Wooing Wynter

by Tianna Xander

  “Maybe, but where will he go? What will he do? He’s been missing for decades, and he’s bigger than his family or friends will remember. What if they don’t believe it’s him?”

  “Then he will have a place with us. My sons have already adopted him as a brother. Perhaps I shall adopt him as another son.” He grinned and winked. “It’s not as though I’d notice one more. I have six grown sons and two six-year-olds who have claimed me as their papa. Nine is only one more.”

  “Is your heart really that big, Geno?”

  “My heart is as big as it needs to be. It grows every year, with every child added to it. Does your heart do any less?”

  “No. I suppose it doesn’t.” How could this man who had been alone for so long, teach her so much about love?

  “I’m almost ready if you still want to take me somewhere.” She glanced at the mirror. “I just need to put on my face.”

  “What’s wrong with the one you have?”

  “Oh, ha, ha. You’re so funny.”

  “Being funny was not my intention. Why must you try to enhance your beauty when it’s already perfection?”

  She stared at him through the mirror, the hand holding the eyeliner frozen a few inches from her face. “You think I’m perfect?”

  “I thought you were perfect the day we met when you still appeared to be your human age of forty-eight. You are utter perfection now. You need nothing to enhance your beauty, Wynter. Please, do not cover it up with paint and powders.”

  “At least a hint of lipstick.” She dropped the liner and reached for the mauve lipstick she used to wear like armor against the cruelty of others.

  “If you must.” He sighed. “But there is no more beautiful color than the rose of your cheeks or the dusky rose of your full lips and thick, reddish-brown lashes fringing your lovely green eyes.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Wynter set down the lipstick, her hand hovering over the rest of the makeup she’d managed to replicate with Tabby’s help. The other woman had told her Geno would feel that way. She’d said all of the men preferred the natural beauty of their mates. Still, old habits died hard, and she’d insisted on replicating the makeup, only to have Geno convince her she didn’t need it.

  “I am.” He nodded, his gaze lovingly traveling over her face, proving that he liked what he saw.

  Ben would never have let her leave the house without at least a little makeup to cover her so-called imperfections.

  “He is not here.” Geno knelt beside her and took her hands in his. “Please, leave the memories of your dead husband in the past where they belong. He has no place in our lives. He certainly didn’t deserve the devotion you gave him in life. Don’t give him more now that he’s dead.”

  “I didn’t mean to—”

  “Don’t apologize. Never think I need a request for forgiveness for something you’ve done. I don’t need to hear it. You have nothing to apologize for, my lady.” He kissed her hands and stood. “Shall we go, or will you insist on covering your beauty?” He waved his hand toward the pile of makeup she’d asked Tabby to replicate for her.

  “We can—“ she cleared her throat and stood. “We can go.”

  Wynter smiled up at him, her heart feeling light as she realized Geno thought she was beautiful even when she didn’t think it of herself. Just knowing how he felt made her feel more confident and sexy than she had in years.

  She remembered her reflection and wondered how long she would keep her newfound youthful appearance. If Geno was over one-hundred and he appeared to be in his late thirties, would she also seem so young when she reached his age?

  “Where are we going?”

  “We are going to the exit. Ceno is on the bridge. We had already left the mountain while you were preparing for our date.”

  “Date.” She stopped and stared at him, eyes wide. “I guess I didn’t realize you thought this was a date.”

  “Didn’t you?” Geno raised a brow. Good lord, if he realized how sexy she thought that was, he’d be doing it all the time just to get to her. “What did you think this was when you thought to apply your makeup?”

  “I thought it was dinner in public. Ben never let me out in public without makeup.”

  “Your Ben was a fool.” He brought her hand to his mouth and brushed it with his lips.

  “If you say so.” It was all she could do to get the words out without stuttering. Geno’s touch sent prickles of energy up her arm. Her skin pebbled, and she shivered slightly. Every bit of attention Geno gave her went to her head. Was she so attention-starved that she would feel that way over a few heated looks and a couple of kisses on the backs of her hands?

  “I say so.”

  He pressed a few buttons, and Wynter gasped.

  “We’re flying, and there’s no door!” She tried to step back, but Geno held her tight.

  “There is a door. I have merely made it transparent so you could see the beauty of the countryside as we flew over it. Ceno is taking us to Virginia Beach, where we can dine near the water and take a walk along the beach.”

  “That sounds lovely. I haven’t been to the beach for a long time.” Not since before she married Ben, but he didn’t want her bringing him up. Truth be told, she didn’t want to bring her husband between them anymore, either. He was dead. Maybe he should stay that way.

  “How long before we reach the beach?”

  “I’m not sure. I do know Reno plans to leave us with a tiny car to use while they do some sightseeing of their own.”

  “I thought they were going to play video games with the twins.” Wynter frowned. Why hadn’t he asked her? She was their guardian. All she’d done was agree to dinner, and Geno was already overriding her decisions. He was Ben all over again, after all.

