talli,” Mak whispered as he felt the faint pulse beating in her neck. “What have you done this time you stubborn human female?”
Tansy’s eyelashes fluttered against her pale, cold cheeks. “Mak,” a faint whisper sounded before her eyes opened slowly.
“I am here,” Mak said gruffly tearing the sleeve of her gown away from the wound in her arm.
“I thought you had left me,” she whispered faintly.
Mak’s eyes flashed with rage. “Never! And when you are well I am going to whip your ass for this little stunt. Never again, Tansy. Never again will you go off on your own.”
Tansy fought to keep her eyes open but she was so cold and tired. It was too much for her. Her lips curved in a small smile as she felt Mak apply one of those miracle pain patches to her neck.
She really did need to get a case of the damn stuff to keep on hand, she thought tiredly.
“No, you do not,” Mak grunted out. “You will not need it if I keep you tied to my bed.”
Tansy didn’t even bother opening her eyes. She didn’t think she could open them even if she wanted to. She simply turned her head into his hand and sighed.
“Okay,” she replied softly before she let the darkness take her again.
*.*.*
“When is she going to wake up?” A voice complained. “She’s been asleep forever!”
“Tink, quit bouncing on the bed,” Mak’s deep voice said sternly. “I told you not to come here yet.”
“Of course we were going to come,” another feminine voice said with a hint of humor in it. “We Bell girls do what we want when we want.”
“I have to agree with that,” a male laughed before soft giggles and the sound of kissing teased Tansy’s ears.
“Oh God, there they go again! Will you two get a room!” A soft voice said from the other side of her.
Tansy fought through the layers of cotton in her head. She turned her head toward the last voice and forced her eyes to open. Hannah sat next to her. At least, Tansy thought it was Hannah. The girl sitting next to her looked like the old Hannah she remembered. There was a soft glow to her face and her eyes were bright with happiness.
“Personally, I think your parents have the right idea,” a deeper voice replied.
Tansy’s eyes widened as a male pulled Hannah up off the bed and into his arms. From the soft moan her big sister was giving, she was definitely not upset about him kissing her. Tansy’s head jerked around when she heard the dark groan of another man. Where in the hell was she? Grand Central Station?
I do not know this Grand Central Station but I am about ready to kick them all out, Mak’s relieved tone echoed softly through her mind.
“I think they all need to get their own rooms,” Tansy replied huskily. “Where am I?”
Tilly let out a soft cry while Tink bounced up and down on the bed in excitement. Hannah turned but remained held tightly in the arms of the man who had been kissing her passionately. Tansy noted the flushed, pink glow to Hannah’s cheeks and the contented smile on her face as she leaned back into the man’s arms.
“You are in our bedroom on the island I told you that was near Borj’s house,” Mak said in exasperation.
He couldn’t get near his mate with all the females crowding around her. They had arrived unexpectedly this morning. Personally, he was ready to kick them all out. He had been waiting impatiently for his mate to finally waken. The healers had assured him she would survive but that her body and mind were exhausted and needed additional time to heal before she would.
He had returned to his world the minute he gathered Tansy’s unconscious form into his arms. His father had returned shortly after with the body of the unconscious male who had betrayed Tansy. The man was now dead. Mak had demanded the Right of Justice. To be fair, their healers had healed the male before he fought him. The man’s pleads for mercy fell on deaf ears as Mak took his time killing him. By the end, the man was begging for death. Even then, Mak did not let it come too quickly. He wanted the man to feel the same pain as what he had ordered others to do. There was still one more male he had needed to find. The one called Drew. It had taken a few days but RITA was very good at locating people who did not want to be found. She discovered him through the cameras that were located throughout Tansy’s world. Mak had visited him at the dirty hotel he was hiding at. He had taken him to the same isolated warehouse they had used when they tried to kill his mate. Mak made sure the man suffered the same fate as his mate’s first love.
“Oh sweetheart, you gave your dad, me and your sisters an awful scare,” Tilly said tenderly as she brushed Tansy’s hair back from her face. “When I first saw you…” her tearful voice faded away.
“I knew you could kick some ass but Teriff told us how you were blowing the bad guys up and…,” Tink said shifting until she sitting and looking down at Tansy with wide eyes. “Did you know I killed a bad guy? It was totally gross. I got this really yucky green goop all over my favorite hammer. It was some type of ….” Tink gasped as she was physically lifted off the bed into a pair of huge arms.
“I think it is time we gave your sister and my brother a few moments alone,” J’kar said with a dark flash of his eyes.
“But, I was telling Tansy about…” Tink began.
J’kar brushed a firm kiss across her mouth. “I know. I do not like remembering you being in danger,” he replied quietly. “I need you.”
Tink’s face flushed and her eyes lit up. “Are you horny again?” She whispered loud enough that everyone could hear her.
