by Anna Lowe
His breath caught as he realized what she had in mind. The mating bite. He’d dreamed of marking her with his bite for years, and it wasn’t the first time he’d caught her thinking of claiming him back. Usually, the male shifter went first, but considering the circumstances…
He gripped her hips harder and leaned back. When he spoke, his voice was gritty with need.
“I like that plan.”
“You do, don’t you?” she purred as she rocked over his lap, letting their bodies line up.
The moment his cock met exactly the right spot, she hissed. Then, looking more intent than Cal had ever seen her, Cynthia pushed down, taking him deep.
Cal inhaled, savoring the sweet burn. Then he push-pulled on her hips, coaxing her on. Cynthia’s eyes glazed over as she started rocking again. Her long, silky hair flowed over her bare shoulders, and her breasts swayed. Cal made mental notes of all the fun he’d treat his mate to when he was fully recovered.
Got to make her our mate first, his wolf pointed out. For real. Forever.
Cal gritted his teeth and drove deeper up her slick, tight channel.
Cynthia, his wolf cried dreamily.
The only woman he’d ever loved. The only woman he ever would love, even if he lived to eternity.
“Oh…” she cried out.
He pumped harder, keeping her hips tight against his.
“Yes…”
Her head was tipped way back, and the pulse beat in her neck, tempting him. But a moment later, she folded forward and kissed him hard on the mouth. Really hard, whimpering with need. Using one hand, she tipped his head back, ducked down, and—
Cal’s pulse spiked as her teeth scraped his skin. Jesus, did that feel good.
She moved a little too far left, then backed up, searching for the right place to bite.
“Right there,” he groaned instinctively when she lined up with the groove beside his Adam’s apple. “Right there.”
Right now, she cried into his mind, rocking her hips hard.
Three more pumps were all he needed to explode inside her, coming with a muffled groan. A groan cut off by the sharp slide of two points into the flesh of his neck. His mind blanked out at the sheer pleasure, and when she exhaled…
He howled, low and hard. A howl of ecstasy at the rush of heat through his veins. Dragon fire was something to avoid — at least, it had been for the last decade of his life. Now, a little lick of it was racing around his body, marking every inch of him as hers. And man, was it good. Amazing. Beyond his wildest, dirtiest dreams.
Mine, Cynthia cried as her body convulsed. You are mine.
How long she held on to that bite, Cal had no clue. At some point, she slowly released him, keeping her lips sealed over the bite marks, making sure they healed before a single drop of blood could escape. Then she slumped over him, totally spent. Cal lay back, cradling her against his body, murmuring incoherently. His human side and his wolf were both trying to express how good he felt at the same time, but all that came out was a babble of animal and human sounds.
A tear slipped out of Cynthia’s eyes, then another, and in spite of her whisking them away, they wouldn’t stop.
Cal wiped their bodies with the sheet, then eased her back until she was lying beside him and snuggled close.
“I know just how you feel,” he whispered, letting her cry.
Some things, you just had to let out. Like the sorrow of a long, hard past and the joy of a sunny future.
He kissed her shoulder and concentrated on the future part. “Believe me, I know how you feel.”
Chapter Twenty
“Are you sure you’re ready?” Cynthia asked.
Her dragon hummed as Cal emerged from the shower in a cloud of steam, wrapped in a towel. God, the man was chiseled. Tall. Handsome in that weary warrior way. And who could blame him? The past decade had been hell on them both, and the last six days had been a roller coaster of their own.
Was it really over? Was he really all right?
“I’m fine,” he assured her for the twentieth time.
He scrubbed a second towel over his chest, and she couldn’t help watching. Every muscle — and every scar — on his body told the story of his unwavering devotion. Would she ever be able to repay him for what he’d done?
“Yes, you can,” he said, handing her the towel.
She blinked a little, then jolted. Oops. She’d have to be more careful to guard her thoughts from her mate.
“Can you dry my back? I’m still a little too stiff to reach there.”
“As if that makes up for everything.”
