She purred. His grip tightened around her waist. "What kinda trouble are you in?" She ran her hands through his hair.
"Only the best kind."
Chapter 2
If he were being real with himself, Grix would admit he came back to town each Christmas for her and her alone. But this time was different.
She was a part of it. As always.
It didn't matter how far he traveled away from the city, his thoughts always drifted back to her, mostly at night when he was in some motel room alone in his bed. Or riding and missing the feeling of her arms wrapped around him.
Even in the shower and thinking about how she'd looked wet, pressed against the wall with him buried deep inside of her.
And part of him ached, but he'd pushed it down, buried himself in work as the Reserve Alpha of Teflon Wolf Pack. He traveled throughout the five states to ensure TWP's foothold remained strong. Or to act on behalf of the pack with their allies. He was the face of the pack, which kept the Alpha free to handle in-territory business.
He was more nomad than alpha. Detroit was his home base. But his heart belonged to Tabiya.
I just have to tell her that.
Grix resisted the urge to pull over and take her by the side of the road on his motorcycle.
Sex would be a welcome distraction, but he needed a clear head.
You know what you have to do.
Once they'd been a finely oiled machine, working in conjunction, handling the curves that life sent them down - together. But he'd left. Or more accurately, he'd pushed her way. The life he led wasn't meant for her. It was a hard life, and she deserved better. She deserved someone who wouldn't make her worry whether he would be coming home at night or not.
She was the white-picket-fence type, and he, the hard-living, fast riding, life-against-the-rules wolf.
At least I was.
But something had changed in the last year.
Him. There were too many things. One too many fights. One too many women who weren't her.
Grix pulled into Tabiya's driveway on the Witch Reserve. The two-story turquoise blue house with white and yellow trim and a wraparound porch. The back porch led into the woodlands.
The house was decked out for Christmas. A tree sat decorated in the front yard with twinkling white and gold lights, strands of cranberries hung on the branches.
Tabiya pulled off her helmet. "Ready to tell me what's really going on?" She reached out, her hand on the small of his back. "You're unsettled."
"I wish you wouldn't read me."
"I'm not. Your aura is all over the place." She got off the motorcycle.
"Don't worry about it. It's nothing." He turned off the engine and got off the bike,
"A bounty on your head is nothing?" She followed him up to th front door.
"I have one night to decide which way I am going to go with this. And I didn't want to ruin your Christmas."
He used his key, pushed the door open, and pulled her in behind him.
"And you didn't think your name coming across the hotlist wouldn't epically fuck my mood and the holidays." She flicked her fingers up and the lights came on a dim glow illuminating the room. And revealing another tree and more decorations.
"I just want one night without all this on my head."
Tabiya nodded. "You..."
"Shh." Grix up beside her, his finger on her lip.
She nipped at the digit.
"I haven't shifted in almost a year. Ever since the incident at the jamboree and the explosion.” She shuddered as if she were shaking away the recollection of that horrible night.
He closed his eyes against the memory of seeing her laying on the ground covered in blood, bruised, and broken. An unnecessary incident caused by drunken shifters on leave from the preternatural military force.
Grix had made sure they’d been punished. He’d stayed by her bed until she’d awaken and began to heal. But he’d been ordered away because of duty.
That’s when it started. Choosing between someone he loved and the pack.
"I don't think I will be able to hold it for long."
"I'll help you." He grabbed her hand, pulled her through the house until they got to the back porch. “You don’t have to be afraid with me.”
“I’m not.” She said softly.
With a circle of her fingers, they were transported to the woods, naked.
"Focus on me," Grix said, still holding her hand. "Focus. Breathe." He stroked her cheek. "Picture your wolf in your mind. That beautiful, elegant grey wolf. The sleek gray, brown, and white coat."
He smiled when a growl ripped from her chest, echoing through the forest. He returned the growl with a howl of his own. She shifted from human to animal, her tawny skin transferred to a dense fur that covered her entire body, her hands and feet became clawed paws.
Not wanting to be left out, Grix shifted quickly. He sniffed the air, his hunger, and senses heightened. He growled again, a ripple from deep in his chest.
On all fours, he led her down one of the trails, running past rabbits, deer, and other creatures that would have normally made for a fine meal. He felt Tabiya racing behind him.
When they reached the clearing, by the pond, they stopped, racing and started their dance.
He worked to keep himself in control. He hadn't mated with Tabiya in wolf form in years. And didn't want to scare her with his eagerness.
He stood back and watched as she roamed the area and circled the tiny lake. Grix waited for Tabiya to stretch out by the water before he slowly approached her. Laying down beside her, he nuzzled her neck.
Tabiya nipped back at him but didn't move for a moment until she got up and whipped her tail in his face, rushing away from him.
He took off after her, romping and playing until she collapsed again, spread out, her head resting on her front paws, her eyes bright as she looked at him. Grix sauntered over, nipping at her fur, and licking her face. He pressed his nose to hers.
She turned her face up to his, and he took that as a sign she was ready. Grix walked around, sniffing her. He licked at her genitals, tasting the familiar sign she was ready to mate.
More.