J’kar looked at Tilly and Angus and gave them an apologetic smile. “The chemicals released by her pregnancy has a very positive effect on me,” he explained sheepishly.
Angus laughed and pulled Tilly into his arms. “Don’t worry about it. The same thing happened to me when Tilly was pregnant. Why do you think we ended up with three girls so close together? I thought she was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen when she was rounded with them. Still has the same effect on me now,” Angus said as he buried his nose in Tilly’s shoulder.
“Oh, you! You are such a romantic!” Tilly giggled.
“I can understand as well,” Borj said quietly wrapping his hands protectively around Hannah’s waist so they covered the slight swell.
Tansy gasped. “You too?” She asked in wonder.
Hannah smiled down at Tansy before she leaned over and brushed a kiss across her forehead. “He makes me feel complete,” Hannah whispered to Tansy. “I’m not afraid anymore.”
Tansy stared deeply into her older sister’s eyes searching for the truth in her words. What she saw brought new tears to her eyes. She saw the truth in Hannah’s eyes. There were no more shadows. There was no fear. There was just a warm happiness and love. She looked over Hannah’s shoulder at the man standing so protectively behind her big sister. The look in his eyes promised he would always protect Hannah.
Tansy nodded, unable to say anything over the lump in her throat. She turned her head, seeking Mak. She needed to feel him. She needed him to hold her and make her feel that same sense of freedom.
I am here, je talli, Mak said tenderly.
Tansy stretched her arm out to him. She loved the feel of his large hand wrapping around hers. Neither one of them noticed the room growing quieter as everyone left. Nor did they notice as Tilly and Angus looked on with tears in their eyes as the huge, alien male gently scooped their little girl up int
“She’ll be alright now,” he murmured as quiet sobs shook Tilly’s tiny figure.
“I was so scared we would lose her,” Tilly cried softly into Angus’ chest. “I was afraid we would end up…”
“Shush,” Angus said breaking off her tortured words with his lips. “Someone out there was looking out for both of them. All three of our girls will be safe, loved, and protected from now on.”
Tilly looked up into the eyes of the man who had captured her heart so many years ago. He might not have the build of a warrior. He might not have the physical strength of a warrior. But, he had the heart of one and that was all that mattered.
“I love you, Angus Bell,” Tilly said. “I love you so much.”
“I love you more, Tilly Bell,” Angus said with a soft groan. “I have from the first moment you kidnapped me.”
Chapter 22
Tansy held on to Mak’s huge shoulders wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and burying her face. She felt like she could stay like that forever. She had been so sure she was going to die back there in the warehouse. The thought of what happened had her reluctantly pulling away.
“What happened?” Tansy asked huskily. “Craig?”
“He is dead, as is the one called Drew,” Mak said quietly holding Tansy against him.
He shifted just enough so he could rest against the headboard of the bed. He would never admit to how tired he was. He had kept a vigil over Tansy, leaving her only to seek justice on the two males who had sought to harm her. He still needed to find the one called Avilov. The male had not been seen so far.
“What happened to them?” Tansy asked leaning back so she could look into Mak’s eyes.
“My father incapacitated the male called Craig in the warehouse. He brought him back to our world so I could demand the Right of Justice against him for harming you. My father, Derik, and I killed the others,” Mak continued deep in thought.
He did not mention something happened to his brother, Derik, back at the warehouse. Derik would not say what it was but whatever happened had changed his cheerful, energetic little brother into a solemn, quiet warrior. He had not had much time since their return to talk to him but he planned on doing it soon.
“You said Drew was dead too?” Tansy asked rubbing her hand up under Mak’s loose shirt.
Mak pulled Tansy even closer. “Yes. RITA was able to track him down. I killed him,” Mak said in a voice that told Tansy she would get nothing else about what happened out of him. “The only one left is Avilov. RITA has been unable to get anything about him so far. He appears to have disappeared.”
“What about Helene and Natasha?” She asked concerned for her new friends.
Mak looked grim for a moment. “Rico is still looking for Natasha. They were able to rescue Helene but the men who took Natasha have disappeared with her. Brock remained behind with Rico. He refused to return without her,” Mak stated quietly.
“What else are you not telling me?” She asked determinedly.
“Merrick is missing,” Mak said gruffly. “He went after some of the men who were shooting at us. Some of Rico’s men retraced where he went but they could find nothing but the dead bodies of the men who tried to kill the team members. It is as if he disappeared into thin air.”
“What about his portal device?” Tansy asked concerned. “Wouldn’t he be able to use it to get back home?”
Mak shook his head. “No, Cosmos felt it was too dangerous for us to carry on our body. He had Merrick’s.”
Tansy felt a wave of sadness and unease at the thought of the big, alien male being lost or held captive on her home world. If any government or some crazy research agency discovered him it would not be good. She needed to return to her world to finish one last thing. Maybe she could ask for help in return.