He kissed her knuckles. “Only the present and future count now. The past is the past.”
He turned before she could answer, and she rubbed the skin gently, marveling over every inch of her mate. She’d nearly lost him for the second time, and she couldn’t quite shake the fear that fate might come along and—
Cal turned and pinned her with a stern look. “Now, repeat after me. Life is one big maybe…”
She made a face. “That’s supposed to be comforting?”
He went on without a pause. “…But if you have faith, it will all turn out okay.”
She hugged him. Probably too tightly, but Cal didn’t seem to mind. A minute later, he eased gently away.
“Believe me, I’d be happy to keep that up, but we have a meeting to get over with.”
She took a deep breath. Right, the meeting. The whole reason Cal had dragged himself out of bed.
“It could wait a day, you know.”
“I’m ready. Well, ready enough. But I wouldn’t mind if you helped me with these clothes.”
She helped him into the shirt and pants, then smoothed her hands over her white dress and checked herself in the full-length mirror. Cal hugged her from behind.
“Wow. Look at you,” he breathed in her ear.
She smiled so broadly, her cheeks ached. “Look at us.”
She refrained from saying Look at you because that might make him self-conscious. But, wow. The man looked amazing in that crisp white shirt and black slacks. In truth, he smelled amazing too, what with the lingering aroma of aftershave mixing with his natural sandalwood scent.
He pursed his lips. “Not sure I can get used to looking so…respectable.”
She laughed. “Maybe just from time to time. The bike’s still in the barn, you know, and your jeans are over there.” There was no reason to change anything about her mate. She loved him exactly the way he was.
He grinned. “Just wait. When the meeting is over, I might just take you for a ride.”
It was ridiculous, how the thought thrilled her. Like she was twenty all over again and a handsome, enigmatic stranger was asking her out for the first time.
“Promise?”
“Promise.” His deep, steady rumble hinted at promises that went far, far beyond one ride.
I promise everything, his wolf whispered. A lifetime.
She tilted her head against his, then turned to the door and took a deep breath. “Ready?”
Cal nodded firmly. “Ready.”
He looked it — fierce, determined, and confident. Still, his tight grip hinted at the resolve that took. After all, he was about to face her entire pack — a group filled with hugely protective alpha males. It would be like meeting a prospective father-in-law — times five.
She fingered her pearl necklace and led him down the stairs.
“Wait a minute.” She pulled up short on the porch. Why wasn’t the table set? Where was everyone?
A pot lid clanged in the kitchen where Dell was cooking up a storm, while Chase and Joey bustled around, collecting plates and bowls.
“Hi, Mommy!” Joey called. “Hi, Cal.”
Cynthia smiled. “Hi, sweetie.”
Cal tousled her son’s hair. “Heya, Joey.”
“Oh, there you are. Finally.” Dell made a show of rolling his eyes. “Grab those, will you?”
Cynthia took the platter he indicated. “Where
is everyone?”
“Waiting.”
She glanced around.
Dell gave an exaggerated sigh. “Just follow Joey. You’ll see.”
“You know how many places I set?” Joey said as he led her and Cal down the stairs, across the lawn, and toward the barn.
Cynthia glanced at Cal, then at the barn. Why on earth was Joey headed there?
“How many, sweetie?”
He turned the corner of the barn and called out cheerily. “Twenty-four places. A new record.”
The moment Cynthia saw what he meant, her jaw dropped, and she pulled up. Cal nearly bumped into her, but Chase dodged them both and went through the wide-open barn doors as if nothing special was going on.
“Oh, hi, Cynthia!” Anjali called and lifted her baby daughter’s arm to wave. “Say hi, Quinn.”
“Hi,” Cynthia whispered, staring.
“Is it Christmas or something?” Cal murmured in her ear.
Cynthia could have sworn December was still months away, but it sure looked festive. The interior of the barn was strung with party lights, and the long row of tables set up was covered with steaming dishes — so many, she could barely see the colorful Hawaiian print of the tablecloths underneath.