He couldn't tell if the thought came from him or her. He had realized their connection deepened every time they were together, intimately. But this time felt different for him.
There was more at stake. And she had allowed herself the freedom to shift with him. That didn't go unnoticed by him. It had been years since she'd shifted that he knew about.
He wanted to enjoy it and her. But the urge to mount her was overwhelming. He needed to be inside her.
Not just because he was horny, but because he needed the healing only being with her could provide.
She was his other half. Fully and truly.
Mounting her, he thrust himself up and into her, his hind legs braced against the ground, his forearms wrapped around her middle, his head pressed into her neck.
Hunching and quiet whimpering sounds filled the clearing. The sensation of her bucking against him, her fur rubbing against his underside was too much for Grix to bear.
He had missed this, missed her.
He tightened his grip around her waist and pushed himself into her fully. He humped in and out, plunging and driving deep until he spilled forward and collapsed against her.
Tabiya let out a half growl, half yawn as he released inside her.
They laid locked together, connected, unable and unwilling to separate. She bucked against him, crawling out from underneath him. She nudged him with her nose.
There were no words needed
Bodies close together, they walked back towards the house, nuzzling, and bumping into each other, still drunk from their lovemaking.
They shifted back to human form as they crossed the threshold of the forest into her backyard.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his gaze looking over her body.
"Yes." Her voice was weak. The hollowness of her gaze reflected her lack of energy.
Grix swooped her up in his arms and carried her into the house and into the bedroom, laying her down on the bed.
"Let me take care of you." His voice gruff. "For a change."
She laughed. "You always take care of me."
"No, I don't." He shook his head, "And it's sweet to say that I do but you know that I am lacking in a lot of areas." He leaned over and kissed her forehead, "Let me make it up to you."
She reached up, ran her thumb along his jawline and the stubble. "I'm not looking for a tit for tat relationship Grix. No rules. No holds. No worries."
"But I always worry about you." he admitted, "I can't help it." He paused, "You worry about the people you love and care about."
"Does all this lovey-dovey-ness have anything to do with what's going on?"
He shook his head, "No. I have a different perspective now." He acknowledged, "I love you. It's Christmas." he shrugged. "Let's just leave it at that."
She nodded, staring into his eyes. "I do love you, Granger."
"But..." He watched as she got settled in the bed.
"Is this it? Is this all we are?" She sat up. Her arms wrapped around her knees. "Random booty calls and holiday sexcapades."
"No." His voice deepened. "But there are some complications." He crawled into bed next to her, kissed her forehead, and pulled her into his arms, "I'll explain in the morning."
Laying there, his mind raced.
What if she said no?
Chapter 3
Tabiya woke up the next morning to the smell of steak, potatoes, and eggs cooking. She stretched in bed, before getting up and pulling on her robe, and padding to the kitchen.
She stopped short in the doorway when she saw her brother, Khaleesi, and Grix talking in the nook by the back door.
"Am I interrupting?" she stepped fully into the room. "Khale" she nodded towards her brother.
"Tabiya." Grix came over to her, giving her hand a squeeze.
"Tab." he gave her a one-armed hug.
"What's so important that the second for Nolan Callahan is here?" She fixed herself a cup of coffee. "Or is this a pleasure visit dear brother?" She frowned, "Are you finally going to accept my invitation to Christmas dinner?"
"I knew this was a bad idea," Khale growled.
"Tabby." Grix said. "Khaleesi is here on business."
"I see." she took a long drink from her mug. "I take it this has something to do with the bounty on his head."
"Yes." Khaleesi took a seat at the table. "You bought the marker. Why? "
"Of course, I did." Her face scrunched up, her tone incredulous, "Why would I leave that out there?"
"Cause you weren't supposed to be involved?" Grix said sitting down across from Khaleesi.
"The only person who gets to kill you for all your misdeeds is me." She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "If it involves you, it involves me. That's how we work. It's what we do. And because we're supposed to be partners, mates, I had no choice." She reminded him, taking the seat between the two of them. "What do we have to do to fix it?"
"That's why I'm here." Khale turned to look at his sister.
She looked from one man to the other.
"I can make this all go away, if, when Granger is installed at Alpha, he allows the Teflon Wolves to join forces with the organization."
"The pack won't go for that." Tabiya shook her head. "Join forces with a vampire?"
"Tell her the other option." Khale's voice was firm.
"I would have to go underground. Disappear." Grix paused, "Leave everything behind and become a part of the Paranormal Witness Protection Program."
"What about us?" Her chair slid as she stood, wobbled, and fell back onto the floor.
"If I take the protection deal, I want you to come with me." He got up and went over to her, "We could start over in a new place, new identities, and just live our lives the way we wanted."
"We already do that now." She pointed out.
"To a degree. But no pack politics, no hierarchy, or rules. We could be free." Grix said.
"It seems like you've thought about this a lot." She walked over to the sink, staring out at the backyard. Tabiya felt Grix come up behind her.
Khale cleared his throat, "I'll be back tomorrow for Christmas dinner." He stood, going over to the back door. "Think about it. It's a good deal for all around." The screen door slammed slightly as he left.