Tansy’s hand paused from where she was stroking Mak’s chest. “There is one more. I have to see the President of my country. It is imperative that he knows of the danger to him,” Tansy stressed quietly.
“I thought you said your handler and the head of the CPAT knew of this information,” Mak bit out sharply unwilling to let his mate return to her world.
“They don’t know about this,” she replied. “I couldn’t take the chance of it being covered up. I have to give it to the President himself.”
Mak released a deep sigh of resignation. “Very well but be warned, it will be done my way this time,” he said sternly.
Tansy looked intently at him for a moment before she nodded. “Agreed, we do this your way,” she said snuggling up against him.
Mak grinned over her head. “In that case, the first thing we do is get you naked. I have missed you.”
Tansy couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. “What about the living room full of family we have?”
Mak grunted and pulled away, untangling her arms from around his waist and inside his shirt. “Wait here,” he responded in a determined tone.
Tansy giggled as she watched him heading with a determined stride for the door. It opened and he disappeared down the hallway. Shaking her head, she slipped from the bed. She knew he wanted her to remain in it but she needed to go to the bathroom and she desperately wanted a shower. She stood up and was surprised to find her legs were only a little bit shaky. She pushed her heavy mane of hair back from her face and headed for the door that looked like it led to the bathroom. She grinned in delight when she saw the huge, bright airy room.
It was as big as her bedroom back home. On one side was a double vanity and what looked like a toilet. Along one wall was a huge tub but it was the shower that held her mesmerized. It looked like it was made out of smoothed coral. There were no sides, no curtains, nothing. The wall behind it showed a vast ocean of purple and blue. Soft pink sand covered the beach and tall trees swayed as a gentle breeze caressed them. Tansy couldn’t think of anything but standing in the beautiful shower and gazing at what could only be paradise in her mind. She had found her deserted, well almost deserted, island.
She laughed as she heard Mak’s muffled roar for everyone to leave. He wanted to be alone with his mate and he wanted everyone gone…. now. Since she didn’t hear anyone yelling back at him, she had to assume he got what he wanted. Tansy let the lightweight pale green gown she was wearing fall to the floor in a pile around her feet. She stepped out of it and into the shower unit. The moment she did, a light rain of warm water fell from the ceiling. She raised her face, closing her eyes as she did, and let the warm water wash away all the fear, heartache, and sorrow. It was time for a new beginning. For the first time, she felt like she could begin fresh. She could have the life she had always dreamed about but never dared to believe she would have.
She started when she felt a pair of rough, calloused hands grip her hips and pulled her back against a hard, long length. A moan escaped as she felt Mak’s hard cock jerk in response to her. She would have turned around but he tightened his hands forcing her to remain still.
“Does your dream include younglings?” Mak murmured quietly.
Tansy tilted her head back and stared up into his dark silver eyes. “What if it does?” She responded seriously. “What if it includes children and long days and nights together and growing old?”
“Then, I think we need to get started,” Mak whispered looking down into her dark green eyes. “We have a lot to do and I plan on enjoying every minute of it… forever and ever.”
This time when Tansy tried to turn around he let her. Picking her up, he waited as her long legs wrapped around his waist before he slowly lowered her until she was impaled on his thick shaft. Both of them moaned as they came together. Mak began rocking gently at first, lifting her up before letting her slide back down onto him.
“Gods Tansy, I love you,” he said hoarsely as he began rocking faster and faster. “I need you.”
“I love you, too,” she moaned in return. “Forever, Mak. You promised me forever and I want every damn second of it.”
Mak let his canines lower. He would do everything in his power to gift her with a child. He wanted to see her body swell like her sisters. He wanted to feel their child growing inside her. He wanted her. Just the thought of her swollen with his seed was enough to push him over the top. He shuddered as he felt the strong release. Tilting Tansy’s head to the side, he bit down on the curve between her neck and shoulder releasing the chemical into his mate. Her body reacted almost violently to his, clamping down as if determined to suck every bit of his seed from his body.
“Yes,” he roared out passionately.
Tansy gasped as she felt the hot waves of his release spill inside of her triggering her own violent reaction. She could feel her vaginal walls pulsing around him. She buried her face into his shoulder and bit down to keep the scream from erupting. A sob rose up as intense emotions threaten to overwhelm her.
“Don’t ever leave me,” she begged. “I thought you had left me back at the warehouse when I couldn’t reach you. I never want to feel that emptiness again. Please, don’t ever leave me,” she whispered as he reluctantly pulled his mouth away from her delicate skin and ran a healing stroke of his tongue over the marks he left.
Mak kept his arms wrapped tightly around Tansy and stepped out of the shower. A warm burst of air rose up drying the water on their skin. He knew she would want to dry her hair so he stood under the warm breeze a little longer while most of the moisture was removed from it. Once that was done, he walked back into their bedroom.
“You thought I had left you there?” Mak snarled out. “You thought I would leave you to those other males?”
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