Anjali laughed. “Not Christmas. But it is a special occasion.” Her eyes danced as she looked them both over.
“It is indeed,” Silas said, coming up with a champagne glass in his hand. He kissed Cynthia on both cheeks, then shook Cal’s hand. “Good to see you.”
“Good to see you,” Cynthia managed, still stunned.
Everyone was there — literally, everyone. The whole gang from Koakea Plantation was there, plus their neighbors from Koa Point — the dragon, wolf, tiger, lion, and bear shifters who were her closest friends, and everyone was grinning like a fool.
She gripped Cal’s hand. Those friends weren’t just smiling at her. They were smiling for her, celebrating the happy ending she never thought she would have.
“Come on, Cynth.” Dell came up from behind with a basket of steaming coconut milk bread rolls. “Don’t just stand there.”
“What should I do, Mr. O’Roarke?”
He put the rolls down and turned back to her with a grin. “You should let me congratulate you, for starters. Both of you.”
Cynthia looked on, speechless, as Dell shook Cal’s hand, then reached for hers to do the same. Then he muttered, “What the hell,” and hugged her instead. A brief, brotherly, Hey, you did it hug that caught her totally off guard. Then he stepped back and winked. “Also, you should sit down so we can finally eat.”
“All right, everyone.” Connor motioned to the table.
It took everything Cynthia had to squeeze away the tears welling up in her eyes. Joey led her over to the chair at the head of the long table, and everyone stepped up to their places.
Tim was hiding a limp, she saw, and Jenna was sporting a burn scar on her arm. Silas’s right shoulder looked stiff, and Anjali held Quinn closer than ever. Cynthia could have wept. For the past week, she’d only thought about Cal. But the others had been nursing their own wounds. She didn’t want to imagine what the fighting had looked like on the ground. In addition to the marauding dragons, Moira had sent over twenty other mercenaries to attack the plantation. The grounds were scarred by several, long charred lines where dragon fire had scorched the earth, and countless patches of dirt had been torn up in the throes of a heated shifter battle.
But everyone was all right, thank goodness. Tired, but happy. They were hopeful, too. Like Tessa, who showed off her growing baby bump for the first time, and Kai, her mate, who wouldn’t stop fussing over her. Keiki, the cat from next door, wound between Silas’s legs and purred loudly. Almost as if promising that Tessa’s baby was just one of all the wonders the future held in store.
Cynthia sat slowly, taking it all in. Cal sat to her left, and Joey on the right. Beyond them sat Dell, Anjali, Silas… Well, everyone. The table seemed to go on and on, and the scent of jasmine and lemongrass rose from the feast laid out on the table. The doors at each end of the barn had been left wide open, framing the majestic Maui landscape. The party lights strung from the barn rafters complemented the fiery sunset building in the sky outside.
“This is beautiful,” she said, struggling to put her emotions into words.
“It is,” Dell agreed, grinning at the meal he’d prepared.
“Perfect,” Hailey said, looking at the candles she and the other women had set up — or at least, that was Cynthia’s guess.
“Gorgeous,” Cal murmured, looking right at Cynthia.
She bit her lip. For all the times when life seemed hopeless or depressing, there were other times when pure beauty was all around. Right now, she could find dozens — no, hundreds — of things to celebrate.
Connor looked at Cynthia. “Eat first, talk later?”
She nodded. Considering she could barely put two words together, that seemed best.
Dell started passing platters, and before long, the barn was alive with chatter, laughter, and the quiet chime of silverware. The pineapple-glazed ham was so delicious, Cynthia found herself licking her fork clean. The warm rolls slathered in macadamia nut butter were sinfully good, as was the kula green salad, the garlic shrimp, and all the other dishes. Dell had pulled out all the stops, and Tessa had brought over her best recipes from Koa Point. As good as it all tasted, though, Cynthia spent most of the meal looking around. Not too long ago, most of those men and women had been perfect strangers. Now, they were close friends.
More than friends, her dragon decided. Family.