  “Reno had planned to until he discovered that Birgit has never seen the East Coast. None of my boys have ever seen an ocean up close since they rarely leave Magic. There is very little water on Zolon and certainly no large bodies of water. They thought it would be good to take your boys out to see the ocean while we’re here. You don’t object, do you? If you do, I will tell him to leave the twins with one of his brothers who can stay on the ship.”

  “No.” Wynter shook her head. “I don’t object to them going.” She smiled softly. “I would have objected to someone making that decision for me, though.”

  “I thought you might. Unless and until you agree to be my mate, it is not my right to make those decisions. When or if we are mated, those decisions will be ours, equally.”

  “You mean that, don’t you?”

  “Of course, I do.” He grasped her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I do not have to bully a woman to feel like a man, and I do not need to keep a female dependant on me to feel stronger. Nor do I need to harm a woman physically or mentally to feel better about myself. Any man who does is no man at all. A man who abuses a woman, children, or animals is more of a monster than anything those damned scientists could ever dream up.”

  Wynter’s throat closed, and she swallowed to clear it. Why couldn’t she have found Geno before Ben had screwed up her head—before she felt so useless and unworthy to have a man’s love and respect?

  “He is not here, love.” Geno pulled her against him and pressed little kisses to her eyes and cheeks. “He is gone forever and can never hurt you again. Remember that.”

  “I know.” She let him wipe the tears from her cheeks. “I just wish that I had found you before he screwed me up inside. That’s all.”

  “Perhaps if you had not met him first, I would not look so good to you now.” Geno smiled crookedly. “I am no stranger to heartache and loss, Wynter. Perhaps, had we met sooner, neither of us would have seen the other. The Goddess gives us gifts when she is certain we are ready to receive them.” He crooked his finger under her chin, lifting her face to meet his gaze. “Do you understand?”

  “Yes.” She nodded and pulled a tissue from inside her sleeve and dabbed her eyes. “I understand.”

 
She did. Had she met Geno before she’d befriended the other shifters in captivity, he might have frightened her away with his ability to shift into a tiger. She might have rejected any idea of a relationship with him instead of accepting it.

  Yes, she would embrace it. She would hold Geno, along with his large extended family, close. His sons already treated her as though she was a part of their cohesive group. All six of Geno’s sons were good men. Even if she couldn’t tell they were exceptional men on her own, their wives had convinced her of it. Abusive, lying, cheating, fat-shaming bastards like Ben didn’t raise boys to be good men.

  “I understand that someone sent you to me when I needed you the most.” Even if he didn’t stick around long enough to fall head over heels in love with her, he had been in her life when she needed him more than she had ever needed anyone before.

  “The Goddess always knows when her children are in need.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and held her close. “If you look, you might see the beach soon. I can smell the salt air.”

  “I can, too. How can I smell it through the airtight door of a spaceship?”

  “I opened the ventilation system. We’ve been sucking in outside air for a few minutes now. And you can smell the salt air because of the wolf in you. Your sense of smell is much stronger now. I’m surprised you didn’t notice in the cave.”

  Standing on her toes, she whispered in his ear. “If you’re talking about Gregor’s stench before the med-bed cleaned him up, I smelled it all right. I was just polite enough not to mention it.”

  “Was that what that was? I could have sworn I heard you gagging when he carried you off.”

  “I wasn’t gagging!” Good lord, she hadn’t been, had she? She’d tried so hard not to for fear it would anger Gregor as he carried her away.

  “As you say, love.” Geno patted her back, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “As you say.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  “HOW WAS YOUR DINNER?” Geno asked as they walked along the beach, their shoes tied together and slung over his shoulder.

  “It was delicious.” Her cheeks blossomed a dusky pink as she peered up at him. “I didn’t mean to eat that entire steak.”

  “If you’re hungry, eat.” He shrugged. “Does the night air chill you?” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

  “No.” Wynter shook her head. “I’m just...” She shrugged. “I guess I’m just happy.” She smiled up at him. “I don’t think I’ve been this happy in a long time. It’s been so long I think I almost forgot what it feels like.”

  “I hope I can take the credit for that.” He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. He couldn’t help himself. It was something he’d felt compelled to do ever since they left the ship and drove to the restaurant.

  Reno, or perhaps it was Birgit, couldn’t have picked a more romantic place. He thought he’d seen Ceno and Sela several tables to his right, but he wasn’t sure. The interior of the establishment boasted many potted plants, and he didn’t want to appear obvious in case he was mistaken.

  His stomach churned, and Geno glanced around. It wasn’t often that his gut told him something was off. Why the hell did it have to be now? They were on their first outing together. He didn’t want it marred with a bad experience.

  Winter crossed her arms, running her hands from her elbows to her shoulders.

  “Are you sure you’re not chilled?”

  “Yes.” She nodded, her gaze darting from one spot of darkness to another. “I just... My stomach feels funny, like something awful is about to happen.”

  “I feel the same way.” Stopping, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “We’re going to turn around, hold hands and walk as quickly as we can back to where we parked. Don’t act frightened or as though you feel threatened. The farther we can go before they realize we know they’re following us, the better our chances of escape.” He rested his forehead against hers. “If they believe we’re lovers and merely want to be alone, they might wait to make their move until it’s too late, and we manage to reach the restaurant.”