She turned so she was facing Grix. "Talk to me."
He nodded. "Talon thinks I killed his reserve alpha." he paused, "I didn't."
"Do you know who did?" She ducked under his arm and moved away from him going into the living room. Tabiya sat in her sage green comfy chair by the fireplace, legs tucked under her.
"No. I have suspicions. But nothing concrete." He sat in front of her, perched on the mahogany coffee table.
"Then why the hit?"
"Cause I'm a hothead." He sighed. "He confronted me. I had just heard about my uncle. And I lost my shit on him. Threatened him. Bested him." He shrugged. "He didn't like that." He flexed his fingers, cracking his knuckles. "He couldn't have a wolf besting a bear. Plus..." he stood and went over to the mantle. Pictures of them over the holidays were intermixed with pictures of her family and coven.
"You have to talk to me." Tabiya shifted in her chair. "I..."
"He made mumblings about dead witches and hybrids. " His voice was low and gruff. "I could only take it as one thing. A threat against you. So, I tried to kill him."
Chapter 4
When Grix turned, his eyes were red, and a thin sheen of fur was visible over his skin.
He blew out a breath in an attempt to calm down.
"I had no choice." He spoke in a low, calm tone. "I had to go after him."
"How did Khale find out?"
"Grapevine and rumor mill." He ran a hand over his face. "And I contacted him. I needed him to put guards on you. Until I could get here. In case of retaliation."
"And why the deal with witness protection?"
Grix moved from the fireboard over to the sofa, his body angled towards her as he sat down.
"From my roaming, negotiations, and different transactions, I've picked up a few things."
"And now you have two sides vying for that information."
He leaned back against the couch cushions with a growl, "Something like that."
Tabiya moved from the chair to sit next to him. She nestled in beside him.
"What do you want to do about it?"
"We." he corrected, turning his head to look at her. "We are doing this. That's one of the reasons I came back. I don't want to make this decision without you."
"Why now?" she pursed her lips.
"Being gone, the threat against you, the hit against me, Things got clearer."
"What things?" She shifted in her seat, pulling her legs under her. "I really hate how you talk around stuff."
"My feelings for you. How much I miss you?" He sat up straight, "What do you want me to say?" His eyes darkened, "That last time I was with someone who wasn't you, I barely came. And I know that's probably the worst thing I could say right now. But we've never kept any secrets from each other." He released a breath. "You have your dalliances and I have mine."
"We don't have an exclusive relationship, Grix." Tabiya looked away from him.
"You want the truth." He got up, pacing in front of the Christmas tree with its twinkling lights. "You are the reason I look forward to Christmas each year. I can't be with another woman or wolf because I am in love with you. They touch me and my skin crawls. And I hate it. I'm a fucking alpha wolf for fuck's sake and I'm reduced to a sniveling gamma." Grix stopped mid stroll, turning to face where she was sitting. His voice was calm, tone even when he spoke again. "But the thought of living without you, living without you on this Earth, scared the ever-loving fuck out of me."
"What are you going to do about it?" She shifted again, raising up on her knees. Her face turned to him.
"Marry me." He stared down at her.
Tabiya fell back onto the cushions as if she'd been pushed. "That's... that's..." She closed her eyes, head bent as if she were praying. When she opened her eyes and raised her gaze to look at him, "Fear should not be motivation for a proposal." She paused, "I love you, Granger. I am in love with you. But I will not marry you because you're afraid."
"I'm not asking because I'm afraid. I have been carrying this ring." He went to his duffel bag and pulled out a ring box, "This ring with me for over a year." He knelt down next to the sofa, "I wanted to ask you last year, but I was scared, and then we got into that fight." He sighed, "You are my one, my other half. And yeah, it doesn't make sense, but it doesn't have to. At least to anyone else but us."
Tabiya pressed one hand to her chest, fingers splayed out. The other hand covered her mouth, her eyes blinking rapidly.
Grix grabbed both her hands in his, "I want to marry you because I can't see my life without you. I don't want to live without you in my life, in my world, in my heart. I am a lot of things. Some good. Most of it bad. But the good parts, they come from you." He slid up onto the ottoman, "I want to make you my life because my life doesn't make sense without you. And I," he shook his head, "No. We. We have a decision to make. But I don't want to make that until I get your answer."
"And..."
"Shh." He pressed a finger to her lips. "I, Granger Stone, would love if you, Tabiya Estelle Youngblood, would give me the greatest honor of becoming my wife, my partner, my love."
"Grix would you shut up, so I can say yes."'
He smiled, made a motion of zipping his lips and throwing away the key.
"Yes. Grix. My sweet love. Yes, I will marry you."
His smile widened and she laughed.
"Is this really happening? Did that really happen?" She asked staring at the ring he'd slipped onto her finger. In a blink, she pounced, causing him to fall flat on his back.
"I love your smile. Not that fake one you give customers or the one when you are humoring some idiot."
"Have I ever told you that you talk too much?"
He frowned. "Never."
"Granger. Shut up and make love to me."
Curse of Christmas: A Collection of Paranormal Holiday Stories Page 63