Her mother would have scoffed, because Silas was the only one who came from noble dragon stock. Most came from ordinary or even disadvantaged circumstances. A few weren’t even pure shifters, “just” humans turned shifter by their mates. Plus, they represented so many shifter species — bears, wolves, lions, dragons, and tigers. She could scarcely imagine a more ragtag group. But there they were, dining and laughing together. Living as one community, looking out for one another.
For a moment, she wished for a camera, then dismissed the idea. There was no lens that could capture that moment, let alone her emotions.
“Dessert, anyone?” Dell called.
A dozen hands shot up, but Connor shook his head and glanced at Cynthia. “How about we save that for a little later?”
She took a deep breath and nodded. The platters had been picked clean and most of the glasses drunk dry. It was as good a time as any to discuss the unavoidable.
“So,” Connor started slowly, then trailed off, glancing between Cynthia and Cal.
She cleared her throat and followed his cue. “There are some things we should discuss.”
Everyone looked on silently, giving her time to find the right words.
“There are a few things I’ve been meaning to tell you,” she said at last. “Starting with my name, I suppose.”
“I knew it,” Dell cried out. “Your real name is Esmeralda!”
Everyone laughed except for Anjali, who play-smacked his arm.
Cynthia laughed too. Leave it to Dell to loosen things up. “No, I mean the Brown part. My real family name is Baird. Cynthia Baird.”
Officially, it was Cynthia Berwyn Elizabeth Victoria Rhydderick Baird Brenner, but no one needed to hear that mouthful.
Everyone looked stunned — except Dell, Cal, and Silas, who already knew.
“Baird, as in, the Bairds?” Connor asked.
She nodded slowly. “Yes, those Bairds.” Then she took a deep breath. “As long as I can remember, my family taught me we were special because of our bloodline. Our wealth. Our traditions. Not for our accomplishments, our bravery, or our loyalty.” She looked at Connor, then around the table. “But you have taught me how wrong they were. Pride should stem from your own accomplishments, not the deeds of your forefathers. You’ve taught me that it doesn’t matter where or how a hero is born. What matters is the heart. The effort. The sacrifice.” She looked at Cal until
she was close to tears. Then she turned to Joey and attempted a joke. “We’re going to have to redesign some of our homeschooling lessons, sweetie.”
“No more spelling?” Joey’s voice rose in hope.
Everyone laughed, and she touched his beautiful red hair. “I mean history.”
“But I like history. It has ballistas and other cool stuff.”
More chuckles sounded, though Boone, the wolf shifter from Koa Point and father of twins, looked thoughtful as he patted the infant sleeping on his shoulder. “Never would have thought of fighting a dragon in human form, I have to admit.”
Chase, one of the other wolves, nodded.
Cal stuck up his hands. “I can’t take credit for the idea.”
Connor snorted. “No, just for the execution. No pun intended.”
Cynthia swallowed the lump in her throat, thinking of Barnaby.
“Indeed, heroes can come from anywhere,” Silas announced, raising his glass toward Joey. “They come in all sizes. And from all species.” He nodded at Cal. “And even, occasionally, from the old bloodlines.” He swung his glass toward Cynthia, and then motioned all around the table, indicating everyone. “To our heroes, no matter what families they come from.”
Everyone clinked glasses, and Cynthia couldn’t stop gazing at the people gathered there. Each of her shifter friends had defeated ruthless enemies in the past. But now, they’d worked together to conquer the greatest enemy of all.
“Hey, it’s shining again.” Cal motioned to her necklace.
His voice was just a whisper, but everyone quieted down, staring at her pearl.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cynthia couldn’t see her pearls, but she could feel them — or rather, the one in the middle. In one practiced movement, she swept her hair aside, undid the clasp, and held the necklace in her hands.
“Mine is shining back,” Anjali whispered, holding out the single pearl strung from the necklace she wore.
“So is mine,” Jenna added.
Sophie and Hailey followed suit, each revealing a pearl of a different color.
“All right, Cynth.” Dell threw up his hands in mock exasperation. “What other surprises do you have for us?”