  He pressed his lips against hers once again. Wynter’s mouth opened, and he snaked his tongue inside to taste her.

  She tasted of her after-dinner mint, chocolate, and a hint of wine.

  “Delicious.” He swiped a trail of moisture over her bottom lip. “Now smile up at me as though I hung your moon, and then we’ll head back to the restaurant.”

  He glanced behind her and almost groaned. How had they gotten so far from the establishment? They appeared to be nearly a half-mile from the outside seating area. What had he thought when he took Wynter so far away from the protection of a crowd?

  A movement between them and the restaurant caught his eye. Someone, or something big, headed their way. A furtive glance behind them revealed others on the prowl bringing up their rear.

  Grasping her hand, he started walking toward the restaurant at a brisk pace. No matter how big the lone man between them and the restaurant might be, the odds were still better than four to one.

  Why hadn’t he thought to bring one of his sons along, or even Gregor for protection?

  “Someone is coming at us.” Wynter’s grip tightened on his hand. “Whoever it is, is big and scary.”

  Yes, he was. But fortunately, big and scary was still less intimidating than the four men bringing up their rear.

  “No matter what happens, no matter what you see or hear, when all hell breaks loose, I want you to run back to the restaurant as fast as you can.”

  “And leave you here to fight alone?” Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.

  “Yes. My tiger can be ferocious if I know you are not close enough to get hurt.”

  “But they could take you to the place where you’d be with the others.” Wynter shook her head. “They’d do even more experiments on you if they figure out you’re not from here.”

  “If they do, my boys will find me. We have a tie. I can’t believe we didn’t think of this tactic before. If they take me, it will be easy to find the others when my sons track me down.”

  “No.” She pulled him to a stop. “I am not running and leaving you here as bait.”

  The breeze off the Atlantic gusted and blew her hair over her face. Tendrils caught in the stubble on his chin, tying them together. The pose was so intimate, Geno wanted to pull her tight against him and take her mouth in a heated kiss.

  Unfortunately, the single large silhouette was nearly upon them. “Run!” Gregor said as he ran past them. “Get to safety!”

  “You sure made a friend in that one.” Geno gave her a slight push. He was relieved that the person he’d originally thought was a large assailant had turned out to be their friend rather than a foe. “Now do as he says. There are two of us now. With Gregor, we’re almost three.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, hurry, before they capture you and use you to force our compliance.”

  Wynter must have seen that was a real possibility when she glanced behind him, and her eyes widened.

  “Okay.” She rested her hand on the center of his chest. “But you’d better come back to me. I want that shot at happiness.”

  Wynter ran toward the restaurant. When she was a safe distance away, Geno turned his attention to the two men who broke free of Gregor’s attack and headed his way. No doubt, one of them would attempt to capture Wynter.

  Geno bared his teeth. They wouldn’t touch her if he had anything to say about it.

  “Come on, assholes, let’s do this.” No doubt Wynter would have told him he watched too much TV because of that, but at the moment, he planned to have fun showing their attackers that Wynter was well out of their reach.

  The first assailant shot him with a tranquilizer dart and then another and another until his gun was empty.

  “Damn, Tiny, this dude is almost as resistant as the other one.”

  The drug had caused Geno to slow down, but it wasn’t strong enough to take down a warrior in his prime. If these were the
same people who had captured Xeno, they probably expected a similar reaction to the one they’d gotten when they caught him. But Xeno hadn’t been a warrior. He had yet to meet his mate when someone ambushed him.

  Gregor curled his large hand into a fist and hit one of his attackers with a right hook. It was a good shot. The man fell to his knees, holding his face with one hand. After a few moans, he crawled away into the darkness.

  Geno snarled, his vision changing to that of his cat. He could see the mens’ body heat. He watched as their hearts pounded in their chests. His tiger burst forth, striking at the men who would have taken them hostage, driving them away.

  He swung his deadly, poison-tipped tail, barely missing Gregor, who jumped up out of the way just in time to miss the barbed end.

  The men ran away, screaming. Geno roared behind them, triumphant that the three of them had managed to elude capture.

  The sound of Wynter’s scream turned his blood cold. Spinning around, he watched as two more men dragged her off the beach, to a large, neon green van with bright orange writing on the sides. Digging his feet into the sand, Geno surged forward, in an attempt to reach the vehicle before it disappeared. He was too late. No matter his precautions, the men had managed to get what they came for—his mate.

  “I tried to stop them.” Gregor moved up beside him, still panting from exertion. “I should have changed when you did.”

  “You did more than I expected. Why were you here?”

  “I had a feeling.” Gregor shrugged. “I’ve been a bit clairvoyant ever since they experimented on me.” One side of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “Why do you think I trusted you so easily? I knew they were after Wynter. At first, I thought it was you. Then when she said you were with her, I knew the danger was yet to come. It was only a matter of time.”

  “So, you had my sons leave you here?”

  Your sons are here, too. They brought the ship. We should contact them. They could find and follow the van.”

  Closing his eyes, Geno reached out with his mind. Someone has taken Wynter in a bright green van with orange writing. Find out where they’re going and come back for us.